Civil & Substructure

Tutorial 2
Over-pass design
CIVL2016

Tutorial Two page

In Tutorial 2, you will designing the tied-earth embankment at the start of the overpass at:
 O’Connell Street for the Kingswood campus light rail
 James Ruse Drive for the Parramatta (Rydalmere) campus light rail

You will also be discussing the background theory, which you will need to include in Submission Two.

Part 1. Compaction operations

The fill for the embankment must be compacted to 95% of maximum dry density from the Standard
Proctor test.

Proctor densities
You will have to calculate the dry density of each Standard Proctor test that you performed in Practical
Two.

Moisture content of each sample:

1. The weight of the Moist soil (m4) [grams] is the difference between the Dish-Moist soil (m2)
and the Empty dish (m1) :

2. The weight of the Dry soil (m5) [grams] is the difference between the Dish-Dry soil ( m3) and
the Empty dish (m1):

3. The Moisture (m6) [grams] is the difference between the Moist soil ( m4) and Dry soil (m5):

4. The Moisture Content ( m%) is the division of the Moisture (m6) [grams] by the Dry soil (m5)
[grams]. It is expressed as a percentage.

5. Complete Table 1 on the page 4 in pen.

Dry density of each sample:

6. The moist weight of compacted soil (w4) in the Proctor mould is the difference between
Mould + Compacted soil (w2) and the empty Mould (w1):

7. The dry weight of compacted soil (w5) is obtained from the moist weight, when you adjust for
the moisture content:

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 8. The dry density  d is the division of the dry weight by the volume of the standard Proctor
mould (V = 9.44 10  4 m3 ):

9. Complete Table 2 on page 4 in pen.

Maximum density
10. Plot the densities of each sample against its moisture content in Figure 1 on page 4.
11. Draw a curve of best fit between the four plotted points.
12. From the curve of best fit, identify the maximum dry density and its corresponding moisture
content on Figure 1 of page 4.
13. Scan page 4 with your scanner or smart phone and insert the image in the Submission Two
file.

Discussion questions
b. Ask your tutor why there is a maximum density. There is a discussion question in the
Submission Two file about this.
c. You will have to distinguish between the Standard Proctor test and the Modified Proctor
test in Submission Two.
d. As a research exercise on the internet, you will need to determine how civil contractors
measure the soil density on site. You will have to describe in Submission Two how they check
that an embankment is compacted to 95% of the maximum dry density.

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 Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Empty dish (m1)

Dish-Moist soil (m2)

Dish-Dry soil (m3)

Moist soil (m4)

Dry soil (m5)

Moisture (m6)

Moisture Content ( m%)

Table 1 Sample moisture contents %

; ; ;
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4

Empty mould (w1)

Mould + Moist compacted soil (w2)

Moist compacted soil (w4)

Dry compacted soil (w5)

Dry density (d )

Table 2 Dry densities [ kg/m3 ]

; ;

2500

2000
Dry density [kg/m3]

1500

1000

500

0
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Moisture content

Figure 1 Dry density versus Moisture content

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Spoil volume
You must estimate the amount of loose spoil, that is needed for the overpass embankment. You will
need to estimate the volume of soil which must be shifted from the excavation pit.

Write your answers into the space provided. Show all your workings.

Embankment Volume
From the embankment drawings on the vUWS site, calculate the volume of the embankment in m 3.
The shape is irregular, so you will need to consult your tutor to work out the volume.

Compaction factor
The moist weight of loose soil [Sample 1] (w6) in the Proctor mould is the difference between
Mould + Loose soil (w3) and the empty Mould (w1):

Dry weight of loose soil (w7) [Sample 1] is obtained by factoring with the moisture content (Sample 1):

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The dry weight of an optimum compacted sample ( w8) is the product of 95% maximum density and
the mould volume (V = 9.44 10  4 m3 ):

The Compaction ratio measures either the reduction in volume for a constant weight OR the increase
in weight for a constant volume. The two ratios are equivalent. So the Compaction ratio rc is the
division of the dry loose soil weight (w7) by the dry compacted soil weight (w8):

Spoil Volume
The volume of spoil involves factoring the embankment volume by the compaction ratio:

Truck trips
For the design haulage volume of your selected dump truck, calculate the number of trips that are
required to deliver the spoil to the embankment. Use the dump truck from Submission One.

Scan pages 5 and 6 with your scanner or smart phone and insert the images in the Submission Two
file.

