ENSTP | A.Y.

2019/20 Retaining Structures | Giacomo TEDESCO

EXAM [MAXIMUM 100 POINTS | GIVEN TIME 3/THREE HOURS]

DESIGN PRACTICE [MAXIMUM 50 POINTS]

You are in charge to reshape a natural slope reducing its footprint (shaded area in figure) up to
section AA’.
Design a concrete gravity wall verifying (EUROCODE 7): ultimate limit states for sliding (GEO, DA1
C1) [PTS 10], bearing capacity (GEO, DA1 C1) [PTS 10], overturning (EQU+M2) [PTS 10], overall
slope stability (DA1 C2) [PTS 15]. You must propose any possible solution if a certain limit state is
not verified.
At the end, you must describe the construction phases [PTS 5].

4.5 m
3.2 m
1.0 m
0.5 m

Assumptions:
1. Horizontal ground surfaces both at the top at the and base;
2. An applied variable load on the top part of the slope of 10 kN/m2 (from point A up to infinite);
3. Neglect any water table;
4. Soil friction angle of 32° and neglect any cohesion;
5. Soil unit weight 17 kN/m3 and a concrete unit weight 24 kN/m3;
The designer must assume any missing parameter and justify the choice.
The candidate can find all the necessary formulas in the annex.
NOTE: Design Approach 1 Combination 1 (A1+M1+R1). DA2 C2 (A2+M2+R1)

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 ENSTP | A.Y. 2019/20 Retaining Structures | Giacomo TEDESCO

THEORY [MAXIMUM 50 POINTS]

MULTIPLE-CHOICE [MAX 50 PTS]

The candidate must chose the correct answer (ONE OR MORE):

01 § Soil nailing: the tri-linear nail strength envelope is a function of:
A. Strength of the bar B. Strength of facing plus soil-bar interface C. Strength of the soil/bar interface
D. None
02 + Generally soil nails do not need protection against corrosion:
A. True B. False
03 + The actions on a sheet pile wall (without anchors) can be simplified-summarized in:
A. Destabilizing active pressure on the back of the wall and stabilizing passive pressure on the front
(excavation side) B. Destabilizing passive pressure on the back of the wall and stabilizing active
pressure on the front (excavation side) C. Destabilizing wall weight and stabilizing active pressure
on the front (excavation side) D. Destabilizing active pressure on the back of the wall and stabilizing
bearing capacity of the wall foundation
04 + The sentence “The bending capacity of the wall play a significant role in support of the
retained material (soil, en) while the role of the weight of the wall is insignificant” describes:
A. Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) B. Gravity walls C. Embedded walls D. Soil nailing
05 + Reinforced earth: the reinforcement can consist in 6-8 cm wide steel strips, smooth or
with ribs:
A. True B. False
06 § Tie-back wedge analysis and coherent gravity analysis are common accepted simplified
methods for reinforced earth design. The main differences are:
A. Active-resisting zones geometry B. Active earth pressure coefficient constant/variable with depth
C. Reinforcement envelope definition D. None
07 + Designing a cantilever wall, assuming a not sufficient bearing capacity it can be
necessary to add a key in the foundation:
A. True B. False
08 § A gravity wall is retaining a sand, likely which is the appropriate analysis:
A. Undrained/Short term B. Drained/Long term C. All probable exceptional situation that can occur
at that place D. None
09 + Partial factoring in Eurocode 7: a variable load advantaging the design verification
should not be consider (partial factor 0.0):
A. True B. False
10 § Inclinometer:
A. The first reading is adopted as zero reference B. An inclinometer probe can be simplified by a
beam (typically 1 m long), 4 wheels and a level C. The inclinometer aluminum case is grout into the
borehole and it deforms as the landslide move D. None
11 § Muller-Breslau (1906) approach, based on Coulomb theory, considers also:

