Homework #2 Earth Retaining Structures

A big-box retailer wants to construct a warehouse-type structure along the Delaware

River waterfront in Camden, NJ. A hot-shot engineering firm was retained to do the
geotechnical engineering design. They did a subsurface investigation and laboratory
testing on both disturbed AND UNDISTURBED (Shelby Tube) samples. The laboratory
testing on the disturbed samples consisted of particle grain size analyses and water
contents. The Shelby tube sample of the clay was obtained in the middle of the clay
layer, at a depth of 15 feet below the ground surface. The laboratory testing
consisted of: UU triaxial testing; 1-Dimensional Consolidation Testing; Water
Content, Atterberg limits.

Based on the field and laboratory testing, the following generalized subsurface
profile was created by the engineering firm (the triangle symbol is groundwater
symbol; GW = 10 ft below ground. The average at the end of the SPT means its
an average value for the entire layer):

SP-SM N1-60-average =20 bl/ft 10 feet

W% = 3% PI = 0 (non-plastic)

CH N1-60-average =2 bl/ft
Saturated Unit Weight = 110 pcf 20 feet
Su = C = 300 psf
Pp = 1,000 psf; Cc =0.42; e0=0.75
W% = 68%;
LL = 80 PL = 30

SP N1-60-average =40 bl/ft 10 feet

W% = 8%

Find:

1. Estimate reasonable values of dry, unit weights, as well as internal friction

angle for the 2 sand layers. Use the water contents given to calculate the
moist unit weights & assume Gs = 2.7 in order to calculate the saturated unit
weights (I provided the moist unit weight formula in the last homework for
the moist unit weight; look up the formula for saturated unit weight).

2. Calculate and plot the Total Stress Profile, Water Pressure Profile, & the
Effective Stress Profile. Please show all work (no excel).

3. Calculate the ultimate bearing pressure for the SP-SM layer, for both the strip
foot and the square footing condition, Using Terzaghis method. NOTE: Please
consider the effects of depth (Nq portion of equation). Assume the minimum
 frost depth is 36-inches; the footing sizes are 2 feet wide for the strip footing
and 5 feet square for the column loads.

4. Based on the ultimate bearing capacity, what wall load (strip footing) in lbs/ft
and what column load, expressed in lbs, would cause a bearing capacity
failure? Failure is defined as the load that exceeds the Ultimate capacity.
Calculate the allowable bearing capacity of the soil, assuming a Factor of
Safety (FS) = 3.0.

5. For the allowable bearing pressure determined in #4 above for the Column
Load, Calculate the consolidation settlement of the clay layer. For the
purpose of this calculation, assume that 100% of the column load is applied
at the top of the clay layer and throughout the layer; it is a load of infinite
lateral extent. Please do not assume it is a fraction/portion of the load
because the 7 feet of sand is supporting some of the clay. We will learn this
very soon.

HINTS:

1. If you determine that the allowable bearing pressure is 2,000 psf; assume
that full value is the used in the Clay settlement calculation.
2. The clay is 100% saturated. If you review Settlement 1 handout, located on
blackboard, you can figure this out. I know I said I would try to avoid clay,
but it seems like we are making progress so, lets try it
3. Bearing Capacity analysis is considered an iterative approach. You need to
make reasonable first assumptions about the dimensions of your footings
(NOT FOOTERS), in order to determine the ultimate value. Ive provided them
for you in this case, and you dont need to do any iterations, but you should
think about the how and why of the iterative process.