© Vocational Training Council

Faculty of
Science and Technology
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Answer any FOUR (4) questions.

SCE5331
2. All questions carry EQUAL marks. Geotechnical & Foundation
Engineering
3. This question paper has
FOURTEEN (14) pages.

End-of-Semester Examination
4. This question paper contains
Semester One 2019/20
FIVE (5) questions.

5. All calculation steps should be

Date : 20 December 2019
clearly shown.

6. γw = 9.81 kN/m3
Time : 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Time
: 3 hours
allowed

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Q.1 A retaining wall as shown in Figure Q.1 is designed to support a

surcharge of 10 kN/m2. Evaluate the stability of the wall against
overturning, sliding and bearing capacity using partial safety factors. It
is assumed that there is no drainage to be provided at the back of the
retaining wall. (25 marks)

The design assumptions are listed below:

- The Partial Load Factor for the surcharge is 1.Y
(where Y is the last digit of your student number.)
- The Partial Material Factor of the soil is 1.2.
- Surcharge load factor to be applied only to unfavourable
conditions.
- The base friction angle δs is taken to be equal to 0.9φ'.
- Rankine’s theory is assumed.
- The passive resistance of the soil is ignored.
The allowable bearing capacity of the in situ soil is 100 kN/m2
Unit weight of concrete is 24 kN/m3.
- Relevant soil properties are given in the figure below.
- Service load is ignored.

0.4 m
10 kN/m2

1.6 m

Fill γsat = 20 kN/m3

0.2 m 1.6 m
c=0
φ' = 30
。

0.4 m

In-situ γsat = 21 kN/m3

2.6 m Dense φ' = 34
。

Sand

Figure Q.1 (NTS)

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Q.2(a) Two foundations are constructed as shown in Fig. Q.2a. The uniform
load acting on the rectangular and the L-shaped foundations are 150
and 2Y0 kPa respectively. Ignoring the effect of the self-weight of the
foundations, determine the increase in vertical stresses due to the two
foundations at a depth 5 m directly below the foundation at
(i) location A and, (6 marks)
(ii)location B. (6 marks)

where Y is the last

digit of your
2Y0 kPa
student number

Figure Q.2a
(NTS)

(b) A pad foundation of size 8m x 8m is constructed at a depth of 2m

below surface in a layer of sand, which in turn is underlain by a layer
of normally consolidated clay as shown in Figure Q.2b. The ground
water level is at 4m below ground level. The foundation will exert a net
increase in pressure of 300 kN/m2 on the ground. The compression
index (cc) is 0.3Y and the initial void ratio (eo) of the clay is 0.45
respectively, (where Y is the last digit of your student number).

(i) Using a spread of the load of 2 vertical to 1 horizontal, estimate the

ultimate consolidation settlement in the clay layer due to the
foundation. (8 marks)
(ii) What would be the total ultimate consolidation settlement if there
is a further permanent draw down of ground water level of 2m due
to a dewatering process in a nearby site? (5 marks)

2m 300 kN/m2
4m sand
γ = 17 kN/m3

3m γsat = 19 kN/m3
Figure Q.2b
2m Normally consolidated clay γsat = 18 kN/m3 (NTS)

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Q.3 The geometry of a slope with two layers of sand is shown in Figure Q.3.
The sand layer at the top has a unit weight of 17 kN/m3 and a frictional
angle φ’ of 25°. The bottom is a layer of dense sand with a unit weight
of 20 kN/m3 and a frictional angle φ’ of 30°. A trial failure slip surface is
proposed as shown in the figure with the dimensions of the slices given
in Table Q.3. Using the Fellenius’ method of slices and in terms of
effective stress, determine the factor of safety of the slope
(i) if ground water is kept at well below the slip surface, (10 marks)
(ii) if ground water is kept at the interface between the two layers of
soil, (8 marks)
(iii) if perched water table is found to be at 1.0m above the interface
of the soils. (7 marks)
Assume the unit weight of the soils in either dry or wet states are
the same.

Figure Q.3 Slope geometry and the proposed failure slip surface (NTS)

Table Q.3 Dimensions of the slices

Slice Top layer Bottom layer
b (m) h1 (m) h2 (m) α (degree)
No.
1 X 2.4 0.0 53
2 2.0 2.1 1.0 34
3 2.0 1.5 1.8 15
4 2.0 0.5 2.8 12
5 2.0 0.0 1.2 -15
(where X = �𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝𝐝 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔 𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏
to one decimal place. If the last digit is zero, 𝑿𝑿 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟑

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Q.4 (a) A rectangular footing of size 4m by 5m is founded at 2m below

ground level in a uniform deposit of saturated clay. The footing is
designed to support a total vertical load of 8000 kN inclusive of the
weight of the footing. The shear strength of the soil obtained from the
respective laboratory tests are given below: (where W is the second
last digit of your student number.)

Unconsolidated Undrained test : cu = 1W0 kN/m2, φu = 0o

Consolidated Drained test : c’ = W kN/m2, φ’ = 32o

The saturated unit weight of the soil γsat is 20 kN/m3. Ground water
table is assumed to be at the ground surface. The General Bearing
Capacity equation will be adopted.

