Assignment Brief 2021/2022 - Assessment Component B

Module Title: Module Code: Module Run: Assignment due date:

Geotechnics UBGMWQ-15-3 January 2023 25th March 2023

Coursework Title: Ground Investigation and Slope Stability Analysis Submission type:
Individual report
Module leader: Dr Sam Abbey Submission method:
Email: Samuel.abbey@uwe.ac.uk Online via Blackboard
Estimated time: Word count: 2000 words 40% of Module Mark
50 hours or more
You must submit twice: Prepare one PDF Document containing both Part 1 and Part Feedback date: 30th
2 of the coursework, and submit it to CW1 and CW2 on blackboard. May 2023

Module Learning Outcomes Assessed:

2. Analyse the stability of slopes
3. Identify possibilities of uncertainty in geotechnical engineering and adopt appropriate strategies to deal
with uncertainty.
4. Apply understanding of site investigation, laboratory and in-situ testing to the development of a
Geotechnical Design Report.
Academic Offence
All assessments on this module are individual work. The work you submit must be your own work. Submitting
work that is copied in part or whole from another student with or without their permission is an assessment
offence.
You must fully attribute/reference all sources of information used during the completion of your submission,
failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, which is an assessment offence.
If you are not familiar with the definitions of plagiarism and collusion, more information can be found here:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/assessmentoffences.aspx
General guidance

It provides advice on general good practice for the presentation of work in both an academic and professional
settings.
1. All equations are to be typed via word equation editor, and all numerical results must include units.
2. Equations, figures (including graphs) and tables require numbering and a descriptive caption e.g. “Figure 1:
Graph of undrained cohesion versus factor of safety”.
3. Graphs should include a title, axes’ titles, units and where applicable a legend and annotations.
4. Symbols in all equations/expressions presented must be explained in detail in the main text.
5. All figures and tables must be referred to in the main text, and discussed in the main text, e.g. “Referring to
Figure 1 the undrained cohesion versus factor of safety”. Discussion should not be included in the caption.
6. Read questions carefully – identify the key verbs; they describe what you need to be doing.
7. Full marks are awarded where there is a clear demonstration of independent thought and application of
your understanding.
8. Please cite the sources of information (journal articles, books and conference papers) in the text of your
work, with the corresponding referencing at the end using the UWE Harvard referencing style:
https://www2.uwe.ac.uk/services/library/study_skills/Managing%20References/UWE_Bristol_Harvard_ref
erencing_guide.pdf
Task and Mark Distribution

Part 1-(50 Marks)

A geotechnical investigation report for a proposed building is on blackboard under the coursework
material folder. Produce a detailed critique of the geotechnical investigation report following the
recommendation of the code of practice for ground investigations as outlined in BS 5930:2015+A1:2020
and other relevant materials. Using a flow chat, show how you would have designed the ground
investigation and written the report.

Part 2-(50 Marks)

A slope can be a natural slope or one created by excavation or an embankment created by engineering
fill. Slope stability is the potential of a naturally occurring or engineered soil slope such as embankment
slopes, cuttings, excavations to withstand ground movement. Geotechnical engineers have to pay
particular attention to geology, surface drainage, groundwater, and the shear strength of soils in
assessing slope stability however, a previously stable slope may become unstable, leading to mass
movement due to increase in shear stress or decrease in shear strength.

(a) Review ten (10) case histories of recent slope failures and summarise your findings using table,
stating each case and the cause of failure.
(10 Marks)

(b) An embankment slope consisting of a granular fill is underlain by a deep deposit of clay of specific
gravity of 2.65. The granular fill has a bulk unit weight of 19.3 kN/m3, effective cohesion, c′ = 7.2 kPa and
internal friction angle, ϕ′ = 30°. If the clay soil has varying moisture content and undrained shear strength
at different times of the year as presented in Table 1, investigate the stability of the embankment slope
using the slip circle shown in Figure 1. How does the varying soil properties influence the stability of the
slope? Draw the slope to scale on a graph paper or using CAD and split the sliding section up into a
suitable number of slices.
(30 Marks)