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A. Wall-friction angle B. Wall strength C. Slope angle of the ground surface D. Soil cohesion
12 + In steel sheet-pile walls, the U-profile (e.g. Larsen) is largely diffused because:
A. Guaranteed permanently watertight B. Good aspects C. High stiffness due to the moment of
inertia D. None
13 + If we consider the wall-soil friction in the classic Rankine earth pressure theory, the
principal direction of stresses does not change:
A. True B. False
14 + With the increase of the shear strain, the shear stiffness decreases:
A. True B. False
15 + An anchor is defined active if it was pre-loaded:
A. True B. False
16 + In order to develop the full passive earth pressure a smaller displacement is required
compared to the active case:
A. True B. False
17 § Piezometer case characteristics:
A. Used to investigate the water table level and its seasonal variation B. Can be protected by a
geotextile to avoid obstruction/clogging due to clay particles migration C. Used for monitoring
displacements D. None
18 § Earth pressure coefficients. Select all the correct options (assume ϕ’≠0):
A. KP> KA B. KP< K0<KA C. KP* KA=1 D. K0=1
19 + Rest condition is assumed for a wall displacement / wall height ratio:
A. 5*10^-10 B. 0.02 C. 10^-7 D. 5*10^-4
20 + In classic limit equilibrium analysis the soil is a rigid plastic material, therefore:
A. The strength is progressively mobilized on the shear surface
B. The peak strength is mobilized at the same instant throughout the soil mass/sliding surface
21 § A total stress reduction while the pore water pressure remain constant causes:
A. Shear strength decreasing B. Effective stress decreasing C. Effective stress increasing D. None
22 + Between retained soil and drain, a layer of coarse material working as filter can be
necessary. It avoids migration of fine soil particles:
A. True B. False
23 + Field method to determine the undrained shear strength:
A. Proctor test B. Triaxial UU test C. Vane test (Tor-vane) D. None
24 + The range 18°<ϕ’<30° is generally representative of:
A. Clay B. Sand C. Gravel D. Peat
25 + Young modulus of soils is typically:

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A. 10-70 MPa B. >1 GPa C. <1MPa D. 10-50 kPa

26 § Rankine theory with cohesion:
A. Increase the passive earth pressure B. Increase the active earth pressure C. Decrease the
passive earth pressure D. Decrease the active earth pressure
27 + Flow net sketching for seepage and water pressure calculation:
A. Impermeable boundaries are flow lines B. Flow and equipotential lines cross each other at 90°
C. Only a single sketch configuration lead to correct results D. Water flow crosses the flow line
perpendicularly
28 § Shotcrete or sprayed concrete (also spritz-beton):
A. Projected by a pump B. 15 cm minimum resisting thickness C. It can be fiber-reinforced D. A steel
wire mesh can be used as reinforcement
29 + Roller passages will not increase the later (horizontal) pressure on a rigid structure
(bridge abutment):
A. True B. False
30 + Broms (1971) compaction theory define a critical depth (zC) above which the KR limit
condition is not reached:
A. True B. False
31 + In design, for permanent anchors is usually adopted a factor of safety greater than:
A. 5 B. 2 C. 3 D. 1.5
32 § The final bulb diameter is a function of:
A. Drilling fluid B. Borehole length C. Grout injection pressure D. Soil type
33 + The passive earth pressure does not change in presence of water:
A. True B. False
34 § Mononobe (1929) - Okabe (1926) theory for pseudo-static solution in seismic condition:
A. Weight is reduced by a vertical component B. Weight vector became inclined (not any more
vertical) because of a horizontal component C. Active earth pressure calculated through K AE D. None
35 + In earth-moving operations, for example embankment construction, a good rule-of-
thumb is compacting the soil in layers of thickness:
A. as the critical depth zC (Broms 1971 compaction theory) B. 5 cm C. 30-50 cm D. <15 cm
36 + In earth-moving operations, a good rule-of-thumb is to consider the excavated soil
increased in volume compared to in-situ condition (about 30%):
A. True B. False
37 § Limit Equilibrium analysis (slices) includes different calculation methods based on:
A. Single slice forces equilibrium B. Single slice moments equilibrium C. Total mass forces
equilibrium D. Total mass moments equilibrium

