Factor of Safety for Submerged Embankment with Sudden Drawdown

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the factor of safety for a submerged embankment 30.5 m high with a 30° upstream inclination, utilizing soil properties of gtotal=18.85 kN/m³ and c=37.6 kN/m². The factor of safety must account for sudden drawdown effects, where water within the embankment exerts pressure. A comparison is made to an Earth dam case where improper slope and compaction led to failure, emphasizing the importance of correct design and soil management in embankment stability.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of soil mechanics and stability analysis
  • Familiarity with factor of safety calculations
  • Knowledge of embankment design principles
  • Experience with sudden drawdown effects on soil structures
NEXT STEPS
  • Research methods for calculating factor of safety in soil mechanics
  • Study the impact of sudden drawdown on embankment stability
  • Explore case studies of Earth dam failures and their causes
  • Learn about proper soil compaction techniques for embankment construction
USEFUL FOR

Civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, and students studying soil mechanics and embankment design will benefit from this discussion.

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Homework Statement


Determine the factor of safety (in regard to
cohesion only) for a submerged
embankment 30.5 m (100 ft) high whose
upstream face has an inclination of 30°. The
soil properties are gtotal=18.85 kN/m3 (120
pcf), c = 37.6 kN/m2 (700 psf), f=10°
b) What is the factor of safety if the
embankment experiences the effects of a
sudden drawdown?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Pls refer to the solution attached , I think it's wrong because when there's drawdown , there's no water . So , the ysub should be (18.85-9.81) , am i right ?
 

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In a sudden drawdown, there is water. It's in the embankment, and it's trying to get out.

It's similar to the case of an Earth dam that is not wide enough for the total water height difference between upstream and downstream sides.

A local Earth dam developed a spring on the downstream face during spring runoff. It turned out that the downstream face should have had a slope of 3:1, but was only 2.6:1. Also, much of the soil in the dam was not properly compacted. That dam was removed last summer.