Geotechnical Engineering Final Quiz

Situation 1: Given Retaining Wall

- Backfill unit weight = 1600kg / cu.m
- Coefficient of Friction between the base of the retaining wall & the soil
= 0.5
- Weight of concrete = 2400kg/cu.m
- Factor of safety against overturning = 2.0
- Factor of safety against sliding = 1.75

Required: 1. the safe length considering overturning

2. the safe length considering sliding and overturning
3. maximum soil stress at the base in kPa
4. minimum soil stress at the base in kPa

Situation 2: A series of undrained shear box test (area of box = 360 sq mm) were
carried out on a soil with the following results (3 pts each)

Normal Load (N) Shear Force at Failure (N)

90 70
180 96.5
270 123

Required: 5. determine the cohesion with respect to the total stresses

6. determine the angle of friction

Sit 3: For the footing shown, if the settlement at Footing B(square) is half the
settlement of Footing A (2mx3m)using 2:1 method,(4 pts each)

7. Determine the present overburden pressure below footing A in kPa

8. Determine the change in pressure below footing A in kPa
9. Determine the present overburden pressure below footing B in kPa
10. Determine the dimension of footing B in meters