Exercise Three:

An engineer is evaluating the subsurface stress impact of a strip load applied on the surface. The load intensity is $q=43k\frac{N}{m^2},$ and it spans a width of $B=10m.$ The engineer is interested in determining the increase in vertical stress at a point $A,$ located $4$ meters below the surface $($at depth $z=4m)$ and horizontally offset by $x=8m$ from the centreline of the load.

Calculate the vertical stress increase at point A and discuss any assumptions about how the load spreads with depth under a strip foundation.