Geotechnical

Sample and Clone Questions

Figure 10.14a Vertical stress contour below a square
foundation.
 = 4.62mm
20mm

= 0.231

= 0.988 – 0.231

= 0.757
 Sheet piles
Advantage Disadvantage
a) Comparatively low cost a) Not able to penetrate at
region of SPT = 50.
b) Water can seep through
the sheet piles joint.
c) Suitable for temporary
works only

Conclusion, not suitable base on the disadvantage above

Soldier piles with timber lagging Contiguous Bored Pile wall

Advantage Disadvantage Advantage Disadvantage
a) Comparatively low cost a) Water can seep through a) Good for permanent a) Water can seep through the
b) Suitable to pile with the the timber laggings. work in between the bored pile.
H-pile in this area b) Suitable for temporary b) Bored pile can (but still can compensate
because the SPT is high. works only penetrate high SPT with proper skin wall with
soil. water tight resistance)
b) High cost compared to CBP
Conclusion, not suitable base on the disadvantage above

Conclusion, suitable to use if skin wall that can retain water

is introduced
Secant Bored Pile wall
Advantage Disadvantage
a) Good for permanent a) High cost
work
b) Bored pile can penetrate
high SPT soil.
c) Water can be retained
using Secant Bored Pile
Wall

Conclusion, suitable to use but need to check on the costing.

i) Based heaving can occur due to global stability of the retaining wall. Therefore, Designer must
a) analyze the lowest factor of safety for the global stability
b) Introduce counter weight at the bottom of the excavation
c) To do bracing (struts and wales)

ii) Piping occur due to the water seeping through the bottom of the excavation. Therefore, Designer must
a) Deepen the retaining wall’s embedment into the permeable soil.
b) Introduce suitable filter (in term of material and depth) at the bottom of the excavation.
 Assumption:
a) The hydraulic gradient both medium dense silty sand and very dense
sand layers can be transformed to 1 common hydraulic gradient.
b) Piping is generally occurs within a distance of D/2 from the sheet piles
(when D equals depth of embedment of sheet piles into the
permeable layer) (reference : Terzaghi (1922) )
Method: Graphical Method, Draw Flownet

Potential drop
Δh = 5.5m/11 = 0.5m
1
6m Where, iav = have/D Pressure head at A
hA =(11−7)×0.5= 2 m
2 D
Pressure head at B
3 11 hB =(11−8)×0.5= 1.5 m
4 10

A
9 B Therefore,
5 8 have = (2m+1.5m)/2 = 1.75m
6 7 6m
FS= D x (18-9.81) = 1.5
1.75 x 9.81

D = (1.5 x 1.75 x
9.81)
(18 -9.81)

D = 3.15 m
So, the embedment retaining wall depth should be at least 3.15m to achieve above FS=1.5 (Desirable factor of safety)
b) Explain briefly, types of investigation method, field test and laboratory test for a road construction project
at the coastal area in Klang. The lithology of the area is an alluvium formation with thick soft marine clay.
Support the facts with reasons that are relevant to the site conditions and designs.

1) Road Construction require to have: (60marks)

a) Fill embankment (filled slope)
b) Cut slope
c) Bridge (more to Substructure in this case)
d) Building (toll plaza, supervision building)
e) Pavement
2) The field test can be conducted here are:
a) Borehole to take sample, disturbed and undisturbed.
b) SPT Test. (can roughly determine the undrained shear strength of the soil. Also will be good to use for pile
foundation design using Mayerhoff Method)
c) Field Vane Shear Test to take undrained cohesion value at site. Undrained due to the coastal area.
d) Cone Penetration Test (to determine shear Strength at site)
e) California Bearing Ratio (CBR) – for Pavement Subgrade
3) The Lab test can be conducted
a) Direct Shear Test – to determine the shear strength
b) Triaxial Test, Undrained Unconsolidated and Drained Consolidated Test. This is suitable for Determine Shear
Strength for slope stability analysis and soil bearing.
c) To determine Plastic Index (Falling Cone Method) to determine the marine clay is suitable material to be used
in as fill material.
1. No. Size.(mm) %
4. 4.75. 90
10. 2. 80
40. 0.425. 42
100. 0.15. 25
200. 0.075. 15

