ECV 403: FOUNDATION ENGINEERING 1- YEAR 2020/2021

TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

Earth Pressures

1. With help of a neat diagram, distinguish between ‘active Rankine State’ and ‘passive Rankine state’
2. Calculate the total active thrust on a vertical wall 5 m high, retaining a sand of unit weight 17 kN/m3 for which ∅ = 35o.
The surface of the sand is horizontal, and the water table is at a level 2 m below the surface of the sand.
3. Define the following terms
- Earth pressure at rest
- Passive pressure
- Active pressure
4. Explain fundamental assumptions made under Coulombs theory of earth pressures

Bearing capacity of Foundations

5. You are contracted to carry out foundation designs for a 2 storey residential building with a plan shown below.

4m
A
A B

3m
1 1
2m
3m

D
C
3m

Assumptions
i. the building is framed with no masonry
walls
ii. the columns are 400 x 200 mm and 3m Section 1-1
high
iii. the first floor slab is 150 mm thick, roof is
flat concrete slab of 100 mm and Ground
floor slab is 100 mm

Instructor: Dr. Eng. Mwai Page 1 of 2

 ECV 403: FOUNDATION ENGINEERING 1- YEAR 2020/2021

TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

Required:

5a. Using a suitable method of analysis, determine the column loads at the base of the footing. (Hint: assume the sizes
of the footings as 1st iteration)

5b. Using a suitable scale, draw and dimension the foundation layout of the building (use AutoCAD, A4 Paper)

5c. Determine the ultimate and safe bearing capacity of the foundation under column C and D. The soil below the
footing has the following properties: ƴ= 20 kN/m3, c= 1 kg/cm2 and ∅ = 38o. The depth of the foundation is 1.0 m

6. Using neat sketches, describe various types of shear failure in soils (i.e. general shear failure, local shear failure and
punching shear failure

7. Footings are many a times subjected to eccentric and inclined loadings. This lead to reduction in bearing capacity.
Explain how you would account for this reduction during design of foundations.

Settlement of Shallow Foundations

8. Differentiate between immediate, primary consolidation and secondary consolidation settlements. Use a neat sketch
where appropriate

9. a) In Question 5 above, a layer of soft clay, 5 m thick, lies under the proposed building. The effective pressure due to
overlying strata on the clay layer is 3.0 kg/cm2, while the new building increases the overburden to 4.2 kg/cm2. Compute
the settlement, assuming the natural water content of the clay is 43%. Assume reasonable figures for specific gravity of
the soil grains and compression index.

b). Revise the size of the footings for column C and D so that the settlement is 25 mm under each column

c) comparing results for 9 (b) and 5(c), comment on the sizes of the footings (Hint: comment on basis of functional, safety
and economy of the foundation)

10. Using a neat sketch, explain how consolidation settlement takes place in clay soils.

11. If the coefficient of consolidation is 50x10-4 cm2/sec. How many days would be required for column C in question 5 reach
50% of the total settlement.
Piling

12. A precast concrete pile was driven is sand using a 5 tonne hammer having a free fall of 1.2 m. If the penetration of the
pile in the last blow of the hammer was noted as 10.0 mm. determine the load carrying capacity of the pile.
13. Differentiate between friction piles and end bearing piles
14. Describe circumstances under which the pile foundations may be used for the building in question 5 above
Shoring and Underpinning

15. Using neat sketches, describe conditions under which underpinning of building in question 5 above may be necessary
Dewatering

16. Dewatering may be an expensive exercise if it involves ground water. This may call for application of alternative
approaches for carrying out construction works. Describe some of the methods available for an engineer.

Instructor: Dr. Eng. Mwai Page 2 of 2