Module 1 | Introduction to Soil Mechanics

Activity/Assessment

1. Illustrate the geologic rock cycle and explain each of its phases.
2. In your own words, briefly explain the importance of studying soil
mechanics and its impact to a building structure.
3. Sketch completely and accurately the process of how a soil is being
transported.

Module 2 | Soil Properties and Composition

Activity/Assessment

Direction: Solve the following problems completely. Show your complete solution.
No Solution, no credit points.

1. From the following data of a soil sample:

Sample size 3.81 cm dia. × 7.62 cm ht.
Wet weight = 1.668 N
Oven-dry weight = 1.400 N
Specific gravity = 2.70
Determine the water content (%), dry unit weight (kN/m3), bulk unit
weight (kN/m3), void ratio, and the degree of saturation (%).

2. The porosity of a soil sample is 35% and the specific gravity of its particles
is 2.70. Calculate its void ratio, dry unit weight, saturated unit weight, and
the submerged unit weight.

3. A soil sample with a grain specific gravity of 2.67 was filled in a 1000 ml
container in the loosest possible state and the dry weight of the sample
was found to be 14.75 N. It was then filled at the densest state obtainable
and the weight was found to be 17.70 N. The void ratio of the soil in the
natural state was 0.63. Determine the density index in the natural state.

4. The dry unit weight of a sand sample in the loosest state is 13.34 kN/m3
and in the densest state, it is 21.19 kN/m3. Determine the density index of
this sand when it has a porosity of 33%. Assume the grain specific gravity
as 2.68. The mass specific gravity of a fully saturated specimen of clay
 having a water content of 30.5% is 1.96. On oven drying, the mass specific
gravity drops to 1.60. Calculate the specific gravity of clay.

Module 3 | Soil Classification

Activity/Assessment

Direction: Solve the following problems completely. Show your complete solution.
No Solution, no credit points.

1. Classify the following soil using the U.S. Department of Agriculture textural
classification chart.

Particle-size Distribution (%)

Soil Sand Silt Clay

A 20 20 60

B 55 5 40

C 45 35 20

2. The following laboratory test results for Atterberg limits and particle-size
distribution (sieve analysis) were obtained for the soil.

Sieve No. % passing

No. 4 (4.75 mm) 80

No. 10 (2.00 mm) 60

No. 40 (0.425 mm) 30

No. 200 (0.075 mm) 10

Atterberg Limits

Liquid Limit 31

Plastic Limit 25

Classify the soil according to the AASHTO Classification System.

 3. The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing the No. 10 sieve = 100

Percent passing the No. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing the No. 200 sieve = 58

The liquid limit and plasticity index of the soil are 30 and 10, respectively.
Classify the soil by the AASHTO Classification system.

Module 4 | Soil Tests and Indices

Activity/Assessment

Direction: Solve the following problems completely. Show your complete solution.
No Solution, no credit points.

1. A field density test was conducted by core-cutter method and the

following data was obtained:

Weight of empty core-cutter = 22.80 N

Weight of soil and core-cutter =50.05 N
Inside diameter of the core-cutter = 90.0 mm
Height of core-cutter = 180.0 mm
Weight or wet sample for moisture determination = 0.5405 N
Weight of oven-dry sample = 0.5112 N
Specific gravity so soil grains = 2.72

Determine the dry unit weight (kN/m3), void ratio, and degree of
saturation (%).

2. The liquid limit of a clay soil is 56% and its plasticity index is 15%. What is
the plastic limit of the soil?

3. A soil has a plastic limit of 25% and a plasticity index of 30. If the natural
water content of the soil is 34%. Determine the liquidity index and the
consistency index.

4. The Atterberg limits of a clay soil are: Liquid limit = 75%; Plastic limit =
45%; and Shrinkage limit = 25%. If a sample of this soil has a volume of 30
cm3 at the liquid limit and a volume 16.6 cm3 at the shrinkage limit.
Determine the specific gravity of solids, shrinkage ratio, and the
volumetric shrinkage.
 5. The maximum and minimum dry densities of a sand were determined in
the laboratory to be 1682 kg/m3 and 1510 kg/m3, respectively. In the
field, if the relative density of compaction of the same sand is 70%.
Determine the relative compaction and dry density in the field (kg/m3).

