CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

UNIT I
1. Define soil mechanics.
Soil mechanics is defined as the application of the laws and principles of mechanics
and hydraulics to engineering problems dealing with soil as an engineering materials.
2. Draw the soil phase diagram.
3. Define water content.
Water content is the defined as ratio of weight of water to the weight of solids in a
given mass of soil.
4. Define density of soil.
Density of soil is defined as the mass the soil per unit volume.
5. Define bulk density.
Bulk density is the total mass of the soil per unit of its total volume.
6. Define dry density.
The dry density is mass of soils per unit of total volume of the soil mass.
7. Define saturated density.
When the soil mass is saturated is bulk density is called saturated density.
8. Define submerged density.
The submerged density is the submerged mass of the soil solids per unit of total
volume of the soil mass.
9. Define unit weight of soil mass.
The unit weight of soil mass is defined as its weight per unit volume.
10. Define bulk unit weight.
The bulk unit weight is total weight of the soil mass per unit weight of its total
volume.
11. Define dry unit weight.
The dry unit weight is height weight of solids per unit of its total volume of the soil
mass.
12. Define unit weight of solids.
The unit weight of soil solids is the weight of soil solids per unit volume of solids.
13. What is submerged unit weight?
Its submerged weight of soil solids per unit of the total volume of soils.
14. What is saturated unit weight?
Its the ratio of the total weight of a saturated soil sample to its total sample.
15. What is void ratio?
The ratio of the volume of soil solids in the given soil mass.
16. What is porosity?
The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the given soil mass.
17. Define degree of saturation.
The ratio of the volume of water present in the given soil mass to the total volume of
voids on it.
18. Define percentage of air voids.
The ratio of volume of air voids to the total volume of the soil mass.
19. Define air content.
The ratio of volume of air void to the volume of voids.
20. Define density index or relative compaction.

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

The ratio of the difference between the voids ratio of the soil in the loosest state and
its natural voids ratio & to the difference between voids ratio in the loosest and
densest state.
21. What is compaction?
The soil particles are artificially rearranged and packed together into a closer strata of
contact by mechanical means in order to decrease the porosity of the soil and thus
increase its dry density.
22. What are the aim of the compaction?
i)
To increase the shear strength of the soil
ii)
To improve stability and bearing capacity
iii)
To reduce the compressibility
iv)
To reduce the permeability of the soil
23. What are the methods available in sieve analysis?
i)
Dry sieve analysis
ii)
Wet sieve analysis
24. Define atterberg limits.
The soil changes from one state to another state its called atterberg limits.
25. Define liquid limit.
The soil changes from liquid to plastic state it is called liquid limit.
26. Define plastic limit.
The maximum water content at which soil changes from plastic to semi solid state.
27. What are the factors affecting soil suction?
i)
The structure and bulk density of soil also appear to affect the soil suction per
moisture content relationship.
ii)
The moisture held at fixed suction clearly increase with clay content.

UNIT II
1. Define soil water.
Water present in the voids of a soil mass is called soil water.
2. State the types of soil water.
i)
Free water or Gravitational water
ii)
Held water
a) Structural water
b) Adsorbed water
c) Capillary water
3. Define free water and held water.
Free water:
That is free to move through a soil mass under the influence of gravity
is known as free water.
Held water:
It is the part of water held in soil pores by some forces existing within
the pores such water is not free to move under gravitational forces.
4. Define structural, adsorbed and capillary water.
Structural water:
The water chemically combined in the crystal structure of the soil
mineral and can be removed only by breaking the structure.
Adsorbed water:

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

Its also termed as a hygroscopic water or the contact moisture or

surface bound moisture. It is the part which the soil particles freely adsorb from
atmosphere by the physical forces of attraction and is hold by the force of adhesion.
Capillary water:
Water held in the interstices of soil due to capillary forces is called
capillary water.
5. Define capillary action or capillarity.
It is the phenomenon of movement of water in the interstices of a soil due to capillary
forces. The capillary forces depend upon various factors such as surface tension of
water, pressure in water in relation to atmospheric pressure and these size and
confirmation of soil pores.
6. Define contact moisture.
Water can also be held by surface tension round the point of contact of two particles
capillary water in this form is known as contact pressure or contact capillary water.
7. Compute the maximum capillary tension for a tube 0.05 mm in diameter?
Solution:
Assume the maximum capillary height at 4o C at given by
0.3084
0.3084
(hc)max =
= 0.005
d

