Question

The maximum stress occurs on __________

(a) vertical plane passing through radial distance of one from the point of load application

(b) vertical plane passing through radial distance of two from the point of load application

(c) vertical plane passing through the point of load application

(d) vertical plane passing through radial distance of three from the point of load application

I got this question by my school principal while I was bunking the class.

My doubt is from Stresses in Flexible Pavements in section Design of Flexible & Rigid Pavement of Geotechnical Engineering II

Answer 1

Correct answer is (c) vertical plane passing through the point of load application

To explain I would say: The stress equation is given by,

 \(σ_z=\frac{3Q}{2πz^2} \left[\frac{1}{1+(\frac{r}{z})^2}\right]^\frac{5}{2},\)

if r=0, we get the maximum stress value. Hence, the maximum stress occurs on vertical plane passing through the point of load application.