UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
TR 334: FOUNDATION ENGINEERING I
TUTORIAL QUESTIONS
1. A natural slope is 45-m high and the slope angle is 38 degrees. The surficial soil is loose silty sand
with cohesion 45 kN∕m2, internal friction angle 25 degrees, and bulk unit weight 18.0 kN∕m3. The
thickness of the topsoil is 1.0 m in the vertical direction. The slope is dry. Determine the factor of
safety of the surficial soil layer against translational failure
2. A saturated natural slope is 45-m high and the slope angle is 38 degrees. The surficial soil is loose
silty sand with effective cohesion 45 kN∕m2, effective internal friction angle 25 degrees, and
saturated unit weight 19.0 kN∕m3. The thickness of the topsoil is 1.0 m in the vertical direction. The
downward seepage is parallel to the slope surface. Determine the factor of safety of the surficial
soil layer against translational failure.78
3. A reservoir is 45-m deep and the side slope of the reservoir develops a loose surficial layer that is
1.0 m thick (in the vertical direction). The slope angle is 38 degrees. The surficial soil layer has
cohesion 45 kN∕m2, internal friction angle 25 degrees, and saturated unit weight 19.0 kN∕m3.
Assuming the reservoir water level is at the top of the side slope, determine the factor of safety of
the surficial soil layer against translational failure.
4. A homogeneous earth embankment is 25-meter high and the slope inclination is 2:1 (H: V). the
effective cohesion of the embankment is 45 kN∕m2, its effective friction angle is 25 degrees, and
the bulk unit weight is 19.2 kN∕m3. Assume the potential failure surface is a plane. Determine the
minimum factor of safety of the slope.
5. A homogeneous earth embankment is to be constructed. The slope inclination is 2:1 (H:V). The
effective cohesion of the embankment is 45 kN∕m2, its effective friction angle is 25 degrees, and
the bulk unit weight is 19.2 kN∕m3. Assume the potential failure surface is a plane. If a factor of
safety of 1.5 is required, determine the height of the embankment that satisfies the factor of safety.
6. A saturated and undrained clayey slope is 10-m high and the slope angle is 40 degrees. Subsurface
investigation found that the subsoil is homogeneous clay with undrained cohesion of 110 kN∕m2
and saturated unit weight of 19.5 kN∕m3. A stiff soil layer exists 5 meters below the toe of the slope.
A potential toe circle with the radius of 20 meters passes the coordinate of (25 m, 10 m). The toe
is at the origin (0, 0). (1) Determine the factor of safety along the assumed slip circle using the
analytical mass method. (2) Determine the minimum factor of safety of the slope using Taylor’s
chart.
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
7. A natural slope is shown in Figure 1. It contains two soil strata. The slope configuration and the
soil characteristics are shown in the figure. A potential toe circle with radius of 70.0 m passes the
coordinate of (65 m, 30 m). The toe is at the origin (0, 0). (1) Determine the average cohesion,
friction angle, and unit weight of the slope and foundation soils. (2) Determine the factor of safety
of the slope along the assumed failure circle. (3) Determine the minimum factor of safety of the
slope
Figure 1. Slope Profile
8. A homogeneous silty sand embankment is built on soft clay. The soil profile is shown in Figure 2. A
potential critical slip surface is also shown.
a) Use the ordinary method of slices to determine the FS on the assumed failure plane.
b) Use Bishop’s simplified method of slices to determine the FS on the assumed failure plane and
compare the FS with the one obtained in (1).
c) Calculate the average cohesion, friction angle, and unit weight of the slope and foundation soil.
Figure 1. Slope Configuration
