Geotechnics 2C May/June 2012

Q1
(a) Equipotential = line of constant total head

q=kiA; q=k*h/a*a*1; q=k*h

q
this leads to two important consequences:
1) potential drop h is the same along any flow
channel

Define:
Nd= Number of potential drops
H = overall difference in total head

2) same flow (q) along all flow channels

Nf= Number of flow channels

q=k*h with h= H/Nd so q=k H/Nd

considering q=Nf* q
thus q=k H*Nf/Nd
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(b) From flow net, Nf=4 Nd=10, H=10 m
q=K*H*Nf/Nd=10-4*10*4/10*103=0.4 l/s
q =0.4 l/s/m
Choose datum as underside of weir H=h
u=wh
Heads (and pressures) are taken from the flow net equipotential where they meet the underside of
the weir.

F= 132.5*3+72.5*6.5+65*7.5+55*3=1521 kN

F=1521 kN/m

Q2
(a)

Soil properties: c, f, g

l
b

b = l cosb

PR

W = g z b = g z l cosb

hw

PL

Sm

Pore pressure at base:

u = g w hw

Slip
surface

Pore pressure ratio:

u
g w hw
ru =
=
gz
gz

N (= N + U)
Since the slope is infinite: PL = PR
to slope: N = W cosb

s = g z cos2b
tm = g z sinb cosb

to slope: Sm = W sinb
Stresses:

s = N/l
tm = Sm/l

Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion:

Mobilised shear strength:

tf = c + (s-u)
tf
tm =

F=

zsincos

1
F

(c + (gzcos2b-u) tanf)

(F = factor of safety)

c+(-u)tan

tanf

g z sinb cosb =

F=

c/ z+(cos2 -ru)tan
sincos

thus
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(b) (i)

Water table
(top flow line)

hw dw = height of WT above
slip surface
z=4m
b

Slip
surface

dw=4-1.2=2.8m
hw=dw*cos2=2.8*cos2 10=2.72 m
ru=w*hw/(z)=10*2.72/20/4=0.34
Take c=0 ( as peak strengths are not appropriate for landslides)
F=

(cos2 10 -0.34)tan
sin 10 cos 10

if = 25 (critical state ) then F=1.72

if = 15 (residual state ) then F=1.00
Thus residual strength parameters operating in the field
(ii)
ru= cos2 10 -

1.25 *sin 10 * cos 10

= 0.172

tan15

but ru=w*hw/(z) thus hw= ru z/ w=0.172*20*4/10=1.376m

dw = hw /cos2=1.376/cos210=1.42m
depth tp WT=4.0-1.42=2.58m

Q3

100

280

80

160

3
u
'1

100
0
100

100
0
280

80
0
80

80
85
75

'3
100
t
0
s
100
s'
100
*all quantities in kPa

100
90
190
190

80
0
80
80

-5
40
120
35

t (kPa)

a) A stress path is a graph used to plot successive states of stress for a soil element. Examples of
such plots include s1 vs s3 t = (s1-s3)/2 vs s = (s1+s3)/2 and q = s1-s3 vs p = (s1+s2+s3)/3. A failure
envelope is a line on a Mohr diagram or a stress path plot used to separate admissible from
inadmissible states of stress
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------b)
Sample
1
2
100
Sample 1 Total and effective
90
start
end
start
end
i)
Sample 2 effective
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Sample 2 total
Kf line

50

100

150

200

s, s' (kPa)

From the t-s plot, measure or calculate:

Kf line slope=0.323 and thus =asin (Kf slope)=18.8

=18.8

Kf intercept=28.7 kPa thus c= Kf intercept/cos =30.3 kPa c=30.3 kPa

From test 2, pore pressure parameter A = u/D = 85/80 = 1.06 A = 1.06 The sample is NC
ii)

consolidation

shearing

100

100 +x

s=0

100 -x

100

t=x
total stress path is vertical

Arbitrarily assume a value for x at failure , for example x=50 kPa, thus t=50 kPa.
Using pore pressure equation, u=B(3+A(1- 3))=1(-t+A(2*t))=-50+1.06*100=56 kPa to
which correspond s=s-u=100-56 =44 kPa. Draw effective stress path in t-s plot and determine
intercept with the Kf line. This will give a value of t=45 kPa and a principal stress difference of 90 kPa.

t (kPa)

100

Sample 1 Total and effective

90

Sample 2 effective

80

Sample 2 total

70

Kf line

60

Sample 3 effective

50
40
30
20
10
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

s, s' (kPa)

200

Q4
(a)
2.2

initially (58 , 1.86)

finally (124 , 1.71)

Void ratio

1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
1

78 100

10

1000

Eff stress (kPa)

Fill applies 3*22 = 66 kPa.

