MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila

CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City

BAGUIO: Upper Ground Floor, Pilando Center, Baguio City
Contact Number: (+63)956 2568509 (Manila), (032)254-9967 (Cebu), (+63)939 5746940 (Baguio)
E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
REVIEW MODULE – Slope Stability, Pile Capacity & Terzaghi’s Bearing Capacity

I. SLOPE STABILITY SITUATION 1. An infinite slope has shear strength parameters at the
interface of soil and rock as follows: c = 20 kPa, ρ = 1900 kg/m3, Ø =
A. INFINITE SLOPES 20°.
NORMAL AND SHEARING STRESSES: 1. If H = 10 m and β = 25°, find the normal and shearing stress at the
interface.
𝜎 = 𝛾𝐻𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽
2. If H = 10 m and β = 25°, find the factor of safety against sliding.
𝜏 = 𝛾𝐻𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 3 If β = 25°, find the critical height.
𝑐+𝜎𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙 tan 𝜙 𝑐 4. If the height at the verge of failure is 7m, find the minimum angle β so
𝐹𝑆 = = = that the slope if stable.
𝑐𝑑 + 𝜎𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙𝑑 tan 𝜙𝑑 𝑐𝑑

SITUATION 2. An infinite slope of granular soil has a slope of 23°. The

FACTOR OF SAFETY AGAINST SLIDING: saturated unit weight of sand is 21.5 kN/m3 and the angle of friction is
No pore water pressure / No seepage on soil: 35°. The sand has a depth of 5 m.
𝑐 tan 𝜙 5. Compute the factor of safety of the infinite slope without seepage.
𝐹𝑆 = 2
+ 6. Compute the factor of safety of the infinite slope of sand layer when
𝛾𝐻𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛽𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 tan 𝛽
subjected to partial seepage parallel to the slope with water at a vertical
depth of 3 m above the interface.
7. Factor of safety if subjected to full seepage.

SITUATION 3. A cut slope was excavated in saturated clay as shown.

The slope made an angle of 60° with the horizontal. When the slope of
failure occurs, BC = 8 m. Given the following: m = 0.185, γ = 18 kN/m 3,
𝑐 cU = 20 kPa.
𝐻𝑐𝑟 =
𝛾𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽(𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 − tan 𝜙)

Seepage is present on the soil:

𝑐 (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 )tan 𝜙
𝐹𝑆 = 2
+
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝐻𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛽𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛽 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 tan 𝛽

8. Determine the stability factor for the critical height.

9. Critical depth of cut.
Where: 10. Angle of failure plane.
FS = Factor of Safety Against Sliding
c = Cohesion of soil SITUATION 4. A cut slope was excavated in saturated clay as shown.
γ = Unit weight of soil The soil has a unit weight of 18 kN/m3 and Ø = 20°. The soil has cohesion
γsat = Saturated Unit weight of soil of 30 kPa. The slope makes an angle of 30° with the horizontal and a
H = Height of soil above the interface of rock and soil height of 10m. The trial failure plane is 20° from the horizontal.
𝜷= Angle of backfill from the horizontal
Φ = Angle of friction

B. FINITE SLOPES

𝐹𝑓 + 𝐹𝑐
𝐹𝑆 =
𝑊𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙

4𝑐𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙𝑑
𝐻= ( )
𝛾 1 − cos(𝛽 − 𝜙𝑑 )
11. Cohesive strength along the failure plane in kN.
𝑐𝑑 12. Frictional strength along the failure plane in kN.
𝑚= = 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
𝛾𝐻 13. Sliding force along the failure plane.
14. Factor of safety against sliding.
1
𝑚
= 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
SITUATION 5. A cut is to be made in a soil that has γ = 17 kN/m3, c = 40
kPa and Ø = 30°. The side of the slope will make an angle of 30°. What
depth of the cut slope will have a factor of safety of 2.5?
15. Find the value of the critical angle along which the maximum
developed cohesion occurs.
16. Determine the depth of cut.
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
BAGUIO: Upper Ground Floor, Pilando Center, Baguio City
Contact Number: (+63)956 2568509 (Manila), (032)254-9967 (Cebu), (+63)939 5746940 (Baguio)
E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com

II. TERZAGHI’S BEARING CAPACITY

Ultimate Bearing Capacity – General Shear Failure

Square Footing:
𝑄𝑢𝑙𝑡 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝑞𝑁𝑞 + 0.4𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

Circular Footing:
𝑄𝑢𝑙𝑡 = 1.3𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝑞𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

Strip Footing:
𝑄𝑢𝑙𝑡 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝑞𝑁𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾

Rectangular Footing:
0.3𝐵 0.2𝐵
𝑄𝑢𝑙𝑡 = 𝑐𝑁𝑐 (1 + ) + 𝑞𝑁𝑞 + 0.5𝛾𝐵𝑁𝛾 (1 − )
𝐿 𝐿

Ultimate Bearing Capacity – Local Shear Failure

2
𝑐′ = 𝑐
3
2
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙 ′ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙
3

Bearing Capacity Factors (if no table or chart is given)

𝑒 (1.5𝜋−𝜙)𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙
𝑁𝑞 = 𝜙
2 cos 2 (45 + )
2
𝑁𝑐 = (𝑁𝑞 − 1)𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜙
𝑁𝛾 = 1.1(𝑁𝑞 − 1) tan(1.3𝜙)

Modification of Bearing Capacity Equation due to the presence of SITUATION 1. A square footing has a dimension of 1.50 m has its bottom
Ground Water Table 1.2 m below the ground surface. Determine the Ultimate Bearing
Capacity of the foundation if: γ = 18.11 kN/m3, c = 15.75 kPa, γSAT = 19.28
kN/m3 and the water table is: (Nc = 7.34, Nq = 1.64, Ny = 0.14)
1. 1.5 m below the ground surface.
2. at the bottom of the footing.
3. 0.5 m below the ground surface.
SITUATION 2. A footing 1.5m square carries a total load 1500kN. The
base of the footing is at a depth of 1.0 m below the ground surface. The
soil has a unit weight of 17 kN/m3 and cohesion of 50 kPa. The soil
investigation shows that the angle of friction is 18 degrees.
4. Determine the gross foundation pressure.
5. Determine the net foundation pressure.
6. Determine the factor of safety (both gross and net)

SITUATION 3. A circular footing carries an allowable axial load of

1200kN with its bottom resting on a ground water table at a depth of 2 m
below the ground surface. (Nc = 35, Nq = 22, Ny = 19). Take Y DRY =
18.10 kN/m3 and YSAT = 19.50 kN/m3, c = 15.74 kPa.
7. Determine the dimension of the footing using a factor of safety of 2.5.
8. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil.
9. Determine the net allowable capacity of the footing.
SITUATION 4. For a certain soil, the cohesion is 50 kPa; the unit weight
is 19.2 kN/m3. Assuming local shear failure: (Nc = 7.5, Nq = 1.80, Ny =
0.48) for local shear failure (Nc = 9, Nq = 2.50, Ny = 1.20) for general
shear failure
10. Calculate the net ultimate bearing capacity for a strip footing of width
1.25 m and depth of 4.5 m
11. Calculate the safe bearing capacity on a footing 6 m long and 1.25 m
𝑞𝑢
wide and a factor of safety of 2.5. Use 𝑞𝑠 = 𝑛𝑒𝑡 + 𝛾𝐷𝑓 and consider
𝐹.𝑆.
general shear failure.
12. Calculate the safe load that the rectangular footing could carry.
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
BAGUIO: Upper Ground Floor, Pilando Center, Baguio City
Contact Number: (+63)956 2568509 (Manila), (032)254-9967 (Cebu), (+63)939 5746940 (Baguio)
E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com

