SAB 2722 1

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER II, SESSION 2010/2011
COURSE CODE : SAB 2722

COURSE : GEOTECHNIC 1

PROGRAMME : SAW

DURATION : 3 HOURS

DATE : APRIL 2011

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES:
1. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

WARNING!
Students caught copying/cheating during the examination will be liable for
disciplinary actions and the faculty may recommend the student to be expelled from
the study.

This examination question consists of (8) printed pages only.

 SAB 2722 2

Q1. (a) State the definition for total stress and effective stress
( 6 marks)

(b) A 5 m x 10 m area (FHLJ) is loaded by uniform load of 100 kPa as

shown in Figure Q1a below. By using Fadum chart,

5m

E F G H
5m

I J K L
5m 5m 5m

FIGURE Q1A

i. Analyse the vertical stress increase at depth 5 m below point A.

( 8 marks)

ii. Re-analyse the vertical stress increase at depth 5 m below point

A if the left part of foundation FGKJ carries an additional load
of 100 kPa.
( 8 marks)

(c ) Determine and sketch the distribution of active and passive pressures

on the right and left of the sheet piles as shown in Figure Q1b. Use
angle of friction of 280 for all layers of soil.

( 12 marks)
(34 marks)
 SAB 2722 3

Unit density = 18 kN/m3

1.2m
1.7m
1.5m
Water
Saturated unit density = 20 kN/m3

Saturated unit density

1.8m
= 20 kN/m3

FIGURE Q1B

Q2. (a) State the definitions for normally consolidated soil and over
consolidated soil.
( 6 marks)

(b) A soil profile is shown in Figure Q2. Where a uniformly distributed

load is applied at the ground surface. Compute the settlement of the clay layer
caused by primary consolidation if

i. The clay is normally consolidated, given Cc = 0.009 (LL-10).

( 7 marks)

ii. The pre consolidation pressure (c) =190 kN/m2, given

Cr=1/5Cc. Use Cc obtained in part (i).
( 7 marks)

iii. The pre consolidation pressure (c) =170 kN/m2. Use Cc and Cr
obtained in part (i) and (ii).
( 7 marks)
 SAB 2722 4

FIGURE Q2

(c ) Answer TRUE or FALSE to the statement below:

i. Consolidation and compaction are similar process which cause

soil settlement.
ii. Only two consolidation processes are considered in civil
engineering design which are primary consolidation and
secondary consolidation.
iii. The compressibility characteristics of a soil relating both to the
amount and rate of settlement are usually determined from
consolidation test using an apparatus called a consolidation
meter.
iv. The shape of e/’ curve depends on the consolidation history of
the soil.
v. Determination of coefficient of consolidation, cv, using
Taylor’s method is known as square root time method.
vi. Primary consolidation only occurs when a saturated soil is
loaded.
( 6 marks)
(33 marks)
 SAB 2722 5

Q3. (a) Figure Q3a shows the cross-section of a three layer of different
homogenous soil strata. Soil 1 and Soil 2 stand at an angle of 45o with
the horizontal with the height of 5 m. The unit weight, γ for Soil 1 = 18
kN/m3, Soil 2 = 22 kN/m3 and Soil 3 = 19 kN/m3, shear strength, c’ of
Soil 1 = 35 kN/m2, Soil 2= 25 kN/m2and Soil 3 = 20 kN/m2, and ’ of
Soil 1 = 29o, Soil 2 = 25o and Soil 3 = 28o. (Note: Use Plane failure
surface method – Culman’s method in Q3.1)

3m
SOIL 1
5m
A 30o

SOIL 2

2m SOIL 3

FIGURE Q3A

i. Determine the maximum height of the slope, if the factor of

safety against sliding = 3. In the calculation, assume the soil
mass in slope is homogeneous (one strata), and the unit weight
as well as the strength parameters are equal to the average
values between Soil 1 and Soil 2.
(7.5 marks)

ii. If AC represents a trial failure plane in the soil mass, determine

the factor of safety against sliding along the potential slip
failure by assuming ONLY the strength parameters of d at
interface are equal to the average values of strength parameters
between Soil 1 and Soil 2.
(7.5 marks)
 SAB 2722 6

iii. A 2 m vertical cut is required for construction of a trench in

Soil 3 at the toe of the slope. Calculate the factor of safety of
the cut with respect to both c’ and ’ parameter by using trial
and error method.
(13 marks)

(b) For the soil-rock slope shown in Figure Q3b, the unit weight, γ of the
Soil 1 is given = 15.7 kN/m3 and the properties along the soil-rock
interface are c = 9.6 kN/m2 and  = 15o.

SOIL 1

β H

ROCK

FIGURE Q3B

i. Find the height, H, for critical equilibrium given β = 25o.

(1 mark)

ii. If β = 25o and H = 3 m, what is the factor of safety of the slope

against sliding along the soil-rock interface?
(2 marks)

iii. For β = 30o, find the height, H, that will have a factor of safety
of 1.5 against sliding along the soil-rock interface.
(2 marks)
(33 marks)
 SAB 2722 7

FADUM CHART
 SAB 2722 8

EQUATIONS

log  1 '  0 'H 0

Cc
H 
1  e0

log  1 '  0 'H 0

Cr
H 
1  e0

C
log  c '  0 'H 0  c log  1 '  c 'H 0
Cr
H 
1  e0 1  e0

cR 2
Fs   cR 2
2

Wx

Fs 
 c'    W cos  u   tan  '
i i i i i

W sin  i i

c tan 
Fs  
H cos  tan 2
tan 

H 1  cos(  d ) 
cd 
4  sin  cosd 

4c  sin  cos 
Hcr 
 1  cos(   ) 