- 4945 - Theory of Elasticity Solution for Stress Fields in Semi–Infinite Linear Elastic Soil Due to Distributed Load on the Boundary using the Fourier Transform Method Dr. Onah, Hygynus Nwankwo Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; hyginus.onah@unn.edu.ng Dr. Ike, Charles Chinwuba* Department of Civil Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology; ikecc2007@yahoo.com Dr. Nwoji, Clifford Ugochukwu Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; clifford.nwoji@unn.edu.ng Dr. Mama, Benjamin Okwudili Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka benjamin.mama@unn.edu.ng ABSTRACT In this work, the Fourier transform method has been used to obtain general solutions for stress fields in semi-infinite linear elastic soil due to distributed load on the boundary surface. Airy’s stress function in Cartesian coordinates were used to express the governing equations as biharmonic problem, which was solved using Fourier transformation with respect to the variable x where x ∞ ∞ − ≤ ≤ and the solutions made subject to the boundary conditions. General distributed load p(x) and specific cases of uniform strip load and uniform line loads were considered and solved. The solutions were found to be exactly identical with solutions obtained in literature using other methods of analysis. KEYWORDS: Fourier transform method, biharmonic problem, Airy’s stress function, uniform strip load, line load. I NTRODUCTI ON Background Problems involving the determination of the distributions of stresses and displacements in soil media or soil bodies are important in foundation engineering. They occur frequently in the elastic settlement analysis of foundations which is an important phase of the design process. Such problems