Initially at 7m depth sv0 = 2*19+16*5-10*6=58 kPa. Finally svf = 58+66= 124 kPa
From graph sy = 78 kPa so OCR = 78/58 = 1.34.
Compression Index = Cc =(1.81-1.02)/log(1000/90)=0.76
Recompression index =Cr= (1.91-1.85)/log(75/5)=0.051
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(b) e/(1+e0) = (1.86-1.71)/(1+1.86) = 0.052 so settlement = 0.052*10 = 0.524 m.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(c)
d= 10 m, z=3m Z=z/d=0.3

T=Cv*t/d2=5 m2/year*8 year/100m2= 0.4

From Fig. Q4 Uz= 0.78

u0=66 kPa t= u0*Uz=66*0.78=51.5 kPa
Before loading 'v at 5 m depth is 46 kPa. So after 96 months 'v=51.5+46=97.5 kPa
Ut=u0- t=66-51.5=14.5 kPa
u=10*4+14.5=54.5 kPa

Q5. (a)
Dense granular soils dilate when sheared, with the shear stress reaching a peak as the soil dilates,
before dropping to a constant value at larger strains, when the soil is shearing at constant volume.
This large strain strength is termed the critical state.
Loose granular soils may compact slightly when sheared, but probably do not exhibit any peak
strength before reaching the critical state.
The peak and critical state strength increases with the confining stress level. Dilation decreases with
an increase of the confining stress.
Increase in relative density would cause an increase in a peak strength increase and dilation of the
sample. The critical state strength is not influenced by the relative density of the sample.
Shear stress

Peak
Dense
Critical state
Loose

Specimen
thickness

Dense

Displacement

Loose

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(b)

circle
Pole

Centre
Radius
'p
p

112.5 kPa
37.6 kPa

80

80.0 kPa

60

19.0 kPa

40

Principal '1
stresses '3

150.1 kPa
74.9 kPa

20

Principal orient 1-1

planes orient 3-3

-15.2
74.8

Stresses 'H
H-H
H

145.0 kPa

Stresses 'V
V-V
V

80.0 kPa

19.0 kPa

(kPa)

Pole

50

100

150

200

-20

' (kPa)

-40
-60

-19.0 kPa

max /'

50

40

(kPa)

30

max /'
orientation 1
orientation 2

0.355
39.620
-69.931

20
10

Pole

0
-10 0

50

100

150

200

' (kPa)

-20

-30
-40

-50

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(c) From Mohrs diagram the soil has not reached failure

Q6. (a)
With seepage perpendicular to the strata: The flow rate per unit area q/A through each layer is the
same, and the overall head drop H across the full layer thickness D is the sum of the head drops
across each layer n

H Hi

d1

q D q d1 q d 2

A ke A k1 A k 2

D
d2

So the effective permeability is given by:

1 1 d1 d 2

ke D k1 k 2

L
With seepage parallel to strata: The hydraulic gradient H/L is the same for all layers, and so the
total flow rate is given by the sum of the flow rate through each layer:
n

qi ke

d1

H
L

d k
i

H
di
L

D
d2

So the effective permeability is given by:

ke

1
(k1d1 k2d 2
D

L
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(b)
Permeability test on layered soils A & B:
cross-section area is *502/4 = 1963.5 cm2
i) With overall head difference 120cm Ha = 30 cm Hb = 90 cm and flow rate is 44.2 ml/sec.
hydraulic gradient in A ia = 30/80 = 0.375 and in B ib = 90/40 = 2.25
hence permeability of A ka = 44.2/(0.375*1963.5) = 0.06 cm/sec
and permeability of B kb = 44.2/(2.25*1963.5) = 0.01 cm/sec
overall hydraulic gradient is 120/120 = 1.0
hence effective permeability is 44.2/(1.0*1963.5) = 0.0225 cm/sec. Cross check ok.
ii) With uniform soil type B the flow rate will be given by
0.01*120/120*1963.5 = 19.6 ml/sec

the head loss across the upper layer will be 2/3*120 = 80 cm so

by inspection the pressure head will be 10 cm.
iii)
160

case (i)

140
elevation (cm)

120

100
80

elevation head

60

total head

40

pressure head

20
0
0

50

100

150

200

Heads (cm)

160

case (ii)

140
elevation (cm)

120

100
80

elevation head

60

Series2

40

Series3

20
0
0

50

100

150

200

Heads (cm)

10