Geotechnical Engineering

Problem Set 2

Situation 1. Specifications on a job required a fill using borrow soil to be compacted at 95% of its standard
Proctor maximum dry density. Tests indicate that this maximum dry density is 19.5 kN/m3 with 12% moisture content.
The borrow material has void ratio of 0.60 and a specific gravity of 2.65.
1. Compute the dry unit weight of the compacted soil.
[a] 18.53 kN/m3
2. Compute the wet unit weight of the compacted soil.
[a] 21.20 kN/m3
3. Compute the minimum volume of borrow soil required to fill one cu. m.
[a] 1.14 m3

Situation 2. The following data were obtained from field-density test on a compacted fill of sandy clay. Laboratory
moisture density test on the fill material indicated a maximum dry density of 1924.8 kg/m3 at an optimum water
content of 11 percent.
Weight of moist soil removed from test hole = 1038 g
Weight of soil after oven-drying = 914 g
Volume of test hole = 0.000479 m3
4. Determine the water content.
[a] 13.6%
5. Determine the dry unit weight of soil.
[a] 18.71 kN/m3
6. Determine the percent compaction of the fill.
[a] 99.1%

Situation 3. The laboratory compaction test has a maximum dry unit weight of 19 kN/m3 with an optimum moisture
content of 11%. Following are the results of a field unit weight determination test performed on the same soil by
means of sand cone method.
Volume of soil excavated from the hole = 0.00144 cu. m.
Weight of soil from the hole when wet = 3.007 kg
Weight of soil when dried = 2.640 kg
7. Determine the field water content.
[a] 13.9%
8. Determine the compacted dry unit weight.
[a] 17.99 kN/m3
9. Determine the relative compaction.
[a] 94.68%

Situation 4. Sand cone equipment is used to determine an in-place unit weight (field density test) on a compacted
earth fill. Ottawa sand is used in the cone and is known to have a density of 1604 kg/m3. The laboratory moisture-
unit weight curve indicates a dry unit weight of 19.20 kN/m3 and an optimum moisture content of 13%.
Wet weight of soil sample = 2200 g
Dry weight of soil sample = 1930 g
Weight of sand to fill the test hole = 1636 g
10. Compute the field water content.
[a] 14%
11. Compute the in place dry unit weight of the tested soil.
[a] 18.56 kN/m3
12. Compute the percentage of compaction of the tested soil.
[a] 96.7%

Situation 5. A balloon-type apparatus is sued to determine an in-place unit weight for a soil. The volume of the
test hole determined by reading the water level graduations on the apparatus cylinder before and after digging
the test hole is 0.000708 m3. The wet weight of soil obtained from the test hole is 1410 g. The soil sample was
dried and weighs 1237 g.
13. Compute the water content of the tested soil.
[a] 14%
14. Compute the in-place dry unit weight of the tested soil.
[a] 17.14 kN/m3
15. Determine the percentage of compaction for the test result if the soil is part of a compacted earth fill
whose maximum unit weight (from laboratory compaction test) IS 18.57 kN/m3.
[a] 92.3%

Situation 6. The maximum and minimum dry unit weight of a sand were determined in the laboratory to be 18.31 kN/m3
and 15.25 kN/m3 respectively.
16. What is the relative compaction in the field if the relative density is 64%?
[a] 93.3%
17. What is the dry unit weight in the field?
[a] 17.08 kN/m3
18. What is the moist unit weight in the field if its moisture content is 28%?
[a] 21.86 kN/m3

Situation 7. A sand cone test has been performed in a compacted fill performed on a soil sample. The test results
were as follows:
Initial mass of sand cone apparatus with sand = 5.912 kg
Final mass of sand cone apparatus with sand = 2.378 kg
Mass of soil recovered from hole = 2.883 kg
Moisture content of soil from hole = 7%
 Density of sand = 1300 kg/m3
Volume of cone below valve = 1.114 x10-3 m3
Maximum dry unit weight = 19 kN/m3
19. Compute the moist unit weight.
[a] 17.63 kN/m3
20. Compute the dry unit weight.
[a] 16.50 kN/m3
21. Compute the relative compaction.
[a] 86.84%

