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GEOTECNICAL ENGINEERING-I
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING-I
Class & Sem. : II B.Tech – II Semester Year : 2017-18
Branch : CE Credits : 3
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1. Brief History and Scope of the Subject
2. Pre-Requisites
Engineering Geology and GIS Applications
3. Course Objectives:
To understand different classification of natural soils.
To learn Consolidation settlement and compaction control.
To study the shear strength parameters.
4. Course Outcomes:
After completion of the course, the student will be able to
Classify the natural soils as per different standards.
Calculate consolidation settlement for cohesion soils.
Apply methods of compaction in field.
Determine shear strength parameters of soils.
Explain the seepage analysis of soils.
I) Objective Questions
1. The mass of chunk of moist soil is 20kg and its volume is 0.011m3. after drying in an
oven, the mass reduces to 16.5kg. Determine the water content, the density of moist soil,
the dry density, void ratio, porosity, and the degree of saturation. Take G=2.70
2. A soil specimen has a water content of 10% and a wet unit weight of 20kN/m3. If the
specific gravity of solids is 2.70, determine the dry unit weight, void ratio, and the degree
of saturation. Take 𝛾𝑤 = 10𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
3. A moist soil sample weighs 3.52N. After drying in an oven, its weight is reduced to 2.9N.
The specific gravity of solids and the mass specific gravity are respectively 2.65 and 1.85.
Determine the water content, void ratio, porosity, and the degree of saturation. Take 𝛾𝑤 =
10𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
4. A sample of saturated soil has a water content of 25 percent and a bulk unit weight of 20
kN/m3. Determine dry density, void ratio, and specific gravity of solid particles.
5. A Sample of clay was coated with paraffin wax and its mass, including the mass of wax,
was found to be 697.5 gm. The sample was immersed in water and the volume of the
water displaced was found to be 355ml. The mass of the sample without wax was 690.0
gm, the water content of the representative specimen was 18%.
Determine the bulk density, dry density, void ratio and the degree of saturation. The
specific gravity of the soilds was 2.70 and that of the was 0.89.
6. In a compaction test on a soil, the mass of the wet soil when compared in the mould was
1.855kg. The water content of the soil was 16%. If the volume of the mould was 0.945
litres, determine the dry density, void ratio, degree of saturation, and percentage air voids.
Take G=2.68
7. There are two borrow areas A and B which have soils with void ratios of 0.80 and 0.70
respectively. The inplace water content is 20% and 15% respectively. The fill at the end of
the construction will have a total volume of 10000m3, bulk density of 2Mg/m3 and a
placement water content of 22%. Determine the volume of the soil required to be
excavated from both areas. G=2.65.
If the cost of excavation of soil and transportation is Rs.200/- per 100m3 for area A and
Rs. 220/- per 100m3 for area B, which of the borrow area is more economical?
8. Classify the soils A and B, with the properties as shown below, according to USC system
No.4 Sieve No.200 %
Soil WL, % I P, % passing Passing
4.75mm 75microns
A 45 29 100 59
B 55 15 100 85
9. Classify the soil with the following properties according to ISC system
% passing % Passing
WL, % WP, %
4.75mm 75microns
40 10 60 45
UNIT-II
Assignment-Cum-Tutorial Questions
A. Questions testing the remembering / understanding level of students
I) Objective Questions
1. With the rise of temperature, the permeability
a) Increases b) decreases c) remains constant d)None
2. For large Engineering projects, the permeability is determined accurately by
a) Constant head test b) Variable head test c) Pumping in d) Pumping out test
3. In a Darcian flow, the flow velocity is
a) Actual velocity b) Seepage velocity c) Discharge Velocity d) Boundary velocity
4. In granular soil, K varies….. with the specific surface. Choose the correct statement.
a) Directly b) Inversely c) Logarithmically d) Not in order
5. Effective stress is the stress
a) Transmitted by flowing water
b) Transmitted from particle to particle through points of contact
c) That can be measured d) None of the above
6. The pressure that affects shear strength and permeability of soil is
a) Total pressure b) Neutral Pressure c) Effective pressure d) None of above
7. The relation between total pressure’𝜎’ and effective pressure’𝜎′’ and pore pressure ‘u’ is
a) 𝜎 ′ = 𝜎 + 𝑢 b) 𝜎 ′ = 𝜎 − 𝑢 c) 𝜎 = 𝜎 ′ − 𝑢 d) None of above
8. Space between two adjacent flow lines is called
a) Flow potential b) flow path c) Flow field d) Flow length
9. Quantity of seepage in each flow channel of a flow net is
a) Dependent of size of field b) Dependent of potential drop
c) Same d) Dependent on the number of flow channels
10. Identify the incorrect flow net property
a) Flow lines and equipotential lines intersect or meet orthogonally
b) Quantity of water flowing through each channel is the same
c) Potential drop between any two successive equipotential lines is different
d) Flow lines and equipotential lines are smooth curves
4. A sand deposit is 10m thick and overlies a bed of soft clay. The ground water table is 3m
below the ground surface. If the sand above the ground water table has a degree of
saturation of 45%, plot the diagram showing the variation of the total stress, pore Water
pressure and the effective stress. The void ratio of the sand is 0.70. take G=2.65.
