Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Spring Semester 2018 The University of Texas at Austin CE 375 (Unique No. 14780)

CE 375 EARTH SLOPES AND RETAINING STRUCTURES

Semester: Spring 2018 Instructor: Dr. Andrew C. Brown Lecture Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Office: ECJ 9.102D Lecture Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Office Hours: Friday, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Location: ECJ 1.324 Email: [email protected]

Prerequisite: CE 357 – or equivalent.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS

Required: Course Notes – CE 375: Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures – Available at Jenn’s Copy and Binding (North Location, 2518 Guadalupe St.). This packet contains all of the supporting materials for the lectures. Bring these course notes to class each day. These course notes may be supplemented with handouts distributed in class.

Recommended: B.M. Das and K. Sobhan: Principles of Geotechnical Engineering – Eighth Edition. Cengage Learning, 2013; ISBN 13: 9781133108665.

INTRODUCTION AND COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course covers the areas of geotechnical engineering which involve earth slopes and retaining structures. We will cover the various types of earth slopes and retaining walls, methods of analysis, and special features of design. Because most earth slopes and retaining walls involve at least some consideration of compaction and water, we will also cover , seepage and drainage.

First, we will cover compaction. Many earth slopes are constructed of compacted soil, and compaction is usually required for the construction of retaining walls. We will consider how compaction affects various engineering properties, including , stiffness, compressibility, and permeability. We will also cover selection of compaction criteria, field compaction procedures, and construction control for compacted fills. Finally, we will also briefly cover techniques for in-situ densification of natural soil deposits.

Next, we will cover seepage and drainage of water in soil. The coverage of water will differ somewhat from that which you may have been exposed to in courses in hydraulics and water resources because we are interested in the effect of water on stresses, rather than in how much water we can produce from the ground as a resource. We will cover the basic principles of water flow and how water affects stresses. We will also cover techniques that the geotechnical engineer uses to control water. Water is one of the principal causes of failure of earth slopes and retaining walls and is an important consideration in

1 their design. Drainage of water represents one of the principal means that we have to stabilize slopes and retaining walls.

The third major topic we will cover is the stability of earth slopes. We will discuss theories of slope stability. Several methods of will be presented and discussed. One of the most important factors in slope stability is the shear strength of the soil comprising the slope. We will review what you have studied about shear strength in the past, and cover new concepts of shear strength which are important to slope stability and retaining walls as . The important distinction between "short-term" and "long-term" stability will be discussed, and special design considerations for both short- term and long-term stability will be presented.

Earth pressures and the design of retaining walls comprise the fourth major topic covered in this course. We will cover the theories of earth pressures and the principles of design. Because the principles involved in both earth pressure and slope stability calculations are similar, earth pressures fit very nicely into this course which also covers slope stability. Also, retaining walls are typically used where an unstable slope would otherwise exist and, thus, many practical examples involve principles of both earth slope stability and retaining wall design.

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Students are expected to attend all class periods, and attendance may be periodically recorded. Because the textbook will provide only supplementary information, the lectures are the main source of information to be covered in the homework assignments and exams. Those who regularly miss class are inviting scholastic difficulty and, with the approval of the Dean, may be dropped from the course.

During class, students are expected to take hand-written notes in the required course packet as lectures are presented. The use of cell phones or other mobile devices is strictly prohibited in class (this includes talking, texting and/or the use of applications). The use of laptops, tablets, or netbooks is not allowed in class, unless explicitly authorized in advance by the instructor.

Class participation is strongly encouraged. Do not hesitate to raise questions or suggest your own ideas during class. If some particular lecture topic is confusing or unclear, please ask for clarification. You are encouraged to see me during office hours for help with specific problems. Students who attend all class periods, and exhibit attentive and appropriate behavior throughout the semester, will receive full credit for participation. Multiple absences, unprofessional behavior, and/or the use of prohibited devices during class will adversely affect the class participation score.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Homework is intended primarily as a means of helping you to learn and understand the course material. Homework will be assigned, graded and recorded, mainly to encourage you to do the homework and help you learn the material. There is a direct correlation between doing your homework and doing well on exams; without doing the homework, you are unlikely to pass this course.

