Tutorial 1: Soil parameters

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Department of Building, Civil and
Environmental Engineering
CIVI 435, Foundation Design
Winter 2023

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 Tutorial outline

• Introduction
• Two example problems
• Q&A
• A problem for you
• Assignment

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 Tutorials Plan
# Tutorials Topic
1 Tutorial 1 Soil parameters
2 Tutorial 2 Site Investigation
3 Tutorial 3 Lateral Earth Pressure
4 Tutorial 4a Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation on
homogeneous soils
5 Tutorial 4b Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation on
homogeneous soils v2
6 Office hours
7 Tutorial 4c Stability and Bearing Capacity of Retaining
walls
8 Tutorial 5 Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation on
Layered soils
9 Tutorial 6 Settlement of shallow foundation

10 Tutorial 7a Pile Foundation

11 Tutorial 7b Pile Group
12 Office hours

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 Soil Parameters

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 Phase Relations

Soil = 3-phase material

Solids (mineral particles) + water + air

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 Phase Relationships

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 Phase Relationships

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 Shear Strength

∅
𝜃 = 45° +
2

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 Problem 1
The depth of water in a lake is 3 m. The soil properties as obtained from
soil exploration below the bed of the lake are as given below.
Specific gravity
Depth from bed of lake (m) Type of soil Void ratio (e)
(Gs)
0-4 Clay 0.90 2.70
4-9 Sand 0.75 2.64
9-15 Clay 0.60 2.70
Calculate the following vertical pressures at a depth of 12 m below the
bed level of the lake.

a) The total pressure

b) The pore pressure

c) The effective pressure (intergranular pressure)

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 Solution to Problem 1

Step # 1: draw the soil profile

Lake
3m
Clay

4m
Sand

12 m
5m
Clay

6m

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 Solution to Problem 1

Step # 2: calculate the unit weight of each layer of soil

• From the problem definition, we know e and Gs.

• From the table of useful relationships, we know:

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 Solution to Problem 1

Step # 3: calculate the total pressure

Level 0.0
−15

𝜎 = ෍𝛾 ∙𝐻
0 Level -15.0

• Solution to (a):

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 Solution to Problem 1

Step # 4: calculate the water pore pressure

Level 0.0
−15

𝑢 = ෍ 𝛾𝑤 ∙ 𝐻
0 Level -15.0

• Solution to (b):

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 Solution to Problem 1

Step # 5: calculate the effective pressure

• Solution to (c):

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 Problem 2

A triaxial tests was carried out on a sample of glacial silt. The results are:

The angle of failure plane was measured to be 59º. Determine the soil
parameters of ϕ and c.

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 Solution to Problem 2

Step # 1: draw the Mohr’s circle

∅
𝜃 = 45° +
2
59º

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 Solution to Problem 2

Step # 2: calculate ∅
• From the problem definition, we know ϴ = 59º and from Coulomb
theory we know:
∅
𝜃 = 45° +
2

• Solution to (a):

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 Solution to Problem 2

Step # 3: calculate cohesion c

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 Solution to Problem 2

Step # 3: calculate cohesion c

𝜎1 − 𝜎3
2
sin ∅ =
𝜎′1 + 𝜎′3
𝑐 cot ∅ +
2
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 Solution to Problem 2

Step # 3: calculate cohesion c

• Solution to (b):

𝜎1 −𝜎3
𝜎1 +𝜎3
𝑐= 2
−
cos ∅ 2 cot ∅

400−100
400+100
𝑐= 2
− = 37 kN/ 𝑚2
cos 28° 2 cot 28°

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 Q&A

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 A problem for you
A soil sample has a unit weight of 17 kN/m3 and a saturation of S= 40%.
When its saturation is increased to S= 65% its unit weight increases to 18
kN/m3. Determine the void ratio e and the specific gravity Gs of this soil.

Useful equation:

• Provide your answers in the format e= x.xx and Gs= x.xx

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 γ𝑤 𝐺𝑠 + 𝑆𝑒
Solution γ=
1+𝑒
• For the first condition we have:

9.81 𝐺𝑠 + 0.4𝑒 (1)

17 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 =
1+𝑒
• For the second condition we have:

9.81 𝐺𝑠 + 0.65𝑒
18 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 = (2)
1+𝑒
• Clearing Gs from Eq. (1):

17 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 1 + 𝑒
𝐺𝑠 = 3
− 0.4e
9.81 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
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 Solution

• By replacing previous Gs in Eq. (2) follows:

18 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 1 + 𝑒 = 17 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 1 + 𝑒 + 9.81 0.25𝑒

𝑒 = 0.69

• By replacing previous e in the former expression for Gs gives:

17 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 1+0.69
𝐺𝑠 = − 0.4 ∗ 0.69
9.81 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

𝐺𝑠 = 2.65

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 Assignment
• Please find Assignment 1 in Moodle on Wednesday,
January 18th

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