Chapter 9

9.1 kN/m2
Point
σ u σ′
A 0 0 0
B (2.1)(17.23) = 36.18 0 36.18
C 36.18 + (3.66)(18.96) = 105.57 (9.81)(3.66) = 35.9 69.67
D 105.57 + (1.83)(18.5) = 139.42 35.9 + (9.81)(1.83) = 53.85 85.57

The plot is given below.

G s γ w ( 2.69)(9.81)
9.2 γ d (layer 1) = = = 15.52 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0. 7

γ w (G s + e) (9.81)(2.7 + 0.55)
γ sat(layer 2) = = = 20.57 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.55

⎛ 1 .2 ⎞
(9.81)⎜ + 1 .2 ⎟
γ (G + e) ⎝ 0.38 ⎠ = 19.43 kN/m 3
γ sat(layer 3) = w s =
1+ e 1 + 1 .2

kN/m2
Point
σ u σ′
A 0 0 0
B (5)(15.52) = 77.6 0 77.6
C 77.6 + (8)(20.57) = 242.16 (9.81)(8) = 78.48 163.68
D 242.16 + (3)(19.43) = 300.45 78.48 + (9.81)(3) = 107.9 192.54

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 The plot is shown below.

9.3 kN/m2
Point
σ u σ′
A 0 0 0
B (3)(16) = 48 0 48
C 48 + (6)(18) = 156 (9.81)(6) = 58.86 97.14
D 156 + (2.5)(17) = 198.5 58.86 + (9.81)(2.5) = 83.38 115.12

The plot is shown below.

9.4 a. Water table drops 2 m within layer 2. Assuming dry condition for 2 m:

G s γ w (2.7)(9.81)
γ d (layer 2) = = = 17.08 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.55

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 σ′ (at point C) = (5)(15.52) + (2)(17.08) + (6)(20.57) – (6)(9.81)

= 176.32 kN/m2

Increase in σ′: 176.32 – 163.68 = 12.64 kN/m2

b. Water table rises to the surface. Layer 1 is saturated.

γ w (G s + e ) (9.81)(2.69 + 0.7)
γ sat(layer 1) = = = 19.56 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0. 7

σ′ (at point C) = (5)(19.56) + (8)(20.57) – (13)(9.81) = 134.83 kN/m2

Decrease in σ′: 163.68 – 134.83 = 28.85 kN/m2

c. Water level rises 3 m above ground. All layers are saturated

σ′ (at point C) = (3)(9.81) + (5)(19.56) + (8)(20.57) – (16)(9.81)

= 134.83 kN/m2

Decrease in σ′: 163.68 – 134.83 = 28.85 kN/m2 (same as Part b)

G s γ w ( 2.66)(9.81)
9.5 a. γ d (sand) = = = 16.2 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.61

(G s + e)γ w (2.67 + 0.48)(9.81)

γ sat(sand) = = = 20.88 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.48

kN/m2
Point σ U σ′
A 0 0 0
B (16.2)(4) = 64.8 0 64.8
C 64.8 + (20.88)(5) = 169.2 (9.81)(5) = 49.05 120.15

b. Let the height of rise be h. Portions of the top sand layer will be saturated.

(G s + e)γ w ( 2.66 + 0.61)(9.81)

γ sat(top sand layer) = = = 19.92 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.61

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 So, at any time, the stresses at C are:

σ = (4 – h)(16.2) + (h)(19.92) + (5)(20.88) = 169.2 + 3.72h

u = (5 + h)(9.81) = 49.05 + 9.81h

σ′ = (169.2 + 3.72h) – (49.05 + 9.81h) = 120.15 – 6.09h

New σ′ at C: 111 = 120.15 – 6.09h; h = 1.5 m

γ ′ G s − 1 2.68 − 1 1.68
9.6 icr = = = =
γw 1+ e 1+ e 1+ e

e icr
0.38 1.21
0.48 1.13
0.6 1.05
0.7 0.99
0.8 0.93

The plot is shown below.

0.8
e

0.6

0.4

0.2
0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
icr

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 (1 + w)G s γ w (1 + 0.29)(2.68)(9.81)
9.7 γ sat(clay) = = = 19.08 kN/m 3
1 + wG s 1 + (0.29)(2.68)

Let the depth of the excavation be H.

So, (10 – H)(19.08) – (6)(9.81) = 0 = σ′

H ≈ 6.91 m

9.8 Consider the stability of point A in terms of heaving.

(1925)(9.81)
γ sat(clay) = = 18.88 kN/m 3
1000

σA = (10 – 5.75)(18.88) = 80.24 kN/m2

uA = (6)(9.81) = 58.86 kN/m2

For heaving to occur, σ′ = 0; or σ = u

σA 80.24
Therefore, factor of safety = = = 1.36
uA 58.86

9.9 Let the maximum permissible depth of cut be H.

σA = (10 – H)(18.88)

uA = (6)(9.81) = 58.86 kN/m2

For heaving to occur, σ′ = 0; or σA – uA = 0

(10 – H)(18.88) – 58.86 = 0; H = 6.88 m

9.10 Let the height of water inside the cut be h (see Figure below)

σA = (10 – 6.88)(18.88) + (h)(9.81) = 58.9 + 9.81h

uA = (6)(9.81) = 58.86 kN/m2

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 σA 58.9 + 9.81h
Factor of safety: = = 1.5
uA 58.86

h = 3.0 m

h 1.5
9.11 a. i = = = 0.6
H 2 2.5

q = kiA = (0.21)(0.6)(0.62 × 1002 cm2) = 781.2 cm3/sec

γ ′ G s − 1 2.66 − 1
b. icr = = = = 1.11
γ 1 + e 1 + 0.49

Since i < icr, no boiling.

