PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ONTARIO

NATIONAL :EXAMINATIONS -May 2016

98-CIV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

3 HOURS DURATION

NOTES: 1. This is a closed book examination.

2. Read all questions carefully before you answer

3. Should you have any doubt regarding the interpretation of a question,

you are encouraged to complete the question submitting a clear
statement of your assumptions.

4. The total exam value is I00 marks

5. One of two calculators can be used: Casio or Sharp approved models.

6. Drawing instruments are required.

7. All required charts and equations are provided at the back of the
examination.

8. YOU MUST RETUR.i~ ALL EXAMINATION SHEETS.

 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS -Mav 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

Q uestion 1: (4 x 5 == 20 marks)

State the correct answer for each of the questions below and provide reasons to
JUSTIFY THE STATEMENT IN YOUR ANS\VER BOOK.

(i) A uniformly graded soil has a good and equal representation of all T F
pa1ticle sizes from the largest to smallest size of that particular group

(ii) T F

Seepage"" q-= kl\., (;;) (wldf~).

Figure 1
The seepage below the dam using the flow net and the other
information shown in Figure 1 is equal to 3 m3/day perm width.

(iii) The pore-water pressure in an over consolidated clay is negative when T F

it is subjected to a loading that is less tltan its preconsolidation pressure.

(iv) The degree of saturation of both compacted sand and clay specimen at T F
optimum moisture content is always lower than 100%.

(v) Both the triaxial test and the direct shear test equipment can be used to T F
determine the effective shear strength parameters (c' and ~ ') of sands
and as well as clays under drained loading conditions (i.e. CD tests).

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS-May 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS
Q u estion 2: (10 marks)

Rriefly explain the three different "limit,, lateral earth pressures (i.e., at-rest, active, and
passive conditions) that can act on a retaining wall. Also, show the Mohr circle for each
condition (Note: You arc expected to draw simple sketches of retaining walls and Mohr
failure envelopes for the lhree cases; Fignre 2 is shown below as an example without
providing the key details).

Figure 2

Question 3: (10 marks)

As a junior engineer, you are asked to estimate the settlement that would arise due to the
construction of a structure on a soil that predominantly has organic material such as peat.
What test or tests do you unde11akc? What are the key properties or parameters would
you derived from these tests. Also, how would you proceed with your analysis for
estimating the settlement?

Question 4: (Value: 20 marks)

Figure 3 shows the plan view of a 5 story condominium structure. Determine the increase
in vertical stress Acrz due to the load, at depths of 2 and S m vertically below point A
(Use superposition method). Comment on the stress values determined at different depths
and how this information is useful for a geotechnical engineer. The load on foundation of
the building (.shaded area) will be approximately equal to l 0 kPa per story.

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 NATIONAL F:XAMINATIONS-M ay 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

-~ 10ml -50m- f l

50m

ai ah ag af ae ad
Figure 3

Question 5: (Value: 20 marks)

For a cutoff wall shown in Figure 4

a. Establish the flow nets (i.e. flow and equipotential lines) fo llowing alJ the rules (draw
on Figure 4). (10 marks)
b. Calculate the effective stress at point A (back of the piling) (r.a1 = 20 kN/m3).
(10 marks)

Effective stress ( u' ) = Total stress ( u ) - Pore water pressure ( u)

u=(h - z)rw

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS -May 2016
98-ClV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

r
3m

A
l1m
-----------------------------r
3m
2m
_____________________________l
3m

L - - - - -
IMPERMEABLE LAYER
k =2.0 x 10 m/s
5

Figure 4

Question 6: (Value: 20 marks)

A series of drained triaxial tests was carried out on specimens of a sand prepared at the
same porosity and the following results were obtained at failure.

All-round pressure (kN/m2 ) 100 I 200 I 400 l 800 l

2
Principal stress difference (kN/m ) 452 I 908 l 1810 l 3624 l
Determine the value of the angle of shearing resistance 'analytically and also draw the
Mohr circles to verify your result.

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98-CIV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATElUALS AND ANALYSIS

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS-May 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECIINICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS - May 2016
98~CIV-A4 GROTECHNI CAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

./
0.6 1 2 3 4 6 .8 10

~
0.28 --,---------....-...--.-~ 0 28
I I

q
x m.= 2.5
z ,,,,-- x JP o .2s 1 - 1 - 4 - 1 4 - - - 1. -- _.__..,.+-+-+-+-++-I o. 26 m = oo
m = 2., 0
Oz Itt::+:T:B1-:'
rr ~M~*EF---
1.8~ ~::; m = 3.o
Load q 0 per un it of area
0.24 ,A ~ _ 0.24 m =l.S
#'. ~--
z x y _J,.,-'-+++~.--- m = 1.4
m=-z;n = z- 0.22 'wr:....--m = 1.2 ,_ 0.22
m and n are interchangeable
~v ~'='rb --
0.20 ~~, :~ m"' 0.9 . _ 0.20
I / .......-
--., = '""
1-4-1.1,H~ /~f'-~
I
-t--".. t;n
l I 11
Q.8
Q.18 1 LJ.J ,... Q 18
v/ /
1 I

0 ,01 0,02 0.04 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 .m = 0.7

II Iv ./ I I III
0.16 ~--+--t--1--+.+-++-1f+---+--+--+-+-MJV
" '1"'1-'->'/c;__+--t-m ""' 0.6 .._ 0.16
'. J~I/ v ,,.-
0. 14
.
0. 12

- .

m ::: 0. 0.04

0.02

Value of n

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS -May 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECIINICAL MATRRIALS AND ANALYSIS

Depth scale

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS - May 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECHNICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

(i'ormula Sheet
G = Ps (Se+G.J rw wG ., . , Se
P..
s
r l 1-e

a = yD
P='LN' +uA
P IN'
- =--+u
A. A
o- =a-'+u (or)
o-'=CY-U
For a.fully submerged soil ()' = y' D

v = ki; where i = h/L; q = kiA;

N
q =k-h.., __f_(width) ; h
P
= Nn" h
w
Nd d
Boussinesq 's equation for detennining vertical stress due to a point load
5i 2

3Q
a =--'-- - - -
z 2;r z2 (
1+ ;.
)2
Determination of vertical stress due to a re<.:tangular loading: az =q le (Charts aJso
available)

m = Biz and n :::: Liz (both m and narc interchangeable)

Approximate method to determine vertical stress, erz = ( q ~t

B + z L +z
)
Equation for dctcnnination vertical stress using Newmark's chart: a z = 0.005 N q

r f =c' + (a--uw )tan~'; ~')+ 2c'tan( 45 + ~')

0
2
a-1' =a- 3 tan ( 45 +

1( ' t )
Mohr's circles can be represented as stress points by plotting the data - \CY 1 - a- 3
2
.
against -1 \a-
( 1 +a 3 ) ; r,t.,1 =sm
-I (
tan a ') .an d c 1 = -Q-
2 cos'

-6.e =-1+e-o ; s~
C a' 1 ; Sc =sod; m1,=--
= ll-c-log-. 6.e ( -1-, ) = -1-- ( e.a - e1. ]
tiff H0 l+e 0 a0 l+e 6.o- 1+e0 0-1-ao

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 NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS -May 2016
98-CIV-A4 GEOTECIINICAL MATERIALS AND ANALYSIS

I lab (field
2
dlah = (H field / 2)2
T == c J T = nU 2
(for U < 60%)
v d2 ' 4
T, == -0.933 log (l - U)-0.085 (for U > 60%)
e0 -e 1
Cc (<T ');also, Cc """' 0.009(LL -10);
log - 1
o-o

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