Table 1. Properties of clay

Property Values

Cases Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4

Moisture content (%) 27 30 35 40
Void ratio 0.71 0.55 0.5 0.48
Undrained shear strength 32.5 28 20 18
(kPa)

(c) Assume that the ground water level rises to the top of the clay layer in Figure 1, and the clay layer
has c’ = 75kPa, ø’=7o, γ = 20kN/m3, calculate the factor of safety, and compare your result with the
safety factors calculated in Part 2 (b) above.
(10 Marks)
 Figure 1.

Report Guidelines

Section Content Mark (%)

Title The tile needs to concisely state the topic of the report. It needs to be
informative and descriptive to enable someone just reading the title to
understand the purpose of your report. Please also include your name, student 1
ID and date.

Contents Provide a content page, including list of figures and tables. 1

Summary Summary of your report written in a way that makes it easier for readers to
quickly become acquainted with a large body of material without having to
peruse all of the report. Should contain summary of design parameters used, 5
design method adopted, results and summary of discussion.
Introduction The introduction should contain the aim of the analysis and design, stating the
conditions that you have been provided with and any assumptions that you have 5
made.

Literature This section should contain a review of ten (10) case histories of recent 10
review slope failures.
Method Clearly present a brief description of the methods used. If you have used any
computer software (e.g. Oasys, Plaxis, GEO5), simply summarise the main steps. 5

Analysis Provide detailed analysis and summaries of design calculations and the results
obtained including graphs and tables. If you have used any computer software in
the analysis only display relevant graphical outputs in this section, and include 50
any alternate analysis considered.

Discussion Discuss (NOT DESCRIBE) your results. Are my results what I expect? Do they
correspond with similar analysis based on similar slope stability problems? What
are the limitations of the analysis? Can I use the results with confidence for 15
design purposes? Use in text citations and reference for this section.

Conclusion Summarise your key parameters and state any of the key findings from your
discussion. 5

Reference This section should include all references used, and presented in the UWE
Harvard referencing style. 3

Appendix The appendix should contain any additional information such as raw data or
additional figures from your computer analysis that may help the reader but is 0
not essential to the report’s main findings.

Marking criteria

% Descriptor Criteria

An outstanding report will meet all aspects of the brief completely, and will also show
some evidence of independent/innovative thought and/or critical analysis. Relevant
methods will be stated clearly and be applied appropriately. All technical analysis will be
correct. Key results will be presented clearly and concisely in the report and if necessary,
supported by appendices with further details or calculations. The significance of the
findings will be evaluated in a manner which meets the requirements of the brief and
PASS demonstrates an outstanding level of insight, originality and understanding of relevant
90-100 theory and/or practice. Where appropriate there will be evidence of reading beyond the
Outstanding
recommended texts. Conclusions will provide a concise synthesis in relation to the
requirements of the brief and clear and appropriate recommendations will be given. The
report will be written to the highest standards of literacy and professional presentation.
References (in-text and references section) will conform precisely to UWE Harvard
requirements.
 An exceptional report will meet all aspects of the brief. Relevant methods will be stated
clearly and be applied appropriately. Technical analysis will be correct, with perhaps
only very minor errors. Key results will be presented clearly and concisely in the report
and if necessary, supported by appendices with further details or calculations. The
significance of the findings will be evaluated in a manner which meets the requirements
of the brief and demonstrates an exceptional level of insight, originality and
PASS understanding of relevant theory and/or practice. Where appropriate there will be
80-89
Exceptional evidence of reading beyond the recommended texts. Conclusions will provide a concise
synthesis in relation to the requirements of the brief and clear and appropriate
recommendations will be given. The report will be written to high standards of literacy
and professional presentation. References (in-text and references section) will conform
precisely to UWE Harvard requirements, with perhaps one or two minor errors.

