Assignment I

Applied Geotechnical Engineering(15CV53 )

Module 1: Soil Exploration

1. Enumerate the objectives of subsurface exploration.

2. Distinguish between undisturbed, disturbed and representative sample of soil. What are the tests
conducted on these samples in the laboratory?

3. Indicate number and depth of boring adopted for various civil engineering

4. With a neat sketch of a sampler, define

i) Area ratio

ii) Inside clearance

iii) Outside clearance

5. List and explain different types of samplers used in soil sampling.

6. List the methods used for controlling ground water during excavation. Explain the dewatering methods
based on gravity flow, vacuum and pump, electro osmosis

7. What is bore hole log? List the information to be recorded in a bore hole log.

8. Explain with a neat sketch, the seismic refraction method of exploration.

9. A seismic refraction study of an area has given the following data:

Distance from the impact point to the Geophone (m) 15 30 60 90 120

Time to receiving wave in seconds 0.025 0.05 0.1 0.11 0.12

Determine the seismic velocity for the surface and underlying layer. Also find the thickness of the
upper layer.
10. A sampling tube has inner diameter 70 mm and that of a cutting edge is equal to 68 mm. Their outer
diameters are 72 and 74 mm respectively. Determine the inside clearance, outside clearance and area
ratio of the sampler. This tube is pushed at the bottom of a borehole to a distance of 550 mm and length
of sample covered is 530 mm. Find the recovery ratio.

11. Determine the area ratios of the samplers of the following data and also comment on the values
obtained in regard to sample disturbance.
Split spoon sampler Do = 50 mm Di = 35 mm ,
Drive tube Do =100 mm Di = 90mm
Shelby tube D0 =50 mm Di = 47 mm,
Also indicate recommended values.
12. Explain the necessity and scope of dewatering

13. Explain Hvorslev-method of determining the level of ground water table. .

14. To establish the location of ground water table in a clayey strata, water in the borehole is bailed out to
depth of 12 m below ground surface. Rise in water was recorded at 24 hrs interval as: first day = 0.6 m,
second day = 0.55 m, third day = 0.5 m. Estimate the ground water table.
15. Water in a bore hole was bailed out to a depth of 10.67m and the level of water in the bore hole was
observed to rise by 0.65m on the next day and 0.6m on the second day and 0.5 m on the third day.
Estimate the position of the ground water table.
 Assignment II

Applied Geotechnical Engineering(15CV53)

Module 2:

STRESSES IN SOILS

1. List the assumptions made in Boussineq's and westergaards theories.

2. Explain the: i) Pressure bulb; ii) Pressure distribution on horizontal plane iii) Pressure distribution
on vertical plane.
3. A point load of 1000 kN acts at the ground surface. Compute the vertical stresses at 8m depth. i)
On the axis of the load; ii) 2m away from the axis.Use Boussineq's equations
4. For a concentrated load of 500 kN acting on the ground surfact draw an isobar for a vertical stress
of 20 kN/m2.
5. Distinguish between Boussinesq's and Westergaard's theory of stress distribution.
6. Explain construction and uses of Newmark's chart.
7. A point load of 500 kN due to monument acts on the ground surface. Calculate the vertical
pressures at a point 5 m directly below the load and at a distance of 4 m from axis of
loading.Assume μ = 0. Using i) Bounssinesq's analysis ii) Westergaard's analysis.
8. A concentrated load of 250kN is applied at the ground surface. Determine the vertical stress along
the axis of load at a depth of 10m and a radial distance of 5m at the same depth.
9. A water tank supported by a ring foundation. The outer diameter of the ring is 10 m and inner
diameter is 8m. the intensity of loading on the foundation is 150kN/m2. What is the verical stress
at a depth of 5m below the centre of foundation?
10. A watertank is supported by a ring foundation having outer diameter of 10 m and inner diameter
of 7.5 m. The ring foundation transmits unifor m load intensity of 160 kN/m2 Compute the
vertical stress induced at a depth of4 m below the centre of ring foundation, using i) Boussinesq
analysis and ii) Westergaard’s analysis taking μ = 0.
11. A concentrated load of 250 kN is applied at the ground surface. Determine the vertical stress
along the axis of load at a depth of 10m and a radia1 distace of 5m at the same depth.
12. A single concentrated load of 1000KN acts at the ground surface. Construct an isobar for σz =40
kN/m2 by making use of the Boussinesq’s equation.
13. Calculate the vertical stress at a depth of 15m below a point 3m from the corner (along the longest
side) of rectangular loaded area 10m X 30m carrying a uniform load of 120kPa by Boussinesq’s
analysis.
14. A rectangular footing of size 12m X 8m carries a uniformly distributed load of 250 kN/m2. Determine
the vertical pressure 6m below the centre of footing and corner of the footing at the same depth.
FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT

1. What are different types of settlement of footings? Explain.

2. Differentiate between ‘total settlement’ and ‘differential settlement’. What are the harmful effects
of differential settlement on structures?
3. Determine the elastic settlement of a footing 3 m X 3 m resting on sandy soil given Es = 45000 kPa
and μ = 0.3. Footing carries a load of 2000 kN. Take If = 0.82
4. Estimate the immediate settlement of a concrete footing 1 m X 1.5 m in size,if it is founded at a
depth of 1 m in silty soil whose compression modulus is 9000 kPa. Footing is expected to transmit
unit pressure of 200 kPa. Assume If = 1.06, μ = 0.3
5. Explain i) immediate settlement ii) primary consolidation settlement iii) secondary consolidation
settlement
6. Estimate the immediate settlement of footing of size 2m x 3 m resting at a depth of 1.5m in sandy
soil whose compression modulus is 10 N/mm2. Footing transmits a pressure of 200 KN/m2. Take
μ = 0.3 angd influence factor as 1.06.
7. A layer of clay 8 m thick underlies a proposed new buildimg. The existing overburden pressure at
the centre of layer is 300kN/m2 and the load due to construction of new building increases by 150
kN/m2. The liquid limit of soil is 65%. Water content of soil is 50%. Specific gravity of soil grains
is 2.65. Estimate consolidation settlement.
8. The total time taken for 50 % consolidation of clay layer is 4 years. What will be the time taken for
90 % consolidation ?
9. A layer of clay 8 m thick underlies a proposed new building. The existing overburden pressure at
the center of layer is 290 kPa and the load due to new building increases the pressure by 100 kPa.
Cc = 0.45, w = 50 %, G = 2.71.Estimate the consolidation settlement.
10. A normally consolidated clay layer is 18 m thick. Natural water content is 45 %, saturated unit
weight is 18 kN/m3, grain specific gravity is 2.7 and liquid limit is 63 %. The vertical stress
increment at the center of clay layer due to foundation load is 9 kPa. Ground water table is at the
surface. Determine the settlement.
11. A square footing 1.2 m X 1.2 m rests on a saturated clay layer 4 m deep. L= 30 %, γsat = 17.8
kN/m3. w = 28 % and G = 2.68. Determine the settlement if the footing carries a load of 300 kN.
12. A circular footing 2m diameter rsting on the ground surface transfers a contact pressure 150kPa.
Sub soil consists of fine sand of 6 m deep underlain by 4m thick clay. The ground water table is 1m
below ground level. Unit weight of fine sand above and below water table are 17.6 kN/m3 and 20
kN/m3 respectively. The properties of clay are natural water content = 40%, liquid limit = 45%,
G=2.72. calculate consolidation settlement.
13. A test on undisturbed sample of clay showed 90 % consolidation in 10 minutes. The thickness of
sample was 25 mm with drainage at both top and bottom. Find the time required for 90 %
consolidation of footing resting on 5 m thick compressible layer sandwiched between two sand
layers.
14. A 2 m X 2 m footing carrying a load of 1600 kN rests on a normally consolidated saturated clay
layer 10 m thick below which hard rock exists. The life span of the structure is 150 years. Time
taken for the completion of primary consolidation of 20 mm thick laboratory specimen with double
drainage facility is 20 minutes. Find the total settlement, if the soil properties are as follows. Soil
modulus 20 MPa, Poisson’s ratio 0.45, Influence factor 0.9, Liquid Limit 50 %, Natural water
content 25 %, Specific Gravity of grains 2.7, saturated density 20 kN/m3 and coefficient of
secondary compression 0.001.
Module: 3
STABILITY OF SLOPES

1. What are different types of slopes? Explain types of slope failures. What are the causes of slope failure?
2. Explain the method of slices for stability analysis of slopes.
3. Explain friction circle method of stability analysis of slopes.
4. A finite slope of height 10 m is inclined at 40° with respect to horizontal. lf the Fellinious directional
angles are α = 35 and β = 26°, calculate the factor of safety against to failure of the slope given γ = l7
kN/m3, C = 10 kN/m3 and φ = 30.
5. An embankment is to be made of a sandy clay, having cohesion of 30 kN / m2. angle of internal friction
20° and a unit weight of 18 kN / m3. The slope and height of embankment are 1.6 : 1 and 12.0 m
respectively. Determine the factor of safety by using the trial circle with directional angles given in Fig.
(b) by method of slices.

6. An embankment is 9 m high with side slopes 1.5 : 1. the properties of soil are c = 25 kN/m2, φ
= 20° and γ = 19 kN/m3 . Determine the factor of safety along a slip circle passing through the
toe. take Fellineous directional angles as α = 26° and β = 35°, Use Swedish method of slices
7. An embankment is to be constructed with c = 20 kN/m2, φ = 20° and γ = 18 kN/m3, FS=1.25
and height 10m. Estimate required side slope. Taylor’s stability numbers are as follows for
slope angle.
Slope angle 90 75 60 45 30 20 10
Sn 0.182 0.134 0.097 0.062 0.025 0.005 0
Also find factor of safety, if slope is 1V:2H, given φ = 20°
8. A long natural slope in c- φ soil is inclined at 12° to the horizontal. The water table is at the
surface and seepage is parallel to the slope. If a plane slip has developed at a depth of 4m,
determine the factor of safety. Take c =8 kN/m2, φ = 22° and γ = 19 kN/m3.
(Note: Q.8 is on infinite slope stability analysis refer B. C Pumia Pg. No. 607)
9. An embankment height 10m is to be constructed with a soil having the following properties c
=20 kN/m2, φ = 20° and γ = 17.5 kN/m3.
(i) What is the side slope for a FS=1.5? (ii)if the slope is 1V:1.5H. What is the FS=?
 Taylor’s stability no. are as follows

Slope angle 90 75 60 45 30
Sn 0.182 0.134 0.097 0.062 0.025