6. The backfill material for a vibroflotation project has the following grain
sizes: D10 = 0.11 mm, D20 = 0.19 mm, D50 = 1.3 mm. Determine the
suitability number.

Module 5 | Permeability of Soil

Activity/Assessment

1. The discharge of water collected from a constant head permeameter in a

period of 15 minutes is 500 ml. The internal diameter of the permeameter
is 5 cm and the measured difference in head between two gauging points
15 cm vertically apart is 40 cm. Calculate (a) the coefficient of permeability
(mm/s), (b) If the dry weight of the 15-cm long sample is 4.86 N and the
specific gravity of the solids is 2.65, calculate the seepage velocity (mm/s).

2. A glass cylinder 5 cm internal diameter and with a screen at the bottom was
used as a falling head permeameter. The thickness of the sample was 10
cm. With the water level in the tube at the start of the test as 50 cm above
the tail water, it dropped by 10 cm in one minute, the tail water level
remaining unchanged. Calculate the value of k (cm/s) for the sample of the
soil.

3. A horizontal stratified soil deposit consists of three layers each uniform in

itself. The permeabilities of these layers are 8 × 10–4 cm/s, 52 × 10–4 cm/s,
and 6 × 10–4 cm/s, and their thickness are 7, 3 and 10 m respectively. Find
the effective average permeability of the deposit in the horizontal and
vertical direction (mm/s).
 4. An unconfined aquifer is known to be 32 m thick below the water table. A
constant discharge of 2 cubic meters per minute is pumped out of the
aquifer through a tube well till the water level in the tube well becomes
steady. Two observation wells at distances of 15 m and 70 m from the tube
well show falls of 3 m and 0.7 m respectively from their static water levels.
Find the permeability of the aquifer (mm/s).

5. A riverbed consists of a layer of sand 8.25 m thick overlying impermeable

rock; the depth of water is 2.50 m. A long cofferdam 5.50 m wide is formed
by driving two lines of sheet piling to a depth of 6.00 m below the level of
the riverbed, and excavation to a depth of 2.00 m below bed level is carried
out within the cofferdam. The water level within the cofferdam is kept at
excavation level by pumping. If the flow of water into the cofferdam is 0.25
m3/hr per unit length, what is the coefficient of permeability of the sand
(m/s)?

Module 6 | Stresses in Soil

Activity/Assessment

1. The bottom of the lake consists of soft clay with a thickness of more than 15
m. The average water content of the clay is 40% and the specific gravity of
soils may be assumed to be 2.65. The depth of the water in the lake is 6 m.
 Compute the total stress, effective stress, and pore water stress at a depth
of 15 m below the bottom of the lake.

2. A uniform soil deposit has a void ratio 0.6 and specific gravity of 2.65. The
natural ground water is at 2.5 m below natural ground level. Due to
capillary moisture, the average degree of saturation above ground water
table is 50%. Determine the total stress, effective stress, and pore water
pressure at a depth of 6 m.

3. A 5-m depth of sand overlies a 6-m thick layer of clay, the water table being
at the surface; the permeability of the clay is very low. The saturated unit
weight of the sand is 19 kN/m3 and that of the clay is 20 kN/m3. A 4-m
depth of fill material of unit weight 20 kN/m3 is placed on the surface over
an extensive area. Determine the effective vertical stress at the center of
the clay layer immediately after the fill has been placed, assuming this to
take place rapidly and the effective vertical stress at the center of the clay
layer many years after the fill has been placed.

Online Materials:

For Soil Mechanics Lecture

[1] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLzBZ3hmMnx1KUOu8ZQItF7J2Stdo0tjhG

For Soil Mechanics Laboratory

[2] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PL9gC9b3b4pMvoQ4Sj8imonJgfDW2GxPTF