THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

M.SC.(ENG.) EXAMINATION

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FOUNDATION ENGINEERING CIVL 6027

May 17, 2018 TIME: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (2 hours)

Answer ALL questions in both Sections.

Use a separate answer book for each section.

Use of Electronic Calculators:

Only approved calculators as announced by the Examinations Secretary can be used in this
examination. It is candidates' responsibility to ensue that their calculator operates
satisfactorily, and candidates must record the name and type of the calculator used on the front
page of the examination script.

Page 1of5
SECTION A (Total 50 marks)

Question 1 (25 marks)

Answer the following four questions.

(a) Examine the sketches in Figure 1 and identify whether the use of pile foundation is
appropriate or not. State your reasons and design considerations.
(5 marks)

(b) Installation of a pile into soils will cause changes in the state of stress around the pile.
Assuming the soil deposit is homogeneous and the stressed state of earth pressure at
rest prevails before piling occurs, sketch the states of horizontal stress around a driven
pile and around a bored pile, together with the stress state prior to pile installation (In
terms of the distribution of stress with depth).
(5 marks)

(c) Sketch the idealized load settlement curves and discuss the mobilization characteristics
of shaft resistance, base resistance and accordingly overall resistance of an "end-
bearing" pile. Discuss the importance of consideration of the load-settlement
characteristics in design.
(5 marks)

(d) A shallow foundation is 3 m wide and 3 m long. It will be located at a depth of 1.5 m
below the ground surface. The ground is a predominantly sand deposit, with the water
table at the depth of 1.5 m (see Figure 2, where qc is the cone tip resistance). If the
working load to be supported by the foundation is 2600 kN, use the Schmertmann's
method to estimate the settlement of the foundation 20 years after construction.
(10 marks)

fff\Vff\\ fff\Vff\\

Fill

Soft clay

Sand

Dense sand Soft clay

Case A CaseB

Figure 1

Page 2of5
 Om

qc=8 .62 MPa

y=l6.2 kN/m 3
I.Sm
qc=8 .62 MPa
y=l 8 kN/m 3
3m
) > >
) ) >
qc=l 1.5 MPa
)• <'>
) <> y=l8 kN/m 3
) > >
)<'
'> 4.Sm

qc=l 9.2 MPa

y=l 8.5 kN/m 3

7.Sm

qc=28.7 MPa
y=l9 kN/m 3

Figure 2

Question 2 (25 marks)

A group of piles (4x3) in saturated clay is shown in Figure 3. The properties of the clay are
determined as follows: the undrained shear strength is 70 kPa; the compression index is 0.35;
the recompression index is 0.03; the pre-consolidation pressure is 76 kPa; the water content is
30.4%; and the unit weight is 19.1 kN/m 3 • Each pile is square in cross section with d=300
mm, and the center-to-center spacing of the piles is I 000 mm. The pile group supports a load
of 4500 kN.

(a) Evaluate the factor of safety of the pile group. (10 marks)
(b) Evaluate the consolidation settlement of the pile group. (15 marks)

Ill\' 'II\\

15 m

Clay

Cu=70 kPa
w=30.4%
Cc=0.35
Cr=0.03
15 m
p' c=76 kPa

Rock
Figure 3

Page 3of5
SECTION B (Total 50 marks)

Question 3 (25 marks)

The following figure (not to scale) shows an excavation supported by a strutted sheet pile wall.
Please refer to the information given and answer the following questions.

Ground level Surcharge Surcharge Ground level

= 30 mPD = lOkPa = lOkPa = 30 mPD
_:sz__ i i i i i _:sz__
Strut installed at 30 mPD
Sheet Pile Wall

Ground Water Table Ground Water Table

= 28 mPD = 28 mPD

Soil Soil
'Y= 20 kN/m 3 'Y = 20 kN/m 3
f = 35 deg.
= 26 mPD
f =35 deg.
c' = O kPa Final Excavation Level c' = O kPa
Ground Water Table
Soil = 25 mPD
Unit weight, 'Y = 20 kN/m 3
Toe Level Friction angle, f = 35 deg. Toe Level
= 21 mPD _5l_ Cohesion, c' = O kPa _:sz__ = 21 mPD

Figure 3

(a) Please discuss why the moment capacity of the above sheet pile wall should not be taken
into account in the calculation of the factor of safety (FoS) against kick-out failure of the
above wall. (5 marks)

(b) Calculate the lateral earth pressure coefficients for both active and passive conditions
using the Rankine theory. (4 marks)

(c) Draw the lateral pressure diagram for either side of the wall and the net hydrostatic
pressure diagram, and calculate the lateral pressures (assume hydrostatic condition, unit
weight of groundwater, Yw = 10 kN/m3). (8 marks)

(d) Calculate the FoS against kick-out failure of the sheet pile wall. (4 marks)

(e) Discuss how would the FoS calculated in (d) be affected if: (4 marks)
(i)c' of the soils on both sides> 0 kPa; or
(ii) seepage of groundwater is considered.

Question 4 (25 marks)

(a) The following chart is typically used in the assessment of hydraulic stability of an
excavation. Please explain, based on engineering principles, why the factor of safety
against hydraulic failure (5 marks)
(i)increases with the wall penetration depth; and
Page 4of5
 (ii) increases with the width of excavation.

u .£ i.S

05~
l
Legend : ----------1.0
- - - - Loose sand ~~~~~~ 9°]ns~~~~~ ~%~i~s:r /
- Dense sond piping in dens<> ~and ~
·----~---- .. l. _ _ _ __.___ _ ___,
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 L. .O
Width of Excavation, 8
Net Hydrostatic Head, Hw

(b) CIRIA Report C760 "Guidance on embedded retaining wall design" opines that one of
likely causes of excavation wall failure is

Poor design and construction details and poor standard of workmanship,

particularly relating to support systems.

(i) Please illustrate the above-mentioned cause using two case histories or examples
with detailed justifications. (10 marks)

(ii) Qualified site supervision is required in Hong Kong to enhance the safety standards
of deep excavations. Please list five items that a site supervision personnel should
look for and explain in details why they are essential. (10 marks)

Notes: Assumptions in your answers should be stated clearly on your answer books.

- END OF PAPER-

Page 5of5