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MATERIAL QPTA~IJM HALF OF ESTIMATED <br />CLASSIFICATION MOISTURE OPTIMUM DRY DENSTI'Y <br /> CONTENT MOISTURE (LBS/CU FT) <br /> (PERCENT) CONTENT <br /> (PERCENT) <br />GM 14.5 7.3 92.8 <br />SM 14.5 7.3 92.8 <br />ML 19.2 9.b 90.9 <br />The data froth the Hunt reference did not include typical strength values for GM <br />sods. Therefore, for the sake of conservatism, it was assumed that the soil plug <br />material would be either SM or ML type sods. It is seen that the dry density <br />estimated as shown in the above tabulation would match either the moderately <br />dense to dense ML soils with internal friction angles ranging from 31 to 33 degrees, <br />or the loose SM soils with an internal friction angle of 29 degrees. Based on these <br />values, it was assumed that the internal friction angle at peak strength is 30 degrees. <br />Again, for the sake of conservatism, it was assumed that the material would not <br />exhibit ally cohesion The shear friction strengdt along the contact surface between <br />the soil plug and the mine edit might be afightly less than the material°s peak <br />strength if the surface exhibits a degree of smoothness. For such a case, it is <br />reasonable to assume that the surface is not rough enough to develop full peak <br />strength but >g sufficiently rough to develop the ultimate strength (the strength <br />exhibited after high shear strains) which can be approximated by decreasing the <br />peak strength friction Angie by 2 degrees, or, based on the assumptions used for this <br />material, using a friction angle of 28 degrees. Four potential failure modes were <br />considered for the soil phrg and are described below: <br />a. Slope Stability -Based on information you provided, for practical purposes, <br />the soil phrg can be considered as an earthfill dam with a vertical upstream face <br />held with a steel bulkhead, a 40 foot wide crest and a downstream face with a 4 <br />(horizontal) ro 1 (vertical) slope (see the attached caictdation sheet sketches). <br />Typically, evaluation of the stability of an earthfill dam ittvoh~es detailed slope <br />stability calculations which take into account the soil strength as well as pore <br />pressures which would be expected to occur in the embankment as a result of <br />seepage. However, due to the small size and side configuration of this plug, it did <br />not appear that such a detailed evaluation could be justified at this time. The <br />USBRr presents presumptive recommendations for maximum slope steepness for <br />small earthfill dams with compacted embankments based on embatiltment soil type, <br />embankment configuration and foundation type as follows (Note that these <br />recommendations are for homogeneous storage dams on stable foundations subject <br />to rapid drawdown): <br />