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Part 2. Granulometric analysis
The weights from the Sieve Analysis in Practical Two are used for granulometric analysis of the test
soil. You will be constructing both frequency and cumulative frequency (% passing) grading curves.

Granulometric analysis
1. Transfer the sieve/pan+soil fraction weight (w1) and sieve weight (w2) from Practical Two to
Table 3.
2. The Soil fraction weight (w3) is the difference between the sieve/pan+fraction weight and
the sieve weight.

3. For each sieve, find the cumulative weight (w4) of soil by adding the weight of all fractions
above. For example, the cumulative weight for No. 40 sieve is the weights for No. 8 sieve, No.
16 sieve, No. 30 sieve and No. 40 sieve.
4. The cumulative weight at the bottom pan is the total weight (wT) of the soil sample.
5. Divide the soil fraction weight (w3) by the total weight (wT) to generate the Soil fraction %.

6. Plot the Soil fraction percentages on Figure 2 below.

7. The Percentage retained is the division of the cumulative weight ( w4) by the total weight
(wT), expressed as a percentage.

8. The Percentage passing is the opposite of Percentage retained:

9. Plot the Percentage passing on Figure 3 below.

10. Classify the test soil as coarse-grained or fine-grained:

Coarse grained soils (Gravel and Sand): less than 50% passing the No.200 (75 microns)
sieve.

Fine grained soils (Silt and Clay): more than 50% passing the No.200 (75 microns) sieve.

11. Draw a freehand line through the Percentage passing data points.
12. Extrapolate the freehand line into the clay zone (to 0.001 mm or 1 micron) of Figure 3.
13. Scan pages 9 and 10 with your scanner or smart phone and insert the images in the
Submission Two file.

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Discussion
c. Based on the classification of the test soil (coarse-grained/fine grained), nominate an
appropriate compacter (smooth roller, sheepsfoot roller, etc.) for the embankment. Explain
why you have chosen this type of compacter.
d. Referring to Figure 2, you will be asked to improve the Grading characteristics of the test
soil in the Submission Two file.
e. You should discuss the problems of Extrapolating the grading curve into the clay zone with
your tutor. There is a question in Submission Two that relates to this issue.
f. The hydrometer test is based on Stokes Law. Investigate what factors affect the test on the
internet, so that you can discuss the test in Submission Two.

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 Sieve + Soil Sieve (w2) Soil fraction Cumulative soil Soil fraction % % Retained % Passing
fraction (w1) (w3) (w4)
grams grams grams grams

No. 8 sieve

No. 16 sieve

No. 30 sieve

No. 40 sieve

No. 50 sieve

No. 100 sieve

No. 200 sieve

Bottom pan

Table 3 Soil fractions

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Figure 2 Soil fraction percentages

Figure 3 % Passing

(Based on the % passing No. 200 sieve):

Test Soil Classification =

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Part 3. Pavement strength
The pressures from Practical Two are used to derive the CBR of tamped road-base. This data is used
to determine the pavement thickness for tamped road-base.
a. Calculate the CBR of the tamped road-base:

b. Using Figure 4, determine the thickness of the tamped road-base pavement. Report the thickness
in inches and millimetres. [ 25.4 mm 1 inch ]

The design load is based on the U.S. Standard Light Rail Vehicle (see the Project Brief).
Total weight of vehicle with a crush load of 219 students = 52.3 tonnes or 115,280 lbs
Wheel load (12 wheels per vehicle) = 4.36 tonnes or 9,600 lbs.

Figure 4 Pavement thickness based on CBR

(from www.facebook.com)

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Discussion
c. In Submission Two, you will have to explain why the penetration resistance of the Standard
(soaked) roadbase is much larger than the Dry roadbase.
d. You will need to research on the internet if there is an on-site test that can check the CBR,
once the pavement has been constructed.
e. Table 4 is based on the pavement thickness for road vehicles. You will need to ask the tutor
what happens to the recommended thickness for light rail vehicles.

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Part 4. Tied-earth retaining wall
Sand density
1. For the density measurement, the weight of sand (w3) is the difference between the jar + sand
weight (w2) [ kg ] and jar weight (w1) [ kg ]:

2. Calculate the sand density s [ kg / m3 ]. The volume V is 0.002m3 (2 litres):

3. The unit weight s [ kN/m3 ] is related to the density:

4. The maximum overburden pressure V [ kN/m2 ] depends on the depth of fill D [m]:

Earth pressure
5. The maximum earth pressure H [ kN/m2 ] is derived from the formula below:

Note: The formula uses non-standard units to avoid confusion:

Kilograms for the Pull P and millimetres for the Depth D.
The maximum earth pressure H is in the standard units of kN/m2.

