GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING III TEST NO.

1 GTE301T 26/02/2013 DURATION: 90 MINUTES TOTAL MARKS 45

Question 1

A) A 3.2m thick silty sand stratum intersects one side of the reservoir as shown in figure 1.1 below. This stratum has a hydraulic conductivity of 4x10-2cm/s and extends along the entire 1000m length of the reservoir. An observation well has been installed in this stratum as shown. Calculate the seepage loss from the reservoir through this stratum.(4) B) If the silty sand stratum has a void ratio of 0.85, what will be the actual seepage velocity from the reservoir through this stratum.(2)

Figure 1.1: Cross-section through reservoir showing silty sand stratum. This section is orientated parallel to the direction of flow
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Question 2 A) A pumped well and observation wells have been installed through a fine to medium sand as shown in figure 2.1 below. A pump has been discharging water from the pumped well for a sufficient time to achieve steady state conditions. The water levels in observation wells Aand B were then observed to be 20m and 30m below the ground surface, respectively. Compute the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer. (4)

Figure 2.1: Cross-section through the pumped well and observation wells B) A sewerage pump is to be located in the proposed underground vault depicted by figure 2.2 below. The site will be temporarily dewatered during construction, but afterwards the groundwater table will be allowed to return to its natural level. The highest probable level during the life of the project is as shown in figure 2.2. The vault will be made of reinforced concrete and waterproofed so very little groundwater will enter. The vault and overlying soil has a mass of 30 000kg, exclusive of the floor. A sump pump will eject any water that might accumulate inside. The weight of the vault and the overlying soil must be sufficient to provide a factor of safety of at least 1.5 against the buoyant uplift (i.e. these weights must be at least be 1.5 times the total uplift force). Calculate the required base thickness t (mm). (4) Hint: Neglect the weight of the pump and any sliding friction between the sides of the vault and the soil.

Figure 2.2: Cross-section through the underground vault

Question 3

The element of soil at point A in figure 3. is initially subjected to the so called Initial Vertical Stress. Calculate the following the initial vertical stress and the final vertical stress at point A.(7)

Figure 3.1: Soil profile with the element of soil at point A Question 4 A) The figure 4.1 below shows the cross section of a dam founded on a permeable stratum, which in turn is underlain by an impermeable stratum. A row of sheet piles has been inserted near the upstream face of the dam in order to reduce the quantity of seepage. Determine the seepage quantity per meter run. (4) B) Plot the distribution of uplift pressure acting on the base of the dam. (10)

Figure 4.1: Cross-section through dam with flow nets

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Question 5 A cut slope is to be made in a clayey soil to permit construction of a new highway as shown in the figure 5.1 below. A slope stability analysis is to be performed along the potential shear surface shown in this figure. The soils are silty clays with C =18Kpa, = 20 and Su = 100kpa. If the shear stress at point A is 60Kpa, comment and compute the short term and long term factors of safety at this point. (10)

Figure 5.1: Proposed highway cut