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38 + Which friction angle should be adopted calculating the global factor of safety interested
by a re-activated landslide in NC clay where a well-defined pre-existing sliding surface is
known?
A. peak B. residual
39 § Finite Elements analysis advantages:
A. Complex geometry can be defined B. Staged constructions can be defined C. Stresses and
deformation in all the soil mass will be calculated D. Cheap codes and fast analysis
40 + In deep excavation, piping and bottom heave are not related with water seepage:
A. True B. False
41 + Generally, a steel plate is fundamental part of:
A. Anchor head B. Anchor bulb C. Non-structural facing D. Drains
42 § Parts of a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)
A. Foundation B. Facing C. Reinforcement D. Grouted anchors
43 § Types of anchor failure:
A. Concrete-soil pull-out B. Concrete-steel pull-out C. Steel strand or rod failure D. Facing
weathering
44 + Before the concrete pouring, the diaphragm wall excavation is usually supported by:
A. Disposable formworks B. Water and calk solution C. Bentonite slurry D. Water
45 + Bored pile walls: piles center-to-center distance < pile diameter, configuration named:
A. Secant B. Tangent C. Intermittent D. None
46 § Intermittent configuration for a bored pile wall is feasible solution in case of:
A. Loose sand B. Cemented soils C. Over-consolidated soils D. Chaotic soil
47 § Trenching system characteristics:
A. Aesthetically very nice B. The common use is for very large excavation (>20 m) C. It can be
simplified in two lateral steel plates supported by adjustable struts D. Highly reusable
48 + Gabions characteristics:
A. Displacement can be accepted B. Extremely rigid C. Local filling materials can be used
D. Highly specialized workers are required
49 § Short-term condition must be verify in case of:
A. Coarse frictional materials B. Sands C. Fine cohesive soils D. Clay
50 + Hierarchy of design consideration, appearance is more important than constructability
and function:
A. True B. False

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General behavior of retaining structures Partial factor of safety
σ′ σ′ 𝑞′ 𝐵′𝐿′
K = σ′h K 0 = [σ′h] 𝑅𝑑 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚,𝑘𝛾
𝐸𝑑 < 𝑅𝑑
v v at rest 𝑅
NC Soil: Load inclination factors i:
2+𝐵′ /𝐿′
K 0 ≃ (1 − sin𝜙′) (Jaky, 1944) 𝑚 = 1+𝐵′ /𝐿′;
OC Soil: 𝑚+1
𝑇
K 0 = (1 − sin𝜙′)√𝑂𝐶𝑅(1 + sin𝛽) (EC7)* 𝑖𝛾 = (1 − ′ )
*b is the slope angle of the ground surface. 𝑁 + 𝐵′ 𝐿′ 𝑐 ′ cot 𝜙 ′
𝑇 𝑚
1 − sin𝜙′ 1 + sin𝜙′ 1 𝑖𝑞 = (1 − ) ;
Ka = ; Kp = = 𝑁 ′ +𝐵′ 𝐿′ 𝑐 ′ cot 𝜙′
1 + sin𝜙′ 1 − sin𝜙′ K a 1 − 𝑖𝑞
tan 𝛿′ 𝑖𝑐 = 𝑖𝑞 −
Adhesion: c′w = tan 𝜙′ 𝑁𝑐 tan 𝜙 ′
Shape factors s:
1 + sin 𝜙 ′ 𝐵′
Rankine theory for inclined ground surface 𝑠𝑞 = 𝑠𝛾 = 1 + 0.1
cos 𝛽 − √𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜙 ′ 1 − sin 𝜙 ′ 𝐿′
𝐾𝑎,𝑅𝑎𝑛 = 1 + sin 𝜙 ′ 𝐵′
cos 𝛽 + √𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜙 ′ 𝑠𝑐 = 1 + 0.2
1 − sin 𝜙 ′ 𝐿′
σ′a = σ′v 𝐾𝑎 − 2𝑐 ′ √𝐾𝑎
σa = σv − 2𝑐𝑢 (Undrained condition) Factor related to contribution of the soil above the
foundation surface d:
Muller – Breslau formula 𝐷
cos2 (ϕ′ − β) 𝑑𝑞 = 1 + 2 tan 𝜙 ′ (1 + sin 𝜙 ′ )2 𝑖𝑓 𝐷 ≤ 𝐵
K a,MB = 𝐵
2 𝐷
sin(ϕ′ + δ) sin(ϕ − i) 𝑑𝑞 = 1 + 2 tan 𝜙 ′ (1 + sin 𝜙 ′ )2 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑖𝑓 𝐷 > 𝐵
cos²β cos(β + δ) [1 + √
cos(β + δ) cos(β − i)
] 𝐵
1 − 𝑑𝑞
𝑑𝑐 = 𝑑𝑞 −
𝑁𝑐 tan 𝜙 ′

