The friction circle method is based on the assumption that the resulta...
Friction Circle Method in Geotechnical Engineering
The friction circle method is a widely used technique in geotechnical engineering to analyze the stability of slopes or retaining walls. It is based on the assumption that the resultant reaction along a slip surface is tangential to a circle. The radius of this circle is given by the equation R sinθ, where R represents the normal force on the slip surface and θ is the angle of internal friction.
Understanding the Friction Circle Method
The friction circle method assumes that the mobilized shear resistance along a slip surface can be represented by a circle. This circle is centered at the intersection of the slip surface and the base of the slope or retaining wall. The radius of the circle is determined by the normal force acting on the slip surface and the angle of internal friction.
Explanation of the Correct Answer
The correct answer is option 'B', which states that the radius of the friction circle is R sinθ. Let's break down this answer to understand why it is correct:
- Radius of the Circle: The radius of the friction circle is given by R sinθ. This means that the radius is directly proportional to the normal force on the slip surface (R) and the sine of the angle of internal friction (sinθ).
- Normal Force (R): The normal force (R) represents the force acting perpendicular to the slip surface. It is the weight of the soil above the slip surface. The greater the normal force, the larger the radius of the friction circle.
- Angle of Internal Friction (θ): The angle of internal friction (θ) is a property of soil that represents its resistance to shear. It is the angle between the shear stress and the normal stress on a plane within the soil. The larger the angle of internal friction, the larger the radius of the friction circle.
- Sine Function: The sine function relates the angle of internal friction to the radius of the friction circle. As the angle of internal friction increases, the sine of the angle also increases, resulting in a larger radius.
Therefore, the correct answer, option 'B' (R sinθ), is based on the understanding that the radius of the friction circle is determined by the normal force and the angle of internal friction.
The friction circle method is based on the assumption that the resulta...
Friction circle method:
This method is also based on total stress analysis in which shearing angle of ϕ is used to analyse the stability of finite slope.
The principle of the method is that the inter granular forces are in an obliquity of ϕ to the circular surface at failure, where ϕ is the angle of the internal friction of the soil.
When the length of the arc is divided into small elements, the line of action of the inter granular forces acting on these elements can be defined by a tangent to the friction circle drawn around the centre of the sliding circle.
The radius of this friction circle is given by R sinϕ
Where,
R is the radius of the sliding circle.
Thus, the friction circle is agraphical tool that defines the line of action of the intergranularforces at any given point on the sliding circle in a convenient way.In geotechnics, the method is used primarily for slope-stability investigations in homogeneous soil when both cohesive and frictional components have to be considered.
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