Pressure Bulb - Point Load (Boussinesq)

The study of pressure bulbs is fundamental in geotechnical engineering to understand the stress distribution in soil due to applied loads.

A point load applied on the surface of a semi-infinite elastic medium generates a pressure distribution pattern that can be described by the Boussinesq equation. This equation provides a mathematical way to calculate the stresses induced at any point in the medium due to the point load.

The pressure bulb is a graphical representation of this distribution, showing how stresses spread at different depths and horizontal distances from the point of load application.

Isobar Curves

Within this context, isobar curves play a crucial role. Isobar curves are lines that connect points with the same magnitude of induced pressure. These curves allow visualizing and analyzing how pressures are distributed in the soil, facilitating the design of foundations and other structural elements.