= 61.7 cm = 0.617 m
Capillary tension = (hc)max w = 0.617 x 9.81
6.05 kN/m3.
8. Define permeability.
The property of a porous material which permits the passage of water or other fluids
through its interconnecting voids. A material having continues voids is called
permeable. Gravels are highly permeable while stiff clay is a least permeable and
hence clay may be formed impermeable.
9. Define laminar and turbulent flow.
In laminar flow each fluid particle travels along a definite path which never crosses
the path of any other particles. In turbulent flow the paths are irregular and twisting,
crossing and re-crossing at random.
10. What are the importances for the study of seepage of water?
i)
Determination of rate of settlement of a saturated compressible soil layer.
ii)
Calculation of seepage through the body of earth dams, and stability of slopes.
iii)
Calculation of uplift pressure under hydraulic structure and there safety
against piping.
iv)
Ground water flow towards well and drainage of soil.
11. Define Darcys law.
Darcys law states that for laminar flow conditions in a saturated soil the rate of flow
or the discharge per unit time is proportional to the hydraulic gradient.
q = KiA
q
v= A
= Ki
Where,
q = discharge per unit time

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

A = total cross sectional area of soil mass, perpendicular to the direction of flow
i = hydraulic gradient
k = Darcys coefficient of permeability
v = velocity of flow or average discharge velocity
12. Define coefficient of permeability.
The average velocity of flow that will occur through the cross sectional area of soil
under unit hydraulic gradient. The coefficient of permeability is denoted as K. It is
usually expressed as cm/s or m/d or feet/day.
13. Define seepage velocity or actual velocity.
The rate of discharge of percolating water per unit cross sectional area of voids
perpendicular to the direction of flow.
14. State the factors affecting permeability.
i)
Grain size
ii)
Properties of the pore fluid
iii)
Voids ratio of the soil
iv)
Structural arrangement of the soil particles
v)
Entrapped air and foreign matter
vi)
Adsorbed water in clayey soil
15. What are the methods to determine the coefficient of permeability?
i)
Laboratory methods
a) Constant head permeability test
b) Falling head permeability test
ii)
Field methods
a) Pumping out test
b) Pumping in test
iii)
Indirect methods
a) Computation from grain size or specific surface
b) Horizontal capillarity test
c) Consolidation test dates
16. Define capillary siphoning.
The water level in the reservoir is corresponding to the High Flood Level (HFL), the
portion to the u/s of the dam will be saturated. The water level in the u/s previous
shell will be practically the same as the HFL. Due to capillarity water will rise
through a height hc. If the top of the core is situated at a height y < h c above the HFL.
The capillary forces ill pull the water in descending part of the earth dam, and will
slowly empty it.
17. Define surface tension.
The surface tension of water is the property which exists in the surface film of water
tending to contract the contained volume into a form having a minimum superficial
area possible.
18. Explain the formation of meniscus.
A solid or hollow tube, wet with water its partly inserted vertically in water
molecules due to attraction between the molecules of water and the material, climb
the solid surface forming a curved meniscus adjacent to the walls of the tube or rod.
UNIT III
1. What are the assumption are made in the Boussinesque equation?
i)
The soil mass is homogeneous, that is all its constituent parts or elements are
similar and it has identical properties at every point in identical directions.

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

ii)

The soil mass is an elastic medium for which the modulus of elasticity E is
constant.
iii)
The soil mass is Isotropic that is it has identical elastic properties in all
directions through any point of it.
iv)
The soil mass is semi-infinite that is it extends infinitely any directions below
a level surface.
2. Write about the pressure distribution diagram types?
By means of Boussineques stress distribution theory, the following vertical pressure
distribution diagrams can be prepared.
i)
Stress isobar or isobar diagram
ii)
Vertical pressure distribution on a horizontal line
iii)
Vertical pressure distribution on a vertical line
3. What is isobar?
An isobar is a curve or counter connecting all points below the ground surface of
equal vertical pressure on a given horizontal plane is the sum in all directions at points
located at equal radial distances around the axis of loading.
4. Define the pressure bulb.
The some in a loaded soil mass bounded by on isobar of given vertical pressure
intensity is called pressure bulb.
5. Define contact pressure.
The vertical pressure acting at the surface of contact between the base of footing and
the underlying soil mass.
6. What is compressibility?
When the compressive load is applied to soil mass, a decrease in its volume takes
places. The decrease in the volume of soil mass under stress is known as compression
and the property of soil mass compressibility.
7. What is consolidation?
Every process involving a decrease in the water content of a saturated soil without
replacement of the water by air is called process consolidation.
8. Define the coefficient of compressibility.
Its defined as the decrease in voids per unit increase of pressure.
9. Define coefficient of volume change.
The change in volume of a soil mass per unit of initial volume due to a given increase
in the pressure.
10. Write short notes on consolidation of undisturbed specimen?
i)
Soil deposits may be divided into three classes as regards to the consolidation
history, pre consolidation normally consolidated. Clay is said to be pre
compressed pre consolidated or over consolidated.
ii)
If it has ever been subjected to a pressure in excess of it present overburden
pressure, a temporary over burden pressure to which a soil has been subjected
and under which it got consolidated is known as pre consolidation pressure.
iii)
A soil may have been subjected during metal away by other geologic over
burden and structural level which to longer exist now. A soil is not fully
consolidated existing overburden called an under consolidation.
11. How do you determine the pre consolidation pressure?
i)
To find the pre consolidation pressure on disturbed sample of clay is
consolidated in the laboratory and the pressure voids ratio relationship is
plotted on a semi log plot.