Factors for inclination of the foundation base b:

𝑏𝑞 = 𝑏𝛾 = (1 − 𝛼 tan 𝜙 ′ )2;
1 − 𝑏𝑞
𝑏𝑐 = 𝑏𝑞 −
𝑁𝑐 tan 𝜙 ′

Mass concrete gravity wall: Bearing capacity Factors for inclination of ground surface g:
verification 𝑔𝑞 = 𝑔𝛾 = (1 − tan 𝜔)2 ;
1 − 𝑔𝑞
→ Drained (long-term) conditions: 𝑔𝑐 = 𝑔𝑞 −
𝑁𝑐 tan 𝜙 ′
1
q′lim = 𝛾 ′ 𝐵′𝑁𝛾 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 𝑏𝑐 𝑔𝑐 + 𝑐 ′ 𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 𝑑𝑐 𝑖𝑐 𝑏𝑐
2 → Undrained (short-term) conditions:
+ 𝑞𝑁𝑞 𝑠𝑞 𝑑𝑞 𝑖𝑞 𝑏𝑞
q lim = 𝑐𝑢 𝑁𝑐 𝑠𝑐 0 𝑑𝑐 0 𝑖𝑐 0 𝑏𝑐 0 𝑔𝑐 0 + 𝑞
1+sin𝜙′
𝑁𝑞 = 1−sin𝜙′ exp(𝜋 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙′); 𝑁𝑐 = 2 + 𝜋
𝑁𝑐 = (𝑁𝑞 − 1) cot 𝜙′
Load inclination factors i:
𝑁𝛾 = 2(𝑁𝑞 − 1) tan 𝜙′ 2+𝐵′ /𝐿′
𝑚 = 2+𝐵′ /𝐿′ = 2;
𝑚𝐻
𝑖𝑐 0 = 1 − ′
𝐵 𝐿′𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑐
Shape factors s:
0
𝐵′
𝑠𝑐 = 1 + 0.2 ′
𝐿

Factor related to contribution of the soil above the

foundation surface d:
𝐷
𝑑𝑐 0 = 𝑑𝑞 + 0.4 (𝑖𝑓 𝐷 ≤ 𝐵 )
𝐵
0 −1
𝐷
𝑑𝑐 = 𝑑𝑞 + 0.4𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) (𝑖𝑓 𝐷 > 𝐵 )
𝐵
𝑀𝑥 𝑀𝑦
𝐵′ = 𝐵 − 2 ; 𝐿′ = 𝐿 − 2
𝑁′ 𝑁′
Factors for inclination of the foundation base b:
2𝛼
𝑏𝑐 0 = 1 −
2+𝜋
Factors for inclination of ground surface g: Pu=5 - 25 kg/m3 is the steel mesh per unit volume of gabion
𝑔𝑐 0 = 1
Coefficients of lateral earth pressure
Cantilever beam walls Active earth pressure (horizontal retained surf. EC7):
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛽
𝜓 = [90° + 𝜙 ′ − 𝛽 + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( )]
2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙 ′

Passive earth pressure (horizontal retained surf. EC7):

- Long heel: 𝐾𝑎 = 𝐾𝑎,𝑅𝑎𝑛

K for Caquot-Kerisel (NAVFAC chart):

1 𝛼−𝜓
- Short heel: 𝛿 = 𝜙 (1
′
− 2 90°−𝜓)

- Gabions:
At any sections must be calculated N, T and M: