ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

CQI: BFC21303
QUESTION 1

The parameters of rock cut slope were investigated and tabulated in TABLE 1. A discontinuity
survey was conducted along the cut slope and results for the discontinuity sets orientations are
given in TABLE 2. A study of the joint sets showed that all joint surfaces had a friction angle of
30°. The analysis of slope failure indicates that joint set 3 is potential to fail with the planar failure
mode and intersection of joint set 1 and 2 causes wedge failure.

(i) Calculate the factor of safety for wedge failure mode for intersection of joint set 1 and 2 using the
formula in Figure (i) when the tension crack is completely filled with water.
(ii) Calculate the factor of safety for planar failure mode using the formula in Figure (ii) when the
tension crack is completely filled with water.
(iii) Calculate the tensional anchor force that requires to increase the factor of safety to 1.5 using
similar condition in question given in Figure (ii).
(iv) By maintaining the slope angle, investigate a suitable new rock slope dip direction in order to avoid
any potential of rock slope failure mode using the equatorial equal-area stereo-net in Figure
(iii).

TABLE 1
Slope dip direction = 360º
Slope face angle = 70°
Height of rock slope = 100 m
Depth of tension cracks = 5m
Unit weight of the rock = 25 kN/m3
Unit weight of water = 9.81 kN/m3
Cohesion of the discontinuity = 100 kPa
Friction angle for the discontinuity = 30°
Inclined angle of anchor = 20°
Bars for Y25 = 10 ton = 100 kN

TABLE 2
Joint set 1 Joint set 2 Joint set 3
30°/68° 330°/64° 006°/60°

Dr MHZA, UTHM 1
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

QUESTION 2

A road cutting 50 m deep is driven through a sequence of metamorphic foliated rock. The rock
slope face cutting in the direction of 0760 and dip angle 600. The geologist has mapped the cutting
area and produced an equal area stereonet plot showing the pole plot concentrations presented in
FIGURE Q2(a). TABLE Q2(a) shows the data of slope geometry and rock parameters.

(a) Determine the dip direction and dip angle of joint set 1, 2 and 3 as shown in Figure Q2(a).
(6 marks)

(b) Analyze the entire rock slope failure modes with its criterion.
(4 marks)

(c) Calculate the factor of safety for wedge failure mode of intersection joint set 1 and 3 using the
formula in Figure (i) when the tension crack is completely filled with water.
(8 marks)

(d) Calculate the factor of safety for planar failure mode using the formula in Figure (ii) when the
tension crack at 3 meter depth is completely filled with water.
(4 marks)

(e) Calculate the tensional anchor force (T) that requires to increase the factor of safety due to planar
failure mode to 1.5. The inclined anchor is 200.
(3 marks)

TABLE Q2(a)

Upper slope dip direction = 076º

Upper slope face angle = 0°
Height of slope / wedge = 50 m
Unit weight of the rock = 25 kN/m3
Unit weight of water = 9.81 kN/m3
The cohesion of all discontinuities = 100 kPa
Friction angle for all discontinuities = 10°

Dr MHZA, UTHM 2
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

Given:
3  
Fos  (Ca. X  Cb.Y )  ( A  . X )Tana  ( B  .Y )Tanb
w w

H t
2 2
Ca = Cohesion b = Friction angle
Ht = height of wedge ψa = dip angle for plane a
ψb = dip angle for plane b ψ5= dip angle for wedge intersection
γ = unit weight of rock γw = unit weight of water

X, Y, A, B is factor which depend upon the geometry of wedge

Sin 24 Sin 13 Cosa  CosbCosna.nb

X Y A
Sin 45Cos 2.na Sin 35Cos 1.nb Sin 5. Sin 2na.nb
Cosb  CosaCosna.nb
B
Sin 5.Sin 2na.nb
FIGURE (i)

Dr MHZA, UTHM 3
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

Z
V Zw
T
Ω U

α
β

FIGURE (ii)

Dr MHZA, UTHM 4
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

FIGURE (iii): Equatorial equal-area stereo-net marked in 2° intervals

Dr MHZA, UTHM 5
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

FIGURE Q2a

Dr MHZA, UTHM 6
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

TABLE Q2b: Criterion table for the mode of rock slope failure

Modes of
Criteria are met
failure

i. Very weak material, highly jointed or fractured or weak soil

Circular
ii. Homogenous soil

i. Dip direction lie within ± 200 from the slope dip direction.
Planar ii. ψf > ψp >  (slope angle> plane angle > friction angle)
iii. Release surfaces must be present to define the lateral boundaries of the slide.

i. ψf > ψi >  (slope angle > intersection of 2 plane angle > friction angle)
Wedge ii. driving force due to the weight of wedge must exceed the frictional resistance of
the planes.

i. The dip direction must lie between ±10° of opposite slope dip direction.
Toppling
ii. (900 - ψf ) +  ≤ ψt

Dr MHZA, UTHM 7
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CQI Dr MHZA, UTHM

CQI RULES AND REGULATIONS:

 HAND WRITING

 SUBMIT ALL QUESTION INDIVIDUALLY

 STATE ALL STUDENT DETAILS CLEARLY IN

FRONT PAGE OF THE CQI (NAME, MATRIC
NUMBER, SECTION, ETC)

 DATE OF SUBMISSION: 31 MAY 2018 (office

hour)

 SUBMIT AT LECTURER OFFICE (PLACED IN

BOX PROVIDED IN FRONT OF LECTURER’S
OFFICE)

Dr MHZA, UTHM 8