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

ii)

The initial portion of the curve is that as assembles the recompression curve of
a remoulded specimen. The lower portion of the curve which is a straight line
is the laboratory virgin curve.
12. What are the assumption are made in Terzaghis theory of one dimensional
consolidation?
i)
Soil homogeneous and fully saturated
ii)
Soil particles and water are incompressible
iii)
Deformation of the soil is due entirely to change in volume
iv)
Darcys law for the velocity of flow of water through soil is perfectly valid
v)
Coefficient of permeability is constant during consolidation.

UNIT IV
1. What is shear strength?
It is principle engineering property which controls the stability of a soil mass under
loads. The shear strength of soil is the resistance to deformation by continuous shear
displacement of soil particles.
2. What are the factors that influence shear strength?
i)
Resistance due to interlocking of particles
ii)
Frictional resistance between the individual soil grains which may be sliding
friction, rolling friction.
iii)
Adhesion between soil particles or cohesion.
3. What is principle plane and principle stress?
Principle plane:
A plane on which the stress is wholly normal on one. Which does not carry
shearing stress.
Principle stress:
From mechanics it is known that there exist three principle planes at any point in a
stressed material. The normal stress acting on the principle plane are known as
principle stresses.
4. What are shear strength parameters?
C and
Where
c = apparent cohesion
= angle of internal friction.
5. What are the limitations of Mohr coulomb theory?
i)
It neglects the effect of the intermediate principle stress.
ii)
It is approximate the curved failure envelope by a straight line, which may not
give correct result.
6. What are the difference to measure the shear strength of soil?
i)
Direct shear test
ii)
Triaxial shear test
iii)
Unconfined compression test
iv)
Vane shear test
7. What is Mohrs coulomb theory?

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

The functional relationship between the normal stress acting on any plane and
shearing strength available on that plane was assumed to be linear by coulomb.
8. What is strength envelope?
The normal and shear stress corresponding to failure, then a curve is obtained. The
plot or the curve is called strength envelope.
9. What do you know about undrained and drained test?
Undrained test:
No drainage of water is permitted. Hence there is no dissipation of pore
pressure during the entire test.
Drained test:
Drainage is permitted throughout the test during the application of both
normal and shear stress.
10. What is Mohrs circle? What are the characteristics of Mohrs circle?
The graphical method for determination of stresses on a plane inclined to the principle
stress.
i)
The maximum angle of obliquity max is obtained by drawing a tangent to
the circle from the origin o.
ii)
Shear stresses plane at right angle to each other are numerically equal but are
of opposite sign.
11. What do you mean by stress path?
It is a curve or a straight line which is the locus of a series of stress points depicting
the changes in stress in a test specimen or in a soil element in situ, during loading or
unloading.
12. What are the different types of failure of a triaxial compression test specimen?
i)
Brittle failure
ii)
Semi plastic failure
iii)
Plastic failure
13. What are the merits and demerits of direct shear test?
Merits:
i)
This is the only test where both the shearing stress and normal stress
on the plane of failure are measured directly.
ii)
Volume changes during the test can be measured easily.
Demerits:
i)
The shear stress distribution over the plane of failure is non uniform.
ii)
The drainage cannot be controlled, and so the pore pressure behaviour
cannot be obtained from the test.
14. What are the factors that affect shear strength of cohesive soil?
Structure of clay, clay content, drainage condition, rate of strain, repeated loading,
confining pressure, plasticity index and disturbance.
15. What are the factors that affect shear strength of cohesionless soil?
Shape of particles, gradation, confining pressure, deviator stress, vibration and
repeated loading and type of minerals.
16. What are the advantages of triaxial shear test?
i)
The stress distribution on the failure plane is uniform.
ii)
The shear stress under all the three drainage conditions can be performed with
complete control.
iii)
The precise measurements of the pore pressure and volume change during the
test are possible.
17. What are the limitations of direct shear test?

