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Nanyang Technological University Library

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION 2006-2007

CV6312 – Slope Stability and Ground Improvement

April/May 2007 Time Allowed: 3 hours

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains SIX (6) questions and comprises EIGHT (8) pages.

2. Answer ALL questions.

3. An Appendix of ONE (1) page is attached to the Question Paper.

4. The questions do not carry equal marks.

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1. The granular embankment in Figure Q1 has a unit weight 19 kN/m and an angle
3
of friction φ′ of 33°. The soft clay has a unit weight of 16 kN/m and a uniform
2
undrained shear strength of 10 kN/m . Assume no pore water pressure in the
embankment soil. Table Q1 contains part of the output of a computer program
based on the ordinary method of slices.

0 3 6 9 12 15
5 Elevation > 0 m: Embankment
Elevation < 0 m: Soft clay
1
2
0 5 4 3
FigureSoft
Q1clay
Stiff clay
-5

2
Granular embankment: c′ = 0, φ′ = 33°. Soft clay: cu = 10 kN/m , φu = 0.
Radius of the slip circle is 10.82 m.
Ti = mobilised resisting force at the base of slice i.

Note: Question No. 1 continues on page 2.

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CV6312

Table Q1: Partial computer output, based on the ordinary method of slices

Slice Weight Inclination angle α Length l of the Total normal force P

# (kN) of base base of slice (m) at slice base (kN)
1 ** 45° ** **
2 183.0 24.90° 3.31 166.0
3 183.9 8.05° 3.03 182.1
4 141.1 -8.05° 3.03 139.7
5 54.8 -24.90° 3.31 49.7

** To be calculated by student.

(a) (i) Compute the weight of slice number 1, its base length l and the total
normal force P acting at the base of the slice, which consists entirely
of the embankment fill. The triangular slice has a horizontal width
equal to 3.0 m and height equal to 3.0 m.

(ii) What is the factor of safety against rotational failure? The overturning
moment of the five slices with respect to the centre of the slip circle is
1,303 kNm/m. The radius of the slip circle is 10.82 m.
(8 marks)

(b) (i) Using the summation symbol Σ, and other appropriate symbols in
Figure Q1, write the equations for checking overall vertical force
equilibrium and overall horizontal force equilibrium of the soil mass
enclosed by the slip surface.

(ii) Will the above two equilibrium conditions be satisfied? (Do not
calculate.)
(4 marks)

(c) What limit equilibrium methods can be used if noncircular slip surface is to
be considered? How do these methods differ from the ordinary method of
slices with respect to assumptions and satisfaction of equilibrium conditions?

(4 marks)

(d) (i) Briefly explain progressive failure in the context of embankments on

soft ground.

(ii) Can effective stress analysis be used in short-term stability analysis?

Explain.
(4 marks)

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CV6312

2. (a) The Spencer method of slices was used to analyse the stability of a
homogeneous slope. For the trial circular slip surface shown in Figure Q2,
a value of tan θ = 0.276 was obtained as part of the solution using a
computer program, where θ is the uniform inclination angle (with respect to
horizontal) of the side-force resultant acting at the vertical interfaces
between slices. The pore water pressure in the slope was modeled using
pore pressure ratio ru = 0.25. Figure Q2 also shows the forces on a slice of
unit length perpendicular to the cross-section. The side force components
EL and XR were obtained as part of the computer output.

(i) Determine the side force components ER and XL, the weight of the
slice W, and the average pore water pressure u at the base of the
slice.

(ii) Determine the total normal force P and the mobilised shear force T at
the base of the slice. What are the effective normal stress σ′ and
mobilised shear stress τ acting at the base of the slice?

(iii) Based on the results of part (ii), what is the factor of safety of the
slope for the indicated circular slip surface?
(14 marks)

(b) (i) What measures may be taken to increase the stability of an

excavated soil slope?

(ii) For cuts in stiff fissured clay, is long term stability or short term
stability more critical. Explain.
(6 marks)

1.63 m

XR=187 kN
XL W
10.1m
ER
EL=743 kN
2
Soil properties:c′ = 12 kN/m
T φ′ = 23°
3
γ = 19 kN/m
P Pore pressure ratio: ru = 0.25
27.5°

Forces shown are for a slice of unit length perpendicular to the cross-
section. P = total normal force; T = mobilised resisting force.

Figure Q2

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CV6312

3. Sand compaction piles are to be used to improve a 15 m thick sand deposit with
5% fines in average. The maximum and minimum void ratios of the deposit are
1.1 and 0.64, respectively. The technical data is shown in Figure Q3. Table Q3
indicates the result of standard penetration test for various depths of the deposit.

GL
2m γ = 13 kN/m3 GWT
1

Sand deposit
2
15 m
3
γsat = 18 kN/m3

Figure Q3

Table Q3

Point Depth (m) N-value

1 3 5
2 6 6
3 9 4
4 12 5

(a) Determine the average initial relative density of the sand deposit before
improvement.
(5 marks)

(b) The average SPT N-value of the sand deposit after improvement should be
at least 15 for the entire depth. Assume no subsidence after improvement
and that the vertical effective stresses of the sand deposit remain
unchanged, determine the average void ratio after improvement.
(6 marks)

Note: Question No. 3 continues on page 5.

