GATE CE 2018 Set 1 — Question 54
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Geotechnical Engineering → Seepage → Quicksand Condition
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Question
At a construction site, a contractor plans to make an excavation as shown in the figure.
The water level in the adjacent river is at an elevation of . Unit weight of water is . The factor of safety (up to two decimal places) against sand boiling for the proposed excavation is ______
Correct answer
1 to 1.03
Solution
1.Sand boiling condition: Sand boiling occurs when the upward seepage pressure at the base of the clay layer equals the total downward pressure (weight of the soil).
2.Upward pressure () at the sand-clay interface (elevation 0):
- Since the sand is highly pervious, the piezometric head at elevation 0 is equal to the river level ().
- .
- The clay layer exists between elevation 0 and 20 m. The excavation removes clay down to elevation 10 m.
- Remaining clay thickness .
- .
- .
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