BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

HYDERBAD CAMPUS
Second Semester 2014-15
TEST 1 (CLOSED BOOK) - SOLUTIONS
Course No: CE F243
Date: 21.02.2015
Max Duration: 60 Min.

Course Name: Soil Mechanics

Maximum Marks: 45
Component Weightage: 15%

PART I
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Answer all the following questions on the main answer script

[20x0.5=10]

___________________ is popularly known as Father of Soil Mechanics (Karl Terzaghi)

Intrusive igneous rocks will have _________________ structure (Crystalline)
Desilication can be classified as ___________________ type of weathering (Chemical)
Fill the following
Type of the Soil
Genesis
Running water
Alluvial Soils
Deposited in quiet lakes
Lacustrine Soils
Deposited in sea water
Marine Soils
Wind
Aeolian Soils
Gravitational force, as in
Colluvial Soils
land slides
Deposited by Glaciers
Glacial Soils

5. If maximum portion of shear strength of the soil is contributed by angle of internal

friction, then that soil could be classified as ____________ (Sandy soils or sand or
cohesion less soils)
6. Specific Gravity of Clay is always ____________ than the specific gravity of sands
(More)
7. The index, which is defined as a ratio (LL NMC)/(LL-PL) where LL is Liquid Limit, NMC
is Natural Moisture Content of the soil, PL is Plastic Limit; is known as ______________
(Consistency Index)
8. The ratio between dry density achieved in the field and that obtained in the laboratory is
usually known as ______________________ (Relative Compaction Density)
9. Show pictorially the densest particle arrangement possible for spherical shaped particles

10. During the conduct of plate load test, what is the standard size of the plate used (75cm
dia)
11. Write the expansion for SPT (Standard Penetration Test)
12. The fourth group of clay miners apart from Illite, Kaolinite, Montmorrilonite is
______________ (playgorskite)
13. Clay particles suspended as colloids are controlled by _____________ energy(Surface
Energy)
14. Unsymmetrical distribution of _____________crystals in clays make them polar
(Silicate)
15. It was found that the CBR at 5mm penetration is greater than CBR at 2.5mm penetration
levels in all the three trials being attempted, CBR at _____mm shall be considered as
the design CBR. (5mm)
PART II
Answer the following questions briefly

[5x4=20]

1. Compare the variation of dry density with water content for cohesion-less soil (no fines),
and a well graded soil sample. Justify the reasons for the variations in the curves
S.No

Compaction Curve of Well

graded soil

Compaction Curve of Cohesion less soil

(no fines)

(0.5)

Dry density is a function of water Little influence of water content on dry

content (0.5)

(0.5)

density(0.5)

The dry density is maximum at The maximum dry density is achieved at

Optimum water content and it fully saturated condition. Max. Bulking at
varies with soil type

4% - 5% water content

Dry

density

increases

with Dry Density reduces initially due to Bulking

increase in water content dry of of soil particles (there is an increase in

Optimum because the air voids volume

of

voids

and

corresponding

get reduced and Attractive forces reduction of dry density) (0.5)

due to surface charges of soil are
predominant (0.5)
4

For

water

contents

wet

of As the water content is further increased,

Optimum compaction does not the bulking effect is reduced and the
reduce the air voids appreciably, increase in compactive effort breaks the
but the volume of voids filled with

capillary tension and hydrostatic forces

water increases due to which the overcome the effective pressure between
dry density reduces. Repulsive the soil particles. (0.5)
forces due to surface tension of
water is predominant in the soil
structure (0.5)
2. Define Zero air voids line and state the expression relating dry unit weight with water
content and degree of saturation. Compare the 10% air content line and 90% saturation
line using a suitable illustration
Zero Air Voids Line:
The theoretical curve which represents the fully saturated condition (S = 100 %), gives
the relation between water content and dry density for no air voids. It cannot be reached
by compaction (1)
Derivation: (2)
d =

G W
(1+e)

d =

G W
(1+Gw/S)
Where G Specific Gravity
e- Voids ratio
w- water content
S Degree of Saturation

Zero Air voids line

(0.5)

80% Saturation line

or 20% Air content
line (0.5)

3. Discuss various states of the soil (with respect to consistency and volumetric changes)
with varied levels of water contents using a suitable illustration

4. Draw a neat diagram of dispersed structure and the usual structure of Montmorrilonite
minerals

5. Define briefly and write formulae for bulk density, dry density, density of solids, saturated
density and submerged density of soils.

PART III
Solve the following Numerical
1. A core cutter, 12.6 cm in height and 10.2 cm in diameter weighs 1071g when empty. It is
used to determine the in-situ unit weight of an embankment. The weight of the core
cutter full of soil is 2970g. If the moisture content is 6%, what are the in-situ dry weight
and porosity? If the embankment gets fully saturated due to heavy rains, what will be the
increase in water content and the bulk unit weight, if no volume change occurs. The
specific gravity of the soil solids is 2.69.

[7.5]

2. Classify the composite soil having soil fractions as follows using textural classification
system. The Chart is appended with the paper
Soil fraction with sizes ranging from 2mm to 4.75mm = 200gm
Soil fraction passing 0.05mm sieve and retained on 0.002mm sieve = 400gm

[4.5]

Soil fraction collected in the pan placed after 0.002mm sieve = 400gm

3. In the plasticity chart given below, write down the classification of the soil grouped under
zones 1 through 6.

[3]