Concordia University

Department of Building, Civil & Environmental Engineering

CIVI 432: Soil Mechanics
Instructor: Adel Hanna

Fall 2012

ASSIGNMENT No. 2
Due: 26th of October, 2012

1. The maximum dry unit weight determined in the laboratory for a quartz sand is 16.0
kN 3 . In the field, if the relative compaction is 90%, determine the hydraulic
m
conductivity of the sand in the field compaction condition (given that k for the sand at the
maximum dry unit weight condition is 0.03 cm/sec and G s = 2.7 ).

d ( field ) = 0.9 d (max lab ) = 0.9 16 = 14.4 kN

e1 =
e2 =

Gs w

d
Gs w

1 =

2.7 9.81
1 = 0.655
16

1 =

2.7 9.81
1 = 0.839
14.4

m3

e2 3 1 + e1
0.839 3 1.655
k 2 = k1
= 5.67 10 2 cm
3 = 0.03

3
sec
1.839 0.655
1 + e2 e1

2. A constant head permeameter has an internal diameter of 62.5mm and is fitted in the side
with three mamometer tapping at point A, B, and C. During tests on a specimen of sand
the following data were recorded:

Test No.

Quantity of water collected in 5min

1
2
3

136.2ml
184.5 ml
309.4 ml

Manometer level (mm) above datum

A
B
C

62
84
112

90
122
175

117
164
244

Length between tapping points:

A-B= 120mm
B-C= 125mm
Determine the average of permeability of the soil (average of six values).

Test
No.
1
2
3

Tim
e
(sec)

300
300
300

hAB

hBC

q=Q/T

(cm)

(cm)

(cm3)

(cm3/sec)

Area

(cm)

(cm )

2.8
3.8
6.3

2.7
4.2
6.9

136.2
184.5
309.4

0.454
0.615
1.031

6.25
6.25
6.25

30.664
30.664
30.664

LAB

LBC

(cm)

(cm)

12 12.5
12 12.5
12 12.5
Average:
k (cm/sec)

kAB=qLAB/AhAB

kBC=qLBC/AhBC

0.063
0.063
0.064
0.064

0.069
0.060
0.061
0.063

0.063335979

3. Draw the flow net pattern for the concrete dam shown in Fig. 1, in each of the following
cases:
Case a:
No sheet piles.
Case b:
One sheet pile 3.0 m deep measured from the bottom floor of the dam. The sheet
pile is located 0.5 m from the upstream face of the dam.
Case c:
One sheet pile 3.0 m deep measured from the bottom floor of the dam. The sheet
pile is located 0.5 m from the downstream face of the dam.
Case d:
Two sheet piles 3.0 m deep each, measured from the bottom floor of the dam.
The sheet piles are located 0.5 m from the upstream face and 0.5 m from the downstream face of
the dam.
a) Calculate the volume of seepage beneath the dam in each of the above cases. The
coefficient of permeability of the soil below the dam is k = 1.5x10-5 m/sec.
b) Comment and describe the effect of the existence of the sheet pile and its location on the
calculated seepage volume in each of the above cases.
c) How high would be the rise of water in piezometer tubes placed at points A, B, and C in
each case of the above cases. Provide the solution in a tabulated form.
d) Calculate the uplift pressure on the base of the dam in each of the above cases. Tabulate
the results and comment on the outcome in terms of the effect of the sheet pile on the
uplift pressure.
1.0
U.S.W.L.

Dims. in m

0.5

7.5

Slope 1 : 3

Concrete Dam
D.S.W.L.

0.5
1.0

A
2.0
C

4.0

6.0

5.0

10.0
2.0

B
Impervious Stratum
Figure
Fig. 1 1

Case a:

N f = 3 .1
Nd = 9
q = kH
h =

Nf
Nd

= 1.5 10 5 (7.5 0.5)

3 .1
= 3.6 10 5 m
s
9

H
7
= = 0.778m
Nd 9

Point
A
B
C

Height of water in piezometer tube (m)

8.5 1 0.778 = 7.7
13.5 4 0.778 = 10.4
10.5 7.4 0.778 = 4.7 or 3.5 + 1.6 0.778 = 4.7

Point
1
2
3
4
5

Dissipated head
(m)
0
1 h = 0.778
4 .5 h = 3 .5
8 h = 6.224
9 h = 7

Pressure Head (m)

7.5
8.5 1 0.778 = 7.7
8.5 4.5 0.778 = 5
8.5 8 0.778 = 2.28
0.5

Uplift Force (U)

(kN/m2)
7.5 9.81 = 73.6
7.7 9.81 = 75.5
5 9.81 = 49.05
7.7 9.81 = 75.5
0.5 9.81 = 4.9

Case b:

N f = 3 .5
N d = 13
q = kH
h =

Nf
Nd

= 1.5 10 5 (7.5 0.5)

