iow: Te (75) THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES BSc (ENGINEERING) YEAR 3 EXAMINATIONS OF DECEMBER 2005 Code and Name of Course: CVNG 3005 FOUNDATION ENGINEERING Paper: Date and Time: Wednesday 7* December, 2005 9.00 a.m. — 12.00 noon Duration: 3 Hours INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: This paper has 5 pages and 6 questions. ANSWER FIVE (5) QUESTIONS Only non-programmable calculators may be used 1. (@) A roadway embankment fill is to be constructed through a reclaimed swamp area. The proposed roadway is to be 8 m wide with 1:1 side slopes and at an elevation 4 m above original ground. The swamp profile comprises a 1.5 m thick surface layer of silty sand and gravel followed by a 6 m thick layer soft peaty clay, followed by very hard impermeable clay to great depth, If the clay layer can be characterised by, my top = 1.4.x 10° m°/KN, my, totom = 0.8 x 10° m’/KN and cy = 0.3 m’/month and the unit weight of the compacted fill is y= 21 kN/m’, determine (see Figure Qu.1 for U vs T, relationship); (j) the maximum expected settlement of this proposed embankment and Gi) the total time required to achieve this value under the design fill loading. [8 marks] (b) If the roadway pavement is to be placed 2 years after the start of construction after which time 50 mm of primary consolidation settlement can be tolerated, determine the height of surcharge necessary to meet these requirements. Assume the fill is to be constructed over a period of 1 year. Comment on whether this surcharging option offers a practicable solution. [12 marks] 2. (a), Using the Terzaghi Bearing Capacity criteria, determine the allowable bearing capacity for a 2.5 m strip footing founded at 1.5 m depth within the soil profile given in Figure Qu. 2. [6 marks] (b) Determine the maximum expected settlement under the footing using the Schmertmann methodology (Use, soil elastic modulus E, = 500*(N + 15) kN/m?), [10 marks} (©) If the maximum allowable settlement under footing is 25 mm, what value of allowable bearing pressure would you recommend for this foundation? [4 marks] ©The University ofthe West Indies Course Code CVNG 3005 2005/2006page 2 (a) Determine the stress distribution at the base of the retaining wall indicated in Figure Qu. 3, under dynamic earthquake conditions for a maximum lateral expected ground acceleration of 0.3g [10 marks} (b) Determine the number and spacing of 6m long 600 mm diameter piles that would be required to safely carry (FS=2.0) this earthquake loading condition. (10 marks] ‘Table of soil properties Figure 3 ‘Layer ‘Unit Weight | Undrained Strength | Drained (effective strength) Mohr- Y N/m? Coulomb Parameters N/m? Su © o Silty Sand Fal 20 0 30 Silty Clay 16 150 25 18 Gravel (draina; 21 36 layer) - (a) Describe and explain, briefly, the geophysical phenomena in the frequency domain associated with the development of seismic loads on structures founded on soil profiles of different stiffinesses (from very soft clays to bedrock). [8 marks] (b) Within a medium to stiff soil site overlying bedrock, an average shear wave velocity of 320 m/s was estimated over a 25 m depth immediately below the surface. Draw the first three modal shapes that this layer is likely to exhibit and compute its corresponding modal periods. [8 marks] (0) What types of earthquakes are likely to affect buildings founded on this profile, shallow or deep? Give reasons for your answer. [4 marks) (a) Describe the concepts and analytical methodologies used in reinforced earth design applied to G@) Walls and Abutments and (ii) Soil slopes (steeply sloping but not vertical). Ilustrate your answers using sketches and relevant equations. (10 marks] (b) Design an appropriate alternative reinforced earth solution for the wall configuration illustrated in Figure Qu.3. Assume that the only available geogrid is one of 45 kN/m ultimate tensile strength and the silty sand fill has a unit weight of 21 KN/m? and internal angle of friction of g' = 30” [10 marks} ©The University of the West Indies Course Code CYNG 3005 2005/2006page 3 6. (a) Describe and explain the principal environmental phenomena and mechanisms that are largely responsible for volume change in soil profiles. State explicitly how soil classification, climate and vegetation can be used to quantify the expansive potential of soil environments. [8 marks] (b) Two different methodologies are typically available to the geotechnical engineer for the design of foundations on expansive clay profiles; (i) the BRE method and (ji) the PTI method. Describe each of these procedures in detail and outline in each case the type of site investigations and laboratory testing that you would carry out to facilitate implementation, of each method. [12 marks] Time factor a 02 o4 os. 08 10 = 3 5 8 z impermeable ‘Theoretical consolidation curves, Figure Qu. 1 The University at the Westlodies oF VTE RAG LO SARE onanaie