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EVALUATION EXAMINATION – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING (Set B)

INSTRUCTION: Select the best answer to each of the Situation: From the figure shown:
following questions. Mark only one answer for each item by
shading the box corresponding to the letter of your choice on
the answer sheet provided. STRICTLY NO ERASURES
ALLOWED. Use pencil no. 2 only

DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING ON THIS PAPER. DO NOT FOLD

OR MUTILATE.

Situation: Assume a buried stratum of clay 1.83 m thick will be

subjected to a stress increase of 33.6 KPa at the center of clay.
The magnitude of the pre-construction soil overburden pressure is
48 KPa at the center of the clay layer. A laboratory compression
test indicates that the clay has a pre-consolidation pressure of 72
KPa. Compression index is 0.3 and the value of swell index is 0.05.
Void ratio of clay is 1.5.

1. Compute the settlement due to primary compression of clay.

A. 16.5smm B. 17.6mm C. 18.4mm D. 19.8mm

2. If full consolidation settlement, primary compression settlement

requires approximately 8 years, compute the settlement due to 10. Determine the value of h.
secondary compression of clay over a period of 20 years’ time A. 3.21 m B. 3.54 m C. 4.25 m D. 3.98 m
span. Assume secondary compression index is 0.008.
A. 1.85mm B. 2.40mm C. 3.21mm D. 2.78mm 11. Determine the value of T.
A. 117 kN B. 1.22 kN C. 127 kN D. 132 kN
Situation: A square footing has a dimension of 1.3m by 1.3m
with its bottom 0.9m below the ground surface. The ground water 12. Determine the total active force.
table is located at a depth of 1.2m below the ground surface. A. 585 kN B. 608 kN C. 623 kN D. 638 kN
Assume local shear failure.
Use: Nc=37.16 Nq=22.46 Nɣ=19.30 13. The sum of the vertical components of the forces developed at
ɣ=17.6 KN/m3 c=12.2 kPa, Ø=30° the points of contact of the solid particles per unit cross sectional
Ɣsat=19.7 KN/m3 area of the soil mass.
A. Effective Stress C. Partial Stress
3. Compute the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil beneath the B. Maximum Stress D. Total Stress
column.
A. 1102 KPa C. 923 KPa 14. From the figure shown, determine the total head at point C.
B. 1062 KPa D. 866 KPa

4. Compute the allowable load that the footing can carry based
on soil bearing capacity using FS=2.7.
A. 598 KN B. 664 KN C. 542 KN D. 613 KN

Situation: A 300 mm diameter test well penetrates 27 m. below

the static water table. After 24 hours of pumping at 69 liters/sec.
The water level in an observation well at a distance of 98 m. from
the test well is lowered 0.56 m. and the other observation well at a
distance of 34.5 m. from the test well, the drawdown is 1.10 m.

5. What is the rate of flow in m3/day?

A. 6591.6 m3/day C. 5691.6 m3/day
B. 6691.5 m3/day D. 5961.6 m3/day

6. Compute the coefficients of permeability of the aquifer in

m/day. A. 22.250 cm C. 16.175 cm
A. 60.27 m/day C.60.72 m/day B. 18.250 cm D. 20.175 cm
B. 70.10 m/day D.70.01 m/day
15. When the effective stress of the soil is equal to zero, the soil is
7. Compute the transmissibility of the aquifer in m2/day. said to be in.
A. 1834.4 m2/day C.1634.4 m2/day A. Static Equilibrium C. Quicksand Condition
B. 1843.4 m2/day D.1643.4 m2/day B. Plastic Equilibrium D. None of these