(i) Determine the gross factor of safety of the foundation under long
term situation. (14 marks)

(ii) Also evaluate the gross factor of safety of the foundation under
short term stability. (6 marks)

7500 kN
3 m xx5m
4m 4 m Footing
foundation
G. L.

12mm
γsatT.= 20 kN/m3
W.

B=
4m3m
1
Figure Q.4(a) (NTS)

(b) A bearing capacity failure is defined as a foundation failure that

occurs when the shear stresses in the soil exceed the shear
strength of the soil. Besides the general shear failure, suggest other
types of failure and briefly explain the mechanisms of the failure.
(5 marks)

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Q.5 (a) A circular precast concrete pile with a diameter of 280 mm is driven
into two layers of sand deposit. Design the length of the pile to
support an allowable load of 200 kN. The following design
assumptions are given:

- The ground water level is expected to rise to ground level

- The properties of the soils are given below:
Sand : c’ = 0; φ’ = 30o ; γsat = 19 kN/m3
Dense Sand: c’ = 0; φ’ = 35o ; γsat = 20 kN/m3
- Apply the Meyerhof’s Method to determine the ultimate point load
- Frictional resistance parameters for the pile are:
K = 1.Y where Y is the last digit of your student number
δ = 0.65φ’
- FOS = 3
- The critical depth for the skin friction, L’ = 15D
(20 marks)
Ground water level
8m

Sand

Dense Sand
m
L

Figure Q.5(a) (NTS)

(b) One of the causes of failures in foundation is due to incomplete

information on ground investigation. Explain what information can
be collected respectively from disturbed and undisturbed samples,
and determine if undrained shear strength can be obtained from a
split-spoon sampler. (3 marks)

(c) Suggest one type of in-situ test that can be used to obtain the
shear strength of a saturated clay to evaluate the short term
stability of a foundation. (2 marks)
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Appendix – Useful Information

Basic:
γ = ρg
γw = 9.81 kN/m3
g = 9.81 m2/s

Effective Stress Principle:

σ' = σ–u

Lateral Earth Pressure:

Ka = (1 – sin ϕ’) / (1 + sin ϕ’)
Kp = (1 + sin ϕ’) / (1 – sin ϕ’)
pa = Ka σz’ – 2c’ √Ka
pp = Kp σz’ + 2c’ √Kp

Shallow Foundation:
qu = c Nc Fcs Fcd Fci + q Nq Fqs Fqd Fqi + 0.5 γ B Nγ Fγs Fγd Fγi

Case 1: 0 ≤ D1 ≤ Df
q = D1 γ + D2 γ’

Case 2: 0 ≤ d ≤ B
q = Df γ
γave = γ’ + (d / B)( γ - γ’)

Case 3: d > B
q = Df γ

Fcs = 1 + (B / L) (Nq / Nc)

Fqs = 1 + (B / L) tan ϕ
Fγs = 1 – 0.4 (B / L)

For Df / B ≤ 1:
Fcd = 1 + 0.4 (Df / B)
Fqd = 1 + 2 tan ϕ (1 – sin ϕ)2 (Df / B)
Fγd = 1

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For Df / B > 1:
Fcd = 1 + 0.4 tan-1(Df / B)
Fqd = 1 + 2 tan ϕ (1 – sin ϕ)2 tan-1(Df / B)
Fγd = 1

Fci = Fqi = (1 – β / 90o)2

Fγi = (1 – β / ϕ)2

Consolidation Settlement:
Sc, oed = mv Δσ’ H
Sc, oed = [cc H /(1+eo)] log [(σ’o + Δσ’) / σ’o ]
Sc = K Sc, oed
Δσ’ = q0 I (Elastic Theory)
m = B/z
n = L/z
Δσ’ = q0 × (B × L) / [(B + z)(L + z)] (2:1 Method)

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Immediate Settlement:

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Retaining Wall:
FOS = ΣMR / ΣMo for Overturning
FOS = [ΣFv tan (k ϕ’) + B k c] / ΣFH for Sliding
FOS = qu / qmax for Bearing Capacity
e = B / 2 – (ΣMR - ΣMo) / ΣFv
qmax = (ΣFv / B)(1 + 6 e / B)

Slope Stability:
Fellenius Method
F = [Σc’l + Σtan ϕ’ (W cos α – ul)] / (ΣW sin α)

Bishop Method
F = Σ[{c’b + (W – ub) tan ϕ’} sec α / {1 + (tan α tan ϕ’ / F)}] / (ΣW sin α)

ru = u / (γ h)
l = b / cos α

Pile Foundation:
Qu = QP + QS
Qall = Qu / FOS

Meyerhof’s Method for Sand (c’ = 0):

qp = q’ Nq*
ql = 0.5 pa Nq* tan ϕ’ where pa = atmospheric pressure = 100 kPa
QP = Ap qp ≤ Ap ql
QS = Σ p ΔL f
f = K σo’ tan δ’ ≤ K (γ’ 15 D) tan δ’

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Pile Elastic Settlement

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