Examination Diet 2019/20 Trimester 2 COVID

MODULE CODE: CTR11134

MODULE TITLE: Geotechnical Earthquake and Offshore Engineering
EXAMINER’S NAME: Vicky Dimitriadi
EXAM DURATION: 7 CALENDAR DAYS
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
You must answer ALL questions. An indicative word count of 500 words per
question is in place (excluding diagrams, formulae or calculations)
EXAM PAPER INFORMATION
Total number of pages (including coversheet): 6
Number of Questions: 4
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (CTR, ELE, ENG and MEC module codes)
Answers comprising diagrams, formulae or calculations may be easier to hand-write
and/or sketch. Do this on blank sheets of paper. Scan or photograph your answer
sheets and then insert them into a single (MSWord) file.
Full step-by-step instructions on how to do this can be found on Moodle.
In your answer script you must ensure that all questions and pages are clearly
numbered and that you include the module code and your student
matriculation number.
Your single (MSWord) answer file should then be uploaded to Moodle, prior to the
end of the examination time. Instructions on how to do this can be found in the
Moodle Exam Instructions. Please ensure you do this in sufficient time and prior to
the stated deadline, to avoid any technical issues. You should also retain a hard and
soft copy of your answer script in case of queries. Please be aware that examination
answer scripts may be subject to plagiarism checks.

SPECIAL ITEMS: PAPER REVIEW IN QUESTION 4 IS AVAILABLE ON YOUR

USUAL MODULE MOODLE PAGE.

1
Question [1]: RETAINING WALLS

A free gravity retaining wall is to be built in a seismically active region. The wall is
considered as an ordinary structure and the allowable outward displacement is equal
to dall = 80 mm. It is 3.0 m high with vertical back, a base dimension of 1.4 m and
crest dimension of 0.8 m. The wall will be backfilled with sandy gravel, γ = 18.0
kN/m3, φ' = 35° with a slope of 10o.

0.8 m
β = 10o

γ = 18kN/m3
φ = 36o
3.0 m
δbase = δwall = 24o
kh = 0.15
kv = 0.08

1.4 m
Fig Q1

a) Check that the wall is safe against sliding (ULS = GEO) by calculating the Factor
of Safety FS, according to EC7 Design Approach 1, Combination 1. [Make
appropriate assumptions for the unit weight of concrete]

(5 marks)

b) If you did not have the values of kh and kv, but you had the information provided
below, use EC-8 provisions to evaluate kh and kv.

Cu = 78kPa
Your site is in Lefkada, Greece and the anticipated earthquake is of magnitude
M = 5.7. Make appropriate assumptions for any missing parameters and provide
a brief justification, with clear reference to lecture notes (e.g slide x in lecture No
y) where possible.
Useful correlations: Vs = 49*N600.25*σ’v0.14

2
 Depth (m) N60
0.5 2 Depth (m) N60
1.5 5 16.5 35
2.5 4 17.5 32
3.5 3 18.5 31
4.5 4 19.5 30
5.5 6 20.5 29
6.5 8 21.5 30
7.5 10 22.5 50
8.5 12 23.5 48
9.5 15 24.5 49
10.5 12 25.5 47
11.5 14 26.5 45
12.5 16 27.5 40
13.5 17 28.5 40
14.5 18 29.5 41
15.5 30 30 45
(10 marks)

c) Using the Mononobe-Okabe method, determine (i) the static active thrust PA, (ii)
the total earthquake thrust PAE, (iii) the dynamic thrust ΔPΑΕ and (iv) the
overturning moment about the base of the wall.
(7 marks)

d) Why can the Mononobe-Okabe method not account for liquefaction of the
foundation soils on which the retaining wall sits?
(3 marks)

Total [25] marks

3
Question [2] DYNAMIC SOIL PROPERTIES – LIQUEFACTION

a) List 5 factors that affect the maximum shear modulus Gmax (in sands or clays)
and describe how Gmax is affected (decreases or increases) for each one of them.

(3 marks)

b) Describe conceptually, how you expect the modulus reduction curve G/Gmax
and damping curve versus the cyclic shear strain will change, in the following
cases. Your answer should be concise, clear and you may provide your own
drawings to justify it.
• Low and high plasticity clays
• Confining pressure σ’m in a high plasticity clay
• Number of loading cycles N in a low plasticity clay
(6 marks)

c) For the two scaled earthquake spectra shown below:

• Define the peak ground acceleration, velocity and displacement

• Describe which earthquake is the most severe for the performance of a soil
layer (e.g. H=6m, Vs=100m/s).
• Which structures would you expect to sustain the most severe damage?
1
Sepolia
0.9
Yerba-Buena
0.8

0.7

0.6
Sα (g)

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
Period, Τ (sec)
Fig Q2
(9 marks)

d) - The Factor of Safety against liquefaction (FSL) in a clean sand layer,

increases with depth z from the soil surface.
- The Factor of Safety against liquefaction (FSL) increases with increasing
Fines Content (FC).
Explain in a short paragraph, if you agree or disagree with the above sentences
and under which conditions. You can use representative numeric data to justify
your answer.
(7 marks)
Total [25] marks

4
Question [3] PIPELINES

a) Describe three causes of permanent ground deformation in steel pipelines.

You may use sketches in your reply.
(6 marks)

b) Pipelines suffer from both transient and permanent ground deformations. In

two paragraphs, describe the available design approaches for each one of
them, their main assumptions and limitations.
(12 marks)

c) Comment on the accuracy of the two methods and the accuracy in the
superposition of strains to calculate the VonMises and principal strains.
(7 marks)

Total [25] marks

5
Question [4] OFFSHORE PILES

a) Describe the most commonly used model for the description of the long-term
cyclic lateral loading effect on monopile OWT and state the main limitations.

(5 marks)

b) What are the main excitation frequencies in the foundation of an offshore wind
turbine? Why must they be avoided? What is the effect of the flexibility of the
foundation on the natural frequency?

(5 marks)

c) Read the article entitled ‘Design of monopiles for offshore wind turbines in 10
steps’ by Arany et al. (2017) (available on Moodle) and identify the design
stages that a geotechnical engineer can get involved. Describe them in your
own words and reflect on the possible challenges that you would face.

(15 marks)

Total [25] marks

End of Paper