II. PILE CAPACITY (STATIC PILE ANALYSIS) Skin friction resistance of pile on clay (β method)
𝑸𝒔𝒇 = 𝜷. 𝑳. 𝝈′𝒎 . 𝒑
Ultimate Bearing Load of Pile
𝑸𝒖𝒑 = 𝑸𝒆𝒃 + 𝑸𝒔𝒇 Where 𝜷 = skin factor
For normally consolidated clay (1- sin∅𝑹 ) tan ∅𝑹
Allowable Bearing Capacity of Pile For over consolidated clay (1- sin∅𝑹 ) tan ∅𝑹 √𝑶𝑪𝑹
𝑸𝒖𝒑 𝑳 = length of pile
𝑸𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 =
𝑭. 𝑺. 𝝈′𝒎 = average vertical eff. Pressure at mid-height of pile
in a layer
Where 𝑸𝒖𝒑 = ultimate bearing load of the pile, 𝒑 = perimeter of the pile section
𝑸𝒆𝒃 = end-bearing resistance of the pile
𝑸𝒔𝒇 = skin-friction resistance of the pile.
Skin friction resistance of pile on clay (λ method)
PILES on SAND 𝑸𝒔𝒇 = 𝝀. 𝑳. (𝝈′𝒎 + 𝟐𝒄). 𝒑
End-Bearing resistance of pile on sand
𝑸𝒆𝒃 = 𝝈′ . 𝑨𝒑 . 𝑵𝒒 Where 𝝀 = effective frictional factor
𝑳 = length of pile
Where 𝝈′𝒎 = average vertical eff. Pressure at mid-height of pile
𝝈′ = effective vertical stress at the pile tip in a layer
𝑨𝒑 = area of pile tip 𝒑 = perimeter of the pile section
𝑵𝒒 = bearing capacity factor 𝒄 = cohesion
NOTE: NSCP-2010 Section 306 Provisions
Skin friction resistance of pile on sand
𝑸𝒔𝒇 = 𝝁. 𝒑. 𝑨𝒑−𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒈 . 𝒌 The allowable axial and lateral loads on pile shall be determined by an approved
formula, by a foundation investigation or by load tests. Static axial compressive
Where 𝝁 = coeff. of friction b/w pile and sand pile load test shall be in accordance with ASTM Standard D-1143, and lateral
𝒑 = perimeter of the pile section
𝑨𝒑−𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒈 = area of pressure diagram load testing of piles shall conform to ASTM Standard D-3966. Dynamic pile tests
𝒌 = coeff. of lateral pressure b/w pile and sand shall be in accordance with ASTM Standard D-4945. Static axial load testing to
determine the uplift capacity of pile-soil systems shall be in accordance with
ASTM Standard D-3689.

Situation (1) – A circular pile is to be driven into medium dense to dense

sand. The pile diameter is 0.4m and its embedded length is 12m. Ground
water was encountered at a depth of 2m below the ground surface. Use
the following data.
Coefficient of lateral earth pressure, k = 0.95
Angle of internal friction, Ø = 38 degrees
Bearing capacity factor, Nq = 80
Angle of friction between sand and pile surface = 24 degrees
Factor of safety = 2.5
Note: The pressure diagram is dependent on the critical depth Moist Unit weight of Sand = 20.5kN/m3
(𝑫𝒄 ) Saturated unit weight of sand = 21.5kN/m3
(𝑫𝒄 ) = 20 ∅𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 – Dense Sand 1. Compute the point bearing capacity of pile. (1648.71kN)
(𝑫𝒄 ) = 10 ∅𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒆 – Loose Sand 2. Compute the allowable capacity of the pile. (938.42kN)

PILES on CLAY *NOTE: For square pile with side “S”, the critical depth is calculated as
follows:
End-Bearing resistance of pile on clay Dc = 20S – Dense Sand
𝑸𝒆𝒃 = 𝒄. 𝑨𝒑 . 𝑵𝒄 Dc = 10S – Loose Sand

Where 𝒄 = cohesion
𝑨𝒑 = area of pile tip
𝑵𝒄 = bearing capacity factor (if no value given use 9)

Skin friction resistance of pile on clay (α method)

𝑸𝒔𝒇 = 𝒄. 𝑳 . 𝛂 . 𝒑

Where 𝒄 = cohesion
𝑳 = length of pile
𝜶 = adhesion factor or frictional constant
𝒑 = perimeter of the pile section
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
BAGUIO: Upper Ground Floor, Pilando Center, Baguio City
Contact Number: (+63)956 2568509 (Manila), (032)254-9967 (Cebu), (+63)939 5746940 (Baguio)
E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com

Situation (2) – A 0.45-m square precast concrete pile is to be driven in

a clayey soil profile with the following properties. The thickness of the
first layer is 10m while the 2nd layer is 15m.

0.45m Soil Properties:

Layer 1
𝛾𝐶𝐿𝐴𝑌 = 18.7kN/𝑚3
𝑞𝑢 = 85 kN/𝑚2
𝛼 = 0.66
𝜑 = 23º
λ = 0.16

Layer 2
𝛾𝑆𝐴𝑇 = 16.6 kN/𝑚3
𝑞𝑢 =160 kN/𝑚2
𝛼 = 0.74
𝜑 = 25º
λ = 0.16

1. Compute the point bearing capacity of pile. (145.8kN)

2. Compute the frictional capacity of pile using α, β, λ
(2103.3kN, 2696.64kN, 2550.96kN)
3. Compute the ultimate capacity of the pile. (2249.1kN)