TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT 2

CEX6230 GEOTECHNICS
Academic Year 2014/15
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1. A Drained Triaxial Test is performed on a normally consolidated clay soil. The specimen is initially
consolidated, isotropically, by applying an all round cell pressure of 300kPa.
A) The deviatoric stress is then increased while reducing the cell pressure, to satisfy the

relationship: D 2 c . D is the increase in deviatoric stress; c is the decrease in cell

pressure. The specimen reaches its maximum shear stress at a Deviatoric Stress, D of 300kPa.
Complete the table given below.

D 1 2

c 2

(kPa)

(kPa)

1 (kPa)

300

50

1 2
2

1 2
2

(kPa)

(kPa)

300

300

275

325

300

25

100

250

350

300

50

150

225

375

300

75

200

200

400

300

100

250

175

425

300

125

300

150

450

300

150

B) Plot the following on the same graph, using a single graph sheet.
a) The total stress path; name it as line AB.
b) Mohr-Coulomb failure line; name it as line CD.
q

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400

350
350

300
250
D

200
B
Failure Line

EF
EH

150

100

50

450
P

50

100

A
150

200

250

300

350

400

450

C) If the specimen fails at a Deviatoric Stress of 300kPa, compute shear strength parameters.

Tan =150 /300 = 0.5

= tan-1(0.5) = 26033 54.18

1 = 450 kPa and 2 = 150 kPa

Tf = n tan + C
C= 0 and n= 300kPa
Tf = 150 kPa

D) If the above test was performed without allowing drainage, sketch on the same graph sheet the
Total Stress Path (EF) and the Effective Stress Path (EH).
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2. Figure below shows a soil profile along a segment of a highway. A road embankment is to be

constructed to a finished height of 4.0m, with compacted sea sand. Parameter C c / 1 e 0 is

estimated as 1.1.

Complete the table given below considering that the compressible peat consists of three layers of
2m height. can be obtained using the design chart given below. Candidates should note that
the influence factor Iz is for half the embankment load.
Depth to centre
of sub-layer (m)

V 0 (kPa)

-1

6.69

69.30

-3

20.07

68.60

-5

33.45

68.25

(kPa)

E) Compute the total consolidation settlement by considering settlements of each layer.

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F) In order to maintain a finish level 4.0m, you are required to account for settlement and an
additional 1m height of surcharge to account for traffic load. The surcharge equivalent to traffic
load is removed after generated excess pore water pressures have dissipated. Explain how you
would compute the exact fill height required to obtain the finish level of +4.0m.

G) Discuss how you plan to accelerate settlement.

We can use the wick drain method or the Surcharge method to accelerate the settlement.
In wick drain method prefabricated drains or the essence vertical drains that can be installed to decrease
the overall time required to completion of primary consolidation. The primary function of the wick drains is
to reduce the drainage path in a thick compressible soil deposit. Where the length of the drainage path is
the significant controlling factor of the time rate of settlements.
Surcharge loads are additional loads placed on the embankment fill above the design height. This may
speed the consolidation process because percentage of consolidation required under surcharge will be
less than the complete consolidation under the design load. Surcharges can also use to reduce the impact
of secondary settlement. By applying surcharge load the settlement of the embankments accelerating due
to the voids may remove with the additional load that applying by the surcharge load.

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3.
A

A saturated normally consolidated clay soil is loaded during construction of a road embankment.
Discuss whether short-term or long-term stability need to be considered to ensure safe loading.
Propose interventions to be carried out to ensure stability during construction.

Long term stability should consider for ensure the safe loading. That is because long term stability is
checking by soil sample undergoing the load for long time. With long term loading the soil may settle
than the short term loading. That is because of the compactible quality of the soil this is due to the
long term load the soil particles may fail as well as packing well.

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z c
w

H) Velocity potential is expressed as

. Darcys Law is expressed
u v w
h

0.
u ki k .

x
as
The Continuity Equation is expressed as:
f ( x , y, z) k

Define the terms: , p, z, u, k, and h.

h Total head
k Permeability
u- Velocity in the x direction
z Elevation head
p- Pressure
f Velocity potential, constant potential or total energy

2
c) Derive Laplace Equation:

For incompressible continuous flow

direction respectively.

u ki k

2 2 2

0
x 2 y 2 z 2
.

u v w

0.
x y z
where u, v, and w are velocities in x, y and z

h
.
x

h
z c
k

x
From Darcys law for x direction, x

k h c Integrating velocity potential with respect to x, this gives the equation

y
u= x similarly get v=
and w= z .when substituting for u, v and w in equation of continuity yield.

0.
x x y y z z
2 2 2

0
x 2 y 2 z 2

2
Where,

2 2 2

0
x 2 y 2 z 2

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I)

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Figure below shows earth embankment dam with a central clay core. Line ABED shows the
phreatic surface when a clay core is not present. Sketch the phreatic surface on the same figure,
when a clay core is present. Explain why the flow pattern changes when a clay core is present.

J) When SPT N is determined in fine or silty sands, a correction for dilatation is made. The
corrected SPT N is expressed as: N = 15 + 0.5(N0 15). N0 is the measured SPT N. Discuss
how this correction is made. Explain why this correction is made for fine or silty sands.

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4. Figure below shows a dam structure constructed on a river. The structure is founded on a clayey silt
with a coefficient of permeability of 1 x 10-3 cm/s. The saturated unit weight of soil is 19 kN/m 3.
A

Compute the flow occurring beneath the dam in m 3/s per meter length of dam.

3
4

Number of flow channels, Nf = 3

h = 6.3 m

k = 1*10-5m/s

Number of head drops, ND = 10

Q = kh*

Nf
ND

Q = 1*10-5m/s *6.3m*(3/100)
= 1.89*10-5 m3/s

K) Determine the uplift force acting on the structure, in kN per meter length of dam.

Uplift force = h
Potential drop =(6.3/10)=0.63m
Total head at 3rd equipotential line = (17.2+6.3)-(3+0.63) = 19.87m
Excess pore water pressure at 3rd equipotential line, p

= (19.87-(17.2-9.4))*9.81 = 118.407kNm-2

Uplift force = h* length of dam

= 118.407kNm-2*50m
= 5920.335 kN/m

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L) Identify the location where maximum hydraulic gradient occurs; estimate the maximum hydraulic
gradient.
M) Compute the factor of safety provided against piping.
C)

Maximum hydraulic gradient =

IC = (s-w)/ w =

199.81
9.81

I Critical = Sat w
w
= ( 19 X1000) ( 1000 X 9.81 )
( 1000 X 9.81 )

h
L

0.633
9.4

= 0.201

= 0.937

Factor of safety = I critical / I

=0.94 / 0.201 = 4.66

=0. 936 0. 94

N) If the factor of safety against piping is to be increased, suggest a viable method.

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