Situation 8. The following data were obtained from a field density on a compacted fill of sandy clay. Laboratory
moisture density test on the fill material indicated a maximum dry density of 18.88 kN/m3 at an optimum water
content of 11%.
Weight of soil removed from test hole = 1038 g
Weight of soil after drying = 914 g
Volume of test hole from rubber-balloon apparatus = 0.000479 m3
22. Find the field water content.
[a] 13.6%
23. Find the compacted dry density.
[a] 18.71 kN/m3
24. Find the relative compaction.
[a] 99.1%

Situation 9. During a constant head permeability test on a sample of sand, 150 cu. cm. of water were collected in
2 min. The sample had a length of 10 cm. and a diameter of 5.08 cm. The head was maintained at 20 cm.
25. Compute the coefficient of permeability.
[a] 3.08 x 10-2 cm/s
26. Compute the discharge velocity.
[a] 0.062 cm/s
27. Compute the seepage velocity if the porosity of the soil is 0.30.
[a] 0.206 cm/s

Situation 10. From the constant head permeability test arrangement shown, the following values are given:
Void ratio of specimen = 0.46
Length of soil sample = 450 mm
Constant head difference = 700 mm
Water collected in a period of 3 min = 0.000354 m3
Cross sectional area of soil sample = 0.00226 m2
28. Determine the coefficient of permeability in m/hr.
[a] 2.012 m/hr
29. Compute the discharge velocity in m/min.
[a] 0.052 m/min
30. Compute the seepage velocity in m/min.
[a] 0.165 m/min

Situation 11. For a constant laboratory permeability test on a fine sand, the following data are given:
Length of specimen = 16 cm
Diameter of specimen = 9.6 cm
Constant head difference = 50 cm
Volume of water collected in 4 min. = 420 cc
Void ratio of the soil specimen = 0.55
31. Determine the coefficient of permeability in cm/sec.
[a] 7.74 x 10-3 cm/sec
32. Determine the discharge velocity in cm/sec.
[a] 0.024 cm/sec
33. Determine the seepage velocity in cm/sec.
[a] 0.068 cm/sec

Situation 12. For a constant head laboratory permeability test on a fine sand, the following are given:
Length of specimen = 300 mm
Diameter of specimen = 200 mm
Head difference = 400 mm
Volume of water collected in 4 min. = 420 cc
Void ratio of the soil specimen = 0.55
34. Compute the coefficient of permeability in cm/sec.
[a] 4.178 x 10-3 cm/sec
35. Compute the discharge velocity in cm/sec.
[a] 5.57 x 10-3 cm/sec
36. Compute the seepage velocity.
[a] 15.7 x 10-3 cm/sec

Situation 13. The data from a falling head test as shown in the Figure 1:
Diameter of standpipe = 6 mm
Initial head = 92 cm
Final head = 85 cm
Duration of test = 12 min
Length of soil sample = 30 cm
Diameter of permeameter = 40 cm
37. Determine the coefficient of permeability in cm/min.
 [a] 4.45 x 10-5 cm/min
38. Determine the rate of flow of water in cm3/min.
[a] 0.013 cm3/min
39. Determine the seepage velocity.
[a] 4.14 x 10-5 cm/min

Situation 14. For a variable head permeability test, the following are given:
Length of soil specimen = 200 mm
Area of soil specimen = 1000 mm2
Area of standpipe = 40 mm2
Head difference at time = 0 is 500 mm
Head difference at time = 3 min is 300 mm
40. Compute the hydraulic conductivity of the soil in cm/sec.
[a] 2.27 x 10-3 cm/sec
41. Compute the seepage velocity if the porosity of soil is 0.25.
[a] 9.08 x 10-3 cm/sec
42. What was the head at time t = 100 sec.
[a] 376.48 mm

