Problem 1

If a rectangular foundation was placed in the soil profile

as shown in the figure with a dimension of 4 m x 6 m,
transmitting stress of 15,500 kPa on the surface of a soil
deposit. Determine the major principal stress (in kPa)
and the orientation angle (in degrees) of the principal
plane with respect to the microscopic soil sample at 31
m below the ground at the center of the foundation.
Use the 2:1 Method.
Problem 2 Problem 3

A soil profile consists of a clay layer underlain by a sand A rectangular foundation 4 m x 6 m transmits stress of
layer, as shown in the figure. If a tube is inserted into 300 kPa on the surface of a soil deposit, as shown in the
the bottom sand layer and the water level rises above figure. Determine the depth (in m) where the increase
the ground surface, Determine the effective vertical in vertical stress is 15% of the surface load below point
stress in kPa at B. A, Use the 2:1 method.
Problem 1

A rectangular pile foundation with a dimension of 4.0 x

5.5 m is shown in the figure. The original level of the soil
prior to the construction is at the base of the current
foundation, the fill was only placed after the foundation
was erected. Neglecting the existence of the pile and
the weight of the concrete foundation, determine the
total primary consolidation (mm) of the clay. Use 2:1
method.
Problem 2 Problem 3

A sample of soil was subjected to a series of triaxial A series of undrained shear box tests (area of box = 235
tests. The results were as shown in the table. If a third mm2) were carried out on soil with the following results
test is made with a cell pressure of 272 kPa. Determine as shown in the table. If a 25 mm diam. x 75 mm long
the value of the major principal stress (in kPa) for the sample of the same soil was tested in a tri-axial
third test. machine, with a cell pressure of 270 kPa, what would be
the additional axial load (N) at a failure if the sample
was shortened by 6.8 mm.
Problem 1 Problem 2

An infinite slope is shown in figure 1. Assume that the A cut is to be made in soil having 𝛾=19 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3, 𝑐=25 kPa
angle of friction and cohesion is constant for different and 𝛷′=35°. The side of the cut slope will make an angle
soil conditions. (25%) of 50° with the horizontal. (25%)

a. Determine the factor of safety against sliding if there a. If the depth of the cut is 12 m and the failure plane
is seepage through the soil and the groundwater table makes an
coincides with the ground surface, H=5 m and 𝛽=25°.
angle of 45°, what is the factor of safety?
b. Determine the critical height (m).
b. If the factor of safety is 2.0 what is the maximum
depth of cut (m)?
Problem 3 Problem 4

A square foundation is 2.5 m x 2.5 m in plan. The soil A group of piles is shown in figure 2. The total load on
supporting the foundation has a friction angle of 𝛷′=20° the piles less the weight of the soil displaced by the
and 𝑐′=25 kPa. The unit weight of soil is 𝛾=18.5 kN/m3. foundation is 1225 kN. Determine the total primary
Determine the allowable gross load (kN) on the consolidation of the foundation (in mm). (25%)
foundation with a factor of safety (FS) of 2.5. Assume
that the depth of the foundation is 1.8 m and the
Groundwater table is 1.5 m below the base of the
footing. (25%)
Problem 1 Problem 2

Using the principles of Mohr’s circles for the soil The soil profile at a site for a proposed office building
element as shown in figure 1, determine the normal consists of a layer of fine sand 12.5 m thick above a
stress (kPa) on the plane AB layer of soft, normally consolidated clay 1.5 m thick.
Below the soft clay is a deposit of coarse sand. The
groundwater table was observed at 2.5 m below ground
level. The void ratio of the sand is 0.79 and the water
content of the clay is 35%. The building will impose a
vertical stress increase of 250 kPa at the middle of the
clay layer. Determine the primary consolidation (mm) of
the clay. Assume the soil above the water table to be
saturated, 𝐶𝑐 = 0.255, 𝐶𝑠 = 0.07, OCR = 2.9, and 𝐺𝑠 =
2.75.
Problem 3 Problem 4
A sample, 65 mm in diameter and 35 mm high, taken A borehole at a site reveals the soil profile shown in
from a clay layer 7 m thick, was tested in an oedometer figure 2. Determine the effective stress (kPa) at an
with drainage at the upper and lower boundaries. It elevation of 36.70 m. (Take note that the dimensions in
took the laboratory sample 19.5 minutes to reach 40% the figure are elevations)
consolidation. How long will it take (years) in the field
for 85% primary consolidation to occur?
Problem 5 Problem 6