Based on the sieve analysis above, which are the correct answers?
i) it is an Organic material
ii) Permeability is high
iii) Plastic index is high
iv) Compressibility high
v) Undrain shear strength higher than drained shear strength

A. i, ii, and iii

B. ii and iii
C. i and iii
D. ii and iv
E. ii, iv and v
2. Given mohr circle plot points graph, find effective cohesion and effective friction angle
3. The dry unit weight of a borrow pit is 17.5kN/m3. It was determine in
the lab that max dry unit weight is 20kN/m3.
If the fill embankment volume is 20000m3, what is the minimum required
volume from the burrow pit needed in order to fill the embankment if the
specification state that the fill embankment must achieve at least 90% of
max dry density.

a) 19,500
b) 21,300 Required Volume from the Borrow Pit = 0.9 x 20kN/m3 x 20000m3
17.5kN/m3
c) 21,900
d) 20,600 = 20571.43m3

e) 20,000
4. Calculate SPT based on following:
150mm penetration -5blow
150mm penetration -8blow
150mm penetration -11blow
a) 13
b) 19
c) 24
d) 8
e) 5
 5. Given Cassagrande test result graph, find liquid limit moisture content?
Answer : Blow at 25, LL = 25

30
Moisture Content (%)

25

20
 Ko = 1 – sin 28 = 0.5305

= 0.5 x 0.5305 x 18 x 42
= 76.392 kN
8. What is/are false statement(s) about stone column: -
i) stone column to reduce differential settlement
ii) Stone column to prevent liquefaction
iii) Stone column as vertical drainage
iv) Stone column can be used for shallow foundation for building
 
A. i and iv
B. i, ii and iii
C. ii, iii and iv
D. ii and iii
E. None of the above
 
9. The followings are the way to prevent base heave at retaining wall
close to neighbour existing building, choose the true statements (multiple
choice)
i. Add penetration of wall
ii. Pressure grout base
iii. Apply water surcharge on neighbour lot
iv. Maintain ground water level to reduce the water level in the pit
v. Continue to excavate deeper the base of pit
 
10. Find over consolidation ratio (OCR) of clay of 4m depth ,given
density of clay = 17kN/m3, past maximum stress= 150 kN/m2,
ground water level at 1m depth below the surface  

1m γdry

overconsolidation ratio (OCR)

γ = 17 kN/m3 4m

OCR = 150 = 3.89

(1 x 17 + 3 x (17 – 9.81))
11. False Statement about ground improvement work:-

a. Surcharge for PVD can be included with traffic loading√

b. For very soft soil condition, embankment shall be filled in
stages.
c. Partial soil replacement can reduce consolidation time for very
thin clay layer.
d. For peaty soil, groundwater level shall be maintained to avoid
excessive settlement.
e. None of the above  
12. Given criteria of piling, 2000kN 3000kN
FOS =2 and graph of
loading vs settlement, find
the design working loading
(pile fails at 5000kN, design
criteria for pile fail when
settlement >15mm. From
graph, settlement 15mm @
3000kN)

Therefore, the design 15mm

working load should be
=3000kN/2 = 1500kN
5. Geotechnical question
Given Column Layout Plan and column loading for one project location adjacent to the slope, there is RC
retaining wall located at the toe of the slope. Given Moment resistance - 6000++ kN.m and Slipping Moment is
5000++kN.m/m without consideration of additional column/ footing load to slope.
a. Factor of safety based on slip circle from the Moments given in the question.
b. Calculation of footing size for 4 columns based on given allowable bearing capacity of 100kPa.
c. Calculate New FOS for the slope by taking in consideration of additional load in grid line A and B. Explain
whether the slope is safe or not by taking additional loading.
d. List down 3 ways that the additional column load will affect the slope stability and RC retaining wall at the
toe of slope
e. List down 3 methods to increase the stability of slope with sketch and calculation.

a. FS= Momentresistance
Momentoverturn/slipping

FS = 6000/ 5000 = 1.2

b. Load/ Allowable Bearing Capacity = Area of Pad Footing

P
c.
L
FS

= Restoring moment
We + PL

If FS < 1.3, it is not safe.

d

e. i. Counter Weight Berm

ii. Reduce the slope degree (β).
iii. Reduce the additional load from the building