h h
c. i = icr = ; 1.11 =
H2 2 .5

h = 2.77 m

h 0.46
9.12 a. i = = = 0.335
H 2 1.37

q = kiA = (0.0016)(0.335)(0.58)(60) = 0.0186 m3/min

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 b. Refer to Figure 9.4(a). Since C is located at the middle of the soil layer,

z = H2/2 = 1.37/2 = 0.685 m

Eq. (9.7):

σ c′ = zγ ′ − izγ w = (0.685)(18.67 – 9.81) – (0.335)(0.685)(9.81) = 3.82 kN/m2

G s γ w ( 2.69)(9.81)
9.13 γ d (sand) = = = 17.95 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.47

γ w (G s + Se) (9.81)[ 2.73 + (0.4)(0.68)]

γ sat(clay: capillary zone) = = = 17.53 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.68

γ w (G s + e) (9.81)(2.7 + 0.89 )
γ sat(clay) = = = 18.63 kN/m 3
1+ e 1 + 0.89

kN/m2
Depth (m) σ u σ′
0 0 0 0
0 54.75
3.05 (17.95)(3.05) = 54.75
(−0.4)(9.81)(2.43) = −9.53 64.28
3.05+2.43 = 5.48 54.75+(17.53)(2.43) = 97.34 0 97.34
5.48+4.88 =10.36 97.34+(18.63)(4.88) = 188.26 (4.88)(9.81) = 47.87 140.38

The plot is given below.

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 (2.69)(9.81)
9.14 γ d (sand) = = 17.95 kN/m 3
1 + 0.47

(9.81)[2.73 + (0.6)(0.68)]
γ sat(clay: capillary zone) = = 18.32 kN/m 3
1 + 0.68

(9.81)(2.7 + 0.89)
γ sat(clay) = = 18.63 kN/m 3
1 + 0.89

kN/m2
Depth (m) σ u σ′
0 0 0 0
0 71.8
4 (17.95)(4) = 71.8
(−0.6)(9.81)(2.5) = −14.71 86.51
4+2.5=6.5 71.8 + (18.32)(2.5)=117.6 0 117.6
4+2.5+4.5=11 117.6 + (18.63)(4.5)=201.43 (4.5)(9.81) = 44.14 157.29

The plot is given.

Dγ ′
9.15 From Eq. (9.22), FS =
Coγ w (H 1 − H 2 )

D = 4.5 m; γ′ = 17 – 9.81 = 7.19 kN/m3; H1 – H2 = 7 – 3 = 4 m;

D/T = 4.5/12 = 0.375. From Table 9.1, Co = 0.354 (by linear interpolation).

(4.5)(7.19)
FS = = 2.33
(0.354)(9.81)(4)

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 CRITICAL THINKING PROBLEM

9.C.1 a. The flow nets for both cases are given below:

Case 1

Case 2

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 q
b. Determination of :
k
Nf
From Eq. (8.21): q = kH
Nd

Case 1: Nf = 4, Nd = 11, H = 3.5 – 1 = 2.5 m

q ⎛4⎞
= ( 2.5)⎜ ⎟ = 0.909 m
k ⎝ 11 ⎠

Case 2: Nf = 3.5, Nd = 13, H = 2.5 m

q ⎛ 3 .5 ⎞
= ( 2.5)⎜ ⎟ = 0.673 m
k ⎝ 13 ⎠

icr
c. FS =
iexit

Gs − 1 2.66 − 1
icr = = = 1.071
1+ e 1.55

Case 1: Refer to the flow net and Eq. (9.24a):

H 2 .5
iexit = = = 0.643
Nd l (11)( 0.353)

1.071
FS = ≈ 1.67
0.643

Case 2: Refer to the flow net and Eq. (9.24a):

H 2 .5
iexit = = = 0.545
Nd l (13)( 0.353)

1.071
FS = ≈ 1.97
0.545

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 d. From Eq. (9.18), seepage force per unit volume is γwi

Case 1: Refer to the flow net. At A,

ΔH (2.5 11)
i= = = 0.143
l 1.59

Seepage force = γwi = (9.81)(0.143) = 1.4 kN/m3

Case 2: Refer to the flow net. At A,

ΔH (2.5 13)
i= = = 0.136
l 1.41

Seepage force = γwi = (9.81)(0.136) = 1.33 kN/m3

Installation of the sheet pile cut-off wall reduced the exit gradient and
increased the factor of safety against heaving. Accordingly, at any point A,
the seepage force also decreased due to a drop in the hydraulic gradient.

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 68
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