Exam questions

Ø 4 compulsory questions (20+20+25+35 marks)

ü Fundamental soil mechanics (2 questions)
ü Retaining wall
ü Foundation

”take-home” exam: variable parameters, e.g. γ = P kN/m3, P =

18 + x/10, where x is the sum of the last 3 digits in your student ID
number (e.g. for student ID 1945103, x = 4, P = 18.4).

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Effective Stress

The total stress can be divided into two parts:

Ø A portion is carried by water in the continuous void spaces.

Ø The rest is carried by the soil grains at their contact points. The sum of the
vertical contact forces per unit cross-sectional area of the soil mass is called
effective stress. This is the stress transmitted through soil skeleton.

P =s × A
PS PSV

a
a
PS
u: pore water pressure

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Effective Stress

Ø Determination of effective stress: water table below soil

surface

Hd

Define buoyant unit weight

of soil , then

Hs

s’ = s - u u = gwHs u = gwHs

σ = gdHd + gsatHs
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Effective Stress

Ø Determination of effective stress: water table above soil surface

s u s¢
Hw

H
The effective stress is
independent of the depth of
Hs water above the submerged
soil.

σ = gwHw + gsatHs u = gwH s’ = s - u

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Triaxial Shear Test
Ø Different types of tests
– Consolidated drained (CD)
– Consolidated undrained (CU)
– Unconsolidated undrained (UU)

Ø Clay property
ü Water table
ü Saturation

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Questions for geo-structure design

Ø Design of retaining structures

ü Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria
ü The active and passive Rankine earth pressure (with the plots)
ü Lateral earth pressure and drainage
ü Choose the correct soil strength parameters
ü Limit states to be considered in the design
Ø Design of foundations
ü Bearing capacity of soils
ü Bearing capacity factors, Nγ, Nc and Nq
ü Shape factors, unit weight of soil, soil strength parameters
ü Factor of safety
ü Limit states to be considered in the design

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 Rankine’s theory (Active state)

In granular soils 1 - sinj 2æ jö

Ka = = tan ç 45° - ÷ pa = Kag z
1 + sin j è 2ø

Ø The force per unit length of the wall due to active pressure
distribution is the active thrust:

H H 1
Pa = ò padz = ò Kag zdz = Kag H 2
0 0 2
In granular soils (c=0)

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Rankine’s theory

Ø For cohesive soils, following the same step as for granular soil, but
with the difference that c ¹ 0:

1 - sin f 2æ jö
Ka = = tan ç 45 - ÷
o

1 + sin f è 2ø

pa = Kag z - 2c Ka (In cohesive soils)

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Rankine’s theory

Ø Before the crack occurs, the active thrust:

H
Pa = ò padz
0

=ò
H
0
( K ag z - 2c )
K a dz
1
= K ag H 2 - 2c K a H
2

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Rankine’s theory

Ø Soils are unable to resist tensile stresses:

Ø Therefore, the active pressure is zero at a

particular depth z0: 2c
z0 =
g Ka
Ø Then, the active thrust is:
H 1
padz = Kag ( H - z0 )
2
Pa = ò
z0 2
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 Rankine’s theory (Passive state)

1 + sinj 2æ jö
Kp = = tan ç 45° + ÷ pp = K pg z
1 - sin j è 2ø
(In granular soils, c=0)

Ø The force per unit length of the wall due to passive pressure
distribution is the passive resistance:
H H 1
Pp = ò ppdz = ò K pg zdz = K pg H 2
0 0 2
(In granular soils, c=0)

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Rankine’s theory

Ø Following the same step as

for granular soil, but with the
difference that c ¹ 0:

pp = K pg z + 2c K p

(In cohesive soils)

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Rankine’s theory

Ø In the case of cohesive soils, the passive pressure is

never equal to zero. The total passive resistance is:

1 H
Pp = ò ppdz = K pg H 2 + 2c K p H
0 2
(In cohesive soils)

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Terzaghi (1943) analysis
Hypotheses:
Ø Failure mode of general shear;
Ø rigid-perfectly plastic homogeneous soil;
Ø strip footing (plane strain conditions);
Ø vertical and centred load;
Ø horizontal foundation level and ground surface.
gross q = g BN + cN + po N q
u
1
2 g c

bulk unit wt. cohesion surcharge

B
gross q c = cohesion
ult
Nc Ng Nq = bearing capacity factors
depending on f only
p p
o o f = angle of shearing resistance
foundation level

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Unit weight of soil

For an effective stress analysis, three different situations should

be considered:
Ø Water table is well below the foundation level
Bulk unit weight (γ) should be used in the first and third terms;

Ø Water table is at foundation level

Effective unit weight (γ’) must be used for the first term;
Bulk unit weight (γ) should be used in the third term;
Ø Water table is at the ground surface
Effective unit weight (γ’) must be used for the first and third terms;

qu = 12 g BNg + cN c + po N q
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Example 1

In undrained triaxial tests with saturated clay samples, The

confining pressure was set as 100 kPa, the axial loading stress at
failure was 200 kPa.
(1) If the same soil sample is tested again with the confining
pressure of 150 kPa, what will be the axial loading stress at
failure?
(2) Determine the soil shear strength parameters.

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Example 2

A series of two direct shear tests have been conducted on a soil.

The soil sample had an area of cross section 50 cm2. The testing
results are listed in the table below. Determine the shear strength
parameters
Test Normal load Shear load at
number (N) failure (N)
1 300 150
2 500 300

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Example 3

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Solution

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Solution

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Example 4

A circular footing of diameter 2.25 m is located at a depth of 1.5 m in a

sand, the shear strength parameters being c’=0 and ϕ’=38°.
(1) Determine the ultimate bearing capacity if the water table is at the
surface. (γ=18 kN/m3; γsat=20 kN/m3; for ϕ’ = 38°, Nγ = 67 and Nq=49. )
(2) Calculate the safe load that can be carried by the footing with a factor
of safety 3 against complete shear failure.

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Example 4 - solutions
(1) For a circular footing, the ultimate bearing capacity is given by:

q f = 0.3g BNg + g DN q

For water table at the surface:

q f = 0.3g ¢BNg + g ¢DN q
=0.3 ´ 10.2 ´ 2.25 ´ 67 + 10.2 ´ 1.5 ´ 49 = 1211 kN/m 2

(2) 𝑞!" = 𝑞" − 𝛾𝐷 = 1211 − 10.2×1.5 = 1195.7 𝑘𝑁/𝑚#

𝑞$ = 𝑞!" ⁄𝐹 + 𝛾𝐷 = 1195.7⁄3 + 10.2×1.5 = 413.87 𝑘𝑁/𝑚#

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