SCE 5432 - Geotechnical Engineering Practice

Assignment 1

Q.1 An anchored sheet pile wall is constructed by driving a line of

piling into a soil for which the saturated unit weight is 21kN/m3 and
the characteristic shear strength parameters are c’ = 10kN/m2 and φ’
= 27o . Backfill is placed to a depth of 8.00m behind the piling, the
backfill having a saturated unit weight of 20kN/m3, a unit weight
above the water table of 17kN/m3 and characteristic shear strength
parameters of c’ = 0 and φ’ = 35o. Tie rods, spaced at 2.5m centres,
are located 1.5m below the surface of the backfill. The water level
in front of the wall and the water table behind the wall are both
5.00m below the surface of the backfill. Determine the required
depth of embedment for a factor of safety of 2.0 with respect to
gross passive resistance and the force in each tie rod. (40%)

Q.2 Settlement Limits

Using the example in Q.1, and assuming sensitive utilities such as fresh water mains and gas
pipes are located very near to a wall system, a ground settlement limit of 30mm is imposed
around the site. Assume you have analyzed the problem and obtained a pile deflection profile
that gives a deflection area of 85,000mm2. By using the Bowles’ Method, comment on whether
your design is appropriate, if not, please make further recommendation on the design.
Assuming the excavation width of the site is 15m. (20%)

1
Q.3 A braced sheet pile for an open cut in soft to medium clay is shown in the figure below.
The struts are spaced longitudinally at 3 m center to center. Determine the forces in all the
struts. (40%)