THE UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

APRIL 2014 FINAL EXAMINATIONS

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE (B.A.Sc. HONS.)/MASTERS OF

ENGINEERING (M.ENG.) IN CIVIL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

Course Code and Title: (GEOT2006) - GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING II

Date: Thursday 24th, April, 2014 - 9:00am to 12:00 noon

Time: 3 hours

Read all instructions carefully before you begin this examination.

Materials to be supplied:
Graph Paper

Instructions to Candidates

1. This paper has 13 pages and 10 questions.

2. Candidates are required to answer 5 questions
3. All questions are 20 marks each.
4. Candidates must pass this paper since a failure will lead to the failure of the course.
5. Calculations are to be presented clearly and tidily and NOT in pencil.
6. All sketches should be neat and well labelled.
7. A non-programmable calculator is allowed.
8. You must return the question paper along with your answer booklet to and other writing paper to
the Invigilator at the end of the examination.

Key Examination Protocol

1. Students are strongly urged to take notice of the Policy on Academic Honesty
2. Sharing of information (communication whether in verbal or non-verbal means) between candidates
during the examination is strictly prohibited.
3. Looking into another candidate’s script is strictly prohibited.
4. Material that is foreign to that allowable or provided in the examination room is prohibited.
5. Speaking without the permission of the Invigilator is NOT allowed.

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Question 1

Plot the distribution of active pressure on the wall surface shown below.

Calculate the total thrust on the wall and determine its point of application.

State all assumptions.

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Question 2

The details of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall are shown below. The unit weight of
concrete being 23.5kN/m3. Due to inadequate drainage, the water table has risen to the level indicated.
Above the water table the unit weight of the retained soil is 17kN/m3, and below the water table the
saturated unit weight is 20kN/m3. Characteristic values of the shear strength parameters are c|= 0 and ø|
= 38°. The angle of friction between the base of the wall and the foundation soil is 25°.

State the design approach used and all assumptions.

Determine if the design of the wall is satisfactory?

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Question 3

The sides of an excavation 3.0m deep in sand are to be supported by a cantilever sheet pile wall. The
water table is 1.5m below the bottom of the excavation. The sand has a saturated unit weight is
20kN/m3 and a unit weight above the water table of 17kN/m3 ,and the characteristic value of ø| is 36°.

Determine the minimum depth of embedment of the piling below the bottom of the excavation to
provide stability.

State the design approach used and all assumptions.

Question 4

The section through a gravity retaining wall is shown below. The unit weight of the wall material being
23.5kN/m3. The unit weight of the backfill is 19kN/m3 and the design values of the shear strength
parameters are c|= 0 and ø| = 36°. The value of δ between wall and backfill and between base and
foundation soil is 25°. The ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation soil is 250kN/m2.

Determine if the design of the wall is satisfactory with respect to overturning, bearing resistance and
sliding.

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Question 5

A concrete strip footing 0.7m thick is to be designed to support a dead load of 500kN/m and an imposed
load of 300kN/m at a depth of 0.7m in gravelly sand. . Characteristic values of the shear strength parameters
are c|= 0 and ø| = 40°. Determine the required width of the footing assuming that the water table may rise to
foundation level. Above the water table the unit weight of the retained soil is 17kN/m3, and below the water table
the saturated unit weight is 20kN/m3. The unit weight of concrete being 23.5kN/m3.

Question 6

Question 7

A foundation 2.0x2.0m supports a permanent load of 1000kN and a variable load of 500kN at a depth of
4.0 m in stiff clay. The saturated unit weight of the stiff clay is 21kN/m3 .

The characteristic undrained shear strength is 240 kPa. Additional floors are to be added to the
supported structure which will increase the dead load acting on the foundation.

Determine the maximum allowable additional dead load which can be supported by the foundation
under undrained conditions?

State the design approach used and all assumptions.

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Question 8

A precast concrete pile 450x450 mm in section, to form part of a jetty, is to be driven into a river bed
which consists of a depth of sand. The pile is required to support a design compressive load of 650kN
and to withstand a design uplift load of 140kN.

The results of standard penetration tests in the sand are as follows:

Depth (m) 1.5 3.0 4.5 6.0 7.5 9.0 10.5

N 4 6 13 12 20 24 35

Determine the depth to which the pile must be driven (assume an appropriate factor of safety if
required).

Question 9

A footing 3.0x3.0m carries a net foundation pressure of 130kN/m2 at a depth of 1.2m in a deep deposit of
sand of unit weight 16kN/m3; the water table being well below the surface. The variation of cone penetration
resistance (q c ) with depth (z) is as follows:

Determine the settlement of the footing.

Question 10

A bored pile with an enlarged base is to be installed in a stiff clay, the characteristic undrained strength
at the base level being 220 kN/m2. The saturated unit weight of the clay is 21 kN/m3. The diameters of the
pile shaft and base are 1.05 and 3.00 m, respectively. The pile extends from a depth of 4m to a depth of 22m, the
top of the under-ream being at a depth of 20m. Past experience indicates that the adhesion coefficient α of 0.40 is
appropriate for the clay.

Determine the design load of the pile according to the traditional method ensuring (i) an overall load factor of 2
and (ii) a load factor of 3 under the base when the shaft resistance is fully mobilized.

END OF EXAMINATION

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Formula Sheet

q f = c N c + γDN q + ½ γBN γ

q n = q – γD

q b = 40N D b /B ≤ 400N (kN/m2)

q s = 2N (N average)

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
qb = cuNc

q s = αc u (c u average)

q s = βσ' 0 (σ' 0 average)

Qf = Abqb + Asqs

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Vertical Stress Under a Corner of a Rectangular Area Carrying a Uniform Pressure

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Distribution of Strain Influence Factor

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Relationship between Undrained Shear Strength and Depth Chart for Stiff Clay

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
Bearing Capacity Factors for Shallow Foundations Chart

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April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006
The University of Trinidad & Tobago Page 13 of 13
April 2014 Final Examinations
Course Code: GEOT2006