E02: Most Im portant Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

02
IT02 Soil Mechanics
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Content: Seepage analysis and principle of effective stress, vertical stress below applied VO
'. 'b'
loads, and compaction and consolidation of soil. A0
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2 Marks
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1. What do you understand by 'capillarity' in soils?
Sol.
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Capillarity is the primary force that enables the soil to retain the water, as well ~~'b regulate water
movement through soil pores. Normally, the movement is in upward direc~~~ of water table.

2. In a bed of soil, the ground water is 2 m below the surface. If sojl.4I~s its uniform specific
weight as 18 kN/m3, then find the effective stress at point below ~from the surface.
Sol. ~'<I
a'=a-u
a=7x18=126kN/m
u=hw'Yw =5x9.81=49.05kN/m
3

3
CJo
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:. a'= 126-49.05 = 76.95kN I m3
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3. Briefly explain, how can avoid 'quick con~itron' at the construction sites?
s~ 4
It can be prevented by lowering of water tiafe at the site before excavation, or by increasing the
length of upward flow. ,;'Y..
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4. Define flow-net.
Sol.
It is a graphical representatior)$rtwo-dimensional steady state flow of water through soil mass. It
is a curvilinear net formed b~the combination of flow lines and equipotential lines.
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5. Write an expressi~'Yevolved by Boussinesq for vertical stress at 'z' depth with 'r' radial
distance from the~frjlication of point load 'Q' on ground surface. Also, discuss the condition
of vertical stress, eiactly at 'z' depth below the surface.
Sol. ~"J
Vertical s:~[s])at z-depth]~~ Boussinesq,
2

a =
z
J~" 1
Sftz2 1 + (r / z )2
, J?n, r = 0 ( exactly below the load)

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 E02: Most Important Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

3Q
O' - -2
z 21tz
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6. What is the significance of 'exit gradient' in seepage theory? ()
s~ ~·
The seepage pressure has maximum disturbing tendency at exit end. The disturbing force at any 0'/J'
point is proportional to the gradient of pressure of water at that point. This gradient at exit end 'V
called exit gradient. A0
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7. A plan of foundation 60 m x 40 m, is loaded by uniform load intensity of sq
Determine the vertical stress increment due to the foundation at a depth of 5 m b~low the
center by using Newmark chart, if the number of influence areas enclosed by the Gian of the
loaded area are 88. '(/ •
Sol. 0"J
Vertical stress as per Newmark's, \'(}
O'z = 0.005qxN •\
2
Here, N = 88 and q = 50kN / m . 9,"J ·
2 '('J(j
:.O'z =0.005x50x80=20kN/m
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8. What is meant by over consolidation ratio (OCR)?
Sol. ~ '
It is the ratio of pre-consolidation stress to the presert,9ertical effective stress. For normally
consolidated soil, OCR = 1; and for over consolidate~@i1, OCR> 1.

9. Define coefficient of consolidation for clays°'.YO'b'

s~ .0
It is the parameter used to measure the rat~4at which the saturated clay undergoes for volume
reduction, when it subjected to an increa~ the pressure.
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10. A clay soil is tested in a consoli<G'm eter, and showing a decrease in void ratio from 1.20
to 1.10 when the pressure increas,~ from 0.25 to 0.70 kgf/cm 2• Calculate the coefficient of
compressibility and coefficie~"f' volume change.
Sol. ~
Coefficient of compressibilit}
Lie e -e •,l;,~O - 1.10 0 22 k f
aV =--, = OI
Lia
I u A

a -a :0' 0.70-0.25
= . cm
2
1 g
0
Coefficient of volu~e change,
2
mv = ~cf!.~0.2 = 0.10cm2 /kgf
1 + ett' 1 + 1.20
'(j
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11. ~,Jat do you understand about 'recompression' of clay?
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 E02: Most Important Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