Situation: The soil has a specific gravity of 2.6 and porosity of Situation: A concrete pile having a diameter of 0.30 m is L meter
0.35. long which is embedded through a layer of 4.2 m thick of clay into
a dense compact sand having a bearing capacity factor of 78. Unit
8. Determine the dry unit weight. weight of clay is 12 KN/m3 and saturated unit weight of sand is
A. 16.58 kN/m3 C. 20.01 kN/m3 18KN/m3. Water table is located at the top of the sand layer.
B. 18.89 kN/m3 D. 21.44 kN/m3 Lateral pressure factor for compression is 1.2 with coefficient of
friction of concrete pile is 0.42 and cohesion of 95 KPa. Allowable
9. Determine the relative density of emax = 0.75 and emin = 0.3. capacity of pile is 300KN and factor of safety of 3.
A. 0.47 B. 0.89 C. 0.51 D. 0.74
16. Determine the point bearing capacity.
A. 61 KN B. 549 KN C. 215 KN D. 390 KN to provide soil from a borrow site. If the optimum moisture content
is 17% and the maximum dry density is 19.20kN/m3.
17. Determine the ultimate skin frictional capacity of the pile.
A. 685 KN B. 511 KN C. 840 KN D. 351 KN 29. Determine the weight of dry soil in the embankment.
A. 2,200,000 C. 2,400,000
18. Determine the total length of the pile. B. 2,300,000 D. 2,500,000
A. 20.18m B. 16.48m C. 23.44m D. 13.11m
30. How much borrowed soil is required per cubic meter if the
Situation: A square footing carries an allowable load of 59130 kg moisture content of the borrowed material is 14% and the moist
including its own weight. The bottom of the footing is 1.0 m below unit weight of the borrow is 17kN/m3.
the ground surface. Assume ρs = 1846 kg/m3, c = 1605 kg/m2, ø = A. 140,950 C. 146,823
30O and ρsat = 1965 kg/m3. Use Nc = 35, Nq = 22 and N = 19. B. 160,684 D. 167,378

19. Compute the effective surcharge at the bottom of the footing. 31. How many truckloads of borrow material are needed if the soil
A. 18 kPa b. 16 kPa c. 22 kPa d. 20 kPa would have a specific gravity 2.6 and void ratio of 0.70 and the
capacity of each truck is 9cubic meter.
20. Compute the value of B using a gross factor of safety of 3. A. 17,746 B. 15,667 C. 18,598 D. 17,854
Assume general shear failure.
A. 1.20 m B. 1.35 m C. 1.12 m D. 1.27 m 32. How many cu.m of water are needed?
A. 7327.71 B. 7.33 C. 3354.62 D. 3.35
21. Compute the net factor of safety.
A. 3.30 B. 3.75 C. 2.94 D. 2.55 33. A process by which water-saturated soil sediment temporarily
loss strength and acts as a fluid.
Situation: A 9m high cut slope has unit weight of soil equal to A. Consolidation C. Plasticity
17kN/m3. Friction angle and cohesion along the rock surface 20° B. Settlement D. Liquefaction
and 24 kN/m2 , respectively. Slope angle that the cut makes with
34. The process opposite to consolidation which involves an
horizontal = 30° and the failure plane makes with horizontal = 15°. increase in volume of voids is called ______________.
A. Expansion C. Water Absorption
22. Compute the force tending to cause sliding. B. Swelling D. Thixotropy
A. 356 KN B. 370 KN C. 297 KN D. 402 KN
35. Determine the N-Value for Medium Sand.
23. Compute the resistance to sliding force in KN. A. 4-10 B. 30-50 C. 10-30 D. Over 50
A. 1317.20 B. 1073.00 C. 1039.50 D. 1286.40
Situation: A dense silt layer has the following properties: void ratio
24. Compute the factor safety against sliding. = 0.40, effective diameter d10 = 10 μm, capillary constant C =
A. 2.90 B. 3.20 C. 3.50 D. 3.70 0.20cm2. Free ground water level is 8.0 m below the ground
surface. Assumed unit weight of solids = 26.487 kN/m 3. If the
25. It is the amount of water content at which the soil is just starts capillary zone is at 80% saturation.
to flow but have a little shear strength.
A. Moisture Content B. Shrinkage Limit 36. What is the effective stress 3m below the ground (just below
C. Plastic Limit D. Liquid Limit the capillary rise)?
A. 17.5 kPa B. 105.80 kPa C. 56.8 kPa D. 96 kPa
Situation: The soil below has a specific gravity of 2.67 and
effective size of particle is 0.01mm. Using the net flow below; 37. What is the effective stress 2m below the ground?
A. 38.70 kPa B. 37.80 kPa C. 30.30 kPa D. 33 kPa

