SPECS

Programme: MSc/MEng Civil Engineering

Module Title: Advanced Geotechnical Design and Construction
of Large Infrastructure
Module Code: 7ENT2028 - 0105
Dr Mostapha Boulbibane
Email : [email protected] Semester: B (2024/25)

ASSIGNMENT
Issue Date: 02/01/2025 Student ID:
Submission Date: 13/03/2025 at 4:00 pm

Weighting:
This assignment carries 50% of the module marks.

NOTES

1) Your assignment is to be presented in a suitable and well-structured document (Max 15

pages). Front your document with an abstract/introduction.

2) Start each task in a new page, and number each task appropriately.

3) The work must be tidy and have all the sheets numbered and MUST contains the
following:
• Key results to be presented in an orderly and logical sequence using both text and
illustrative materials (Tables and Figures). All calculations to estimate key design
parameters to be collated in tables using the proper units.
• You must refer to each Table and Figure in the text. These should be titled and numbered.
• Include references/bibliography using ‘Harvard Format’ or similar.

4) Students should familiarise themselves with the University’s Unfair Means Regulations,
especially collusion, which are available in the handbook.

5) In this assessment students are permitted to use GenAI tools (or a proofreader or
proofreading service) to proofread their work but not permitted to use AI tools in the
creation of content for their work. This category will apply irrespective of the fact that the
grading criteria include credit for English and grammar. Guidance on proofreading can be
found on HertsHub.

6) Penalties for late submission of work will be applied in accordance with the University’s
regulations.

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 Numerical Modelling and Analysis of retaining structures

As part of a motorway development scheme, an 9m high layer of compacted granular fill must
be constructed over a deep layer of uniformly graded, sub-angular, medium dense sand as
the foundation for the upper pavement layer. The pavement construction contributes a
surcharge of q1 (kPa), and allows for vehicle traffic, an additional surcharge of q2 (kPa) must
also be included. The dry unit weight of the granular fill and the existing sand (which can be
assumed to be dry) is  (kN/m3) and the design angle of shearing resistance is  (). You, as
the designer, are to consider two alternative design solutions:

Task (A): A vertical embedded reinforced concrete retaining wall, restrained

by means of tie-rods connected to a continuous sheet pile anchor.

For the retaining wall the design angle of wall friction , giving design values of the active earth
pressure coefficient Ka and passive earth pressure coefficient Kp, is given in Table 1. The
design must allow for an unplanned excavation of not less than 0.5 m and not less than 10%
of the height of soil retained below the tie-rod level.

1. For each tie-rod located at specific depth behind the retaining wall (see Table 1), calculate
the depth of embedment of the retaining wall, the tie-rod force, the maximum moment in
the retaining wall, the location and size of the anchor, the inclination of the tie-rods to the
horizontal, and the maximum moment in the anchor wall. Comment on the effect of
increasing the depth of the tie rods.

2. Use the GEO5 software first to make a basic design of anchored retaining walls (sheet
walls) as shown in figure 1. The results must show the required embedment lengths, the
internal forces on the structure and the forces in anchors. Discuss the effect of the position
and spacing between the two anchors on the design of the entire structure.

Tie rods
H

Figure 1. Anchored
flexible wall.

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 Task (B): A Geogrid reinforced soil vertical wall

For the geogrids reinforced soil wall, light concrete panels with dimension of 1.0 m x 0.9 m
(length x height) will be used as facing (in 10 layers). Each layer of concrete panel is reinforced
at mid-height by one layer of geogrid, which is 1.0 m wide and 5.5 m long. Three types of
geogrid are available (see Table 2). You should aim to use the lowest strength product
possible at each level since the price of the geogrid increases with strength.

You are only required to consider the internal stability of the reinforced soil wall. Your solution
must specify the type of geotextile to be employed at each level, as well as the FoS against
tensile failure and pullout at each level – these results should be clearly summarized. The
values given in Table 2 for geogrid strength are ‘design values’ and hence Fs≥1.0 will be
adequate. However, Fs≥1.5 is required for pullout. You may assume that the tangent of the
geogrid-soil interface angle is 85% of the tangent of the soil friction angle.

Figure 2. MSE wall.

You are required to submit two designs:

1. The preliminary design should assume that:

- An active wedge forms behind the facing, and the maximum tension in the geogrid
corresponds to the ‘back’ of this wedge.
- Fully active pressures determine the reinforcement tension throughout the full length:
Ka = (1 - sin)/(1+sin)
- The distribution of vertical stress in the reinforced soil is not affected by rotational
equilibrium of the wall

2. The detailed design should assume that:

- The potential failure wedge is bounded by two surfaces: a vertical one at 0.3hw behind
the facing, and the active failure surface passing through the front toe of the facing.
- The fully active pressure occurs at more than 6m depth in the soil. At the ground
surface the ‘at rest’ pressure (K0= 1 - sin) occurs due to compaction stresses.
Variation of K between 0 and 6 m depth is linear.
- For the vertical effective stress distribution within the reinforced soil, an eccentric
rectangular distribution is used. However, you must determine the corresponding
equations including the effect of surcharge (you may assume that the pressure on
the back of the reinforced block is active with no vertical component).
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 3. Comment briefly on the changes between the preliminary and detailed design – which
of the changes in assumptions has led to any changes in design. Which part of the
design appears to give most scope for increasing economy, but which aspect of design
has not been considered which may also affect this?

[Hint: a spreadsheet will be useful for automating calculations for the various layers.
However, the method and equations which have been used, should be stated clearly in
the submission]

Table 1: Wall data are given according to the last digit of student ID number.

Wall
friction Angle of Tie-rods located at Construction
Dry unit
angle/soil shear depths and additional
Student ID weight,
friction resistance behind the surcharges
Number kN/m3
angle retaining wall (kPa)

ratio () (m) q1 q2

0 20.0 1.0 35 1.5 2.0 3.5 10 35
1 19.5 1.0 30 1.0 2.5 3.0 15 38
2 18.0 0.0 35 2.0 3.0 3.5 15 40
3 17.5 1.0 25 2.0 2.5 3.0 10 40
4 20.5 1.0 25 1.0 2.0 3.0 15 25
5 19.0 0.0 30 1.5 2.5 3.5 15 30
6 21.0 1.0 35 1.0 2.5 3.0 15 45
7 17.0 0.66 25 1.5 2.0 3.0 15 35
8 18.5 0.66 35 2.0 3.0 3.5 20 40
9 21.5 0.66 30 1.0 2.0 3.0 15 35

Table 2: Properties of Geogrids.

Type Design tensile strength, kN/m

Miragrid GX 35/35 35
Miragrid GX 55/30 55
Miragrid GX 110/30 110
Miragrid GX 160/30 160

NOTE:
Assessment criteria include orderly structure, overall clarity and readability, logical calculation
steps & procedures, neat plots, and individual effort.
.

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