QUESTION ONE [30 Marks]

a) A shear box test was carried out on a sample of soil and yielded the results shown below.
Determine the shear strength parameters if the proving ring constant is 1.1 N division.
[12 Marks]
Proving ring division
Zero force 91
Peak shear force for hanger load of 3kg 128
Peak shear force for hanger load of 10kg 162
Peak shear for hanger load of 20kg 210

b) Calculate the factors of safety relating to the undrained stability of a long slope of 1
vertical: 1.5 horizontal if at a depth of 1.8m a weak layer of cohesive soil occurs having
Cu=24kN/m2 and γ =18.5 KN/m3. [5 Marks]

c) Outline the factors affecting mechanical stabilization [8 marks]

d) i) Define the term site investigation

ii) Enumerate purposes of site investigation [5 Marks]

QUESTION TWO [20 Marks]

a) Table Q2 shows results that were obtained for peak failure in a series of consolidated
undrained triaxial tests, with pore water pressure measurement, on specimens of saturated
clay. Determine the shear strength parameters by the stress path method. [10 Marks]
Table Q2
All–round pressure (kN/m2) Principal stress difference (kN/m2) Pore water pressure (kN/m2)
150 192 80
300 341 154
450 504 222

b) Describe the following sub-surface exploratory methods.

i. Auger boring [2 Marks]
ii. Wash boring [2 Marks]
c) Using sketches, briefly discuss three types of failure in triaxial test [6 Marks]

QUESTION THREE [20 Marks]

a) A 450 slope is excavated to a depth of 8m in a deep layer of saturated clay of unit weight

19 kN/m3: the relevant shear strength parameters are cu= 65 kN/m2 and φu=00.

1
Determine the difference between the factor of safety for the trial failure surface given in
figure Q3i given that the cross-sectional area of the slip surface is 70m2 and the absolute
minimum factor of safety for the provided slope assuming the depth factor to be very
large (use Figure Q3ii) [11 Marks]

Fig Q 3i

Fig Q 3ii

2
b) Discuss the following methods of soil stabilization
i) Cement stabilization [3 Marks]
ii) Lime stabilization [3 Marks]
iii) Mechanical stabilization [3 Marks]

QUESTION FOUR [20 Marks]

a) A series of undrained triaxial tests were carried out on undisturbed samples of a compacted
soil. Each sample, originally 83mm long and 43mm in diameter, experienced a vertical
deformation of 4.7mm. The results were recorded as shown in the table below:
[11 Marks]
Cell pressure (kN/m2) Additional axial load at failure (N)
250 395
350 438
550 515

i) Draw the strength envelope

ii) Determine the coulomb equation for shear strength of the soil in terms of total
stresses
b) Adopting a factor of safety of 1.5, Ǿ1=360, C1=0 and γ=20KN/m3, determine the maximum
permissible angle for a slope in the following soil conditions;
i. When dry
ii. When just water logged with stead seepage parallel to the surface. [6 Marks]
c) Calculate the factor of safety of the water logged slope in b (ii) against failure along a slip
plane parallel to the surface at a depth of 4m, if at this depth there is a thin layer of cohesive
soil with the following properties; C’=12KN/m2, Ǿ=240, γ=20KN/m3.
[3 Marks]