CE6101 2009-10 Exam

Solutions

Question 1:

x 1 0 x
E 1
(a) y = 1 2 1 0 y (1)
xy 0 0 1
xy
2
E 40000
In this problem: = kPa = 76923.08kPa
1 2 1 (1 2 * 0.3)(1 0.3)
From Eq. 1, x = 76923.08 [0.7*x + 0.3*y]
= 76923.08 [0.7*-0.0005 + 0.3*0.001] = -3.85kPa
y = 76923.08 [0.3*x + 0.7*y]
= 76923.08 [0.3*-0.0005 + 0.7*0.001] = 42.31kPa
z = (x + y) = 0.3 (-3.85 + 42.31) = 11.54kPa

(b) Initially: s = (100 + 100) = 100kPa

t = 0kPa
After stress increment:
x = 100 3.85kPa = 96.15kPa
y = 100 + 42.31kPa = 142.31kPa
s = (142.31 + 96.15) = 119.23kPa
t = (142.31 96.15) = 23.08kPa

(c) Initially, 1 = 100kPa and 3 = 70kPa

 s' = (100 + 70) kPa = 85kPa
t = (100 70) kPa = 15kPa
For undrained triaxial test on elastic material, s t stress path is a straight with gradient of 3.

At failure, t 15 = 3 (s 85) (1)

And t = 0.5s (2)
Subtituting (2) into (1) leads to
0.5s 15 = 3s - 255
=> s = 96kPa, t = 48kPa.

(d) M = 0.9, = 0.3, = 3.5

Initial state p = 100kPa, q = 0 kPa, specific volume v = 2.3.
Undrained test:
v = 2.3 = 3.5 0.3 ln pf => pf = 54.6kPa
qf = 0.9*54.6 = 49.1kPa
Excess pore pressure u = 100 54.6 + (49.1)/3 = 61.8kPa
Total pore pressure = 200 + 61.8 = 261.8kPa

(e) Method A in Plaxis refers to the use of effective strength parameters i.e. c and in
undrained analysis with Mohr-Coulomb model. It biggest problem for soft clays is that the
Mohr-Coulomb model does not have a compression cap. As a result, all stress states below
the failure line is assumed to be elastic and, in triaxial situations, the p-q stress path is a
vertical straight (the same goes for the s-t stress path in biaxial situations) whereas the actual
stress path would curve towards the q axis. As a result, the deviator stress at failure, and
therefore the undrained shear strength is over-estimated by the Mohr-Coulomb model.

Question 2:

(a) Drained isotropic compression: horizontal straight line. Path 1 below.

Drained triaxial compression: straight line with gradient 3. Path 2 below.
Undrained triaxial compression of elastic material: vertical straight line. Path 3 below.
Undrained triaxial compression with A = 0.8:
u = B [3 + A(1 3)]
B= 1 for saturated soil, 3 = 0 for triaxial compression, 1 = q
u = 0.8 q
p = p u = ( - 0.8) q = - 0.467q
Or q = - 2.143 p
Hence p q stress path is a straight line with gradient = - 2.143. Path 4 below.
' 0.4
In drained K0- compression, x = y = y = 0.667y
1 ' 1 0.4
p = (y + 2 x) = (y + 2 * 0.667y) = 0.778y
q = y - x = (1 0.667) y = 0.333 y
q/ p = 0.333/0.778 = 0.429
Hence p q stress path is a straight line with gradient of 0.429. Path 5 below.
6 sin ' 6 sin 30
' = 30 => M = = = 1.2
3 sin ' 3 sin 30
Hence stress paths with gradients > 1.2 or < 0 will converge towards the failure line, i.e.
drained triaxial compression, undrained triaxial compression of elastic material and
undrained triaxial with A = 0.8. Isotropic and K0- compression will not converge towards
failure.
 6 sin ' 6 sin 30
(b) (i) Yield locus: M = = = 1.2
3 sin ' 3 sin 30
6 c' cos ' 6 *10cos30
C= = = 20.78kPa
3 - sin ' 3 - sin30
6 sin 6 sin 5
Angle of dilation: N = = = 0.18
3 sin 3 sin 5
p
q, d s

0.18
1

Plastic
1.2 potentials

20.78kPa

p
p (kPa) d v

(ii) Initially p = 200kPa, q = 0kPa.

