P.

Purushottam

1. A retaining wall supports top layer of sand: H1 = 3 m, ϕ1′ = 250 , γ1′ = 18.2 kN/m3 and
bottom layer of gravel: H2 = 5 m, ϕ′2 = 330 , γ′2 = 21.8 kN/m3. Make a sketch of the
distribution of active pressure on the wall, giving the principal values. Compute the thrust
per meter length of the wall neglecting cohesive and frictional forces on the back of the
wall. [225.8 kN/m]
2. An 8 m high retaining wall supports a 5.5 m deep sand (𝛾𝑑 = 18.5 kN/m3, ϕ = 340)
overlying a saturated sandy clay (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20.3 kN/m3, ϕ = 280, c = 17 kPa). The ground
water level is located at the interface of two layers. Sketch the lateral stress distribution
up to a depth of 8 m for an active condition and also determine the active force (thrust)
per meter run of the wall. [50.3 kN/m2]
3. A 2-layer cohesive horizontal backfill is supported by a 10 m high vertical smooth wall.
Determine the Rankine active force per unit length of the wall both before and after a
tensile crack occurs in the top layer. Also, determine the line of action of the resultant in
both cases. The soil layer parameters are given below:
0 – 5 m, Top layer: cu = 12 kN/m2, 𝜙𝑢 = 00, 𝛾 = 17 kN/m3
5 – 10 m, Bottom layer: cu = 35 kN/m2, 𝜙𝑢 = 100, 𝛾 = 18 kN/m3 [273.5 kN/m, 3.5 m from
base of wall]

From B. C. Pumia
4. A vertical wall, 5 m high, supports a saturated cohesive backfill (ϕ = 0) with horizontal
surface. The top 3 m of the backfill weighs 1.76 g/cm3 and has an apparent cohesion of
0.15 kg/cm2. The bulk density and apparent cohesion of the bottom 2 m of the backfill are
respectively 1.92 g/cm3 and 0.2 kg/cm2. Determine the likely depth of tension cracks
behind the wall. If tension cracks develop, what will be the total active pressure? Sketch
the pressure distribution diagram and locate the point of application of the resultant
pressure. [7.876 t/m, 1.106 m above base] (Example 20.20, PN. 541)
5. A retaining wall 6 m high retains sand with ϕ = 300 and unit weight 24 kN/m3 upto a
depth of 3 m from the top. From 3 m to 6 m, the material is a cohesive soil with c = 100
kN/m2 and ϕ = 200. Unit weight of cohesive soil is 18 kN/m3. A uniform surcharge of 100
kN/m2 acts on the top of soil. Determine the total lateral pressure acting on the wall and
its point of application. [344.53 kN/m, 2.57 m above base] [Example 20.22, PN 543]
6. A retaining wall with soft saturated clay backfill is 7 m high. For the undrained condition
(𝜙𝑢 = 0) of the backfill, determine: (i) the maximum depth of the tensile crack. (ii) the
active force before the tensile crack occurs, and (iii) the active force after the occurrence
of the tensile crack. [2.125 m, 154 kN/m, 190.125 kN/m] [Example 20.24, PN 545]
7. A retaining wall 10 m high retains a cohesionless soil having an angle of internal friction
of 300. The surface of the soil is level with the top of the wall. The top 3 m of the fill has
a unit weight of 20 kN/m2 and that of the rest is 30 kN/m2. Find the magnitude per meter
 run and point of application of the resultant active thrust. Assume ϕ is same for both the
strata. [415 kN/ m run, 3.137 m from base] [Example 20.26, PN 546]
8.
9. An unsupported excavation is to be made in a clay layer. If 𝛾𝑡 = 18 kN/m3, c = 30 kN/m2
and ϕ = 100, (a) Calculate the depth of tension cracks, (b) Calculate the maximum
possible unsupported depth and (c) Draw the active pressure distribution diagram. [3.973
m, 7.946 m]
10. A smooth retaining wall 6 m high retains dry granular backfill weighing 16 kN/m3 to its
level surface. The active thrust on the wall is 96 kN/m of wall. What will be the total
active thrust if the water table comes upto backfill surface? Take specific gravity of
backfill = 2.65. [236.34 kN/m]
11. A retaining wall 2 m in height has a smooth vertical surface. The backfill has a horizontal
leveled surface with the top of retaining wall. The density of the backfill is 1.8 t/m3,
shearing resistance angle of 300 and c = 0. A uniformly distribute surcharge load of 3 t/m2
intensity is acting on the backfill. (i) Calculate the magnitude and pint of application of
active earth pressure per meter length of the retaining wall. (ii) If during rainy season,
water table rises behind the wall to a height of 1 m above the base of the retaining wall,
work out the effect on the value of active earth pressure if there is no change in the angle
of shearing resistance. Submerged unit weight of backfill is 1.25 t/m3.[0.875 m above
base, 0.814 m above base]
12. A retaining wall 6 m high supports earth with its face vertical. The earth is cohesionless
with particle specific gravity 2.69, angle of internal friction 350 and porosity 40.5%. The
earth surface is horizontal and level with the top of the wall. Determine the earth thrust
and its line of action on the wall, if the earth is water logged to level 2.5 m below the top
surface. Neglect wall friction. Draw the pressure diagrams. [127 kN/m, 1.67 m above
base]
13. A 4 m high vertical wall supports a saturated cohesive soil (ϕ = 0) with horizontal
surface. The top 2.5 m of the backfill has bulk density of 17.6 kN/m 3 and apparent
cohesion of 15 kN/m2. The bulk density and apparent cohesion of the bottom 1.5 m is
19.2 kN/m3 and 20 kN/m2 respectively. If tension cracks develop, what would be the total
active pressure on the wall? Also draw the pressure distribution diagram. [32.535 kN/m]
14. Calculate the total active earth pressure on the retaining wall 6 m high shown in Fig. Also
calculate the line of action internal force from the base of the wall. [214.49 kN/m run,
2.302 m above base]
15. A retaining wall 10 m high retains a cohesionless soil with an angle of internal friction
350. The surface is level with the top of the wall. The unit weight of the top 3 m of the fill
is 1.6 t/m3 and that of the rest is 2.0 t/m3. Find the magnitude and application of the
resultant active thrust. [24.337 kN/m run, 3.224 m from base]
16. Vertical back 9 m high, top 4.5 m has c = 0 soil with ϕ = 300 and 𝛾 = 19 kN/m3. Bottom
4.5 m has also c = 0 soil with ϕ = 350 and 𝛾 = 20 kN/m3. Top surface soil is horizontal.
Find the resultant pressure. [22.08 kN/m, 3.14 m above base]
17. Vertical wall 6 m high, backfill horizontal carrying uniformly distributed surcharge 45
kPa, 𝜙1 = 360 in top 3 m and 𝜙2 = 320 in bottom 3 m, 𝛾1 = 19.8 kN/m3 in top 3 m and 𝛾2 =
19.0 kN/m3 in bottom 3 m. Fond Pa and point of application. [181.86 kN/m, 2.32 m above
base]
18. Vertical wall H = 6 m. Water table behind the wall only at 3 m below top. ϕ = 330, top 3
m 𝛾 = 20 kN/m3, = bottom 3 m 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 21.5 kN/m3. Find total thrust and point of
application. [9.69 kN/m, 1.58 m above base]
19. A 8 m high retaining wall supports a soil consists of two 4 m thick layers with the
following properties:
Upper layer: 𝑐 ′ = 10 kPa, 𝜙 ′ = 180, 𝛾 = 18 kN/m3
Lower layer: 𝑐 ′ = 0, 𝜙 ′ = 350, 𝛾 = 18 kN/m3
For a surface load, q = 50 kPa, determine the active thrust and its location from the base
of the wall. [295 kN/m, 3.42 m from base of wall]
20. A rigid retaining wall of 6 m height has two layers of backfill. The upper layer to a depth
of 1.5 m is sandy clay having ϕ = 200, c = 12.15 kPa and 𝛾 = 16.4 kN/m3. The lower layer
is sand having ϕ = 300, c = 0 and 𝛾 = 17.25 kN/m3. Determine the total active earth
pressure acting on the wall, its position and draw the pressure distribution
diagram.[94.19 kN/m]
21. A 6 m high retaining wall supports 5 m sand (𝛾 = 18 kN/m3, ϕ = 300, c = 0) overlying
sandy clay (𝛾 = 19.5 kN/m3, ϕ = 360, c = 16 kN/m2). The ground water level is at upper
surface of sand. Determine the Rankine’s active force per unit length of the wall and the
location of the thrust, assuming that the retaining wall can yield sufficiently to develop an
active state. [213 kN/m, 2.10 m from base of wall] [TU 2069, R]
22. See TU 2061, Ashwin and TU 2066 Kartik also

