Body-Force Stresses in Gravity Structures

Elastic wedge theory is investigated to show that the accepted analytic solution for body-force stresses currently used for masonry structures is not valid for the broad shapes of soil mechanics such as earth dams and slopes, due to incomplete specification of boundary conditions. However, with an experimental method using photoelastic gelatin models, the elastic solution for a finite vertical cut was verified and maximum shearing stresses and principal stress trajectories determined for the specific earth dam and 45 degree slope profiles tested. The impliction from these results that the elasticity approach is mroe applicable to these shapes than heretofore recognized is discussed.