38. The maximum specific energy in a rectangular channel is 9

feet. The critical velocity, in ft/sec, is most nearly:
A. 225.63 kPa C. 185.27 kPa
B. 186.40 kPa D. 224.51 kPa

39. Foundations for all buildings where the surface of the ground
slopes more than _____ shall be level or shall be stepped so that
both top and bottom of such foundation are level.
A. 10 % B. 20 % C. 5 % D. 15 %

40. Which of the following contains the information for Field

borehole log?
I. Project Location
II. Depth of Borehole
III. Ground Elevation
26. Determine the permeability coefficient using Hazen’s formula IV. Ground water table elevation
in cm/s. Overestimate the flow by using C = 15. V. Date Started and Finished
A. 0.015 B. 0.0015 C. 0.15 D. 1.5 VI. Name of Client
VII. Size of Boreholes.
27. Using Forheimer’s equation, determine the seepage A. I,II,III,IV C. I,II,III,IV,V
underneath the 1000-foot wide concrete dam in ft3/s. B. I,II,IV,VI,VII D. All of the above
A. 155 B. 1845 C. 1548 D. 185
Situation: In a specific gravity test, the following are recorded:
28. Determine the velocity at point “a” in ft/hr. Mass of pycnometer jar = 40 grams
A. 0.019 B. 0.0019 C. 0.0097 D. 0.097 Mass of pycnometer jar when full of water = 674 grams
Mass of pycnometer jar containing soil = 485 grams
Situation: A road embankment needs 130 000cu.m. to be Mass of pycnometer jar containing soil and topped with water =
completed. DPWH requires 96% compaction and the contractor is 946 grams
41. Compute the specific gravity of solid. A. 3.33 B. 6.67 C. 7.50 D. 3.50
A. 2.50 B. 2.57 C. 2.64 D. 2.71
52. The value of the average contact pressure between the
42. Find the void ratio of the soil if the dry unit weight is 1.55 grams foundation and the soil which will produce shear failure in the soil.
per cm3. A. Axial Capacity
A. 0.42 B. 0.66 C. 0.58 D. 0.82 B. Bearing Capacity
C. Combined Axial and Bending Capacity
43. The slope of cut surfaces as per NSCP 2010 shall be no D. Shear Capacity
steeper than ______ slope unless a geotechnical engineering
report stating that the site has been investigated and a cut at a Situation: The major and minor principal stresses acting at a point
steeper slope will be stable and not create a hazard to public or in a stressed material are 80 KPa compression and 20 KPa
private property is approved. tension.
A. 33.33% B. 50% C. 66.67% D. 100%
53. Determine the maximum shear stress?
44. Which of the following statements is TRUE for the relation
A. 30 kPa B. 45 kPa C. 40 kPa D. 50 kPa
between discharge velocity and seepage velocity?
A. Seepage velocity is always smaller than discharge velocity
54. Determine the value of the normal stress acting on the plane
B. Seepage velocity is equal to the discharge velocity
that is 30 degrees counterclockwise from the major principal plane.
C. Seepage velocity can never be smaller than discharge velocity
A. 35 kPa B. 55 kPa C. 45 kPa D. 50 kPa
D. No relation between seepage velocity and discharge velocity
can be established
55. The foundation soil at the toe of a masonry dam has a porosity
of 40% and the specific gravity of grains is 2.70. To assure safety
45. The ratio of the difference between the void ratios of a
against piping, the specifications state that the upward gradient
cohesionless soil in its loosest state and existing natural state to
must not exceed 25% of the gradient at which a quick condition
the difference between its void ratio in the loosest and densest
occurs. What is the maximum permissible upward gradient?
states.
A. 0.500 B. 0.522 C. 0.255 D. 0.200
A. Void Index C. Density Relation
56. A sample of clean sand was retrieved from 7 m below the
B. Void Ratio D. Density Index
surface. The sample had been under a vertical load of 150 KN/m2,
a horizontal load of 250 KN/m2, and a shear stress of 86.6 KN/m2.
46. In a falling head permeameter, the sample used is 20 cm long What is the angle of friction of the sample?
having a cross-sectional area of 24 cm2. Calculate the time A. 50° B. 46.32° C. 60° D. 30°
required for a drop of head from 25 cm to 12 cm if the cross-
sectional area of the stand pipe is 2 cm 2. The sample of soil is 57. A certain soil has a unit weight of 121 lb/ft above the
made of three layers. The thickness of the first layer from the top groundwater table and 128 lb/ft below. lt has an effective cohesion
is 8 cm and has a value of k1= 2 x10-4 cm/sec, the second layer of of 200 lb/ft, an effective friction angle of 31°, and extends from the
ground surface down to a great depth. The groundwater table is at
thickness 8 cm has k2 = 5 x 10-4 cm/sec and the bottom layer of
a depth of 18ft below the ground surface. Compute the shear
thickness 4 cm has k3 = 7 x 10-4 cm/sec. Assume that the flow is strength of this soil at depth of 15 ft below the ground surface.
taking place perpendicular to the layers. A. 1291 lb B. 1354 lb C. 2473 lb D. 1147 lb
A. 75 min B. 62.9 sec C. 62.9 min D. 75 sec
58. A certain soil has c = 12 KPa and Ø = 32°. The major total
47. A pumping well of 25 cm diameter was fully penetrated into a principal stress at a point in this soil is 348 KPa and the pore water
20m thick bed of sand which lies between two clay layers of pressure at this point is 96 kPa. Determine the total cell pressure
given.
negligible permeability. Laboratory tests revealed that the sand
a. 94 KPa b. 64 KPa c. 160 KPa d. 127 KPa
had a co-efficient of permeability of 0.03 cm/sec. A steady state
was reached when the drawdown in the test well was 4.3 m and Situation: A braced cut is shown in the figure. The struts are
the corresponding discharge was 12 liters/sec. Estimate the placed at a spacing of 3m center to center. n = 0.75
drawdown in an observation well sunk at a distance of 20m from
the pumping well.
A. 1.51m B. 1.15m C. 1.48 D. 1.84