Numerical: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation

1. A (a) Strip Footing (1.2 m wide) , (b) Square Footing (size = 1.2 m), (c) Circular
Footing (diameter = 1.2 m) and (d) Rectangular Footing ( 2 m x 1.2 m) is supported
on a soil with its base at a depth of 1 m below the ground level/surface. The soil
properties are: (i) c = 0, ϕ = 350, 𝛾 = 18 kN/m3 above water table and 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20 kN/m3
below water table and (ii) c = 15 kN/m2 (or unconfined compressive strength of 30
kN/m2), ϕ = 350, 𝛾 = 17.5 kN/m3 above water table and 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 19.5 kN/m3 below
water table.
Nc = 57.80, Nq = 46.12, Nγ = 41.40
 Determine the ultimate bearing capacity if
(a) Water table at ground surface.
(b) Water table is 0.5 m below ground surface.
(c) Water table at base level of footing.
(d) Water table at 0.5 m below the base of footing or 1.5 m below the ground surface.
(e) Water table is 4 m below ground surface or water table is at great depth.

2. A (a) Strip Footing (1.2 m wide) , (b) Square Footing (size = 1.2 m), (c) Circular
Footing (diameter = 1.2 m) and (d) Rectangular Footing ( 2 m x 1.2 m) supports a
safe load intensity of 400 kN/m2, is supported on a soil with its base at a depth of 1.2
m below the ground level/surface. The soil properties are: (i) c = 0, ϕ = 350, 𝛾 = 18
kN/m3 above water table and 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20 kN/m3 below water table and (ii) c = 15 kN/m2
(or unconfined compressive strength of 30 kN/m2), ϕ = 350, 𝛾 = 17.5 kN/m3 above
water table and 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 19.5 kN/m3 below water table.
Nc = 57.80, Nq = 46.12, Nγ = 41.40
Determine the factor of safety with respect to the shear failure for the following cases
of location of water table.
(f) Water table at ground surface.
(g) Water table is 0.5 m below ground surface.
(h) Water table at base level of footing.
(i) Water table at 0.5 m below the base of footing or 1.5 m below the ground surface.
(j) Water table is 4 m below ground surface or water table is at great depth.