THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

M.SC.(ENG.) EXTENDED ASSIGNMENT

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CIVL6079 Slope Engineering

Start Date: 10 Dec. 2020 Start time: 7 pm Duration: 24 hours

Answer any 4 questions.

 All questions carry equal marks.

 This is an individual handwritten assignment.
 Please ensure that you have allocated enough time to scan and upload your assignment
to Moodle before the deadline.
 Late assignments will not be graded.

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Question 1 [25 marks]

a) A soil specimen is allowed to consolidate in a triaxial apparatus for which a

confining pressure of 203.0 kPa is applied. Under undrained conditions, the
confining pressure is then raised to 325.0 kPa, at which point the pore water pressure
is measured as 120.0 kPa. Axial loading is subsequently applied to the point where
failure occurs. The following results are obtained:

Axial strain (%) 0 2 4 6 8 10

Difference in principal stresses (kPa) 0 201 252 275 282 283
Pore water pressure u (kPa) 120 244 240 222 212 209

Find the pore pressure coefficient B and give its physical meaning. Then, plot the
variation of the coefficient 𝐴̅ as a function of the axial strain. Give the physical
meaning of 𝐴̅. [8 marks]

b) The critical period for a man-made slope may be in the long term. Please explain
this statement. Use schematics (i.e., stress paths), state assumptions, and make
references to soil mechanics principles. [4 marks]

c) Please explain under what slope conditions we should adopt effective stress
analyses and total stress analyses. What is the fundamental difference between
drained and undrained loading? [4 marks]

d) What is the purpose of compaction in slope engineering? Make references to soil

mechanics principles in your answer. [3 marks]

e) What soil strength parameters can you obtain from Consolidated Drained;
Consolidated Undrained, Unconsolidated Undrained and direct shear tests? Why
are Consolidated Drained tests less common in soil strength testing? What is the
point of the consolidation stage in triaxial testing? [6 marks]

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Question 2 [25 marks]

(a) The figure below shows a 100m high slope at an inclination of 30 degrees to the
horizontal. The simplified ground model consists of a 10m thick soil layer overlying
very strong rock. The strength parameters of the soil are shown in the figure.
Groundwater flow is almost parallel to the slope surface at a depth of 3m below ground
surface. By assuming that the one-dimensional infinite slope conditions are adequate,
estimate the Factor of Safety (to 2 decimal places) of the slope. [6 marks]

(b) The figure below shows a 18m high slope with an inclination of 45 degrees to the
horizontal. The soil parameters are also summarized in the figure. A planar slip surface
inclined at 35 degrees to the horizontal is being considered. Calculate the Factor of
Safety (to 2 decimal places) of the slope by using limit equilibrium method for the
presumed planar slip surface. [9 marks]

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(c) The slope shown in the figure below has the same geometry and soil properties as that
in part (b). A postulated failure mechanism involving a circular slip surface with a
radius of 18m is being considered. The failure mass is divided into 6 vertical slices,
each of which has a width of 3m. Calculate the Factor of Safety (to 2 decimal places)
of the slope using the Simplified Bishop’s method. (10 marks)

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Question 3 [25 marks]

The figure shown below is a loose fill slope to be upgraded by 7 rows of soil nails. The
required stabilizing surface pressure calculated from limit equilibrium method is 74 kPa in
order to achieve a factor of safety of 1.1.

(a) Explain why the soil nails are in two different orientations. [5 marks]

(b) Determine the minimum required length for each of the 7 rows of soil nails. You may
assume that the drill-hole of soil nail has an outer diameter of 150 mm, and the vertical
and horizontal spacings of the nails are both 1.5m. Use a Factor of Safety of 1.5 against bond
failure. State all other assumptions made in the calculations.
[20 marks]

Soil properties
CDG: c′ = 5kPa, ′ = 35°, total = 18 kN/m3
FILL: cu = 0.267 × ′v, total = 18 kN/m3

R.C. grillage
system 1 m DPWT
Row 1
3m
Fill Row 2 Slope height
= 10 m
Row 3
33.7
CDG
Soil nails at 1.5 m c/c
inclined at 20

Row 4
Soil nails at 1.5 m c/c Row 5
inclined at 56 DPWT – Design Perched Water Table
Note: The Figure is not drawn to scale
Row 7 Row 6

Question 4 [25 marks]

a) The Mid-levels Scheduled Area of Hong Kong Island is characterised by its steep
sloping terrain. Legislation was enacted in 1982 stipulating special statutory
geotechnical control on developments in the Mid-levels Scheduled Area. You are
the Registered Geotechnical Engineer appointed to provide geotechnical input into
the design for a proposed development comprising a multi-storey residential block
and a one-level underground car park under the block. The location of the site and
the dimensions of the proposed development are shown in the attached Figure 1.

The proposed platform level, i.e. the underground car park is to be excavated from
this level, is assumed to be approximately the same as the existing ground level.
There are a few residential buildings around the site. You can assume that they are
on driven piles. Two existing man-made slopes are within the lot boundary.

