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Nanyang Technological University Library

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION 2008-2009

CV6311 – Soil Behaviour and Engineering Properties

November 2008 Time Allowed: 3 hours

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises FIVE (5) pages.

2. Answer ALL questions.

3. An Appendix of ONE (1) page is attached to the Question Paper.

4. All questions carry equal marks.

1. (a) Briefly explain the difference in the soil structure and engineering properties
of a cohesive soil compacted at the dry of optimum as compared to the wet
of optimum condition.
(5 marks)

(b) Briefly explain how soil-water characteristic curve affects permeability and
shear strength of soil.
(5 marks)

(c) Measurements of pore-water pressure in soils are affected by time lag,

cavitation and air diffusion. Briefly explain these factors and how they
affect the pore-water pressure measurements.
(5 marks)

Note: Question No.1 continues on page 2.

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CV6311

(d) A site of a homogeneous silt deposit is shown in Figure Q1. Field

measurements indicate that the pore-water pressure at point A is +20 kPa
and at point B is -30 kPa. The silt has an air-entry value of 15 kPa.

(i) Determine whether the soil at point B is unsaturated and the direction
of water flow between points A and B. Briefly justify your answers.

(5 marks)

(ii) Calculate the hydraulic head gradient between points A and B and
briefly explain how Darcy’s law can be used to calculate the flow rate
between these two points.
(5 marks)

Ground surface

2m
B
8m

10 m
A

Figure Q1

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CV6311

2. (a) A 1 m sand fill, which is large in lateral extent, was placed on top of 4 m
homogeneous clay layer one year ago as shown in Figure Q2. The clay
was normally consolidated before the placement of the sand fill. At present
the preconsolidation pressure σp’ at the centre of the clay layer is 20 kPa as
determined from consolidation test results. The water table on the site has
always been at 0.5 m above the clay layer before and after the placement
of the fill. Soil properties are as given in Figure Q2. Information related to
the theory of consolidation is given in the Appendix.

(i) A standpipe piezometer is installed at the centre of the clay layer.

Calculate the height of the water column in the piezometer at present.
(5 marks)

(ii) Calculate the coefficient of consolidation cv of the clay. (5 marks)

(iii) Briefly explain the reason for the increase in shear strength of the soil
at the centre of the clay layer in the past one year using the effective
stress principle.
(5 marks)

(b) Briefly explain the effect of sampling disturbance on the consolidation test
results.
(5 marks)

(c) Briefly explain the effect of sampling disturbance on the swelling pressure
measurement using the constant volume oedometer test. Draw the “ideal”
stress path representation for a constant volume oedometer test and use it
in your explanation.
(5 marks)

Ground surface
1m Sand fill: Water table
0.5 m ρ = 2.0 Mg/m3 (above and below water table)

4m Clay: ρsat = 1.63 Mg/m3, ρs = 2.7 Mg/m3

Impermeable rock

Note:
ρ = total density
ρsat = saturated density
ρs = soil solid density

Figure Q2

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CV6311

3. (a) Two isotropic consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial tests, CU1 and CU2,
were conducted on a normally consolidated (NC) clay under effective
consolidation stresses of 100 and 200 kPa, respectively. The specific
volumes of the soil, v, after consolidation are 1.6 and 1.4 for Tests CU1 and
CU2, respectively. At failure, the stresses measured for Test CU1 were:
qf = 50 kPa and pf′ = 55 kPa, where q = σ1 – σ3, p′ = (σ′1 + 2σ′3)/3.

(i) Calculate the effective friction angle of the clay. (4 marks)

(ii) Determine the equation for the normal consolidation line (NCL).
Determine the equations of the critical state line (CSL) on both the q
versus p′ plane and the v versus lnp′ plane.
(7 marks)

(iii) Calculate the undrained shear strength obtained from Test CU2 and
sketch the likely effective stress paths for both Test CU1 and CU2.
(6 marks)

(iv) Calculate the pore water pressure at failure for Test CU2. (4 marks)

(b) The critical state friction angle of a sand is 32°. What is the peak friction
angle when the maximum dilatancy ratio dεv/dε1 obtained from a
consolidated drained (CD) triaxial test is –0.2?
(4 marks)

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CV6311

4. (a) Explain why for the determination of the undrained shear strength of a soft
consolidated clay, the piezocone test (CPTU) rather than the cone
penetration test (CPT) (without pore pressure measurement) should be
used.
(5 marks)

(b) Field vane shear tests (FVTs) were conducted in a thick layer of uniform
clay deposit using a vane of length 150 mm and diameter 50 mm. The unit
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weight of the clay was 16 kN/m . The torque obtained at failure and the
remoulded state at point A was 14.1 and 5.6 Nm, respectively. Point A was
5 m below the ground surface as shown in Figure Q4. The over-
consolidation ratio (OCR) at point A was 4 as determined by oedometer
tests. The ground water level (GWL) was the same as the ground surface.

(i) Calculate the undrained shear strength of the clay at point A.

(ii) Determine the sensitivity of the clay at point A.
(iii) Estimate the undrained shear strength at point B using the vane shear
test results for point A. As shown in Figure Q4, point B was 10 m
below the ground surface and the OCR at this point was 1.
(iv) Explain whether point A or point B may have a higher coefficient of
consolidation.
(14 marks)

(c) Explain which test is the most suitable for the following three tasks among
the three in-situ testing methods, standard penetration test (SPT), cone
penetration test (CPT), and flat dimatometer test (DMT):

(i) for soil classification;

(ii) for the determination of the effective friction angle of dense sand;
(iii) for the determination of the coefficient of consolidation of clay.

(6 marks)

Ground surface Water table

5m
OCR = 4
γsat = 16 kN/m3 A

5m
OCR = 1
B

Figure Q4

END OF PAPER

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Appendix to CV6311

Consolidation ratio, Uz

Consolidation for any Location and Time Factor in a Doubly Drained Layer
(after Taylor, 1948)

Average Degree of Consolidation versus Time Factor

Uavg T