3 .5
= 2.8 10 5 m
s
13

H
7
=
= 0.538m
N d 13

Point
A
B
C

Height of water in piezometer

tube (m)
8.5 1 0.538 = 7.96
13.5 7.4 0.538 = 9.52
10.5 11.6 0.538 = 4.26

Point
1
2
3
4
5

Dissipated head
(m)
0
1 h = 0.538
9 h = 4.842
12 h = 6.456
13 h = 7

Pressure Head (m)

7.5
8.5 1 0.538 = 7.962
8.5 9 0.538 = 3.658
8.5 12 0.538 = 2.044
0.5

Uplift Force (U)

(kN/m2)
7.5 9.81 = 73.6
7.962 9.81 = 78.1
3.658 9.81 = 35.9
2.044 9.81 = 20.1
0.5 9.81 = 4.9

Case c:

N f = 3 .5
N d = 13
q = kH
h =

Nf
Nd

= 1.5 10 5 (7.5 0.5)

3 .5
= 2.8 10 5 m
s
13

H
7
=
= 0.538m
N d 13

Point
A
B
C

Height of water in piezometer

tube (m)
8.5 1 0.538 = 7.96
13.5 4.4 0.538 = 11.13
10.5 11.1 0.538 = 4.53

Point
1
2
3
4
5

Dissipated head
(m)
0
1 h = 0.538
4 h = 2.152
12 h = 6.456
13 h = 7

Pressure Head (m)

7.5
8.5 1 0.538 = 7.962
8.5 4 0.538 = 6.348
8.5 12 0.538 = 2.044
0.5

Uplift Force (U)

(kN/m2)
7.5 9.81 = 73.6
7.962 9.81 = 78.1
6.348 9.81 = 62.3
2.044 9.81 = 20.1
0.5 9.81 = 4.9

Case d:

N f = 3 .5
N d = 16
q = kH
h =

Nf
Nd

= 1.5 10 5 (7.5 0.5)

3 .5
= 2.3 10 5 m
s
16

H
7
=
= 0.438m
N d 16

Point
A
B
C

Height of water in piezometer

tube (m)
8.5 1 0.438 = 8.06
13.5 7.3 0.438 = 10.30
10.5 14.1 0.438 = 4.32

10

Point
1
2
3
4
5

Dissipated
head (m)
0
1 h = 0.438
8 h = 3.504
15 h = 6.57
16 h = 7

Pressure Head (m)

7.5
8.5 1 0.438 = 8.062
8.5 8 0.438 = 4.996
8.5 15 0.438 = 1.93
0.5

Uplift Force (U)

(kN/m2)
7.5 9.81 = 73.6
8.062 9.81 = 79.1
4.996 9.81 = 49.01
1.93 9.81 = 18.93
0.5 9.81 = 4.9

11

4. The section through a long cofferdam is shown in Fig. 2. The coefficient of permeability
of the soil is 4x10-7 m/sec. Draw the flow net of this system and determine the quantity
of seepage entering zone of the cofferdam. Check the safety of the structure against
piping. The saturated unit weight of the soil is 19 kN/m3.

3.0

Sheet Piles

Water Surface

G.L.

5.0

5.0

2.0

9.0

Dims. in m

Impervious Stratum
Figure 2

12

a)

k = 4 10 7

m
sec

H = 5m
Nf =6
Nd = 7
Nf

q=k

Nd

H = 4.7 10 7

m
m3
m3
(6 / 7) 5m 1m = 1.71 10 4
= 0.148
sec
sec
day

b)
F.S against piping:
i
F .S = cr
imax

icr =

'
w

The head loss per equipotential is:

5m
= 5 / 7 = 0.71m
Nd

We are interested in the exit hydraulic gradient near the sheet pile (shortest path)
The length of travel is approximately:
L = 5m / 3 = 1.667

0.71
= 0.43
3
w 19 9.8
icr = sat
=
= 0.936
w
9 .8
iexit =

F .S =

icr
0.936
=
= 2.18
imax
0.43

13

5.
a) Calculate the values and pot the variation of total stress, effective stress, and pore
water pressure with depth for the soil profile shown in Figure. Consider stresses at
points A, B, C, and D.
A
3m

dry=14.25kN/m3
sat=18.74kN/m3

Sand
GWT
B

4m

dry=14.96kN/m3
sat=19.27kN/m3

Silty sand
C

5m

dry=15.87kN/m3
sat=19.88kN/m3

Silty sand

Rock

Figure 3 1
Figure

b) An isolated square foundation has been designed for carrying the 150kPa. The
dimension of foundation is 2mx2m. Determine the vertical stress increase ( ) at
points A, B, C, and D by implementing area method (2:1)

a)
Stress at A:
A = 'A = uA = 0

Stress at B:

