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Maritime Geotechnics I Homework # 2 Topics: Shallow Foundations

This homework assignment on maritime geotechnics and shallow foundations contains 8 problems to solve. It requires researching factors of safety in geotechnical engineering from a lecture video and paper. It also requires reading a paper on methods for calculating elastic settlements. The problems involve calculating bearing capacities using different methods, determining footing size based on load and safety factor, and calculating settlements and consolidation using various approaches. An Excel spreadsheet must also be developed to analyze spread footing problems using different methods in a reusable way.

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Williams Anthony
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155 views5 pages

Maritime Geotechnics I Homework # 2 Topics: Shallow Foundations

This homework assignment on maritime geotechnics and shallow foundations contains 8 problems to solve. It requires researching factors of safety in geotechnical engineering from a lecture video and paper. It also requires reading a paper on methods for calculating elastic settlements. The problems involve calculating bearing capacities using different methods, determining footing size based on load and safety factor, and calculating settlements and consolidation using various approaches. An Excel spreadsheet must also be developed to analyze spread footing problems using different methods in a reusable way.

Uploaded by

Williams Anthony
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dr.

Francisco Grajales I sem 2021

MARITIME GEOTECHNICS I
HOMEWORK # 2
TOPICS: SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Important Note: The homework must be solved by hand, unless specifically indicated.

PART I: RESEARCH

Question 1
Watch the video of the 2nd Buchanan Lecture, delivered by Professor Geoffrey Meyerhof at Texas A&M
University. Read the corresponding paper. Write an extended essay about the evolution of factors of
safety in geotechnical engineering. For this question you are allowed to use a computer.
• Lecture video (scroll to time = 1:22:40):
https://youtu.be/ksg4t_VIWxc?list=PLXHjEGSzGOPNLB-M3oFeO0eMt20UZguOr

Question 2
Read the attached paper by Braja Das on elastic settlement. How many methods do exist for calculation of
elastic settlements? Explain at least three of them.

PART II: PROBLEMS

Problem 1
For the square foundation shown below, compute the allowable bearing capacity (FS = 2.5). Use
the methods proposed by Terzaghi, Meyerhof and Vesic.

Problem 2
Given a 2 x 2 m square footing as shown in the figure. Are footing dimensions adequate for the
given loads if we use a safety factor FS = 3?
Dr. Francisco Grajales I sem 2021

Problem 3
A 5-ft wide, 8-ft long footing is embedded 3-ft in the ground. It supports a downward load of 200
kips and a shear load of 25 kips. The shear load acts parallel to the 8-ft dimension. The underlying
soils have an effective cohesion c´=220 lb/ft2, friction angle of 28° and unit weight of 123 lb/ft3.
Using a total stress analysis, compute the factor of safety against a bearing capacity failure.

Problem 4
A certain column carries a vertical downward load of 424 kips. It is to be supported on a 3-ft deep
rectangular footing. Because of a nearby property line, this footing may be no more than 5-ft wide.
The soil beneath the footing is a silty sand with a unit weight of 124lb/ft3, effective cohesion of
50lb/ft2 and friction angle of 34°. The groundwater table is at a depth of 6 ft below the ground
surface. Compute the footing length required for a factor of safety FS = 3.

Problem 5
A rectangular footing (3 m x 6 m) has been placed on a soil with the properties shown in the picture
below. Estimate a bearing capacity based on the given properties. Use Vesic’s approach. In
addition, several Standard Penetration Tests have been performed at the site. The average value of
N at foundation level is approximately 13. Compare the bearing capacity of the foundation using
Vesic’s approach and the SPT blow count provided.
Dr. Francisco Grajales I sem 2021

Problem 6
For the following shallow foundation, calculate the settlement using Mayne-Poulos approach.

Problem 7
Calculate the settlement using the rigorous elasticity approach. Use 5 soil layers.
Dr. Francisco Grajales I sem 2021

Problem 8
The allowable settlement for the proposed square footing is 1 inch. Compute the primary
consolidation settlement and determine whether it satisfies this criterion or not. Assume a load P
= 100 kips.

PART III: PROGRAMMING

Important Note: The homework must be solved using computer programs, unless specifically
indicated.

Prepare a MS Excel spreadsheet for the geotechnical analysis of a spread footing. The spreadsheet
shall be able to perform analyses using the methods presented by Terzaghi, Vesic and Meyerhof,
with all of their features. It should also include an option to activate or deactivate the presence of
groundwater. You are free to use macros or simple cell programming. But the spreadsheet must be
suitable to solve different problems with different geometries and conditions.

With the spreadsheet, present a solution to the following problem:


Dr. Francisco Grajales I sem 2021

You will submit both a PDF copy of your analysis and the EXCEL file of your calculations.

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