CE 375 – Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures 2

Each assignment must be submitted in hard copy form with a cover memorandum. As you will quickly learn after college, most practicing engineers spend more time and effort communicating and presenting their ideas, analyses, and results than they do performing technical calculations. A professional engineer's work entails much more than analysis. Hence, all assignments in this class must be submitted with a cover memorandum that briefly discusses your analysis. The cover memo should be typed, addressed to the instructor, and no more than one page long. The text of your memo should: • Briefly state the purpose of your work (summarize what was requested and what you did). • Describe the data, material properties, and other information used to solve the problem, including any assumptions you may have used. • Review important aspects of the problem and your solution. • Refer to any attached drawings, plots, and other figures, and identify the significant information they contain. • Summarize important results, conclusions, and recommendations. Attach your calculations, plots, and drawings behind the cover memo. Write your cover memo as if you were submitting your results to a professional client. Engineering computation paper is recommended for your calculations (pages torn from a spiral notebook are unacceptable). Data plots and other figures may be drawn with a computer or by hand on graph paper. When needed, neatly draw all sketches and data plots using a straight edge, French curve, compass, etc., and show all relevant labels. When feasible, site plans, schematics, etc. should be drawn to a proportional scale. Failure to submit legible, neat, professional-looking assignments will adversely affect your . Above all, present your results clearly and concisely so that someone else, who may be less knowledgeable than you are, can understand and apply your recommendations correctly.

EXAMS AND

We will have two one-hour midterm examinations during the semester, and a comprehensive three-hour final examination. The final examination will be given at the time scheduled by The University (Saturday, May 12, 2018, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Your final score for this course will be computed using the following weights:

Homework 20% First Midterm 20% Second Midterm 20% Final Examination 35% Class Participation 5% Total 100%

The plus/minus (+/–) grading system will be used in determining the final course grade. Divisions between letter grade levels, as well as a possible “class curve”, are not pre-determined. In borderline cases, your participation and attendance in class will also be considered.

CE 375 – Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures 3 LATE OR MISSED WORK

Homework assignments are due at the beginning of the period announced in class and late homework will not be accepted except under unusual circumstances. If there are unusual circumstances which you feel justify turning in late homework, submit the homework with a neatly typed memo explaining why your homework was late and the justification for accepting it. I will then decide whether or not to accept the homework based on your written justification. Exams and homework due in other courses are not an excuse for late homework.

Exams will be given at assigned times which will be announced in class. On occasion, students are ill on the day of an examination and are unable to attend. However, no makeup exams will be given for the one hour exams during the semester. Makeup exams take a great deal of time to prepare and, more importantly, it is virtually impossible to prepare a makeup exam that is equivalent to the regular exam. Regardless of how carefully one attempts to prepare a makeup exam, either the student taking the exam or the other students in the class are given an unfair advantage. Instead of a makeup exam, if you miss an hour exam during the semester, you will be graded on the basis of the exams which you have taken as follows: a grade for the exam that you missed will be estimated based on how you did on the exams which you have taken (including the comprehensive final exam) relative to the rest of the class. For example, if you scored twelfth among thirty students on the exams that you took, you will be given a grade for the exam that you missed that would place you approximately twelfth among the students who took the exam that you missed. In the unlikely event that you miss two exams, special arrangements will have to be made and you may be required to meet additional requirements.

If you miss an exam for reasons other than illness, serious, disabling injury or other valid excuse, you will be assigned a grade of zero. If you miss an exam due to illness, you may be asked to present definitive evidence that you were, in fact, ill. If you are going to miss an exam, you must inform the instructor, prior to the start of the exam, that you are ill or disabled due to serious injury unless there are compelling reasons why you cannot do so.

DROP POLICY

From the 1st through the 12th class day, an undergraduate student can drop a course via the web and receive a refund, if eligible. From the 13th through the university’s academic drop deadline, a student may Q drop a course with approval from the Dean, and departmental advisor.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request, appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259 (Videophone: 512-410- 6644) or http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/ .

CE 375 – Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures 4 RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

The following statement is from the University General Information Catalog, 2015 – 2016, Attendance page 68, “A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in advance of the absence as possible, so that arrangements can be made to complete an assignment within a reasonable time after the absence.”

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For information on academic dishonesty, UT Honor Code (or statement of ethics), and an explanation of what constitutes plagiarism, you can refer to the University General Information Catalog, http://registrar.utexas.edu/catalogs/gi10-11/, and the Deans of students website at: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/ . Remember, as an engineer, you are held to a high standard of ethical conduct.

All written work submitted for this class must be entirely your own. This requirement will be strictly enforced for examinations. In doing class assignments, you are encouraged to consult with your fellow classmates regarding the most appropriate solution to a given problem; however, each student must prepare his or her own individual submission for each assignment. For example, you are permitted to work together in deciding the best approach to a problem, but everyone must work through the entire problem on his or her own. Identical copies of computations or data plots are not acceptable. Working together on assignments should foster your understanding of the course material; avoid working with other students unless all parties gain from the experience.

