FE: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Topics
2

Weight Volume relations

Permeability and flow net
Effective stress
Vertical stresses under foundations
Consolidation
 Weight and volume relations
3

Question 1:
 Weight and volume relations
4
 Weight and volume relations
5
6
Permeability and Flow Net
 Permeability and Flow Net
7

For the flow net shown, what is the number of

incremental head drops Nd? What is the number of flow
channels Nf?
Calculate the pore water pressure u at points I, J and K.
What is the total flow rate q (m3/s per meter
perpendicular to the figure)? The hydraulic conductivity
K of the sand is equal to 10-4m/s.
8
Permeability and Flow Net
 Permeability and Flow Net
9

Number of incremental head losses = 11

Number of flow tubes = 4
Drop per equipotential line = (39-30)/11

Pore water pressure = (upstream head drop in head Elevation head) unit weight of water.
 Permeability and Flow Net
10

Number of incremental head losses = 11

Number of flow tubes = 4
u @ I = 39 - 2 119 -15 9.81 = 219.4kPa

u @ J = 39 - 6 -11.4 9.81 = 222.6kPa
9
11
u @ K = 39 - 10 9 -19.5 9.81 = 111.0kPa
11

Nf 4
q= K H = 10-4 9 = 3.27 10-4 m3 / s / m
Nd 11
 Effective Stress
11

The soil profile shown in the figure

consists of two soil layers with different
dry densities. The average degree of
saturation of soil A is 30%. The water Dry density = 17 kN/m3
table is at 2m depth. Assume that the
specific gravity is equal to 2.7 for both
soils. Calculate the following values for
both soils:
Total vertical stress at P and O Dry density = 18 kN/m3
Pore water pressures u at P and O
Effective stress at P and O
 Effective stress
12

Concept
Effective stress controls the deformation of the soil
It is defined as the difference of total stress and pore
water pressure

u
Pore
water
pressure
Effective Total
stress stress
 Effective Stress
13

Total stress at P
Wet unit weight of soil depth of soil layer
Wet unit weight of soil
dry unit weight (1 + Water content)
Water content can be obtained from: Unit weight of water (9.81)
Saturation (0.3)
Specific gravity (2.7)
Gs w
Gs wc S e e 1
Void ratio (0.56) d
Water content (?) Dry unit weight of Soil (17)
wc = 0.0622
 Effective Stress
14

Total stress at P
Wet unit weight of soil depth of soil layer
Wet unit weight of soil
dryunit weight (1 + Water content)
17 (1+0.0622) = 18.06 kN/m3
 Effective Stress
15

Total stress at P
Wet unit weight of soil depth of soil layer
18.06 2 = 36.12 kN/m2
Pore water pressure at P = 0 Dry density = 17 kN/m3

Effective stress at P
Totalstress - Pore water pressure
36.12 0 = 36.12 kN/m2 Dry density = 18 kN/m3
 Effective Stress
16

Effective stress at O

Total stress from Soil A

Dry density = 17 kN/m3

Total stress from Soil B

Pore water pressure
from water table
Dry density = 18 kN/m3

u
Pore
water
pressure
Effective Total
stress stress
 Effective Stress
17

Total stress at O
Wet unit weight of soil depth of soil layers (A & B)
Wet unit weight of soil B
dry unit weight (1 + Water content)
Water content can be obtained from: Unit weight of water (9.81)
Saturation (1.0)
Specific gravity (2.7)
Gs w
Gs wc S e e 1
Void ratio (0.47) d
Water content (?) Dry unit weight of Soil (18)
wc = 0.17
 Effective Stress
18

Total stress at O due to soil B

Wet unit weight of soil B depth of soil layer B
Wet unit weight of soil
dryunit weight (1 + Water content)
18 (1+0.17) = 21.06 kN/m3
 Effective Stress
19

Total stress at O
Wet unit weight of soil depth of soil layer (A & B)
36.12 + 21.06 3 = 99.3 kN/m2
Pore water pressure at O = 3 9.81 = 29.43 kN/m2
Effective stress at O Dry density = 17 kN/m3

Total stress - Pore water pressure

99.3 29.43 = 69.87 kN/m2 Dry density = 18 kN/m3
 Vertical Stresses under Foundation
20

If a 200 kN load is applied on a square foundation

with dimension of 2X2 m, located at top of soil
surface, what would be the increase in stress at 5 m
depth of soil?
 Vertical Stresses under Foundation
21

200 kN

0.5 2m

2m
5m 5m

5m

2.5 m 2.5 m

7m
 Vertical Stresses under Foundation
22

200 kN

2m
2m

5m

7m

7m
 Vertical Stresses under Foundation
23

Load = 200 kN
Area at depth of 5 m = 7 X 7 m2 = 49 m2
Stress at depth of 5 m:
Load / Area at depth of 7 m = 200/49
Stress = 4.08 kN/m2
 Consolidation
24