6. The active earth pressure coefficient Ka is the division of the earth pressure H by the
overburden pressure V :

7. Using the data from Practical Two, complete Table 5 on page 14.
8. Scan Page 14 and insert in Submission Two.

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Sand density
Weight of sand

Sand density

Unit weight

Active earth pressure coefficient

Depth of Fill D Spring pull P Overburden Earth pressure Active earth

pressure V H pressure
coefficient Ka
[m] [ kg] [ kN/m2 ] [ kN/m2 ]

0.30

0.35

0.40

0.45

0.50

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Embankment earth force
9. To ensure free traffic flow on the public road (James Ruse Drive or O’Connell Street), the
clearance below the overpass must be 5.2 m. Adding ½ metre for the overpass deck, the
maximum embankment height H will be 5.7 metres.

10. The maximum overburden pressure V [ kN/m2 ] can be calculated using the unit weight s
[ kN/m3 ] from step 3:

11. The facing panels for the tied earth wall are 1.5m  1.5m (Figure 5). The average overburden
pressure V,av [ kN/m2 ] on the lowest panel will be slightly smaller than the maximum
overburden pressure:

Figure 5 Reinforcement for a tied earth retaining wall

(from Foster Geotechnical Retained Earth)

12. The average earth pressure H,av [ kN/m2 ] on the lowest panel is obtained by factoring the
average overburden pressure from the average active earth pressure coefficient Ka from step 6:

13. The earth force FE [ kN ] on the lowest panel is calculated by multiplying the average earth
pressure by the area Ap of the panel (1.5m  1.5m = ) 2.25m 2:

Superimposed force

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14. The retaining wall will also be subjected to horizontal pressures from the superimposed load of
mlry of vehicle with a crush load is 52.3 tonnes.
the light rail vehicle. From Part 3, the total mass
Therefore, the light rail vehicle weight-force Flrv [ kN ] is derived from the product of the mass
and the acceleration due to gravity (Take g as 10 m/s2):

15. The light rail vehicle “footprint” Alry [ m2 ] is the product of the vehicle width wlry (2.70m) and
vehicle length llry (21.64m):

16. The light rail vehicle vertical pressure V,lrv [ kN/m2 ] is the division of the light rail vehicle
weight-force by its footprint:

17. The light rail vehicle horizontal pressure H,lrv [ kN/m2 ] is derived by factoring the light rail
vehicle vertical pressure with the active earth pressure coefficient Ka from step 6:

Note that the superimposed pressure of the light rail vehicle is constant down the retaining wall.

18. The superimposed force FS [ kN ] on the lowest panel is calculated by multiplying the light rail
vehicle horizontal pressure by the area Ap of the panel (1.5m  1.5m = ) 2.25m 2:

19. The total force FT [ kN ] on the lowest panel is the sum of the earth force FE and the
superimposed force FS :

20. Referring to Figure 5, each steel rod Fr [ kN ] must resist 1/6th of the total force on the lowest
panel:

21. In Building Science, you investigated the strength of materials. Using a permissible tensile stress
ft of 150 MPa, calculate the cross-sectional area Ar [mm2] of each rod:

22. The required diameter dr of each rod is determined from the cross-sectional area:

23. Your calculations are done on pages 18 and 19.

24. Scan page 18 and page 19 with your smart phone or scanner.
25. Insert the scans into the Submission Two file.

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Discussion
f. From Module 8 (Retaining walls), explain why the earth pressure varies down the retaining
wall, but the superimposed pressure does not vary, in the Submission Two file.
g. Not all earth ties look like the steel mesh in Figure 5. Using the internet, research the different
materials and cross-sections, that are used for earth ties for the Submission Two file. Use
the keywords “mechanically stabilized retained earth”.
h. For the embankment backfill, we assumed that material was the same as the active earth
coefficient experiment in Practical Two. But clearly, we can tell from the granulometric
analysis that the filling material is not a pure sand. Discuss with your tutor what effect this will
have on the horizontal pressures on the retaining wall.

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Maximum overburden pressure

Average overburden pressure

Average earth pressure

Earth force

Light rail vehicle weight-force

Light rail vehicle “footprint”

Light rail vehicle vertical pressure

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Light rail vehicle horizontal pressure

Superimposed force

Total force

Steel rod force

Cross-sectional area

Required diameter

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