THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

COURSEWORK EXAMINATION CVNG 3005 2015

Code and Name of Course: CVNG 3005 FOUNDATION ENGINEERING Paper:

Submission Date and Time: Monday 30th November 2015 4:00 pm

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: This paper has 7 pages and 5 questions.

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

Only non-programmable calculators may be used

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 2

1. (a) The soil profile at the site of a proposed warehouse structure is illustrated in Figure Qu. 1a.
Consolidation tests on undisturbed samples taken from 5.5 m (Sample A) and 10.5 m (Sample
B) depths yielded e vs log10(p') curves as given in Figure Qu.1c.
(i) If the proposed depth of footings is 1.5 m determine the size of square footing that
would be required to support a column load of 2250 kN, using a Factor of Safety =
2.5 for the worst-case un-drained Terzaghi Bearing Capacity failure state.
(ii) Determine the Factor of Safety of this footing under the fully drained Terzaghi
Bearing Capacity failure state.
(iii) If an earthquake occurred inducing a moment of 225 kNm at the base of the column
upon full consolidation of the clay, determine the Factor of Safety at the instant of
earthquake loading.
Bearing Capacity factors are given in Figure Qu. 1b and the consolidation status for clay can
be determined from information given in Figure Qu 1c. [12 marks]

(b) Determine the maximum expected settlement at this column footing assuming a Factor of
Safety of 2.5 on its drained ultimate bearing capacity. Assume the contribution of the sands
within the soil profile to be negligible. [8 marks]

2. (a) Determine the expected ultimate drained and un-drained load capacities of 600 mm augered piles
installed to 10 m and 13 m within the soil profile indicated in Figure Qu. 1b, using soil
parameters provided in Figure Qu. 1a, Figure Qu. 1c and Figure Qu. 2a. Assume that the
proposed pile cap to be 1.5 m thick. State clearly any assumptions that you may be required to
make in your capacity calculations, giving reasons for these. [12 marks]

(b) If five of the 10 m depth piles, symmetrically configured as indicated in Figure Qu. 2b, are to be
used at their allowable individual capacity (FS = 2.5 on ultimate capacity), determine the
maximum allowable column load that can be placed on the group. Determine also the maximum
expected value of settlement under this loading, assuming the sands do not contribute to
settlement. [8 marks]

3. Two retaining walls mirrored about the centreline of a proposed roadway cut section are to be
constructed as part of a highway project. The proposed design configuration of the right hand wall
is illustrated in Figure Qu. 3. Soil properties are as follows: Sand Fill γ = 20 kN/m3, φ´ = 34°, c´ =
0, Compacted Clay γ = 20 kN/m3, φ´ = 15°, c´ = 0, and Fissured Clay γ = 18 kN/m3, φ´ = 15°, c´ =
0, assume soil parameters above and below the water table are the same. The wall is of uniform
concrete section thickness of 0.3 m with unit weight γconc = 24 kN/m3.

(a) Determine the Factor of Safety against sliding of the proposed wall section. [6 marks]
(b) If a Factor of Safety of 1.5 is required against sliding for condition (a) above, determine the
depth of a key placed at the front of the footing that would be required to achieve this
condition. Is this a practical solution? Recommend alternative solution. [6 marks]
(c) Determine the pressure distribution at the base of the wall and the Factor of Safety against
bearing capacity failure. Information in Figure Qu. 1a may be used. [8 marks]
Please state clearly any assumptions that you make regarding loading conditions and/or soil
parameters used.

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 3

4. (a) Reinforced concrete piles of 450 mm diameter and yield moment capacity 120 kNm shall be
rigidly cast into the base of the retaining wall as illustrated in Figure Qu. 3. If these piles are
to extend 8 m below cap level into the fissured clay. The clay below cap level was found to
be over-consolidated; OCR = 3.0 with γ = 18 kN/m3, φ´ = 15°, c´ = 0.
(i) Determine whether these piles might act as long or short piles.
(ii) Determine the number of piles/m of wall and spacing arrangement that would be
required to resist the full lateral load associated with a maximum expected earthquake
ground acceleration of 0.3 g, subject to a FSeq = 1.1 on lateral pile load capacity.
Derive any equations used and state clearly any assumptions made. [12 marks]

(b) If due to a rebar detailing error at the pile-cap connection this joint/connection was rendered as
pinned, determine the revised number of piles/m of wall that would be required under the expected
earthquake loading. [8 marks]

5. An embankment fill for a roadway is to be constructed over a swamp profile as indicated in Figure Qu
5, by instantaneously placing the 1st lift of 1.5 m of fill and keeping it in place for 6 months before
placing the 2nd lift.
Consolidation analysis of the profile indicates that the excess pore pressure dissipation at the
base of all slices is given by:
ut = u0.e-kt, where
ut = excess pore water pressure at time t (months),
u0 = Initial pore water pressure in excess of the ambient value; at time t = 0
k = 0.085 a numerical exponent
t = time in months.
(a) Determine the Factor of Safety of the slip circle indicated:
(i) undrained conditions upon the application of the 1st 1.5 m lift of fill and
(ii) drained conditions immediately before placement of the 2nd lift. [10 marks]
(b) If the project can be handed over when a FS = 1.25 is achieved at slice #4, determine the total time
that might be required to complete embankment construction at hand over. [10 marks]

Use the simplified Fellenius/Swedish method of slices.

Figure Qu. 1a: Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Factors

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 4

Figure Qu. 1b

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 5

Figure Qu. 1c

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 6

Adhesion Coefficient vs Su
1.2

Adhesion Coeff. a 1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Su (kN/m2)

Figure Qu. 2a

Figure Qu. 2b

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 7

Figure Qu. 3

Figure Qu. 5

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2015/2016

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....