When stress is removed from the consolidated clay, it tries to rebound to regain its lost volume.
The process of applying stress again on this consolidated clay, is called recompression. At
recompression, clay behaves as over-consolidated clays.
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12. What is the need of determining 'optimum moisture content' (OMC)? ~•
s~ •
At the OMC, soil achieves maximum dry density; therefore, to know amount of compaction V't
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required by soil for getting maximum dry density, determination of OMC is essential. A0
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13. Define 'phreatic line' in earthen dam. ·,y~
Sol. ~
The top flow line of a saturated soil mass below which seepage takes place, is called pJ6~tic line.
Hydrostatic pressure occur below the phreatic line, however, atmospheric pressure ~Gur above it.
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5 Marks \'<J0
1. 'Karl Terzaghi' was the first to recognize the importance of effectlve stress. State the
concept of effective stress.
Sol.
When soil mass is loaded, the load is transferred to the soil graim,;tnrough their point of contact.
If at the point of contact, the applied load is greater than the ~sistance of the grains, then there
will be compression in the soil mass. This compression is p~ly due to the elastic compression of
the grains at the point of contact and partly due to relative dRfing between particles. This load per
unit area of soil mass responsible for deformation of the (oil mass known as effective stress.
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2. A masonry dam has pervious sand as foundation. Determine the maximum permissible
upward gradient, if a factor of safety of 3 is reri:~ed against boiling. For sand, take porosity
as 45% and specific gravity as 2. 70. A(b
s~ 0
Critical hydraulic gradient, •,y~
. _G-1 ~
1e - ••• (1) 0
l+e •
5
e=~= 0.4 =0.82 /
1-n 1-0.45 ,
So, from eq.(1), •
. 2.70-1 0~'Y
le= l+0.82 ~~
=0.934 ~
Hence, penn~ible upward gradient
.u
= i ffa..0934 = 0.311
FO'f}J' 3
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 E02: Most Im portant Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

3. In a section of homogeneous earth dam, the coefficient of permeability in the x and z

directions are sx10-7 cm/s and 3.6x10-7 cm/s, respectively. The level of water in dam at
upstream is 8.2 m and at downstream is 0.4 m. If the respective number of flow channels and
potential drops are 4.5 and 12, then estimate the seepage through the dam section. c;0~
Sol.
Seepage through dam section, 'l,,c;..
Nr ~~
q=kH- ... (1)
Nd A0
k = equivalent coefficient of permeability 0
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1
= ~kxkz = ~(sx10- )x(3.6x10-1) 7
= 5.37x10- cm/ s = 5.37x10- ml s 0~ 9

H = net head= 8.2-0.4 = 7.8m '<I.

Nr = 4.5, Nd= 12 0"J
So, from eq.(1) \'(}
4.5 .\
q=5.37x10
-9
x7.8x-
12 ~·
9 3 '(/~
=15.707x10- m /s per meter length ~'(/
= 0.00136 m3 Id per meter length

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4. What is foundation contact pressure? And, how it is@iistributed under flexible footing?

Generally, loads from the structure are transferred t0~he soil through footing. A reaction to this
load, soil exerts an upward pressure on the bott~surface of the footing, which is termed as
contact pressure. 0.'Y
For flexible footing pressure is uniformly ~&stributed along the settlement line of footing. With
cohesive soil, it is maximum at center and mJimum at the edges, whereas, with cohesionless soil,
it is minimum at center while maximu~;the edges.
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5. What is 'piping failure' in soil bir@heath the foundation of structure?
Sol. ...
When seepage water retains su:6ficient residual force at the downstream end of the structure, it may
lift up soil particles. This l~rls to increased porosity of soil by progressively removal of soil
beneath the foundation .• 'L!}€ structure may ultimately subside into the hollow so formed, resulting
in the failure of the strrJ:ture. This phenomena is known as piping failure.
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6. In a laboratory eunsolidation test, a 4 cm thick sample of clay reached 60% consolidation
in 20 minut~under double drainage condition. Find the time required for 60%
consolidat100of a layer of this soil in the field, when a 4 m thick layer of the given soil is
sandwic~:fbetween two sand layers.
Sol. 'l,
Giveu:tfdegree of consolidation, U = 60% and t = 20 minutes.
Fo~ouble drainage condition, d = 4/2 = 2 cm.
T~e factor for 60% consolidation,

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 E02: Most Im portant Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

r;60
= 1.781-0.933log10(100- U)
= 1.781-0.933log10(100-60) = 0.286
Therefore, coefficient of consolidation, c;0~
T x d" 'l,,c;..
CV = v6o
---

t
2
~~
0.286 x 2 = 0.057 cnr' I min A0
20 0
For double drainage: ·,y~
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H=-=2m=200cm 0
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2
2 '<I.
0.286x 200 = 139.4days 0"J
0.057 \'(}

7. Draw a plot between water content and dry density obtained from~tandard Proctor test'.
\
Discuss in brief about 'saturation line'. '(/,
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Sol.: "<J
The dry density with respect to optimum moisture content (OMC~ called maximum dry density.
Line of
optimum

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P<1::nu

. 'l, Water content ____.

