APPENDIX G

EXAMPLE CALCULATIONS FOR ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS

G.1 Example Calculations for Reinforced Sand

To illustrate the analytical model, example calculations are presented for a case adopted from
model tests presented by Adams and Collin (1997).
The following data are given:
B = 0.61 m, Df = 0.0 m, = 14.5 kN/m3, N = 2, u/B = 0.25, h/B = 0.25, qu = 270 kPa
(unreinforced, at s/B=10%), J = 450 kN/m (average value in machine and cross-machine
direction).
The following data are back-calculated:
= 37.9o, Es = 3525 kPa
Step 1: Calculating the settlement at the first and second layers of reinforcement:
C1 = 1, C2 = 1, C3 = 1
First Layer (at a depth of z1 = u):

∆z Es z
Iε Iε∆z/Es
(mm) (kPa) (mm)
152.5 3525 228.75 0.986 0.043
152.5 3525 381.25 1.175 0.051
152.5 3525 533.75 0.961 0.042
152.5 3525 686.25 0.747 0.032
152.5 3525 838.75 0.534 0.023
152.5 3525 991.25 0.320 0.014
152.5 3525 1143.75 0.107 0.005
Σ 0.209

I ∆z
Se1 = C1C 2 C3 q − D f ∑ Es
= (1)(1)(1)(270 − 0)(0.209)
= 56.419 mm
Second Layer (at a depth of z2 = u+h):

340
 ∆z Es z
Iε Iε∆z/Es
(mm) (kPa) (mm)
152.5 3525 381.25 1.175 0.051
152.5 3525 533.75 0.961 0.042
152.5 3525 686.25 0.747 0.032
152.5 3525 838.75 0.534 0.023
152.5 3525 991.25 0.320 0.014
152.5 3525 1143.75 0.107 0.005
Σ 0.166

I ∆z
S e 2 = C1C 2 C 3 q − D f ∑
Es
= (1)(1)(1)(270 − 0)(0.166)
= 44.902 mm
Step 2: Calculating the tensile forces in the first and second layers of reinforcement:
First Layer:
2 2
Lab = Lcd = se21 + z1 2 = 56.419 2 + 152.5 2 = 94.854 mm

Lbc = B = 610 mm

Lad = B + z B = 610 + 152.5 = 762.5 mm

Average strain:
Lab + Lbc + Lcd − Lad 94.854 + 610 + 94.854 − 762.5
avg = = = 4.88%
Lad 762.5

max =2 avg = 2 × 4.88% = 9.76%

Strain at the triangle soil wedge faces ac and bc as shown in Figure 7.2.7:
u u
+
tan 4+ 2 2
= max = 3.86%
B+u
2
T1 = J = 450 ⋅ 3.86% = 17.4 kN / m
Second Layer:
2 2
Lab = Lcd = s e21 + z 2 2 = 44.902 2 + 305 2 = 158.973 mm

Lbc = B = 610 mm

341
Lad = B + z B = 610 + 305 = 915 mm

Lab + Lbc + Lcd − Lad 158.973 + 610 + 158.973 − 915

avg = = = 1.415%
Lad 915

max =2 avg = 2 × 1.415% = 2.83%

u+h u+h
+
tan 4 + 2 2
= max = 1.87%
B+u +h
2
T2 = J = 450 ⋅ 1.87% = 8.4 kN / m
Step 3: Calculating the increased bearing capacity ∆qT:
 u + i −1 h  
12Ti u + i − 1 h 1 − 2 tan  − 
N
 B  4 2 
∆q T = ∑ 2
= 107 kPa
i =1 B
Step 4: Calculating the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced sand:
qu ( R ) = qu + qT = 1.3cN c + qN q + 0.4 BN + ∆qT = 270 + 107 = 377 kPa

G.2 Example Calculations for Reinforced Silty Clay

To illustrate the analytical model, example calculations are presented for five layers of BX6200
geogrid placed at 152 mm spacing.
The following data are given:
B = 0.457 m, Df = 0.0 m, = 17.3 kN/m3, N = 5, u/B = 1/3, h/B = 1/3, qu = 896 kPa (unreinforced,
at s/B=10%), J = 323 kN/m (average value in machine and cross-machine direction).
The following data are back-calculated:
c 25 kPa, = 28o
Step 1: The tension developed in the reinforcement at different levels (based on measuring
strain):
T1 = 2.65 kN/m, T2 = 2.24 kN/m, T3 = 1.83 kN/m, T4 = 1.42 kN/m, T5 = 1.01 kN/m
Step 2: Calculating the ultimate bearing capacity of the underlying unreinforced silty clay:
N q = 14.72 N c = 25.8 N = 16.72 d = 0.762 m

qb = 1.3cN c + d + D f N q + 0.4 BN = 1086kPa

Step 3: Calculating the ultimate bearing capacity of the reinforced silty clay:

342
Ks = 4.796, ca = 25 kPa, δ = 28o
N

4c d  2 D f  K s tan 4 ∑ Ti tan
qu R = q b + a + 2 t d 2 1 +  t
− d+ i =1
= 1393 kPa
d 
t
B  B B

343
 VITA
Qiming Chen was born on October 20th, 1975, in Hunan Province, People’s
Republic of China. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Nanjing
Architecture and Civil Engineering Institute (currently renamed to Nanjing University of
Technology), Nanjing, China, in 1997 and his master’s degree in civil engineering from
Tongji University, Shanghai, China, in 2000. Then he worked as a civil engineer in
Shanghai, China, for about four years. He came to the United States to pursue a doctoral
degree in civil engineering at Louisiana State University in January 2004. The degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in civil engineering will be conferred to him in August 2007.

344