An excellent report will meet all aspects of the brief. Relevant methods will be stated
clearly and be applied appropriately. Technical analysis will be correct, with perhaps
only very minor errors. Key results will be presented clearly and concisely in the report
and if necessary, supported by appendices with further details or calculations. The
significance of the findings will be evaluated in a manner which meets the requirements
of the brief and demonstrates an excellent understanding of relevant theory and/or
PASS practice. Where appropriate there will be evidence of reading beyond the
70-79
Excellent recommended texts. Conclusions will provide a concise synthesis in relation to the
requirements of the brief and clear and appropriate recommendations will be given.
The report will be written to high standards of literacy and professional presentation.
References (in-text and references section) will conform precisely to UWE Harvard
requirements, with perhaps one or two minor errors.

A good /very good report will meet almost all aspects of the brief, although there might
be some minor omissions of detail. Relevant methods will be clearly stated and
generally applied well. Technical analysis will be largely correct. Key results will be
presented clearly and concisely in the report and if necessary, supported by appendices
PASS 65-
with further details or calculations. The significance of the findings will be evaluated in a
69%:
manner which largely meets the requirements of the brief and generally demonstrates a
Very good good understanding of relevant theory and/or practice. Where appropriate there will be
60-69
some evidence of reading beyond the recommended texts. Conclusions will provide a
60-64%: concise synthesis in relation to the requirements of the brief and clear and appropriate
Good recommendations will be given. The report will be clearly written and professionally
presented. References (in-text and references section) will conform to UWE Harvard
requirements, with perhaps only occasional minor errors.

PASS An adequate / competent report will meet most aspects of the brief. Relevant methods
55-59% will be clearly stated and generally applied appropriately, although there may be some
50-59 omissions. Key results will be presented clearly in the report and if necessary, supported
Competent
by appendices with further details or calculations. The analysis of the significance of the
Faculty of Environment and Technology, Department
of Engineering, Design and Mathematics

50-54% findings must show sound/substantive understanding of relevant theory and/or

Adequate practice, but there could be some misunderstanding, error or omission. Conclusions
must provide a clear synthesis in relation to the brief and reasonable recommendations
must be provided. The report must be clearly written and neatly presented. References
(in-text and references section) must conform to UWE Harvard requirements, with
perhaps only occasional minor errors.

A weak report will meet more than half of the requirements of the brief. Relevant
methods will be stated and generally applied appropriately, although there may be
omissions and/or errors. Key results will be presented in the report and if necessary,
supported by appendices with further details or calculations. The analysis of the
significance of the findings must show adequate understanding of relevant theory
40-49 PASS and/or practice, but there could be some misunderstanding, error or omission.
Weak Conclusions must provide a synthesis in relation to the brief and some
recommendations should be provided. The report must be comprehensible and neatly
presented. References (in-text and references section) must largely conform to UWE
Harvard requirements.

A poor report could be largely incomplete, be missing key aspects of the brief, or
perhaps be characterised by an excessive number of errors in the technical analysis.
Results could be poorly or partially presented and may be lacking in supporting
FAIL appendices. There could be a lack of evaluation of the significance of the findings or this
35-39 Poor may be poor or superficial. Conclusions and/or recommendations could be lacking,
superficial or inappropriate. Levels of literacy, presentation and referencing may be
poor.

A very poor report does not meet the substantive aspects of the brief, and is likely to be
a partial submission and/or a completely inappropriate/incorrect application of
FAIL methods. Presentation of results could be inadequate or confusing and results are not
25-34 likely to be supported by relevant appendices. There could be little, if any attempt to
Very poor
demonstrate understanding of results. Conclusions and/or recommendations may be
very weak or absent. Levels of literacy, presentation and referencing may be poor.

FAIL
15-24 Extremely An extremely poor report is unacceptable in every respect. Likely to be a partial
poor submission.

FAIL An inadequate report is unacceptable in every respect. Clearly a partial submission and
0-14
Inadequate lacking substantive content.