The 'arching effect' in soils explains why:
Choose the correct answer
More load is applied to yielding part
Load transfers from yielding to stationary soil through shear → less load on structure than full overburden weight
Arching only occurs in dry sand
Arching is only relevant in rock tunnels
Correct Answer
B. Load transfers from yielding to stationary soil through shear → less load on structure than full overburden weight
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Arching (Terzaghi, 1943): when one portion of soil mass yields relative to adjacent stationary mass → shear stresses develop along failure surface → load transferred from yielding to stationary soil. Examples: (1) Load on buried pipe less than full weight of overburden (negative arching when pipe settles); (2) Tunnel lining carries much less than full overburden; (3) Silo bin pressures (Janssen) less than full column weight. Arching = soil''s self-supporting ability.
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