Dr.

Francisco Grajales I sem 2020

MARITIME GEOTECHNICS I
HOMEWORK # 9
TOPICS: SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS – SETTLEMENT

Important Note: The homework must be solved by hand, unless specifically indicated.

PART I: RESEARCH (40 pt)

Question 1
Watch the video of the 2nd Buchanan Lecture, delivered by Professor Geoffrey Meyerhof at Texas A&M
University. Read the corresponding paper. Write an extended essay about the evolution of factors of
safety in geotechnical engineering. For this question you are allowed to use a computer.
• Lecture video (scroll to time = 1:22:40):
https://youtu.be/ksg4t_VIWxc?list=PLXHjEGSzGOPNLB-M3oFeO0eMt20UZguOr

Question 2
Read the attached paper by Braja Das on elastic settlement. How many methods do exist for calculation of
elastic settlements? Explain at least three of them.

PART II: PROBLEMS (60 pt)

Problem 1
For the following shallow foundation, calculate the settlement using Mayne-Poulos approach.
Dr. Francisco Grajales I sem 2020

Problem 2
Calculate the settlement using the rigorous elasticity approach. Use 5 soil layers.

Problem 3
The allowable settlement for the proposed square footing is 1 inch. Compute the primary consolidation
settlement and determine whether it satisfies this criterion or not. Assume a load P = 100 kips.