A cut slope was excavated in a saturated clay. The slope made an angle of 40° with the horizontal. Slope failure occurred when the cut reached a depth of 6.1 m. Previous soil explorations showed that a rock layer was located at a depth of 9.15 m below the ground surface. Assuming an undrained condition and [latex]\gamma_{sat}[/latex] = 17.29 kN/m³, find the following. a. Determine the undrained cohesion of the clay (Figure 15.13). b. What was the nature of the critical circle? c. With reference to the toe of the slope, at what distance did the surface of sliding intersect the bottom of the excavation

Part a Referring to Figure 15.13, [latex]D=\frac{9.15}{6.1}=1.5\\\gamma_{sat}=17.29 kN/m^3\\H_{cr}=\frac{c_u}{\gamma m}[/latex] From Figure 15.13, for β = 40° and D = 1.5, m = 0.175. So, [latex]c_u=(H_{cr})(\gamma)(m)=(6.1)(17.29)(0.175)=[/latex] 18.46 kN/m² Part b Midpoint circle. Part c Again, from Figure 15.15, for D = 1.5, β = 40°; n = 0.9. So, Distance [latex]=(n)(H_{cr})=(0.9)(6.1)=[/latex] 5.49 m

Question 15.4: A cut slope was excavated in a saturated clay. The slope mad...

Principles of Geotechnical Engineering

A cut slope was excavated in a saturated clay. The slope made an angle of 40° with the horizontal. Slope failure occurred when the cut reached a depth of 6.1 m.
Previous soil explorations showed that a rock layer was located at a depth of 9.15 m below the ground surface. Assuming an undrained condition and $\gamma_{sat}$ = 17.29 kN/m³, find the following.
a. Determine the undrained cohesion of the clay (Figure 15.13).
b. What was the nature of the critical circle?
c. With reference to the toe of the slope, at what distance did the surface of sliding intersect the bottom of the excavation

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