IESL College of Engineering Academic Year 2018 — Full Time Programme Semester 6 E3004 — Geotechnical Engineering Date: 10, October 2018 Duration: Three (03) Hours + 15 minutes to read the question paper Fro = 12:15 Read the following instructions before starting to answer the question paper This question paper has seven (07) questions. Answer only Five (05) questions. If you have answered more than five questions (either partly or in full) cross out the extra answers. Otherwise, only the first five answers appearing in the answer book will be evaluated. All questions carry equal marks. Marks assigned to questions within a question are given, Write the relevant numbers of the questions to which you provide answers in the cage on the cover page of the answer book. Start answering each question from a fresh page of the answer book and write the relevant question number at the top of the page. Use sketches to explain your answers wherever relevant. Neat and clear handwriting and steps involved in calculations are extremely important. Delete any material, which does not require the attention of the examiner, by drawing a line over such material. Use only black/blue ink pens to write answer Marks will be deducted if the above instructions are not adhered to.Qi. (i) Describe the triaxial compression test for the determination of shearing resistance of soils using sketch of a cross sectional view of the triaxial apparatus, explaining the principles of three types of tests which are commonly conducted, (6 marks) (ii) The Table 1 contains data obtained from consolidated undrained triaxial tests on four identical specimens of silty clay. Determine the value of the effective angle of shearing resistance and the cohesion. (6 marks) Table 1 rails Cell pressure during | At failure consolidation and | Deviator stress (kN/m?) | Pore water pressure shear (kN/m?) | (kN/m?) 50 [350 5 = 100 440 10 B 150 530 2 200 610 ag. (ii) Plot total and effective stress paths for the above soil. (6 marks) (iv) State two disadvantages of direct shear test over triaxial test. (2 marks) Qa. (i) The samples of compacted, clean dry sand were tested in a shear box 6 cmx 6 cm and the results obtained were given in table 2(a). Determine the angle of shearing resistance of the sand in (a) the dense state and (b) the loose state (8 marks) Table 2(a) Norma Load (N) ‘Shear Load at failure (N) Peak Ultimate 100 90 55 200 181 152, 300 270 277 400 362 300 (ii) Make a sketch of the shearing force vs. deformation curves that you would expect from shear box test on (a) loose sand and (b) compacted sand and explain the reason for the difference of the two curves. (4 marks) i) Draw typical plots of change in height of specimen against shear displacement for loose and dense dry sand that would be obtained from direct shear test. (4 marks) (iv) Three samples of a saturated clay were conducted in a triaxial cell to a cell pressure of 100kN/m?. The samples were then sheared in the undrained state with drainage taps closed at the cell pressure shown in table 2(b) Determine the undrained shear strength of clay. (4 marks)Table 2(b) Samples (3 kN/m? (cell pressure) _| (61 ~ 03) at failure kN/m? | (Deviator stress) A 200 120 B 300 125 c 400 126 a. {i) Explain concisely and clearly the following terms. (a) A normally consolidated clay (b) An over consolidated clay (c) Over consolidation ratio (3 marks) (ii) Ata certain depth below the foundation of a building there is a stratum of clay 6 m thick with relatively incompressible permeable soil above and below. The time required for 50% consolidation of a 25mm thick sample of the same clay in the laboratory oedometer test is found to be 11 minutes. Estimate how long it will take for the settlement of the building ‘to reach 50% of its ultimate value. (5 marks) (ii) The Table 3 shows results recorded from a consolidation test on a sample of saturated clay, each pressure being maintained constant for 24 hrs. The water content at the end of the test was 23.1% and the specific gravity of the soil particles was 2.68. Calculate: a) The void ratio at the end of each pressure stage and plot the void ratio vs. pressure graph. wy From the graph, the coefficient of compressibility for a pressure range of 300 to 400 kN/m? (a2marks) Table 3 = Pressure (kN/m?) | 0 50 100 ]200 [400 [800 Jo Thickness of [250 246 |244 [242 [239 [237 | 242 sample after 24 Lhour (mm) seme he.4, (i) During a loading stage in an Oedometer test the stress was increased by 100kPa and following observations were made as is given in Table 4. Table 4 Time (min) Thickness of sample (mm) 0.00 16.97 0.25 16.84 1 16.76 as 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 Using the square root of time method determine the coefficient of consolidation. You may assume that m =1, and that the test specimen is drained at the top and bottom. For U=90%, Ty= 0.848 (8 marks) (ii) How long would a layer of this clay soil, 12m thick and drained on its top surface only, take to reach 75% consolidation? Present your answer in years. For U=75%, T= 0.48 (4 marks) (iii) If the void ratios at the beginning and end of increment were 0.90 and 0.82 respectively, determine the coefficient of permeability. (4 marks) {iv) Describe how the preloading technique can be used to accelerate the construction of an earth embankment. (4 marks) Qs. (i) Discuss the difference between ‘short term’ and ‘long term’ stability of earth structures. (2 marks) (ii) An earth slope is effectively a plane of large extent rising at an angle of f to the horizontal. The long term failure mode for the slope is likely to be a slide involving a mass of material bounded by a slip plane at a relatively shallow depth z (measured vertically below the surface of the slope) and parallel to the ground surface. The water table is also parallel to the ground surface at a height h above the slip plane. {a) Make an effective stress analysis of the slope stability and derive a factor of Safety with respect to both cohesion and friction. (b) Find the maximum stable slope where C’ = 0, ' =20° and y= 19kN/m? assuming that the water table can rise to the ground surface. (8 marks)(iii) Figure 1 represents the section of a proposed cutti in cohesive soil with a sketch of slip circle failure surface. The slope trial slip surface is shown in the form of a circular arc AB of radius 18.25m. The area ABCD is found to be 150 m?, and its centroid is at G as shown, on the sketch. The mean shearing strength of the soil from the top surface down to a depth of 5.8m below the top surface is 38.3kN/m?. Below the depth of 5.8 m, the mean shearing strength of the soil is 7.5 kN/m?. The density of the soil is 1.93Mg/m? throughout, and the angle of shearing resistance may be assumed zero. {a) Calculate the factor of safety against slipping along the surface AB. (b)Explain how the procedure would be modified if allowance had to be made for a tension crack near the point B. (10 marks) Figure 1 Q6. {i) List the important information that should be contained in a geotechnical investigation report. (4 marks) (ii) Explain how you would plan a site investigation programme for a design of a foundation for a high rise building. (4 marks) (iii) Explain with a suitable sketch how a standpipe can be used to measure the water head. (4 marks) {iv) Describe briefly the standard penetration test, explaining its purpose. (4 marks)(v) A vane is 100mm diameter and has blades 150mm long. When pushed into undisturbed soil at the bottom of a bore hole the torque required to rotate the vane is 190Nm. afterwards the vane was allowed to rotate rapidly and the test was repeated in the remoulded soil. The torque at failure in the remoulded state was 120Nm. Calculate (a) Shear strength in natural state (b) Shear strength in the remoulded state {c) Sensitivity of soil (4 marks) T= Cy (nD?H/2) {1 + (D/3H)} Where, T= applied Torque idth of vane eight of vane 7. {i) Classify and describe the various types of folds encountered in the crust of the earth with the use of illustrations. (4 marks) (ii) Describe the different types of faults in rocks. (4 marks) (iii) State the factors that are considered in assessing the following Rock Mass Classification systems. (2) Rock Mass Rating system (RMR) (b) Qsystem (4 marks) (iv) Explain the use of RMR value in the engineering design processes. (4 marks) (v) Describe various measures that can be used to stabilize rock slopes. (4 marks)