Document

Basal Stability of Excavations in soft to firm clays

Author

M.M. Hamzeh, P.Eng.

Number Crunchers (www.iosphere.net/~mhamzeh)

Method

Based on stability number charts presented by Janbu in 1954

Method described in the Canadian Foundatin Engineering Manual Section 27.3.1

Equations

Fsb = Nb u / z=H
Fsb =
Nb =

u =
z=h =

Safety Factor against basal instability

Janbu stability factor - from chart
Corrected undrained shear strength of soil
Total overburden pressure at the base of the excavation

The spreadsheet approximates Janbu's Nb for a strip shape using a polynomial fit
of the published chart curve. Nb for a rectangular shape is calculated using the
following transformation
Nb rectangle = Nb strip ( 1+ 0.2 B/L)
B=
L=

Width of rectangular excavation

Length of rectangular excavation

For clays of moderate to high plasticity, the definition of the undrained shear
can lead to an overestimate of the shear strength. A correction of the
shear strength calculated by conventional field vane tests is suggested by Bjerrum
(CFEM 3rd Edition, Section 4.5.6, page 55)

u = Cu
u =
=
Cu =
References

Corrected undrained shear strength of soil

Bjerrum (1972) vane correction factor (polyn. curve fitted from chart)
Field measured shear strength

Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual (CFEM), 1992.

Section 27.3.1, Page 413
Janbu, N. (1954). "Application of Composite Slip Surfaces for Stability Analysis";
European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering,
Wiesbaden, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Bjerrum, L. (1972). "Embankments on Soft Ground"; Proceedings ASCE Specialty
Conference on Performance of Earth and Earth-Supported Structures, Lafayette
Vol. 2, pp. 1-54.

CALCULATION OF BASAL STABILITY

Spreadsheet by MMH, 95

Project No. 1011210002

Date
2-Dec-15
Calculation By
eso
Trial No.

Trench Excavation
Depth of Trench, H
Length of Trench, L
Width of Trench, B

7m
50 m
15 m

Stress Relief Excavation

Depth, D
Width, W
Length, L'

0m
0m
0m

Soil Information
Soil Unit Weight
Plasticity Index

17.5 KN/m3
24 %

(H+D)/B
B/L
Nb strip
Nb

0.5
0.3
5.8
6.2

f(PI)

0.95 - Bjerrum Cu correction factor enabled:

123 KPa
0 KPa (due to stress relief excavation)

Total stress
Stress relief

yes

3.20

Cu3.00
FS
2.80
10
0.48
152.60
0.72
F.S. against
Basal Instability
2.40
202.20
0.96
252.00
1.20
1.80
30
1.44
1.60
35
1.68
1.40
401.20
1.92
451.00
2.16
500.80
2.40
0.60
55
2.64
0.40
600.20
2.88
0.00
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Cu (KPa)

297085367.xlsx

45

50

55

60

65

CALCULATION OF BASAL STABILITY

Spreadsheet by MMH, 95

Project No. 1011210002

Date
2-Dec-15
Calculation By
eso
Trial No.

Trench Excavation
Depth of Trench, H
Length of Trench, L
Width of Trench, B

7m
50 m
15 m

Stress Relief Excavation

Depth, D
Width, W
Length, L'

0m
0m
0m

Soil Information
Soil Unit Weight
Plasticity Index

20.5 KN/m3
24 %

(H+D)/B
B/L
Nb strip
Nb

0.5
0.3
5.8
6.2

f(PI)

0.95 - Bjerrum Cu correction factor enabled:

144 KPa
0 KPa (due to stress relief excavation)

Total stress
Stress relief

yes

2.60

Cu2.40
FS
102.20
0.41
152.00
0.62
F.S. against
Basal Instability
201.80
0.82
251.60
1.03
301.40
1.23
351.20
1.44
401.00
1.64
450.80
1.85
500.60
2.05
550.40
2.26
600.20
2.46
0.00
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Cu (KPa)

297085367.xlsx

45

50

55

60

65

0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Cu (KPa)

297085367.xlsx

45

50

55

60

65