For saturation line,e?~ero air voids line,

Air voids, na = 0~
::::} n X ac = O~"J
::::} n x (1 ~ = 0::::} Sr= 1 = 100%.
The zer~~ voids line or saturation line is outside the curve, which means zero air voids for any
soil ~:e1ompaction cannot be achieved.
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 E02: Most Important Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

20 Marks
1. A layer of saturated clay of 5 m thick is overlain by sand 6 m deep, the water table is 3 m §:'
below the ground surface. The unit weight of saturated clay and sand are respectively 18 (JO
kN/m3 and 22 kN/m3• The unit weight of sand above the water table is 17 kN/m3• If sand to a •
height of 1 m above water table is saturated with capillary water, show how are the total and 'b',c;.
effective stress affected. V't
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3 3 3
Given; '¥sat.sand= 22 kN / m , 'Ysat.c1ay = 18 kN / m , y dry.sand= 17 kN / m 0A
GL •,y~

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0
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3m Sand 0"J

l I;
m
\'(}
.\
m c1,, ~·
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~'(/

Effective stress (o ') = total stress ( o) - neutral stress (u) ,

(i) At 11 m depth : §:'
0 2
O' = 5 X sat.clay+ 4 X sat.sand+ 2 X "{dry.sand= 5 X 18 + 4 xl22 + 2 X 17 = 212 kN / m
"f "f

U = h ; "{ w = (5 + 3) X 9.81 = 78.48 kN / ID2 O'l),,c;. •

:. o ' = 212-78.48 = 133.52 kN / m2 ~
0
(ii) At 6 m depth : A
0 2
O' = 4 X sat.sand+ 2 X "{ dry.sand = 4 X 22 +.ZXl 7 = 122 kN / m
"f

u=h w y w =3x9.81=29.43kN/mi' O
Y
:. o ' = 122-29.43 = 92.57 IcNJm2
(iii) At 3 m depth : ~
O' = 1 X sat.sand+ 2 X "{ dry.sand'\, 1 X 22 + 2 X 17 = 56 kN / m2
"f
,;
u r= hw "{ w =0X9 • 81~0 v"
2
:. o ' = 56-0 = 56JSN / m
(iv) At 2 m deDjh :
n,c;.= 2 x 17 = 34 kN / m2
o = 2 x "{ dry.sand
'Y
u = hw~~-hc"f w = (-l)x9.81 = -9.81 kN / m2
.·. cr~4+9.81= 43.81 kN /m2
(~lit GL:

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 E02: Most Important Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

Q' = 0, U = 0, SQ, Q' I= 0.

GL

3m Sand
m

1 I ;m Cloy

2 SA
Total Stress Neutral ess
(k."'x/m Stress
(k.'"\/m-

2. Consider the following figure shown a square footing of 2.5 m x 2.Sm carries a load of
1000 kN and laid with its base at 1.5 m below ground surface assull\!'9t that post construction
settlement of sand is negligible. Determine the consolidation sitilement of clay layer (at
middle) on account of construction. The clay is Normally-con§::iidated and use 2V: lH for
load dispersion to estimate the stress increase in clay layer.,
GL

1.5m

1.5m
WT

m
·r=1Sk.~/m1 ,;'Y
o,e;. Sand

G=2.7
m Clay ·c= 40%, w·_ = 60%

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Sol. 0
Since, wL = 60%~Cc = 0.009(wL -10%) = 0.009(60-10%) = 0.45
.
S1nce ,
w n =O~ "'3/c. ==> e
, v"'o
O
w n X G = ----
= ---
S
0.40x 2.7 = l . OS
1
Stress dislf:fution curve till mid~le of clay layer (2V: IH).
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 E02: Most Im portant Questions I RPSC-AE Mains I Civil Engineering: T02 Soil Mechanics

-.5m

4.5m

__ 5 m .5m __ 5 m

a'0 -
- (",1-, + "'I 'h 2 ) sand + ("''h
f"-1 I
)
3 clay

= 17x 3+ (18-9.81)x 2+ (20-9.81)xl = 77.57kN / m2

Change in effective stress due to 1000 kN,
:. Ao ' = 1000 = 20.4kN I m2
(2.5+4.5)(2.5+4.5)
~a'= a~+ Ao ' = 77.57 + 20.4 = 97.97kN I m2
Consolidation settlement of the clay layer,

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