GEOtExcel Blog

✅ How to calculate the “Bearing Capacity” in an Excel spreadsheet for strip, square, and circular footings using Terzaghi’s method?

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✅ Excel Spreadsheets for Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering
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Terzaghi, Hansen, Vesic, and Meyerhof developed foundational methods in geotechnical engineering for calculating soil bearing capacity. Terzaghi’s method, the earliest and most straightforward, provided a basic bearing capacity formula based on three key factors. Hansen built upon this by adding correction factors for foundation shape, depth, and load inclination. Vesic further enhanced the method, integrating plasticity theory for more accurate predictions under complex conditions. Meyerhof introduced a more generalized bearing capacity formula that accounted for the foundation’s shape, depth, and load inclination, providing a comprehensive approach to bearing capacity estimation.

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Conceptual and Illustrative Calculations Using Excel Spreadsheet:

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✅ Excel Spreadsheets for Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering
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To calculate the flow rate through soil using Darcy’s law, we consider factors such as the soil’s hydraulic conductivity, the cross-sectional area through which the water flows, the difference in hydraulic head (the driving pressure), and the length of the flow path. Darcy’s law essentially states that the flow rate is directly proportional to both the permeability of the soil and the pressure difference, while being inversely proportional to the distance the water travels. This method is commonly used to predict water movement in porous materials like soil.

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✅ Stress Distribution in Soil: Stress Bulb: Boussinesq’s Method (Point Load)

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✅ Excel Spreadsheets for Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering
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Stress distribution in soil due to a point load can be analyzed using Boussinesq’s method, which provides a way to calculate how stresses spread within a soil mass. The concept of a “stress bulb” represents the area beneath the surface where the stress decreases with depth and distance from the point of load application. Boussinesq’s method assumes an elastic, isotropic, and homogeneous medium, and it helps in visualizing how vertical stress from a surface load disperses in a bulb-like pattern, with higher stresses near the load and diminishing stresses as the depth and lateral distance increase.

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✅ Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion:

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The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion is a fundamental concept in geotechnical engineering that describes the shear strength of soils based on cohesion and internal friction angle. It defines the conditions under which soil will fail under stress, combining normal and shear stresses on a failure plane. Using Excel spreadsheets, engineers can perform illustrative calculations by inputting parameters like cohesion, friction angle, and stress values

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✅ Stress Distribution in Soil: Boussinesq’s Method (Point Load)

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To effectively learn the concept of “Stress Distribution in Soil” using Excel spreadsheets, you can create interactive models to visualize and calculate how stress disperses under loads. By inputting parameters such as soil properties, point or distributed loads, and depth, Excel can be used to apply formulas like Boussinesq’s method or Westergaard’s theory. The spreadsheet can then automatically compute stress values at different points and generate charts or stress bulbs, making the process more intuitive and dynamic. This hands-on approach helps in understanding the complex behavior of stress distribution through visualization and iterative calculations.

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✅ Discover how to draw a soil particle distribution curve using Sieve and Hydrometer tests in an Excel spreadsheet.

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In geotechnical engineering, understanding the distribution of soil particle sizes is crucial for assessing soil properties. To create a soil particle distribution curve, engineers commonly use Sieve and Hydrometer tests. The Sieve test separates coarse particles, while the Hydrometer test measures the finer particles suspended in a liquid. Once the data from both tests are collected, it can be easily input into an Excel spreadsheet. Using Excel, you can calculate cumulative percentages of particles retained or passed through various sieve sizes and plot them to generate a smooth soil particle distribution curve. This graphical representation helps visualize the gradation of the soil, offering insights into its characteristics, such as grain size distribution, which is essential for soil classification and design decisions.

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✅ How to use a plasticity chart to classify fine-grained soil using Excel spreadsheet?
CL, CH, ML & MH

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A plasticity chart is a useful tool in geotechnical engineering for classifying fine-grained soils based on their plasticity characteristics. The chart plots the liquid limit (LL) and plasticity index (PI) of a soil sample, which are determined through laboratory tests such as the Atterberg limits. To classify soil using this chart in an Excel spreadsheet, you first input the values of LL and PI from your tests. Excel can then be used to plot these data points on the plasticity chart, typically overlaying them on a pre-made grid that distinguishes between various soil types (e.g., clay, silt, or organic soil). By plotting the data points in Excel, you can quickly determine the soil classification based on its location on the chart. This method is efficient and allows for accurate soil categorization in line with established classification systems such as the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).

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✅ Training on Calculating the RQD Parameter in Engineering Geology Using a Designed Program in Excel Spreadsheet (Random Examples):

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Rock Quality Designation (RQD) is an important measure in geotechnical engineering used to assess the quality and fracturing of rock masses. It is calculated as the percentage of rock core pieces longer than 10 cm (4 inches) relative to the total drilled length. To calculate RQD in Excel, start by inputting the lengths of all core pieces recovered from a drilling operation. Next, filter the data to identify only the core segments longer than 10 cm. Using Excel’s built-in functions, sum these qualified core lengths and divide the result by the total core length drilled. Multiply the final ratio by 100 to express the RQD as a percentage. Excel’s capabilities also allow for quick adjustments, visualization through charts, and easy recalculations, making it an efficient tool for conducting RQD analysis.

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✅ Terzaghi, Hansen, Vesic, and Meyerhof’s Methods: Comparison

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Learning about bearing capacity and foundation engineering using Excel spreadsheets allows for a practical, hands-on approach to understanding critical concepts in geotechnical design. Bearing capacity refers to the ability of soil to support the loads applied by a foundation, and it is calculated using different empirical and analytical methods developed by geotechnical pioneers like Terzaghi, Hansen, Vesic, and Meyerhof. By creating Excel spreadsheets, you can systematically calculate the bearing capacity under various conditions such as soil type, footing size, depth, and load characteristics. Excel can be used to input data, apply formulas for each method (e.g., Terzaghi’s formula for shallow foundations), and generate results such as ultimate bearing capacity. Hansen and Vesic methods include more detailed parameters like shape, depth, and inclination factors, which can also be calculated in Excel. Meyerhof’s method is often used for multi-layered soils or different load conditions. With Excel’s functionality for repetitive calculations, and graphing, it becomes an invaluable tool for comparing the results of these different methods, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of bearing capacity principles and foundation engineering design.

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Drained Triaxial Test (CD)/ Excel spreadsheets

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Analyzing Consolidated Drained (CD) Triaxial Test results using an Excel spreadsheet provides an efficient way to interpret soil behavior under drained conditions, where pore water pressure is allowed to dissipate. The CD test is commonly used to evaluate the shear strength parameters of soil, such as cohesion (c) and the angle of internal friction (ϕ). To analyze CD test results in Excel, start by inputting the raw data from the test, including axial load, confining pressure, and deformation measurements. You can use Excel formulas to calculate key parameters like deviator stress, axial strain, and volumetric strain. Plotting stress-strain curves and Mohr’s circles for different confining pressures allows you to visualize the behavior of soil under various loading conditions. Excel’s built-in regression tools can also be used to derive the failure envelope, helping to determine the soil’s shear strength parameters (c and ϕ). With Excel’s capability to automate calculations and generate graphs, it becomes a powerful tool for efficiently analyzing CD test results and understanding soil behavior under drained conditions.

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