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CV6312

(c) If the sand compaction piles, 600 mm in diameter and 15 m in length, is to

be installed on a square grid pattern, calculate the required spacing of the
sand piles in part (b). You may assume that the installation of the sand
compaction piles does not cause any surface subsidence.
(4 marks)

Note:
N
Dr = 2.1 β = 1.05 − 0.51 × log Fc
70 + σ vo'

where Dr = relative density

N = number of blows of SPT
σvo′ = effective overburden pressure
β = reduction factor
Fc = fines content

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CV6312

4. (a) Two sites, A and B, consisting of sand deposits are to be improved by

dynamic compaction. The technical data of the sites is shown in Table Q4.
The values of the empirical coefficient n in the formula Dmax = n √(WH) are
not the same for both sites. The values of n are estimated to be 0.4 for one
site and 0.55 for the other.

Table Q4

Site A Site B
The thickness of the 9m 10 m
deposit
Type of soil Silty sand Sand with 4% fines
Ground water table 1.5 m below the 6 m below the
Ground Level Ground Level

(i) Referring to the soil condition at each site, select the appropriate
values of n for sites A and B. State the reason of your choices.

(5 marks)

(ii) Assuming that the available cranes at both sites can lift a pounder of
20 ton up to 20 m high and the loss of potential energy of the pounder
is 15%, determine for which site is the available equipment adequate
in terms of the required impact energy to improve the entire thickness
of the deposits.
(5 marks)

(b) Describe the potential problems of silt as fill material. (5 marks)

Note: Dmax = maximum depth of improvement

W = weight of pounder
H = drop height

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CV6312

5. (a) Discuss briefly the mechanisms that lead to the increase in shear strength
of soil by using quicklime and cement in the lime column and cement
column methods, respectively.
(3 marks)

(b) Explain briefly whether lime columns (using quicklime) or cement columns
are better in assisting dissipation of excess pore water pressures in soft
clay.
(3 marks)

(c) Cement columns of diameter 0.6 m and 6 m long are used to reinforce a
soft clay layer. The columns are installed in a square pattern at a spacing
of 1.5 m over a square area measuring 9 m by 9 m. The undrained shear
strength of the clay is 20 kPa. The compression modulus of the clay as
measured by oedometer is 4 MPa. The compression modulus of the
cement columns is 7 times that of the clay.

(i) Assume that the cement columns and the soil act as a block, estimate
the axial bearing capacity of the column-soil block.

(ii) Assume that the columns and the soil settle equal amount and the
compressibility of the soil below the columns is negligible, calculate
the settlement reduction ratio β. (β is defined as the ratio of the
compression of the reinforced block to the compression of the clay
without reinforcement.)

(iii) If the load intensity from the superstructure is 100 kPa, compute the
vertical stress at the top of the cement column. The ratio of vertical
stress in the cement columns to that in the clay can be taken as 7.

(9 marks)

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CV6312

6. (a) State the main advantages and disadvantages of the fill surcharge
preloading method.
(3 marks)

(b) What is smear effect? Discuss briefly how the smear effect affects the
consolidation properties of soft clay and thus the rate of consolidation.

(3 marks)

(c) Sand fill is placed over a large area on a 20 m thick soft clay layer that rests
on a permeable hard stratum. The coefficient of consolidation of the clay in
2 2
vertical and horizontal directions are cv = 1 m /yr and ch = 4 m /yr.
Calculate the average degree of consolidation achieved 1 year after the
placement of the sand for the following 3 scenarios:

(i) Without any soil improvement.

(ii) Prefabricated vertical drains are installed at a spacing of 2 m in a

square pattern. The drain is 100 mm wide and 4 mm thick.

(iii) The same as in part (ii), but considering the smear effect. The smear
zone outer diameter can be taken as 3 times the equivalent diameter
of vertical drain. The permeability is reduced by 4 times due to the
smear effect.
(9 marks)

Note: Relationships between average degree of consolidation and time factor

are given in the Appendix.

END OF PAPER

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Appendix to CV6312

Relationships between average degree of consolidation and time factor.

(1) Vertical drainage:

For Uv < 0.60, Tv = (π/4)Uv2

For Uv > 0.60, Tv = – 0.933×log(1 − Uv) – 0.085

(2) Radial drainage:

⎡− 8T h ⎤
U h = 1 − exp ⎢ ⎥
⎣ F( n ) ⎦

where:
F (n ) ≈ ln(n ) − 0.75 For case of no smear and no well resistance
⎛n⎞ ⎛k ⎞
F(n) = ln⎜ ⎟ − 0 .75 + ⎜ h ⎟ ln (s) For smear case
⎝s⎠ ⎝ ks ⎠
n = de/dw
s = ds/dw
dw = 2(a + b)/π
de = 1.128 × spacing For square grid
de = 1.05 × spacing For triangular grid
ds = outer diameter of the smear zone annulus

(3) Carillo’s Equation:

(1 – Uvh) = (1 – Uv) × (1 – Uh)