DEC 302 Geotechnical Engineering

SEPT 2015 SEMESTER

TUTORIAL 2
Name

Matric No

Date

At the end of the semester students should be able to:

CLO1: Identify and analysis problems associated with slope stability;

CLO2: Able to design proper retaining wall;
CLO3: Able determine the settlement for soil;
CLO4: Able apply pile bearing capacity theory and identify suitable types of
foundations;
CLO5: Able to explain all the related methods for soil investigations.

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DEC 303 / MARCH 2011
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DEC 302 / SEPT 2015

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DEC 302 Geotechnical Engineering

INSTRUCTIONS:

TIME: 1.0 HOUR

Answer ALL questions.

QUESTION 1
Calculate the resultant active thrust on a vertical smooth retaining wall of height 5.4m.
The water table is well below the base of the wall.
c' = 0,

= 30o,

= 20 kN/m3
[CLO2-PLO6:C4]

QUESTION 2
A retaining wall with a smooth vertical back of height 7.0 m retains soil having an
unsurcharged horizontal surface. The soil properties are:
c' = 0,

= 32o,

sat = 20 kN/m3 and above WT,

= 18 kN/m3

Determine the distribution of horizontal stresses on the wall and also the magnitude and
position of the resultant when the groundwater level is standing (without seepage flow) at
3.0 m below the surface.
[CLO2-PLO6:C4]
QUESTION 3
Consider again the retaining wall and soil given in Q2. Calculate the magnitude of the
total horizontal thrust for the following conditions:
a) The water table is well below the base of the wall
b) The water table is standing at the surface
[CLO2-PLO6:C4]
QUESTION 4
Calculate the resultant active thrust on a vertical smooth retaining wall of height 5.4 m.
the water table is well below the base of the wall. An extensive uniform surcharge of 48
kPa is placed on the surface.
Soil properties: = 30o,

c = 0,

= 20 kN/m3
[CLO2-PLO6:C4]

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DEC 303 / MARCH 2011
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DEC 302 / SEPT 2015

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