5. A soil profile consists of a surface layer of clay 4m thick (𝛾=19.5 kN/m3) and a sand
layer 2m thick (𝛾=18.5kN/m3) over lying an impermeable rock. The water table is at the
ground surface. If the water level in a standpipe driven into the sand layer rises 2m above
the ground surface. Draw the plot showing the variation of total stress, pore Water
pressure and the effective stress and determine the increase in effective stress at the top
of rock when the artesian head in the sand is reduced by 1m.
6. A soil profile consists of a surface layer of sand 3.5m thick (𝜌=1.65Mg/m3), an
intermediate layer of clay 3m thick (𝜌=1.95Mg/m3) and the bottom layer of gravel 3,5m
thick (𝜌=1.925Mg/m3). The water table is at the upper surface of the clay layer.
Determine the effective pressure at various levels immediately after placement of a
surcharge load of 58.86kN/m2 to the ground surface.
7. A sand deposit consists of two layers. The top layer is 2.5m thick (𝜌 =1709.67kg/m3) and
the bottom layer is 3.5m thick (𝜌𝑠𝑎𝑡 =2064.52 kg/m3). The water table is at a depth of
3.5m from the surface and the zone of the capillary saturation is 1m above the water
table. Draw the diagrams showing the variation of total stress, neutral stress and effective
stress.
UNIT-III
Assignment-Cum-Tutorial Questions
A. Questions testing the remembering / understanding level of students
I) Objective Questions
1. An isobar is a curve which joins all the points of
a) Joins point of equal horizontal stress
b) Joins point of equal vertical stress
c) Joins point of zero horizontal stress
d) Joins point of Maximum horizontal stress
2. Newmark’s influence chart can be used for the determination of vertical stress under
a) Circular load area only b) Rectangular loaded area only
c) Strip load only d) any shape of loaded area
3) The Westergaard’s analysis is used for
a) Homogenous soil b) Cohesive soils
c) Sandy soils d) Stratified soils
4) The stresses due to self weight of soil are known as
a) Geostatic stresses b) Effective stresses
c) Pore water stresses d) Neutral stresses
5) Which of the following is an assumption for Boussinesq’s theory?
a) Soil is isotropic b) Soil is homogenous
c) Soil is elastic d) All the above
6) The vertical cross section of an isobar is
a) Parabolic b) Circular
c) Lemniscates d) None
II) Descriptive Questions
1. Define Geostatic stresses?
2. Derive an expression for the vertical stress at a point due to a point load using
Boussinesq’s theory.
3. Derive an expression for vertical stress at a point due to a line load.
4. Derive an expression for vertical stress at a point due to a rectangular load.
5. What is Newmark’s influence chart?
6. Derive Westergaard’s equation for the determination of vertical stress at a point.
B. Question testing the ability of students in applying the concepts.
I) Multiple Choice Questions:
1. A load of 2000kN is uniformly distributed over an area of 3mx2m. The average vertical
stress at a depth of 2m using 2:1 distribution is
a) 160kN/m2 b) 100 kN/m2 c) 48kN/m2 d) 37 kN/m2
2. A concentrated load of 1000kN vertically at a point on the soil surface. According to the
Boussinesq’s equation the ratio of vertical stresses at depths of 3m and 5m is
a) 0.35 b) 0.7 c) 1.75 d) 2.78
3. A Newmark's chart has an influence coefficient of 0.005. a rectangular footing area covers
6 sectors when centrally, loaded on Newmark's chart. If the footing is 40t/m2 . The stress at
the center of the footing is
a) 0.30 t/m2 b) 0.20 t/m2 c) 1.2 t/m2 d) 1 t/m2
4. The intensity of radial shear stress at a point 4m directly below a 2tonne point load is
a) 0.16 t/m2 b) 0.125 t/m2 c) 0 d) 1 t/m2
5. In the construction of Newmark’s influence chart, if the number of annual areas selected is
10 and each annular area is divided into 10 sectors. The influence value of the chart is
a) 0.005 b) 0.05 c) 0.01 d) 0.001
6. On a circular loaded area of 2m diameter, the load intensity be 100kN/m2 . the vertical
stress in soil at a depth of 1m below the center of the loaded area will be
a) 45.6kN/m2 b) 50 kN/m2 c) 64.65kN/m2 d) 7.07kN/m2
II) Problems:
1. A concentrated load of 200kN is applied at the ground surface. Determine the vertical
stress at a point P which is 6m directly below the load. Also calculate the vertical stress
at point r which is at a depth of 6m but at a horizontal distance of 5m form axis of load.
