UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

B.Sc. (Engineering) Honours - Level III

GEOTECHNOLOGY

JULY 2008 Engin. CE 304

Answer any FOUR Questions Time allowed: 3 hours

All Questions Carry Equal Marks
Start each question on a new page
This examination paper consists of 4 pages.

QUESTION 1

a) Explain the mode of failure of a slope in cohesive soil and distinguish between the
short term and long term stability of an earth structure. [6 Marks]

b) A cutting in saturated clay has a depth of 12m. At a depth of 8m below the floor of the
cutting there is a layer of hard rock. The clay has an undrained cohesion of 32kN/m²
and a unit weight of 19kN/m³. Calculate the maximum safe slope that will provide a
factor of safety of 1,2 against short term failure. [4 Marks]

c) Fig Q1C shows a cutting that has been made in silty clay. The soil constants are
c = 20kN/m² and Ø = 10º. Allowing for the development of tension cracks, calculate
the factor of safety associated with a slip circle (center O) passing through the toe of
the bank using the simplified method of slices (8 slices). The unit weight of the soil is
18kN/m³. [15 Marks]

40º

1
10m 30º
1,5

Fig Q1C

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QUESTION 2

a) Discuss the limitations of Rankine’s Theory in the analysis of earth pressure.

[5 Marks]

b) A retaining wall with a sloping back of vertical height 9m retains soil of unit weight
16kN/m³ and having an angle of shearing resistance of 35º. The retained soil slopes
upwards uniformly at 20º to the horizontal from the back edge of the wall, the angle
between this slope and the back of the wall being 120º. The cohesion of the soil is
12kN/m², the angle of friction between the soil and the wall is 25º but there is no
cohesion between them. Calculate the thrust on the back of the wall using trial values
of 25º, 30º, 40º and 45º for the inclination of the plane of rupture to the vertical.
[12 Marks]

c) Plot the distribution of active pressure on the wall surface shown in fig Q 2C.
Calculate the total thrust on the wall (active + hydrostatic) and its point of
application. Assume δ = Oº and cw = O. [8 Marks]

γ = 16kN/m³
2m c¹ = 0kN/m²
ع = 40º
WT
ع = 40º
1,5m c¹ = 0kN/m²
γsat = 18kN/m³

γsat = 20kN/m³
2,1m c¹ = 15kN/m²
ع = 34º

Fig Q2C

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QUESTION 3

a) Describe the principal mode of shear failure in a shallow foundation in medium

dense sands and soils of moderate compressibility. [5 Marks]

b) Calculate the allowable load on a footing 2,5m square at a depth of 3,5m in stiff
clay if a factor of safety of 3 with respect to shear failure is specified. The
saturated unit weight of the clay is 20kN/m³ and the relevant shear strength
parameters are cu = 135kN/m² and Øu = 0. The water table is at the surface.
[5Marks]

c) A strip footing is to be designed to carry a load of 420kN/m at a depth of 2m in a

stiff clay. The appropriate shear strength parameters are c¹ = 36kN/m² and
γ = 18kN/m³. Above the water table the unit weight of the soil is 19,5kN/m³.
Calculate the width of the footing required if a factor of safety of 3 against shear
failure is specified for the following conditions:

i) the water table just reaches foundation level.

ii) The water table is at the surface.

iii) The water table is at great depth:

The bearing capacity factors are Nc = 8,5; Nq = 25 and Nγ = 1. The unit weight of
water is 9,81kN/m³. [15 Marks]

QUESTION 4

a) Discuss the limitations of the unconfined compression test. [4 marks]

b) In a triaxial test a soil specimen is allowed to consolidate fully under an all round
pressure of 200kN/m². Under undrained conditions the all round pressure is increased
to 350kN/m², the pore water pressure then being measured as 144kN/m². Axial load is
then applied under undrained conditions until failure takes place, the following results
being obtained:

Axial Strain (%) 0 2 4 6 8 10

Principal Stress Difference (kN/m²) 0 201 252 275 282 283
Pore Water Pressure (kN/m²) 144 244 240 222 212 209

i) Determine the value of the pore pressure coefficient B.

ii) Plot the variation of the coefficient A with axial strain, stating the value at
failure. [7 Marks]

Page 3 of 4
 c) The following results were obtained from a quick undrained triaxial test with pore
water pressure measurement.
Soil Sample Cell Pressure (kPa) Deviator Stress (kPa) Pore water Pressure (kPa)
1 200 117 110
2 400 242 227
3 800 468 455

i) Draw the Mohr circles and determine the shear strength parameters with
respect to both total and effective stresses.
ii) Determine the orientation of the failure plane using one of the Mohr circles.
iii) What would be the expected deviator stress if a sample were tested at a cell
pressure of 600 kPa? [14 marks]

QUESTION 5
a) Explain the following terms:
i) differential settlement.
ii) secondary consolidation settlement (creep).
iii) immediate settlement. [3 Marks]

b) Define soil stabilization and state the different methods used to stabilize a soil.
Mention the conditions under which each of these methods is applicable. [8 marks]

c) The dam shown in fig Q5 C is located on an anisotropic soil. The coefficients of

permeability in the x and z directions are 5.0 x 10-7 m/s and 1,8 x 10-7 m/s
respectively. Determine the quantity of seepage under the dam. [14 marks]

15,00m 1,00m

-.-- - - --

3,00m
33,00m
z
8,00m
5

x 8,00m 1

Fig Q 5C

END OF THIS EXAMINATION

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