CE 546 HW1-Fall 2017

Assignment 1:
Topics: Soil Mechanics and Sub-Surface Exploration / Bearing Capacity Calculations

Due Date and Time: September 28, 2017 – 7pm (at the beginning of the class)
Note: There will be a late-submission penalty of 20% of total HW1 credit. No credit for submission after Friday
September 29th, 12pm.

Problem 1.
Figure 1 shows a boring log from a soil site. Please calculate the following based on the
profile:
a. Estimate the average saturated unit weight (𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ) of the clay layer based on the
test results given. Assume 𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 = 2.6 (specific gravity) for the clay layer. (Hint: use
data provided for the 4 samples in the clay layer and pick right weight-volume equation)

Assume 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑡𝑡𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠−𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 17𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3 and 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑡𝑡𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 18𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3 . At the surface, ground

water table, bottom of clay, silty-sand and sand layers (i.e. 5 levels), calculate:
b. Total Vertical Stress (σv) vs. Depth
c. Pore Water Pressure (u) vs. Depth
d. Effective Vertical Stress (σ’v) vs. Depth

Problem 2.
For a normally consolidated clay layer, the following are given:
Thickness = 3 m
Void ratio = 0.75
Liquid limit = 42
Gs = 2.72
Average effective stress on the clay layer = 110 kN/m2

a. How much consolidation settlement would the clay undergo if the average
effective stress on the clay layer is increased to 185 kN/m2 as the result of the
construction of a foundation? Use the Rendon-Herrero (1983) equation to
estimate the compression index, Cc:

b. Calculate the consolidation settlement if the clay layer was preconsolidated with
𝜎𝜎 ′
an OCR of 1.2 (i.e. 𝑐𝑐� ′ = 1.2). Assume Cs=0.2Cc.
𝜎𝜎0

1
Problem 1 – Test Results

For Clay Gs=2.6

w: moisture content

w=35% for unsaturated clay

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Problem 3.
In a deposit of normally consolidated dry sand, a cone penetration test was conducted.
Following are the results:

a. Assuming the dry unit weight of sand to be 16 kN/m3, estimate the average peak
friction angle ∅′ of the sand. Use Ricceri et al. (2002) equation:

b. Using the test results above, estimate allowable bearing pressure for a strip footing
with width B=1m at 1.5m and 3m depth using NAVFAC Design manual 7.2. (Hint:
Use Figure 8)

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Problem 4. (Bearing Capacity)

qult

0.2

0.4

For the shallow square footing shown in the figure above, determine the ultimate eccentric
bearing load (𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 ) (applied at the eB and eL from the center of the foundation) under
following conditions:

a-1. Assume water table is at a large depth 𝑑𝑑 ≫ 𝐷𝐷𝑓𝑓 and has no effect on the bearing
capacity. Consider a factor of safety of FS=3.0. Calculate 𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 based on “General Bearing
Capacity” equation (refer to lecture 3 notes).

a-2. Given the condition in (a-1), calculate 𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 based on “Terzaghi’s” approach (Hint: Use
Design Manual 7.2, figure 1 & 3b).

b. Assume water table is at a depth 𝑑𝑑 = 0.5𝑚𝑚 below the ground surface. Calculate 𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢
based on the Design Manual 7.2, figures 1 & 2. Consider FS=3.0 and 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 19 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3
and 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 = 9.81 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3 .

c. Consider the same conditions as in part “b”, calculate 𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 based on the Design Manual
7.2, if the load is being applied at an angle of 20 degree (i.e. inclined loading). Assume
the foundation will not slip.

α=20o qult