Estimate the change in thickness of a layer of NC clay

shown in the figure (next slide) after application of a
uniform surcharge of 150 psf.
Cc=0.4
The specific gravity of clay particles is 2.75
Water content = 28%
Saturation = 100%
If cv= 0.1 ft2/day , then determine the time required
for 50% consolidation
 Surcharge = 1000 lb/ft2

2 ft Sand sat=110 lb/ft3

8 ft Normally consolidated clay

sat=110 lb/ft3

Sand

25
 Consolidation
26

Concepts:
The process by which settlement happens is called
consolidation:
Saturated soils are made up of the solid particles and pores filled
with water
When load is applied, it is completely taken by the water in the pores
This causes the pore water pressure to rise
Pore water wants to loose this excess pressure so it starts to flow out
As pore water flows out (and pre water pressure decreases), the soil
settles
 Consolidation
27

Steps of calculation of change in layer thickness:

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer
Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer
clay layer before application of load
Calculate final effective stress at center of clay layer
after application of load
Use consolidation formula to calculate strain
Calculate change in height from calculated strain
 Consolidation
28

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer

Gs = 2.75
wc= 28%
Gs wc S e
S (saturation) = 100%

e = 0.77
 Consolidation
29

Steps of calculation of change in layer thickness:

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer
Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer
clay layer before application of load
Calculate final effective stress at center of clay layer
after application of load
Use consolidation formula to calculate strain
Calculate change in height from calculated strain
 Consolidation
30

Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer

clay layer before application of load

2 ft Sand sat=110 lb/ft3 2 ft

6 ft 4 ft
8 ft Normally consolidated clay
sat=110 lb/ft3

Sand
 Consolidation
31

Effective stress at center of clay layer at start:

Total stress from sand layer = 110 2 = 220 psf
Total stress from clay layer = 110 4 = 440 psf

Stress from pore water (pore water pressure)

u = 62 6 = 372 psf
u
Pore
water
pressure
Effective Total
stress stress

Effective stress = (220 + 440) 372 = 288 psf

 Consolidation
32

Steps of calculation of change in layer thickness:

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer
Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer
clay layer before application of load
Calculate final effective stress at center of clay layer
after application of load
Use consolidation formula to calculate strain
Calculate change in height from calculated strain
 Consolidation
33

Effective stress at center of clay layer after

application of load:
Surcharge = 1000 lb/ft2

2 ft Sand sat=110 lb/ft3

8 ft Normally consolidated clay

sat=110 lb/ft3

Sand
 Consolidation
34

Effective stress at center of clay layer after

application of load:
1000 psf (surcharge) + effective stress at start
1000 + 288 = 1288 psf
 Consolidation
35

Steps of calculation of change in layer thickness:

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer
Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer
clay layer before application of load
Calculate final effective stress at center of clay layer
after application of load
Use consolidation formula to calculate strain
Calculate change in height from calculated strain
 Consolidation
36

Consolidation formula Effective stress at

center of clay layer
0.4
at start (288 psf)
Cc 0'
log10 '
1 e0 f
Effective stress at
0.77
center of clay layer
after application of

0.17
surcharge (1288 psf)
 Consolidation
37

Steps of calculation of change in layer thickness:

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer
Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer
clay layer before application of load
Calculate final effective stress at center of clay layer
after application of load
Use consolidation formula to calculate strain
Calculate change in height from calculated strain
 Consolidation
38

Change in height
0.17
H

H
8 ft

H 0.17 8 1.36 ft
 Consolidation
39

Steps of calculation of change in layer thickness:

Calculate initial void ratio of clay layer
Calculate initial effective stress at center of clay layer
clay layer before application of load
Calculate final effective stress at center of clay layer
after application of load
Use consolidation formula to calculate strain
Calculate change in height from calculated strain
 Consolidation
40

If cv= 0.1 ft2/day , then determine the time

required for 50% consolidation
Steps:
Figure out if clay layer has single or double drainage
Use formula to calculate Tv (time factor)
Use proper formula
From Tv calculate t (time)
 Consolidation
41

Single or double drainage

2 ft Sand sat=110 lb/ft3

8 ft Normally consolidated clay Double

sat=110 lb/ft3 drainage

Sand
 Consolidation
42

Steps:
Figure out if clay layer has single or double drainage
Use formula to calculate Tv (time factor)
Use proper formula
From Tv calculate t (time)
 Consolidation
43

Calculation of time factor

% consolidation in decimal (0.5)

Tv U2 U < 0.526
4

Tv 0.933 log10 (1 U ) 0.085 U > 0.526

Tv = 0.19625
 Consolidation
44

Steps:
Figure out if clay layer has single or double drainage
Use formula to calculate Tv (time factor)
Use proper formula
From Tv calculate t (time)
 Consolidation
45

From Tv calculate t (time)

Drainage height (8ft/2 = 4ft)

Tv H 2
t
cv
Coefficient of consolidation
(0.1 ft2/day)

t = 31.4 days
46 Questions ?