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION

An evaluation of the course and instructor will be conducted at the end of the semester using the approved UT Course/Instructor evaluation forms. In addition, I welcome your comments (verbal, written, or e-mail) about the course at any time. Your suggestions for improving the course content or presentation are particularly appreciated, especially if you identify a subject area that may need clarification for the entire class.

FINAL COMMENT

In practice, geotechnical engineers often deal with uncertainty about the behavior of the at a given site, and are frequently asked to solve technical problems that lack simple, definitive answers. As a student, I hope you gain an appreciation for the engineering judgment often required in geotechnical engineering projects, and do not become frustrated at the apparent lack of simple solutions or straightforward answers. Good luck to all of you in this course.

CE 375 – Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures 5 TOPIC OUTLINE AND TENTATIVE SCHEDULE – CE 375, SPRING 2018

Lecture Background Reading Required Reading Day Date Planned Lecture Number (Das, 8th Ed.) (Das, 8th Ed.) -- Mon Jan 15 -- No Class - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day --

1 Wed Jan 17 Introduction

2 Fri Jan 19 Weight-Volume Relationships 3.1-3.9 3 Mon Jan 22 Earthwork Quantity Computations 3.1-3.9 4 Wed Jan 24 Laboratory Compaction Tests 6.1-6.5 5 Fri Jan 26 Properties of Compacted Soils 2.6-2.9, 4.1-4.7 4.8, 6.7-6.8

6 Mon Jan 29 Properties of Compacted Soils 2.6-2.9, 4.1-4.7 4.8, 6.7-6.8 Soil Compaction 7 Wed Jan 31 Compaction Specifications 3.6 6.1 8 Fri Feb 2 Field Compaction Procedures 6.9-6.11 9 Mon Feb 5 In-Place Ground Improvement 5.5 6.14 10 Wed Feb 7 Water Seepage through Soils 7.1-7.4 7.5-7.9

11 Fri Feb 9 7.1-7.4 7.5-7.9 12 Mon Feb 12 Seepage Forces 7.5-7.9 13 Wed Feb 14 Seepage Forces 7.5-7.9 14 Fri Feb 16 Filters 8.11 15 Mon Feb 19 Two-dimensional flow 8.1-8.8 16 Wed Feb 21 Flow Net Solutions 8.1-8.8 17 Fri Feb 23 Midterm Exam No. 1 18 Mon Feb 26 Flow Net Solutions 8.1-8.8 Seepage and Drainage 19 Wed Feb 28 Flow Net Solutions 8.1-8.8 20 Fri Mar 2 Finite Difference Analysis of Seepage 21 Mon Mar 5 Principles of Shear Strength 12.1-12.12 22 Wed Mar 7 Principles of Shear Strength 12.1-12.12 23 Fri Mar 9 Principles of Shear Strength 12.1-12.12 Mar 12 - 16 -- No Class - Spring Break -- 24 Mon Mar 19 Intro to Slope Stability 15.1-15.2 25 Wed Mar 21 Infinite Slope Analysis 15.3-15.4 26 Fri Mar 23 Analyses with Circular Slip Surfaces 15.5-15.10 27 Mon Mar 26 Slope Stability Charts 15.5-15.10

28 Wed Mar 28 Short-term vs. Long-term Stability Slope Stability 29 Fri Mar 30 Ordinary Method of Slices 15.11 30 Mon Apr 2 Other Limit Equilibrium Methods 15.12 31 Wed Apr 4 Total and Analyses 15.13-15.14 32 Fri Apr 6 Slope Stabilization & Repair 33 Mon Apr 9 Types of Retaining Walls 13.14 34 Wed Apr 11 Types of Retaining Walls 13.14 35 Fri Apr 13 Midterm Exam No. 2

36 Mon Apr 16 Intro to Earth Pressures 13.1-13.3 37 Wed Apr 18 At-Rest Pressures 13.2-13.3 38 Fri Apr 20 Rankine Active and Passive Pressures 13.5-13.7 39 Mon Apr 23 Rankine Active and Passive Pressures 13.5-13.7 40 Wed Apr 25 Coulomb Analysis 13.10-13.12 41 Fri Apr 27 Earth Pressures – Sloping Ground Retaining Walls 42 Mon Apr 30 Design of Retaining Structures 43 Wed May 2 Design of Retaining Structures 44 Fri May 4 Conclusion Final Examination: Saturday, May 12, 2018, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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