48. The unconfined compressive strength of a saturated clay

sample is 54 KPa. The value of cohesion for the sand is?
A. 0 KPa B. 54 KPa C. 13.5KPa D. 27 KPa

Situation: Classify the soil according to the USDA textural

classification system. The soil has particle size distribution of:
Gravel 21% First Layer Soil Properties
12% Sand 𝛾 = 16.20 kN/m3 Ø = 34O
Sand
Second Layer Soil Properties
Silt 35%
Clay 𝛾 = 17.50 kN/m3 qu = 68 kN/m2
Clay 32%
59. Determine the strut load at A in KN.
49. Determine the modified percentage of silt. A. 131.47 B. 129.20 C. 120.96 D. 137.34
A. 18.99 % B. 15.19 % C. 40.51 % D. 44.30 %
60. Determine the strut load at B in KN.
50. Determine the modified percentage of clay. A. 160.28 B. 158.95 C. 155.52 D. 166.72
A. 18.99% B. 15.19% C. 40.51% D. 44.30%

51. A layer of soft clay having an initial void ratio of 2.00 is 10 m

thick. Under a compressive load applied above it, the void ratio
“Don’t stop when you’re tired, STOP when
decreased by one-half. Evaluate the reduction in the thickness of you are DONE.”
the clay layer, in meter (m).