2. There is a line load of 120kN/m acting on the ground surface along y-axis. Determine
the vertical stress at a point P which has x and z coordinates as 2m and 3.5m
respectively.
3. Determine the vertical stress at appoint P which is 3m below and at a radial distance of
3m from the vertical load of 100kN. Use Westergaard’s solution.
4. Calculate the vertical stress at a point P at a depth of 2.5m directly under the center of
the circular area of radius 2m and subjected to a load 100kN/m2.
5. A rectangular loaded area 2mx 2.5m carries a load of 80kN/m2. Determine the vertical
stress at point P located outside the loaded area at a depth of 2.5m.
1. Identify the factor which is same for both Standard and Modified Proctor compaction
tests.
a) Height of the hammer drop b) Number of drops per layer
c) Number of layers d) Weight of hammer
2. Identify the term which is common for both consolidation and compaction.
a) Removal of air b) Long term process
c) Densification of soils d) Applicability of saturated soils
3. Zero air voids line is the line joining dry densities corresponding to
a) Zero Air content b) Zero degree of saturation
c) Zero porosity d) Zero void ratio
4. Identify the wrong statement
a) During compaction soil always remains partially saturated
b) Increase in Compactive effort results in an increase in MDD and decrease in OMC
c) Relative compaction and relative density are one and the same
d) The permeability of soil compacted on the dry side of optimum is more than that
compacted on wet side of optimum.
5. In a compaction test, with increase in compactive effort
a) Maximum dry density increases but OMC decreases
b) The compaction curve is shifted to the left and higher
c) Both the above
d) Both MDD and OMC increases
6. The following soil has higher OMC
a) Gravel b) Sand c) Silt d) Clay
7. Clay particles on the wet side of optimum moisture content exhibit
a) Single grained Structure b) Disperse Structure
c) Honeycomb Structure d) Flocculent Structure
8. The range of OMC for the standard proctor test for clayey soils is
a) 6 to 10% b) 8 to 12% c) 12 to 15% d) 14 to 20%
The volume of mould used was 950ml. Make necessary calculations and plot the
compaction curve and obtain the MDD and OMC. Also calculate the void ratio, the
degree of saturation and the theoretical MDD (G=2.70)
3. The maximum dry density of a sample by the light compaction test is 1.78g/ml at an
optimum water content of 15%. Find the air voids and the degree of saturation.
G=2.67
What would be the corresponding value of dry density on the zero air void line at
OMC?
4. A cylindrical specimen of a cohesive soil of 10cm diameter and 20cm length was
prepared by compaction in a mould. If the wet mass of specimen was 3.25kg and its
water content was 15%, determine the dry density and the void ratio. If the specific
gravity of particles was 2.70, find degree of saturation.
5. The following are the results of a standard compaction test performed on a sample of
soil
If the volume of mould used was 950cc and the specific gravity of soil grains was
2.65, make necessary calculations and plot the water content-dry density curve and
obtain the OMC and MDD.
1. For a compacted soil with specific gravity of solids of 2.7, water content of 15%, the
dry density achieved is equal to 88% of the dry density corresponding to zero air
voids line. Determine the dry density of compacted soil. If the maximum dry density
of same soil in the laboratory compaction test is 1.812g/cc, find the relative
compaction.
2. A cohesive soil yields a max dry density of 18g/cc at OMC of 16% during a standard
proctor test. If the value of G is 2.65, what is degree of saturation, void ratio, air
content, % air voids? What is the max dry density it can be further compacted to at the
above OMC?
3. In a standard proctor test, 1.8kg of moist soil was filling in the mould
(Volume=944cc) after compaction. A soil sample weighing 23g was taken from the
mould and oven dried for 24hr at a temperature of 1100C. Weight of dry sample was
found to be 20g. Specific gravity of soil solids is G=2.7. Determine the theoretical
maximum value of the dry unit weight of soil at that water content.
UNIT-V
Assignment-Cum-Tutorial Questions
A. Questions testing the remembering / understanding level of students
I) Objective Questions
1. Consolidation of a soil is due to a load which is _______________
2. Time is an important parameter in the consolidation of ________ type of soils.
3. Primary consolidation is mainly due to expulsion of _______________
4. If a soil has ever been subjected to a pressure in excess of its present over burden, the soil is
said to be _______________________
5. Coefficient of consolidation depends upon _______________________________.
6. The units of coefficient of consolidation are _______________.
7. The ratio of settlement at any time to the final settlement is known as ______________.
8. In consolidation testing, a curve fitting method is used to determine ______________.
II) Descriptive Questions
10. Define coefficient of compressibility, coefficient of volume change, Recompression
index, compression index, Expansion index.
