CODE No.

:10BT60106

SREE VIDYANIKETHAN ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(An Autonomous Institution, Affiliated to JNTUA, Anantapur)

III B.Tech II Semester (SVEC10) Supplementary Examinations January - 2014

FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
[ Civil Engineering ]
Time: 3 hours

Max Marks: 70
Answer any FIVE questions
All questions carry equal marks

1.

a) Explain what is meant by disturbed and undisturbed samples. How the degree of
disturbance is measured?
b) Write down the design considerations of open drive sampler.

2.

a) A retaining wall, 8m high, with a smooth vertical back, retains a clay backfill
with c1 = 15 kN/m2, 1 = 100 and = 18 kN/m3. Calculate the total active thrust
on the wall assuming that tension cracks may develop to the full theoretical depth.
b) Explain Culmann's graphical method for estimating active earth pressure.

3.

a) What is retaining wall? Discuss about the various types of retaining walls.
b) A trapezoidal masonry retaining wall 1m wide at top and 3m wide at its bottom is
4m high. The vertical face is retaining soil (=300) at a surcharge angle of 200
with the horizontal. Determine the maximum and minimum intensities of pressure
at the base of the retaining wall. Unit weights of soil and masonry are 20kN/ m3
and 24kN/m3 respectively. Assuming the coefficient of friction at the base of the
wall as 0.45, determine the factor of safety against over turning.

4.

a) Explain the method of Bishop's simplified method for stability analysis of slopes.
b) A cutting is made 10m deep with sides sloping at 8:5 in a clay soil having mean
undrained shear strength of 50 kN/m2 and mean bulk density of 19 kN/m3.
Determine the factor of safety under undrained conditions given the following
details of the impending failure circular surface.
The centre of rotation lies vertically above the middle of the slope. Radius of failure
arc16.5m.The deepest position of the failure surface is 2.5m below the bottom surface
of the cut. Allowance to be made for tension cracks developing to a depth of 3.5m from
surface. Assume that there is no external pressure on the face of the slope.

5.

a) What are the points to be kept in consideration for locating of depth of footing?
b) A continuous footing of width 2.5m rests 1.5m below the ground surface in clay.
The unconfined compressive strength of the clay is 150kN/m2. Calculate the ultimate
bearing capacity of the footing, when there is no effect of water table and when
water table reaches ground surface. Take = 18kN/m3, sat = 20kN/m3.

6.

a) Write the notes on allowable settlements of various structures.

b) The following data is obtained from a plate load test on 60 60 cm plate:
Pressure (kPa)
0.0 240
Settlement (mm) 0.0 2.0

480 720 960 1200 1440 1680

5.0 7.5 12.0 16.0 23.0 28.0

Plot a log-log graph and estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil.
1

7.

A group of 9 piles with 3 piles in a row was driven into soft clay extending from
ground level to a great depth. The diameter and the length of the piles were 30 cm
and 10m respectively. The unconfined compressive strength of the clay is 70 kPa.
If the piles were placed 90 cm center to center, compute the allowable load on
the pile group on the basis of a shear failure criterion for a factor of safety of 2.5.

8.

a) What are 'Tilts and Shifts'? What are the remedial measures to control these?
b) Sketch a completed well foundation for a Bridge pier. Indicate the various
components and their functions.