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16-Civ-B3 Geotechnical Design: Undated paper

Nivaar worked solution (AI-drafted; not reviewed by a licensed engineer)

  1. Question 1 Choosing one in-situ test for foundation design in sand
  2. Question 2 Factor of safety for the short-term stability of a cut in saturated clay
  3. Question 3 True or false — is the undrained friction angle zero for both soils?
  4. Question 4 True or false — safe versus allowable bearing capacity in dense sand
  5. Question 5 When to prefer a mat foundation
  6. Question 6 Sizing 25 square pads on sand from SPT data, then checking Terzaghi
  7. Question 7 Design axial capacity of a belled bored pile in clay
  8. Question 8 Overturning and sliding of a cantilever retaining wall
  9. Question 9 Anchored sheet pile wall by the free earth support method

Start with Question 1 →

Paper format. National Examinations (Engineers Canada / EGBC), 16-Civ-B3 Geotechnical Design — 3 hours, open book, any non-communicating calculator permitted (the candidate must write its make and model on the left-hand sheet). The paper prints nine questions in two sections: Section A holds five short questions of 7 marks and asks for any four; Section B holds four design questions of 24 marks and asks for any three. Only the first four of Section A and the first three of Section B are marked, so a complete paper is 4 × 7 + 3 × 24 = 100 marks. Note 1 urges the candidate to state any assumptions made, Note 6 requires the source of every design chart to be identified, and Note 7 permits assumed values provided the source is stated. All nine questions are solved below, because the set is a study resource rather than a sitting.

Reference texts. B. M. Das, Principles of Foundation Engineering, 8th ed. (bearing capacity ch. 3, settlement of shallow foundations ch. 5, drilled shafts ch. 12, retaining walls ch. 8, sheet pile walls ch. 9); B. M. Das, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 9th ed. (shear strength, lateral earth pressure, slope stability); R. F. Craig and J. A. Knappett, Craig’s Soil Mechanics, 8th ed. (effective stress, undrained strength, anchored walls); D. P. Coduto, Foundation Design: Principles and Practices, 2nd ed.; and in the Canadian frame the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual (CFEM), 4th ed., Canadian Geotechnical Society — ch. 4 for site investigation and in-situ testing, ch. 10 for shallow foundations, ch. 18 for deep foundations and ch. 25 for earth retaining structures. Test standards are quoted as ASTM/CSA where the CFEM adopts them (SPT: ASTM D1586; CPT: ASTM D5778; field vane: ASTM D2573).

Source-quality note.