SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Problem # (21)
One of the exterior columns of a steel frame structure is acted by a vertical force of 10,000
kN, a horizontal force of 2000 kN and a moment of 5000 kN.m. Due to a poor foundation soil; it was
decided to support that column by a pile foundation consisting of a twelve pile group. Piles are
concrete filled steel pipe piles. Allowable axial compressive load on each pile is 2000 kN. It is also
predicted that each pile can also resist a horizontal force of 60 kN. Passive resistance of soil will not
be considered.
Is the selected pile group satisfactory?

Then;
QA = 1137 -2173 = 486 kN/pile
QB = 1137 -2171 = 920 kN/pile
QC = 1137 +2171 = 1354 kN/ple
QD = 1137 +2173 = 1788 kN/pile
Total load = 45483 = 13644

13648

Unbalanced horizontal force =

Now;
Maximum axial load:

Solution:
Column load = 10,000 kN
Weight of pedestal = 1.5 1.5 2 24 = 108 kN
Weight of pile cap = 5.5 7.5 2 24 = 1,980 kN
Weight of soil = (5.5 7.5 1.5 1.5) 2 20 = 1,560 kN
Total vertical loads = 10,000 + 108 + 1,980 + 1,560 = 13,648 kN
Moment = 5000 + 4 2000 = 13000 kN.m
Horizontal loads = 2000 kN

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Deep Foundations
3. Skin Friction Resistance:

1. Equations:
Qu = Ultimate Pile Capacity.
QP = Load-Capacity of pile point.
Qs = Skin friction resistance.
L = Pile length.
= Overburden pressure at pile tip.
D = Pile dimension.
AP = Area of the pile cross-section.

Figure 1, Parameters' definition

Qs (1) = P L f av

2. Load Capacity of Pile Point:

QP = AP

Qs (2) = p (L

Qs = Qs (1) + Qs (2)

Or, QP = AP q1

Where;

Whichever is smaller.

Where;

K = lateral earth pressure = 0.5 + 0.008Dr (Dr = Relative Density in Percent)

= friction angle between soil and pile (usually 0.6 )
P = perimeter of the pile
fav = average skin friction (From 0 to L it is f / 2)

q1 (kPa) = 50 Nq* tan

Nq* = Bearing capacity factor for deep foundations.

57

58

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

4. Efficiency of Pile Group:

Problem # (22)
Consider a precast concrete pile 12 m long in a homogenous sandy soil layer. The pile
cross section is 305 mm 305 mm, the dry unit weight of sand is, d = 16.8 kN / m3, and the soil
o
.
Calculate the ultimate point load that the pile can carry.

Efficiency,
Where the parameters are as defined in Figure 3.
Ultimate load capacity of pile group:
Qu

;
Allowable load capacity of pile group:
Qa (g) = Qu (g) / SF
Where;

Solution:
o

, Nq* = 120. Thus;

L = 16.8 12 = 201.6 kPa

Qp = Ap q Nq* = (0.305)2 201.6 120 = 2250.46 kN

OR
q1 = 50 Nq* tan

= 50 120 tan 35 = 4201.25

Qp = Ap q1 = (0.305)2 4201.25 = 390.82 kN

Thus the point ultimate load of the pile that is Qp is:
Qp = 390.82 kN

59

60

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Problem # (23):
Consider a pre-cast concrete pile in Problem # (21):

Problem # (24):
Estimate the total load that the pile group shown below can carry. Note that; every single
pile is identical to that in problems # (21) and # (22).

1. Estimate the ultimate skin frictional resistance Qs

2. Calculate the total ultimate load of the pile, Q
Assume that for the given dry unit weight the relative density of the sand Dr = 100 %

Solution:
The unit skin friction is estimated as: f = K v
Where: v
z (See Figure Above)
For depth z from 0 to 15 D :

Solution:
Total load that the single pile can carry Q = 844.73 kN (Problem # (21) and # (22))
m=5
n=4
so, m n = 20 piles

kPa)
kPa (Constant)

QT = 844.73 20 = 16894.6 kN
The efficiency of the group:

K = lateral earth pressure = 0.5 + 0.008 Dr = 0.5 + ( 0.008 * 100 ) = 1.3

Qs (2) = P (L

0.305 ] [ 12 4.6 ] [1.376.86 tan(0.6 35)] = 346.27 kN

= 0.91 (or 91 %)