Determine the anchor force (kN) of the tied-back wall as A braced excavation in soft, normally consolidated clay
shown in figure 3, considering the Groundwater is on is shown in figure 4. The struts are spaced at 2 m center
the left side of the wall only. to center. Use Peck’s pressure diagram. Determine the
strut load (kN) at support B.
Problem 7

For the frictionless wall shown in figure 5, determine

the ratio of the passive moment to active moment
considering the Groundwater is on the left side of the
wall only.
Problem 1 Problem 2

A rectangular concrete slab, 3 m x 4.5 m, rests on the A pole carries a vertical load of 200 kN. Determine the
surface of a soil mass. The load on the slab is 2025 kN. vertical total stress increase at a depth 5 m at a radial
Determine the vertical stress increase at a depth of 3 m distance of 2 m.
under the center of the slab using Boussinesq solution.
Problem 3 Problem 4

The tank is used for storage of oil having specific gravity For a normally consolidated clay layer in the field, the
of 0.82. The combined weight of empty tank and the following values are given: (Note: Time for completion
concrete footing is 3200 kN. It is required to excavate an of primary settlement = 1.5 years).
amount of soil such that it will compensate to the dead
weight of the tank and concrete. Use Boussinesq
solution.

A. Determine the primary consolidation

settlement.
B. Determine the secondary consolidation
settlement to be expected over a 5-year time.

A. Determine the required depth of the footing.

B. Determine the change in stress of the clay layer.
C. Determine the expected settlement of the clay
layer if it is over consolidated with OCR = 2.2.
Problem 5 Problem 6

A sample of soil (0.1 m x 0.1 m x 0.1 m) is subjected to A cohesionless soil is subjected to a triaxial test. The
the forces shown in the figure 2. normal stress and the shear stress on the failure plane
at failure were determined to be 400 kPa and 350 kPa,
respectively.

A. Determine the angle of the failure plane

measured from the principal plane.
B. Determine the major principal stress.

A. Determine the normal stress on the specified

inclined plane.
B. Determine the shear stress on the specified
inclined plane.
Problem 7 Problem 8

A soil specimen has an angle of shearing resistance of The results of two drained triaxial tests on a saturated
28° and a cohesion of 31 kPa. The shearing stress on the clay follow:
failure plane is 65 kPa.

A. Determine the maximum normal stress to cause

failure.
B. Determine the normal stress on the failure
plane at failure. A. Determine the angle of internal friction of the
soil.
B. Determine the cohesion of the soil.
C. Determine the angle of failure plane.
Problem 9 Problem 10

A retaining wall with a vertical back of height 8 m A vertical-face wall of 8 m height retains sand having a
supports a cohesive soil with properties as shown in density of 1.936 Mg/m3 and an angle of internal friction
figure 3. of 34°. The surface of the backfill slopes upwards at 15°
to the horizontal. Use Rankine’s conditions. Determine
the active thrust per meter width of the wall.

A. Determine the expected depth of the tensile

crack in the soil.
B. Determine the active thrust before the
occurrence of the tensile crack.
C. Determine the active thrust after the
occurrence of the tensile crack.
Problem 11 Problem 12

A sheet-piling is shown in figure 4. The soil has an A sheet pile 10.50 m in length is to retain a 7.35 m deep
effective unit weight of 17 kN/m3 and angle of internal of soil with friction angle of 30° and unit weight of 17.5
friction of 30°. kN/m3. It is anchored to a depth of 1.10 m below the
top of the pile. The anchors are spaced 3 m. Assume full
active thrust behind sheet pile.

A. Determine the percentage of the total passive

resistance utilized by the wall.
B. Determine the tension on each anchor.

A. Determine the depth of embedment (simplified

method)
B. Determine the ratio of passive to active force.
Problem 13 Problem 14

A braced excavation is soft, normally consolidated clay The shearing strength parameters of a soil obtained
is shown in figure 5. The struts are spaced at 1 meter from laboratory tests are c' = 32 kPa, ϕ’ = 18°, while the
center-to-center. expected, parameters of mobilized shearing resistance
are c’d = 21 kPa, ϕ’d = 13° and the average
intergranular stress on the failure plane is 110 kPa.