11. Differentiate between primary consolidation and secondary consolidation
12. Discuss the spring analogy for primary consolidation. What are its uses?
13. Differentiate between normally consolidated and the over consolidated soils. How would
you determine over consolidation pressure?
14. Discuss terzaghis theory of consolidation, stating the various assumptions and their
validity
15. What is the time factor? How it is related to average degree of consolidation?
16. Discuss the limitations of terzaghi’s theory of consolidation. What is theory used despite
its limitations?
B. Questions testing the ability of students in applying the concepts.
i) How long would it take for a surcharge load to cause a settlement of 40cm if the same
load causes a final settlement of 60cm?
ii) If the sand drains(S=3m and ɣw=0.30) are used, determine the time required for 90%
consolidation. Take Cvr=2.0m2/month. Assume the triangular layout of drains. Neglect
vertical consolidation in this case.
2. The laboratory consolidation data for an undisturbed clay sample are as
follows.e1=1.00,σ1=85kN/m2,e2=0.80,σ2=465kN/m2. Determine the void ratio for a
pressure σ3 of 600kN/m2
3. A consolidation test was conducted on a sample of a normally consolidated clay, with an
initial void ratio of 1.55,and the following results were obtained
σ (kN/m2) 80 160 320 640 1280
a) Plot e-log σ curve. If the initial overburden pressure is kN/m2,darw the field
consolidation line and hence determine the coefficient of compression
b) If the thickness of the clay layer in the field is 4m and the increase in the pressure due
to loading is 50 kN/m2, compute the settlement.
4. A 3m thick layer beneath a building is overlain by is permeable stratum and is underlain
by an impervious rock. The coefficient of consolidation of the clay was found to be
0.025cm2/minute. The final expected settlement for the layer is 8cm.
a) How much time will take for 80% of the total settlement to take place?
UNTI-VI
Assignment-Cum-Tutorial Questions
A. Questions testing the remembering / understanding level of students
I) Objective Questions
1. For the stability analysis of an earth dam for steady seepage case, the most appropriate
test would be the ________________.
2. An undrained triaxial compression test is carried out on a saturated clay sample under a
cell pressure of 100kN/m2. The sample failed at a deviator stress of 200kN/m2. The
cohesion of the given sample of clay is _________________.
3. For a highly fissured clay the best method to find the shear strength is
_______________.
4. The phenomenon when the sand losses its shear strength due to the oscillatory motion in
saturated condition is known as ____________________.
5. With usual notations, the coulomb’s equation for shear strength under drained condition
is _________________.
6. If a pure cohesive soil specimen is subjected to a vertical compressive load only, the
inclination of crack to the horizontal is _______________________.
7. If the cohesion of a pure clay found in an unconfined compressive strength test 1kg/cm2
the unconfined compressive strength in kg/cm2 is __________________________.
8. The shear strength of the plastic undrained clay depends upon ____________________.
9. In an undrained triaxial compression test, the sample failed at a deviator stress of
200kN/m2 when cell pressure was 100kN/m2. The cohesion intercept is
_______________.
2. The following results were obtained from a series of consolidated undrained tests on a
soil, in which the pore water pressure was not determined. Determine the cohesion
intercept and the angle of shearing resistance.
Sample No. Confining presuure(kN/m2) Deviator stress at faiure(kN/m2)
1 100 600
2 200 750
3 300 870
3. A series of consolidated-undrained (CU) Triaxial tests was conducted on over-
consolidated clay and the following results were obtained.
Sl No. Cell pressure(kN/m2) Deviator stress(kN/m2) Pore water pressure(kN/m2)
1 125 510 -70
2 250 620 -10
3 500 850 +120
Plot the strength envelops in terms of total stress and effective stress, and hence
determine the strength parameters.
4. The following results were obtained from a consolidated un-drained (CU) test on
consolidated clay. Plot the strength envelop in terms of total stresses and effective
stresses and determine the strength parameters
Sl No. Cell pressure(kN/m2) Deviator stress(kN/m2) Pore water pressure(kN/m2)
1 250 152 120
2 500 600 250
3 750 455 350
1. What is the shear strength in terms of effective stress on a plane within a saturated soil
mass at a point where the total normal stress is 295 kPa and the pore water pressure
120kPa? The effective stress shear strength parameters are C’=12kPa and ф’=300.
2. The following results were obtained in a shear box test. Determine C and ф parameters
Normal stress (kg/cm2) 1.0 2.0
Shear stress (kg/cm2) 1.3 1.85
An unconfined compression test was conducted on an undisturbed sample of clay. The
sample had a diameter of 37.5mm and was 80mm long. The load at failure measured by
the proving ring was 28N and the axial deformation of the sample at failure was 13mm.
The unconfined compressive strength is ____________________.