B = ' B = dry sand z = 14.25 3 = 42.75

kN
m2

Stress at C:

C = 3 drysand + 4 drysiltysand = 42.74 + 4(19.27) = 119.8

uC = 4 w = 39.24

kN
m2

kN
m2

C ' = C uC = 80.59

kN
m2

Stress at D:

14

 D = 3 drysand + 4 sat siltysand + 5 sat siltysand 2 = 219.23

u D = 9 w = 88.29

kN
m2

kN
m2

D ' = D u D = 130.94

kN
m2

Plots:

15

b)
2 to 1 Method:
Load: 150kPa
q B L
' =
( B + Z )( L + Z )
B=Z (square foundation)
Point

B+Z

150

150

150

24

150

7.41

13

15

150

2.66

16

6. Figure 4 shows the profile of a soil subjected to upward seepage flow. The reading of a
piezometer tube inserted to point D is 14.5 m. The coefficient of permeability in the
vertical direction of the sand, silty sand, and sandy silt layers are 1x10-4, 2x10-4, and
3x10-4 cm/sec. Determine the values of the effective stress at point A, B, C, and D, and
draw the pattern of effective stress variation with depth.
1m

Water level
A

3m

Sand
B

4m

Silty sand

d ry =1 4 .2 5 k N/ m 3
s a t =1 8 .7 4 k N/ m 3
d ry =1 4 .9 6 k N/ m 3
s a t =1 9 .2 7 k N/ m 3

C
5m

d ry =1 5 .8 7 k N/ m 3
s a t =1 9 .8 8 k N/ m 3

Silty sand
D

Figure 4

17

Stress at A:

A = H 1 w = 9.81
u A = 9.81

kN
m3

kN
m3

'A = 0
Stress at B:

B = H 1 w + (3m sat sand ) = 9.81 + 54.81 = 64.62

u B = (H1 + z +

kN
m2

h
1 .5
kN
z ) w = (1 + 3 +
3) 9.81 = 42.92 2
H2
12
m

' B = u B = 21.70

kN
m2

Stress at C:

C = H1 w + 3 sat sand + 4 sat siltysand = 64.62 + 4 19.27 = 141.7

uC = ( H1 + z +

kN
m2

h
1 .5 8
kN
z ) w = (1 + 8 +
)9.81 = 98.1 2
H2
12
m

C ' = 141.7 98.1 = 42.6

kN
m2

Stress at D:
D = 1 w + 3 sat sand + 4 sat siltysand + 5 sat sandysilt

= 9.81 + 3 18.74 + 4 19.72 + 5 19.88 = 241.5

uD = (H1 + z +

kN
m2

h
1.5 12
kN
z ) w = (1 + 12 +
)9.81 = 142.25 2
H2
12
m

D ' = 241.5 142.25 = 100.26

kN
m2

Plot of effective stress:

Note that zero depth in the graph is the water surface.

18

19

7. A 8 m-thick layer of stiff saturated clay is underlain by a layer of sand. The sand is under
artesian pressure. Calculate the maximum depth of cut, H, that can be made in the clay.

Figure 5

Consider the stability of point A:

A = (8 H ) sat ( clay )
u A = 3 .6 w
Heave is occurred when A = 0
A = A u A = (8 H ) sat ( clay ) 3.6 w = (8 H ) 18 3.6 9.81 = 108.7 18 H

A = 0 108.7 18 H = 0
H = 6.04m

20

8. Refer to Figure 6. The circular flexible area is uniformly loaded. Given: q = 320 kN

m2

Determine the vertical stress increase ( ) at point A.

Figure 6

R: Radius of the circle

r: Distance from center of the circle
z: Depth of the point
21

 = I 4 q
z = 4m, R = 4m, r = 4m
z 4
R = 4 = 1
I 4 = 0.322

r = 4 =1
R 4
= I 4 q = 0.322 320 = 103.04 kN

m2

22

9. Refer to Figure 7. The flexible area is uniformly loaded. Given: q = 300 kN

m2

Determine the vertical stress increase ( ) at point A.

Figure 7

23

 = 1 + 2 + 3

1
1
1 = q 1
3
2 R 2 2

+ 1
z

q = 300 kN 2 , R = 1.5m, z = 3m
m

300
1
1 =
= 42.67 kN 2
1
3
m
2
2
2

1 .5
+ 1

3

2 = 3 = q I 2
B = 1.5m, L = 8m
B 1 .5

m
=
=
= 0 .5

z
3
I 2 = 0.138

L
8
n = = = 2.67

z 3
2 = 3 = q I 2 = 300 0.138 = 41.4 kN

m2

= 1 + 2 + 3 = 42.67 + 41.4 + 41.4 = 125.47 kN

m2

24

25