A. Determine the factor of safety with respect to

height for the same value of mobilized shearing
resistance.
B. Determine the factor of safety with respect to
friction when that with respect to cohesion is
unity for the same value of mobilized shearing
resistance.
C. Determine the factor of safety with respect to
strength for the same value of mobilized
shearing resistance.

A. Determine the load on strut A.

B. Determine the load on strut B.
C. Determine the load on strut C.
Problem 15 Problem 16

For an infinite slope without seepage. The shear A cut is to be made in a soil having γ = 105 pcf, c = 600
strength parameters at the interface of soil and rock are psf, and ϕ = 15°. The slide of the cut slope will make an
c = 18 kPa and ϕ = 25°. Given: γ = 18.639 kN/m3. angle of 45° with the horizontal. Use factor of safety is
3. (Culmann’s Theory).
A. Determine the factor of safety against sliding on
the rock surface if H = 8.00 m and β = 20°. A. Determine the critical angle which the most
B. Determine the critical height of the slope if β = probable failure will occur.
30°. B. Determine the maximum safe depth of the cut.
C. Determine the maximum angle β so that the C. Determine the developed shear stress along the
slope is stable if H = 6 m. failure plane.
Problem 17 Problem 18

A strip footing of width 3 m is founded at a depth of 2 m A rectangular footing of size 10 ft x 20 ft is founded at a

below the ground surface in a soil having a cohesion c = depth of 6 ft below the ground surface in a
30 kN/m2 and angle of shearing resistance ϕ = 35°. The homogeneous cohesionless soil having an angle of
water table is at a depth of 5 m below ground level. The shearing resistance ϕ = 35°. The water table is at a great
moist weight of soil above the water table is 17.25 depth. The unit weight of soil is γ = 114 lb/ft3. Use
kN/m3. Use general shear failure theory of Terzaghi. Terzaghi’s theory.
𝑘𝑃𝛾=82
A. Determine the net ultimate bearing capacity.
A. Determine the net allowable bearing load when B. Determine the net allowable bearing pressure
the ground water table rises to the ground for factor of safety, FS = 3.
level.
B. Determine the net safe bearing capacity of the
soil when the water table is 1.25 m below the
footing base.
Problem 19 Problem 20

A concrete pile of 45 cm diameter is driven through a A concrete pile 18 in. diameter and 50 ft long is driven
system of layered cohesive soils. The length of the pile into a homogeneous mass of clay of soil of medium
is 16 m. the following data are available. The water consistency. The average unit weight of the soil is 110
table is close to the ground surface. Use factor of safety lb/ft3. The unit cohesion of the soil under undrained
= 2.50. condition is 1050 psf and λ = 0.20. Use factor of safety,
FS = 2.50 and Nc = 9. Determine the allowable load the
Top layer 1: Soft clay, thickness = 8 m, unit cohesion c =
pile can carry.
30 kPa and adhesion factor α = 0.90.

Layer 2: Medium stiff, thickness = 6 m, unit cohesion c =

50 kPa and α = 0.75.

Layer 3: Stiff stratum extends to a great depth, unit

cohesion c = 105 kPa and α = 0.50.

A. Determine the skin friction of pile.

B. Determine the allowable design capacity of pile.
Problem 21 Problem 22

A pile group consisting of 9 piles, each 0.40 m in A pipe pile with an outside diameter of 18 in and a flat
diameter, is arranged in a 3 x 3 matrix at a spacing of end plate is driven 200 ft into a normally consolidated
1.20 m. The piles penetrate a soft clay (c = 20 kPa, ϕ = clay deposit having the properties shown. The water
30°, γ = 17 kN/m3) of thickness 8 m and are embedded level is above the ground surface. λ = 0.13
2 m in a stiff clay (c = 90 kPa, ϕ = 28°, γ = 17.5 kN/m3) at
the bottom. Use α = 1 for soft clay and α = 0.50 for stiff
clay.

A. Determine the capacity of the pile group based

on single pile failure mode.
B. Determine the capacity of the pile group based
on block failure mode.
C. Determine the center-to-center spacing of the
piles for an efficiency factor of 1. A. Determine the skin friction of pile.
B. Determine the allowable design capacity of pile,
FS = 1.0
Problem 23

A group of piles is shown in the figure 6. The total load

on the piles less the weight of the soil displaced by the
foundation is 1335 kN.

A. Determine the primary consolidation of top clay

layer.
B. Determine the primary consolidation of bottom
clay layer.