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 i. Please describe the objectives of having the Registered Geotechnical Engineers
in Hong Kong and your roles and responsibilities as a Registered Geotechnical
Engineer under the Buildings Ordinance. [4 marks]

ii. Please discuss the site conditions and special geotechnical control provisions
under the Buildings Ordinance that may affect the proposed development
scheme as well as the relevant requirements in the submission of design plans
to the Buildings Department for approval. [8 marks]

b) Frictional and Voellmy models are the two basal flow resistance rheologies that
found to be representative in back-analyses of natural terrain landslides in Hong
Kong when using numerical model of landslide debris mobility using ‘equivalent
fluid’ approach. Please discuss on the types of landslides with respect to the
characteristics of the Frictional and Voellmy models in landslide debris mobility
modelling. [3 marks]

c) A lump mass model for landslide dynamic analysis is shown in Figure 2 below.
Point A is taken to be the source of a stationary landslide mass of total volume is
100 m3, at 10 m vertically above the toe (point B) of a 30 slope, with the ground
inclined upwards at 5 beyond point B. Assuming the bulk density of the landslide
mass at 1800 kg/m3 and gravitational acceleration = 10 m/s2 and the kinetic energy
is to be dissipated through basal friction of the landslide mass (friction angle = 20),
and assuming the velocity of the landslide mass at the slope toe will be maintained
when the direction of movement changes from the 30 downwards to 5 upwards.
Please present your calculations using Eurlerian approach to determine:

i. The velocity of the landslide mass at the slope toe; and [5 marks]

ii. The velocity of the landslide mass at a horizontal distance of 3 m from the toe
of the slope. [5 marks]

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Figure 1. Plan view of proposed development

Figure 2. Schematic of landslide mass

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Question 5 [25 marks]

a) In the context of lessons learnt from landslide investigations, answer the

following:

i. What is loose fill? [2 marks]

ii. What are the typical failure mechanisms and predisposing factors in an old loose
fill slope? [2 marks]
iii. Explain the failure mechanism of rain-induced liquefaction failure of a loose fill
slope under the field condition using a stress path plot, highlighting the different
stages leading to the failure from a soil mechanics perspective. [8 marks]

b) In the context of Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), answer the following:

A natural terrain flanks an existing village house located at the toe of the hillside
with the following information:
The hillside has the following failure modes:
 Small scale failures (annual frequency of occurrence = once every 10 years)
 Moderate scale failures (annual frequency of occurrence = once every 100
years), and
 Large scale failures (annual frequency of occurrence = once every 200 years).
The probability of spatial impact of the village house by landslide debris and the
corresponding vulnerability factors for the different failure modes are summarized
below:
Probability of
Failure Mode Vulnerability Factor
Spatial Impact
0.9 0.1
Small
0.1 0.2
0.8 0.4
Moderate
0.2 0.5
0.4 0.6
Large
0.6 0.9

The affected house has a total of 6 occupants. The distribution of their temporal
presence is as follows:
8 am to 2 pm 2 pm to 8 pm 8 pm to 8 am
Time
(6 hours/day) (6 hours/day) (12 hours/day)
No. of people 3 1 6
Probability of
temporal presence, 0.25 0.25 0.5
Pp

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 Assume that the person with the most exposure to landslide hazard is present in the
house for 100% of the time.

i. Calculate the Personal Individual Risk; [3 marks]

ii. Calculate the Potential Loss of Life (PLL); [3 marks]
iii. Construct the calculated F-N curve for this hillside on Figure 3 and explain
whether the calculated Personal Individual Risk and Societal Risk comply with
the recommended risk criteria. [4 marks]
iv. Explain why societal risk needs to be considered in QRA in addition to
individual risk? [3 marks]

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Figure 3. Societal Risk Criteria for Natural Terrain Landslides

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Question 6 [25 marks]
a) In the context of natural terrain landslides, answer the following:

i. What are the policies adopted by the Hong Kong Government in managing the
risk of natural terrain landslide hazards posed to (1) new development and (2)
existing development, respectively? [4 marks]

ii. Describe the technical framework of the Design Event Approach and the input
involved at different key steps for assessing natural terrain landslide hazards in
Hong Kong. [8 marks]

b) In the context of natural terrain mitigation measures, answer the following:

Simplified Hertz equation for assessing boulder impact:
𝐹 = 𝐾𝑐 4000𝑣 1.2 𝑟 2

𝐹 = impact force of a single boulder (𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑁)

𝐾𝑐 = load reduction factor (use the recommended value)
𝑣 = boulder impact velocity normal to the barrier (in m/s)
𝑟 = radius of boulder (in m)

The run-up distances assessed by different approaches are summarized below:

A rigid barrier is proposed to intercept a channelised debris flow with the following
properties:

• Debris density = 2000 kg/m3

• Width of debris run-out path = 4 m
• Width of barrier = 10 m
• Many small boulders (< 0.5 m) and one large boulder (1.4 m) are found along
the predicted debris run-out path

A section through the rigid barrier is shown below:

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The corresponding cumulative kinetic energy hydrograph and cumulative volume hydrograph
are shown below:

A runout analysis (using DMM) has been carried out using a realistic topographic profile. The
derived velocity and thickness hydrographs are shown below:

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Approaches to the assessment of run-up distance are shown below:

Answer the following:

i. Estimate the debris velocity (v) and debris thickness (h) for the first two phases
of impact, assuming that the debris surface profile upon impact is inclined at 10
degrees. [4 marks]

ii. Determine the dynamic debris impact forces (F) for the first two phases of
impact using the hydrodynamic approach based on the assumptions
recommended by the Geotechnical Engineering Office. [4 marks]

iii. Determine the impact force (F) due to the large boulder using the simplified
Hertz equation. [2 marks]

iv. Determine the run-up height (hf) for the first phase of impact using the approach
recommended by the Geotechnical Engineering Office. [3 marks]

- END OF PAPER -

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