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

i)

The stress conditions are known only at failure the conditions prior to failure
are undetermined and there, the Mohr circle cannot be drawn.
ii)
The orientation of the failure plane is fixed the plane may not be the weakest
plane.
18. Define NC.
Which had not been subjected to a pressure greater than the present existing pressure.
19. Define OC.
It had been subjected in the past to a pressure in excess of the present pressure.
20. What are the basic components are constituted in shearing resistance of soil?
i)
The structural resistance to displacement of the soil because of the
interlocking of the particles.
ii)
The frictional resistance to translocation between the individual soil particles
at their contact points
iii)
Cohesion or adhesion between the surfaces of the soil particles.

UNIT V
1. What are the factors leading to the failure of slopes?
i)
The factors which cause an increase in the shear stresses loads, seepage
pressure.
ii)
The factors which cause decrease in the shear stresses.
iii)
This is due to increase in water content, increase in pore water and weathering.
2. What is a land slide?
Failure involving downward or outward movement of portion of the soil is the case of
natural slope is known as land slide.
3. What do you know about infinite slope?
An infinite slope is very large in extend and is theoretically infinite and the properties
of the soil will be same at identical points.
4. What do you mean by finite slope?
Is limited in extend and the properties of the soil will not be same at identical depths.
So that the slip surface may be curve.
5. What are the two basic types of slope failure? And define.
i)
Slope failure
ii)
Base failure
i)
Slope failure:
The failure occurs along a surface of sliding that intersects the slope at
the slide is known as slope failure.
ii)
Base failure:
The failure occurs along a surface that is some distance below the toe
of a slope is known as base failure.
6. What are the two types of slope failure?
i)
Face failure
ii)
Toe failure
i)
Face failure:
The failure occurs above the toe, then the failure is said to be face
failure.
ii)
Toe failure:

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg

The failure occurs through the toe, then the failure is said to be toe
failure.
7. What are the types of slip surface in a finite slope?
i)
Planar failure surface
ii)
Circular failure surface
iii)
Non circular failure surface
8. What are the different methods used for analysis of finite slope?
i)
Culmaans method of planar failure surface.
ii)
Swedish circle method
iii)
Friction circle method
iv)
Bishops method
9. What do you mean by planar failure?
It is common in stratified deposit and the failure plane is parallel to the strata.
Planar failure surface may commonly occur in a soil deposit.
10. Where does a noncircular slip surface occur in a homogeneous dam?
i)
Foundation of infinite depth
ii)
Rigid boundary planes of maximum
iii)
Presence of relatively stronger or weaker layers.
11. Write down the assumptions made in the analysis of slope?
i)
The stress is assumed to be two dimensional
ii)
Coulomb equation for shear strength is applicable and parameters and are
known
iii)
Seepage pressure was estimated from the assumed seepage conditions and
water levels.
12. What are the three forces acting in circular failure while analysis through
friction circle method?
i)
Weight of the sliding wedge
ii)
Cohesive force developed along the slip surface
iii)
Reaction on the slip surface
13. What do you mean by slide?
The failure of the mass of soil located beneath a slope is called slide.
14. What does a failure of slope be analysed?
The failure of slope is analysed thoroughly since their failure may lead to loss of
human life as well as colossal economic loss.
15. Define stability number.
The force causing in stability is the weight of the wedge which I equal to unit weight
and the area of the wedge which I proportional to the square of the height.
C
Sn = Fc H
Where
Sn = stability number
Fc = factor of safety
H = height of the scope
= unit weight
16. What are the factor of safety used in stability analysis of slopes?
i)
FoS with respect to cohesion assuming to be fully mobilized
ii)
FoS with respect to friction assuming to be fully mobilized
iii)
FoS with respect to shear strength
iv)
FoS with respect to Height

CE2251 Soil Mechanics 2 Marks Q & A

Prepared by S.Krishnakumar, Asst.Prof, Dept of Civil Engg