THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

EXAMINATIONS OF DECEMBER 2016

Code and Name of Course: CVNG 3005 FOUNDATION ENGINEERING Paper:

Date and Time: Duration: 3 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: This paper has 9 pages and 5 questions.

ANSWER QUESTIONS 1, 2, 3 and One Other

Only non-programmable calculators may be used

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 2

1. (a) Consolidation tests on two undisturbed samples taken from depths: Sample A 6.25 m and Sample
B 10.75 m (the middle of the upper and lower halves of the clay layer) yielded the e vs log10(p')
curves given in Figure Qu.1b. Estimate the consolidation status of these clays [4 marks]

(b) Determine the width of a strip footing that would be required to support a 700 kN/m wall/line
load (Dead + Live) at 2.0 m depth within the soil profile illustrated in Figure Qu. 1a. Assume a
Factor of Safety = 2.5 is required on undrained Bearing Capacity and failure is unlikely to occur
in the sand. [6 marks]

(c) If after 75 % consolidation of the clay layer under the design loading an earthquake occurred
inducing a moment of 450 kNm/m at the base of the wall, would the current footing size be
adequate for this wall? Provide a quantitative analysis to support your answer. [5 marks]

(d) Determine the expected settlement of this footing under the 700 kN wall load. Assume that the
settlement contributions of the gravel and hard clay to be negligible. [5 marks]

2. (a) 600 mm diameter augered cast in place concrete piles are proposed for a foundation within the
profile indicated in Figure Qu. 1a. Determine the allowable undrained bearing capacities for
piles at penetration depths of 13 m and 16 m; the silty clay and clay shale layers are over-
consolidated, with OCR = 2.5. Assuming Terzaghi Bearing Capacity theory applies, which pile
length would you recommend for this site? Give reasons for your answer. The coefficient of
adhesion with respect undrained shear strength is given in Figure Qu. 2 [13 marks]

(b) If your recommended pile is to be used in a group of 5 piles as indicated in Figure Qu. 2,
determine the group capacity you would recommend; taking into consideration both efficiency
and the block effect for a pile group. The group efficiency of a pile group of n1 x n2 piles,
spacing d and pile size D is given by:
  n  1n2   n2 1n1 
  1  1   ;   tan  D / d   in deg rees
1

 90 n n 
1 2 [7 marks]

3. A retaining abutment wall is to be designed and constructed as part of a pedestrian walkway

underpass (roadway bridge over), with geometric configuration and soil parameters as illustrated
in Figure Qu. 3. Stating explicitly any assumptions that you make, carry out the following:

(a) Determine the total pressure distribution at the base of the wall under design loading,
assuming a uniform concrete section thickness of 0.3 m and γconc = 24 kN/m3. [8 marks]

(b) If the undrained strength in the clay is estimated at Su = 75 kN/m2, and a FS = 2.5 is
required against undrained Bearing Capacity failure, would the current design wall
configuration be adequate? Justify through appropriate calculations. [6 marks]

(c) Determine the Factor of Safety against sliding for the retaining wall under design loading.
If the wall and backfill shall be constructed before placement of the bridge deck beams,
can this abutment be safely constructed? Justify through appropriate calculations.[6 marks]

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 3

4. A Piled retaining as indicated in Figure Qu. 4 shall be used to retain a cut face in over-
consolidated fissured clay. The piles are 400 mm diameter augered reinforced concrete, yield
moment capacity 120 kNm and to 6m depth below cap level. Assume the clay below cap level
to be over-consolidated, OCR = 3.0 with γ = 18 kN/m3, φ´ = 20°, c´ = 0.

(a) Determine the maximum expected lateral force/m on the wall and the mean undrained shear
strength to be used over the pile length as per the Brom’s methodology. [6 marks]

(b) The Brom’s method presents solutions for restrained/fixed head piles typically representing piles
fixed at pile caps. However, if due to a detailing error only 50% pile moment capacity can be
developed at the pile cap, derive from first principles an expression that can be used to model
this condition. [8 marks]

(c) Determine the number of piles/m of wall and spacing arrangement that would be required to
resist the full lateral load of the retained earth, if a FS = 2.5 is desired on the lateral load carrying
capacity of each pile. [6 marks]

5. A contractor wishes to construct an abutment fill for a roadway over a coastal swamp profile by
placing three 1m lifts of compacted sand fill to a maximum height of 3 m, as indicated in Figure
Qu 5.

(a) Site Investigations reveal that within the upper 2 m the clay has an initial undrained strength Su =
25 kN/m2, φu = 0. Determine the Factor of safety at slice #2 upon instantaneous placement of
the 1st 1 m lift. Use the simplified Fellenius/Swedish method of slices. [6 marks]

(b) If a Factor of Safety FS = 1.1 must be maintained (at slice #2) upon placement of the 2nd lift,
determine the length of time the 1st lift must be left in place. 2D consolidation analyses of the
loaded profile indicate that the excess pore pressure dissipation at the middle/base of slice #2 can
be estimated using: ut = u0.e-kt, where
ut = excess pore water pressure at time t (months),
u0 = initial pore water pressure in excess of the ambient value; at time t = 0
k = 0.12 a numerical exponent
t = time in months. [8 marks]

(c) If the project must be handed over at a FS > 1.1 (at slice #2) determine the length of time that the 2nd
fill lift must be left in place before placement of the 3rd and final lift. [6 marks]

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 4

SPT (blows/ft)

BH2, 10, 1
Fine Silty Sand
γ = 20 kN/m3
c´ = 0 kN/m2
φ´ = 34°
BH2, 20, 3

BH2, 6, 5.5

Silty Clay
γ = 18 kN/m3
c´ = 0 kN/m2
BH2, 10, 8.5 φ' = 25º
Depth (m)

BH2, 18, 11.5

Dense Gravel and Sand

γ = 21 kN/m3
c´ =100,
0 kN/m 2
BH2, 14.5
φ´ = 40°

Hard Clay Shale

BH2, 25, 17.5 γ = 20 kN/m3
c´ = 0 kN/m2
φ' = 30º

BH2, 25, 20.5

soil layers Water Table BH2

Figure Qu. 1a

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 5

Figure Qu.1b

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 6

Table Qu. 1a

Adhesion Coefficient vs Su
1.2

1.0
Adhesion Coeff. a

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Su (kN/m2)

Figure Qu. 2

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 7

Figure Qu. 3

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 8

Water Table at base of

Pile Cap level
Figure Qu. 4

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....

 page 9

Figure Qu. 5

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2016/2017

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or
the External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by
the First and Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The
EXTERNAL EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).

........................................... ...........................................
First Examiner University Examiner

.......................................... ...........................................
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

DATE: 20....../......./..... DATE: 20....../......./.....