CIVL 3740-Assignment 2

(100 marks in total)

Q1: Details of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall are shown in Fig. 1. The unit
weight of concrete is 24kN/m3. Due to the inadequate drainage, the water table rose to the level
indicated, while the water table in front of the wall remains at the base of wall. Above the water
table the unit weight is 17 kN/m3 and below the water table the saturated unit weight is 20 kN/m3.
The shear strength parameters of soil is: c=0 and =38. The friction angle between soil mass
and wall base is 25. There is a surcharge of 10 kPa at the ground surface. Please calculate the
FOSs of the retaining wall, with regard to overturning and sliding. (40 marks)

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Q2: Fig. 2 shows a cantilever sheet pile wall penetrating a granular soil. Given that L1=3m,
L2=6m (design dimension, after consideration of overdig). Above the water table the unit weight
is 17 kN/m3 and below the water table the saturated unit weight is 20 kN/m3. The shear strength
parameters of soil is: c=0 and =32. The partial factors can be chosen based on the design
approach EC7 DA1b. Please answer the following questions (60 marks):

(1) What is the required embedment depth D?

(2) If a horizontal tie is installed at 3 m below the ground surface, use the free-earth support
method to determine the new penetration depth D as well as the tension in the tie (assume the
distance between two ties is 1.5m).

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