Situation 15. For a falling head permeability test, the following data were recorded.
Length of soil specimen = 500 mm
Area of soil specimen = 16 cm2
Area of stand pipe = 0.97 cm2
Head difference at time t = 0 is 760 mm
Head difference at time t = 6 min. is 410 mm.
This test was conducted at a temperature of 20 C with a unit weight of water equal to 9.789 kN/m3 and the viscosity
of water at 20° C is 1.005 x 10-3 N.s/m2.
43. Compute the hydraulic conductivity of the soil.
[a] 0.31 cm/min
44. Compute the absolute permeability of the soil.
[a] 5.31 x 10-12 m2
45. What is the head at time t = 4 min?
[a] 504.84 mm

Situation 16. From the soil profile shown in Figure 2, the thickness of a permeable soil layer is 1.1 m making an
angle of 14 degrees with the horizontal.
K = 4.87 x 10-2 cm/sec
46. Compute the hydraulic gradient.
[a] 0.038
47. Compute the cross sectional area.
[a] 1.067 m2
48. Compute the flow rate in m3/hr/m.
[a] 0.071 m3/hr/m

Situation 17. A permeable soil layer is underlain by an impervious layer as shown in Figure 3. K = 4.8 x 10-3
cm/sec. If H = 3 m and α = 5°.
49. Determine the hydraulic gradient.
[a] 0.0872
50. Determine the cross sectional area of the permeable soil layer.
[a] 2.98858 m2
51. Determine the rate of seepage in cm3/hr/m.
[a] 0.045 m3/hr/m

Situation 18. A confined aquifer underlies an unconfined aquifer as shown in Figure 4.

52. Compute the equivalent horizontal coefficient of permeability.
[a] 27.50 m/day
53. Compute the hydraulic gradient.
[a] 0.0065
54. Compute the flow rate from one stream to another per meter width.
[a] 8.67 m3/day/m

Situation 19. The laboratory apparatus shown in Figure 5 maintains a constant head in both the upper and lower
reservoirs. The soil sample is a silty sand with a hydraulic conductivity K = 5 x 10 -3 cm/sec, and a moisture
content of 18.5%. Specific gravity of soil sample is 2.70.
55. Compute the seepage velocity in cm/sec.
[a] 0.011 cm/sec
56. Determine the time required for the plug of colored water to pass through the soil. Assume there is no
diffusion that is the colored water plug has the same volume when it exits as when it entered the soil and
assume also that the colored water has the same unit weight and viscosity as plain water.
[a] 33.33 min
57. Compute the discharge of water.
[a] 0.287 m3/sec

Situation 20. A reservoir with a 3400 m2 area is underlain by layers of stratified soil as depicted in Figure 6.
58. Compute the average coefficient of permeability in the vertical direction in m/hr.
[a] 9.11 x 10-6 m/hr
59. Compute the seepage velocity of water moving through the soil if it has a void ratio of 0.60. Express in
cm/sec.
[a] 2.36 x 10-6 cm/sec
 60. Compute the water loss from the reservoir in one year in cu. m. assuming that the pore pressure at the
bottom sand layer is zero.
[a] 936.7 m3

Situation 21. A 300 mm diameter test well penetrates 27 m. below the static water table. After 24 hours of pumping
at 69 L/sec. The water level in an observation well at a distance of 95 m from the test well is lowered 0.50 m
and the other observation well at a distance of 35 m from the test well, the drawdown is 1.1 m.
61. What is the rate of flow in m3/day?
[a] 5961.6 m3/day
62. Compute the coefficient of permeability of the aquifer in m/day.
[a] 60.27 m/day
63. Compute the transmissibility of the aquifer in m2/day.
[a] 1579 m2/day

Situation 22. A confined aquifer has a source of recharge as shown Figure 7. The hydraulic conductivity of the
aquifer is 40 m/day and its porosity is 0.25. The piezometric head in the two wells which is 1325 m apart is 65 m
and 60 m respectively. The average thickness of the aquifer is 25 m and the average width is 4 km.
64. Compute the rate of flow through the aquifer in m3/day.
[a] 16000 m3/day
65. Compute the seepage velocity.
[a] 0.64 m/day
66. Compute the time of travel from the head of the aquifer to a point 4 km downstream in days.
[a] 6250 days

