Chapter 6:

Pile Foundation, Slope Stability &

Braced Cuts
Theories, Problems and Solutions to the problems were taken from the following
references:
Textbooks: *Fundamentals of Foundation Engineering, Braja M. Das
*Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, Braja M. Das
Review Books: *Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, Engr. Diego Gillesania
*Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering, Engr. Johnro Docog
Pile Foundation
Theoretical Pile Capacity
Qult = Qf + Qb

where:
Qf = skin/shaft friction or side shear
Qb = end bearing or point resistance
•   Alpha (α) Method
The
*Qf = αcuPL
*Qb = Nc(cu)bAb
*cu = qu/2 or su/2

The Beta (β) Method

*Qf = β peffPL
*Qb = Nq(peff)bAb
* β = (1-sinØ) tanØ (Burland Formula for clay)
Capacity of Pile Group
(a) sum of the individual capacities

(b) the capacity assuming block action

Problem 6.1
A 0.36m square pre-stressed concrete pile is to be driven in a clayey soil.
The design capacity(allowable capacity) of the pile is 360kN, with a factor
of safety of 2.0.
Given:
Undrained shear strength, qu=111kPa
Unit weight of clayey soil = 18.5kN/m3
a. Compute the end bearing capacity of the pile if Nc = 9.
b. Compute the skin friction expected to develop along the shaft of the
pile.
c. Compute the length of the pile if frictional constant α = 0.76.
•Problem
  6.2
A square concrete pile 0.3m x 0.3m is required to support a load of
175kN with a factor of safety of 3. The soil stratification consists of 5m of
soft gray, normally consolidated clay (cu = 25kPa, Ø = 260, ɣsat = 18kN/m3)
underlain by a deep deposit of over-consolidated clay (cu = 80kPa, Ø =
240, OCR = 4, ɣsat = 18.5kN/m3,Nc = 9). Groundwater level is at 2m below
the ground surface. Assume the soil above groundwater level is
saturated. Assume α = 1 for soft clay and 0.5 for stiff clay.
a. What is the ultimate load capacity due to skin friction in soft clay?
b. What is the value of L1(length of pile in the stiff clay layer)?
c. Using the β-method, what is the value of Qa if L1 = 2.1m? Assume Nq =
9.6. Use β = (1-sinØ) tanØ.
Problem 6.3
The pile group shown consists of 12 piles, each 0.4m in diameter,
arranged in a 3 x 4 matrix. The pile penetrates a soft clay (L 1 = 2m,
cu1=20kPa), a medium dense clay (L2 = 6m, cu2=60kPa), and a stiff clay (L3
= 4m, cu3=95kPa). Assume Nc = 9 and use α = 1 for soft and medium
dense clay, α = 0.5 for stiff clay.
a. Determine the capacity of the pile group based on single pile failure
mode.
b. Determine the capacity of the pile based on block failure mode.
c. Determine the maximum center-to-center spacing of the piles for
100% efficiency.
Settlement of Pile Foundation
  ∆ 𝑃 𝑡 + 4 ∆ 𝑃 𝑚+ ∆ 𝑃 𝑏
∆ 𝑃 𝑎𝑣𝑒 =
6

(2/3)L

At

Am

Ab
Problem 6.4
Three columns x four rows of group piles are installed into a uniform clay layer.
The groundwater table is at the ground surface.
Clay soil:ɣsat = 21kN/m3,cu = 40kPa, Nc = 7.5
cc =0.36, eo = 0.85
Piles: diameter = 0.3m, pile to pile spacing = 0.75m,
length = 50m
a. Determine the ultimate capacity of the pile using single pile capacity if α =
0.74.
b. Determine the ultimate capacity of the pile using group pile capacity if α =
0.74.
c. If the total thickness of the clay layer is 60m, determine the vertical stress
increase using Simpson’s Rule if FS = 3.5.
d. Determine the primary consolidation settlement.
 Applied Load (Qa)

Pile Cap

(2/3)L
L

At
Plan View
Am
Ab
Side View
 Applied Load (Qa)

Pile Cap

(2/3)L Sand
L
Po
At
Clay Plan View
Am
Ab
Side View
Problem 6.5
The foundation shown in the figure is supported by 9 piles. The
foundation rests on a sand layer underlain with 3m thick of normally
consolidated clay.
a. Compute the effective stress at the midheight of the clay layer.
b. Determine the increase in pressure at the mid-height of the clay layer.
c. Determine the consolidation settlement of the clay layer.
 2400kN

Pile Cap
4m

el.0

Dry Sand 3m
(2/3)L Ɣd = 17.8kN/m3

L = 6m el.3 Sand
Ɣb = 10.2kN/m3 Po
el.5 At Clay
e = 0.54, Cc = 0.3
Ɣb = 9.3kN/m3 Plan View
Am
el.8
Ab
Side View
 Braced Cuts/Excavations
- Excavations which are laterally supported
Cuts In Sand
Cuts In Clay
Cuts In Clay with Different Properties
Cuts In Stratified Soil
Problem
A long trench is excavated in medium dense sand for the foundation of a
multistory building. The sides of the trench are supported with sheet pile
walls fixed in place by struts and wales as shown in figure the wales are
braced at every 4m center to center.
a. Determine the strut load at A.
b. Determine the strut load at B.
c. Determine the strut load at C.
Problem
A four-strut braced sheet pile installation is designed for an open cut in a
multistory layered stratum as illustrated in the figure . Spacing of struts
is 4m center to center.
a. Determine the strut load at A, B, C and D.
 Slope Stability
-the potential of soil covered slopes to withstand and undergo movement.

Stability is determined by the balance of shear stress and shear strength. A

previously stable slope may be initially affected by preparatory factors
making the slope conditionally unstable.
Analysis of Infinite Slopes
Analysis of Finite Slopes
Problem
A dry infinite slope is to be analyzed by a geotechnical engineer. The
engineer found out that the ground has the following properties:
cohesion is 25kPa, the angle of internal friction is 250 and in-situ unit
weight is 18.75kN/m3. If the height of the slope is 9m and its inclination
from the horizontal is 32.50.
a. Determine the factor of safety against sliding on the rock surface.
b. How high is the backfill that can be placed at the top pf the existing
slope considering the soil is identical to the existing ground and the
new slope remains stable?
c. If the critical height of the slope is 8.7m, find the maximum angle of
slope to classify it as stable.
Problem
A cut slope, excavated in saturated clay, make an angle of 750 with the
horizontal. Based on the soil investigation, it was found out that the angle
of internal friction is 250, the in-situ unit weight is 17.96kN/m3 and the
undrained cohesion is 23.5kPa.
a. Determine the stability number.
b. Determine the critical depth of cut.
c. Determine the critical angle o failure plane at factor if safety of 2.5