Drained test, below yield surface, soil is elastic => p q stress path is a straight line with
gradient of 3.
At failure, q = M p = 1.2 * p + 20.78 = 3*(p 200)
1.8p = 620.78kPa => p = 344.88kPa
q = 1.2p + 20.78 = 1.2*344.88 + 20.78 = 434.63kPa
vp
(iii) = -N = - 0.18.
sp

Question 3:

(a) Modified Cam Clay yield locus: M2p2 + q2 = M2p0p

Elastic strain assumed negligible, v = ve + vp ~ vp
And s = se + sp ~ sp
v vp
If = 2, then ~2
s sp
vp dp' dp ' dq
Normality: = -1 => 2 = -1 => = -2
s dq
p
dq dp '
Differentiating the yield locus w.r.t. p:
dq
2M2p + 2q = M2 p0
dp'
dq
Since = -2, 2M2p - 4q = M2 p0
dp'
From the yield function: M2p0 = M2p + q, so that
2M2p - 4q = M2p + q
Which reduces to 2 + 4 M2 = 0

Giving = -2 4M2

Since > 0, thus = 4M2 - 2

For M = 0.8, = 4 (0.8) 2 - 2 = 0.154 = q/p

Hence a stress ratio of 0.154 needs to be maintained at all times.
Since p = (a + 2r) and q = (a r),
3( a ' r ' )
q/p = = 0.154
( a 2 r ' )
 r ' 3(1 R)
Let R = , then = 0.154
a ' (1 2 R)

r '
R= = 0.86
a '

6 sin ' 6 sin 24

(b) M = = = 0.94
3 sin ' 3 sin 24
Plasticity index PI = 0.85 0.3 = 0.55
Assuming Gs = 2.6,
PI G s 0.55 2.6
= = = 0.31 ~ 0.3
4 .6 4.6
= 0.2 * ~ 0.6
cu = 170 exp (-4.6 LI) kPa
0.65 0.3
LI = = 0.636
0.55
cu = 170 exp(-4.6*0.636)kPa = 9.1kPa ~ 9kPa
From the notes on relation of critical state to index properties

w+ ln cu = { - ln (2/M) - 1}/Gs (5)
Gs

Substituting in the values of the various parameters:

0.31
0.65 + ln 9.1 = { - 0.31 ln (2/0.94) - 1}/2.6
2.6
=> = 3.61 ~ 3.6
Additional information, cu decreases by 100x between PL and LL but cuPL = 200kPa
Then cu = 200 exp(-4.6*0.636)kPa = 10.7kPa ~ 11kPa.

Question 4:

(a) The limitations of the original Cam Clay model in modelling real soil behaviour are
(i) The original Cam Clay work equation implies much higher shear strain increment than is
normally observed in real soils. This arises because the only energy dissipation mechanism
allowed for in the original Cam Clay is by plastic shear strain increment dsp. This is
 d sp
particularly serious at low stress ratio where the original Cam Clay predicts p 0,
d v
which is counter-intuitive.

M Real data falls here

pv
M
sp
(ii) There is also significant divergence between the original Cam Clay yield locus and that
which is normally observed in real soils, at low . This is related to the first limitation in the
energy equation at low .
q
CSL

Model
Real data (?)
p

These limitations are overcome in the modified Cam Clay work equation

p' d pv qd sp M 2 p' 2 d sp2 p' 2 d p2

v

which allows energy to be dissipated by both shear and volumetric strain increments. By so
d sp
doing, is reduced at low stress ratios and the yield locus is rounded off.
d pv
(b) v = 100kPa, h = 0.65*100kPa = 65kPa
p' = (v + 2h) = (100 + 2*65) = 76.67kPa
 q = (v h) = 100 65 = 35kPa
Original Cam Clay State Boundary Surface:
( v )
ln p ' (1)
M
( )
where = 0.2/0.3 = 0.667

= q/p = 0.4565
Substituting in Eq. 1
0.4565 * 0.667 (3.5 v)
ln 76.67 0.667
0.9 0.3
v = 2.3
Thus, e = v 1 = 1.3
Sr e = Gs w => 1.0* 1.3 = 2.6 *w
w = 0.5 or 50%
( v )
(c) ln p' (1)
M
Undrained test: v is unchanged = 1.3
q = a r = 110 65 = 45kPa
Eq. 1 can be written as
45 * 0.667 (3.5 2.3)
ln p' 0.667 = 4.677
0.9 p' 0.3
33.35
+ ln p = 4.677
p'
Solve for p by trial and error:
Try p = 60kPa, LHS = 4.65 > 4.677
Try p = 65kPa, LHS = 4.687 > 4.677
Try p = 63kPa, LHS = 4.67 OK
Thus p = 63kPa
p = 76.67 + (45-35)kPa = 80kPa.
Excess pore pressure u = p p = 80 63kPa = 17kPa.