Situation 23. A well with a diameter of 0.60 m is constructed in a confined aquifer as shown in Figure 8. The sand
aquifer has a uniform thickness of 15 m overlain by an impermeable layer with a depth of 35 m. A pumping test was
conducted to determine the coefficient of permeability of the aquifer. The initial piezometric surface was 15 m
below the ground surface datum of the test well and observation wells. After water was pumped at a rate of 13
L/sec for several days, water levels in the wells stabilized with the following drawdowns, 6.4 m in the test well,
3.7 m in the observation well 10 m from the test well and 2.4 m in the second observation well at a distance 30
m. From these data,
67. Find the depth of water in the test well.
[a] 13.6 m
68. Calculate the permeability of the aquifer.
[a] 0.12 m/sec
69. Compute the transmissibility of the impermeable layer.
[a] 1.8 m2/sec

Situation 24. A 300 mm diameter well penetrates 24 m below the static water table. After 24 hours of pumping at 69
liters per second, the water level in an observation well at a distance of 96 m from the test well is lowered by
0.60 m. The other observation well at a distance of 34 m from the test well is lowered by 1.2 m.
70. Compute the coefficient of permeability of the unconfined aquifer in m/day.
[a] 71.06 m/day
71. Compute the transmissivity of the unconfined aquifer in m/day.
[a] 1705 m2/day
72. Compute the transmissivity if there is a confined aquifer of 8 m thick below the unconfined aquifer in
m2/day.
[a] 1642 m2/day

Situation 25. In Figure 9 shows the layers of soil in a tube that is 100 mm x 100 mm in cross-section. Water is
supplied to maintain a constant head difference of 450 mm across the sample. The hydraulic conductivity of the
soils in the direction of flow through them are shown.
73. Compute the equivalent hydraulic conductivity.
[a] 0.000034 cm/sec
74. Compute the hydraulic gradient.
[a] 0.75
75. Compute the rate of water supply in cm3/hr.
[a] 9.18 cm3/hr

Situation 26. In Figure 10 shows the layers of soil in a tube that is 100 mm x 100 mm in cross-section. Water is
supplied to maintain a constant head difference of 450 mm across the sample. The hydraulic conductivity of the
soils in the direction of flow through them are tabulated as shown.
76. Compute the equivalent hydraulic conductivity in m/hr.
[a] 0.001224 m/hr
77. Compute the height hA at the piezometer attached between A and B.
[a] 424.50 mm
78. Compute the height hB at the piezometer attached between B and C.
[a] 423.36 mm

Situation 27. Two observation wells have been constructed in the formation shown in Figure 11. The flow rate is
0.01 m3/hr per unit width of the formation.
79. Compute the hydraulic gradient.
[a] 0.00192
80. Compute the equivalent hydraulic conductivity.
[a] 6.25 m/day
81. Compute the value of k2.
[a] 4.05 m/day
Situation 28. Water flows through a soil mass that has a length of 4 m and cross sectional area of 2 m2. The fluid
energy lost when 1.5 m3 of water flows through the soil is 1500 N.m. The void ratio of the soil is 0.64. The
elapsed time for this flow is 30 hrs.
82. Compute the superficial velocity.
[a] 6.94 x 10-6 m/s
83. Compute the actual velocity.
[a] 1.78 x 10-5 m/s
84. Compute the coefficient of permeability.
[a] 2.71 x 10-4 m/s

Situation 29. The soil under a dam has four layers of soil with different coefficients of permeability.
Layer Depth K
1 4 m 5 cm/hr
2 8 m 3 cm/hr
3 12 m 2 cm/hr
4 3 m 1 cm/hr
85. Compute the average vertical coefficient of permeability in m/day.
[a] 0.52 m/day
86. Compute the transmissibility of the soil when the water table is at the ground surface in m2/day.
[a] 14.04 m2/day
87. Compute the interstitial velocity of water moving through the soil if it has a void ratio of 0.60 and a
hydraulic gradient of 0.0018. Express in cm/hr.
[a] 0.0104 cm/hr
 Figure 4

Figure 1

Figure 5

Figure 2

Figure 3 Figure 6
 Figure 7

Figure 10

Figure 8

Figure 11

Figure 9