Qs = Qs (1) + Qs (2) = 107.64 + 346.27 = 453.91 kN

Total load = Q pile = (problem # 21) + Q s = 390.82 + 453.91 = 844.73 kN

Therefore; the total load that can be carried by the pile group is;
QTG = 16894.6 0.91 = 15374.09 kN.
61

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ENG. LUAY QRENAWI

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Problem # (25)
Determine the depth of penetration and the maximum bending moment of a cantilever sheet
pile wall constructed in a three layered soil system as shown below. What should be the required
section modulus of a steel sheet pile if the allowable stress of steel is 150 MPa?

At depth (Z) = 5.0 m (Dredge Line)

At depth (Z) = 6.5 m

If we assume that

and solve for the depth;

It will be found out that this will occur at a depth of 0.79 m below the dredge line.
At depth (Z) = 6.5 m to (6.5 + X) m

Now; the net pressure at any depth larger than 6.5 m is:
Solution:
Note; the depth of penetration of the sheet pile will be 1.5 + X
o

For the clay layer;

= 0.0 , that means Ka = Kp = 1.0

For the sand layer;

= 30.0o, that means

Now; the following table can be arranged:

and Kp = 3.0

Force #

From soil mechanics, q = 2C

Pressure Diagram:
At depth (Z) = 0.0 m

Arm (m)

Moment (kN.m / m)

H1

Force (kN / m)

4.83 + X

10 X + 48.3

H2

3.00 + X

60 X + 180

H3

2.50 + X

27 X + 67.5

H4

1.24 + X

15 X + 18.6

H5

0.24 + X

-12 X 2.8

At depth (Z) = 2.0 m (Clay Layer)

-43 X2

H6

At depth (Z) = 2.0 m (Just below the Clay Layer)

63

64

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Problem # (26)
An anchored steel sheet pile wall in a hemogeneous sand deposit is to be designed
and constructed. Determine the depth of penetration, maximum bending moment and
anchored pull by:
1- Free earth support method.
2- Fixed earth support method.

Free earth support method:

Now; taking the sum of the moment about the base of the wall (point P) will lead to:

Depth of penetration of the sheet pile will be;

Do = 1.5 + 4.1 = 5.6 m
D = 1.2 5.6 = 6.7 m
Maximum bending moment M max occurs at the point of zero shear
Shear is the derivative of the moment, so, shear equation will be:
V (shear) = - 86 X + 100
V = 0.0 at a depth of 1.163 m
M max (Moment at a depth of 1.163 m) = 369.7 kN.m / m
Section Modulus is calculated from the following equation:

65
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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Solution:

SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Fixed earth support method:-

Force (KN)

Arm about anchor,

point O (m)

H1= 36
H2= 108
H3= 18.375
H4= -24x2

2
3
5.292
5.875+2/3 x

Moment (kN.m)
72
324
97.24
-141x2 16x 3
3
-16x -141x2+493.24

Taking the moment about the anchor equal zero

By trial & error

Penetration depth = 0.875+1.71 = 2.6 m

Solution :
Per meter width of the wall
P = 78.42 kN per meter width of the wall

Zero shear point:

H1+H2 = 36+108 = 144kN >P
Zero shear point must be at the depth from (1-6) m

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ENG. LUAY QRENAWI

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Problem # (27)
Refer to problem 25, what would be the depth of penetration, maximum bending
moment and anchored pull if the soil below dredge line was a clay deposit with a unit
weight of 18 kN/m3 and unconfined compressive strength of 75 kN/m2 (Use free
earth support method)

D = 3.25 + 0.875 = 4.12 m

Penetration depth = 1.2D = 4.95 m

Solution:

Force (KN)
H1= 36
H2= 108
H3= -24D

Arm about anchor,

point O (m)

Moment (kN.m)

2
3
5+0.5

72
324
-120D 12D2
-12D2-120D+396

Taking the moment about the anchor equal zero

Penetration depth = 2.62 m

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SOLVED PROBLEMS IN FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

per meter width of the wall

PROF. MOHAMMED AWAD

ENG. LUAY QRENAWI

ENG. RANA JABER