QUESTION 1

NDN Consultant has been appointed by Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) to
carry out the soil stabilization for reclamation works project at Danga Bay, Johor
Bahru. Knowledge of soil behaviour and characteristic is essential as an assistant
engineer to assure that the structures are properly supported. This can preclude
structural damage & failure, loss of life, financial ruin, etc.

a) Explain in detail THREE (3) types of strength testing that normally being
conducted in the lab with the aid of pictures and diagram. (CO1PO1)
(12 marks)
I. DIRECT SHEAR TEST
 The test equipment consists at a metal box in which the soil
specimen is placed.
 The box is split horizontally into two halves.
 Vertical force (normal stress) is applied through on a metal
plates.
 Shear force is applied by moving one half of the box relative to
the other to cause failure in the soil specimen.
II. UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST (UCT)
 A simple laboratory testing method to assess the measurement
of the unconfined compressive strength of rocks and fine
grained soils.
 The UCT can be conducted on rock samples or on undisturbed,
reconstituted or compacted cohesive soil sample.
 The load is applied on top of cylindrical sample until failure.
 Suitable for rock and stiff clay.
III. CONSOLIDATED ISOTROPICALLY UNDRAINED TEST (CU)

  The shear characteristics are measured under undrained

conditions and the sample is assumed to be fully saturated.

 Measuring the pore pressures in the sample  allows

approximating the consolidated-drained strength. Shear speed
is often calculated based on the rate of consolidation under a
specific confining pressure.

 Confining pressures can vary anywhere from 1 psi to 100 psi or

greater, sometimes requiring special load cells capable of
handling higher pressures.

 Applicable in situation where failure may occur suddenly such

a rapid drawdown in a dam and levee.
 b) From the soil classification testing, the soil for the appointed project is well
graded, slightly gravelly SAND. While the coefficient of permeability for the soil is
1.35 x 10-5 m/s. Propose the most suitable strength test to be conducted and justify
your answer. (CO1PO1)

(3 marks)

The most suitable strength test to be conducted is shear box test. This is because
shear box test is easy to test for sands and gravels. This test also is simple and faster
to operate. If the specimen used is thinner, the time taken to facilitate drainage of pore
water pressure from a saturated sample will become lesser. As the test is the quickest
among the other test, the parameters of the shear strength can be determine in a short
period of time.
QUESTION 2

Majulab Sdn. Bhd was given the responsibility by NDN consultant to conduct a
series of direct shear test on the soil for the reclamation works project. Table 1
shows the data obtained from the test. (CO2-PO2)

a) Complete the datasheet by calculating the distribution of shear stress and

normal stress (Note: lever arm ratio 1:10)

b) Plot graph vertical displacement vs horizontal displacement

c) Plot graph shear stress vs horizontal displacement

d) Draw the peak strength failure envelope of the soil

e) Determine the shear strength parameters of the soil sample.

(15 marks)
a) Calculation of Normal Stress

i. Axial load = 6 kg

Normal Stress = Axial load x Gravity × 10

Area
= 6 x 9.81 × 10
(0.06 x 0.06)
= 163.5 kN/m2
ii. Axial load = 12kg
Normal Stress = Axial load x Gravity × 10
Area
= 12 x 9.81 × 10
(0.06 x 0.06)
= 327.0 kN/m2
iii. Axial load= 18 kg

Normal Stress = Axial load x Gravity × 10

Area
= 18 x 9.81 × 10
(0.06 x 0.06)
= 490.5 kN/m2
d) To plot graph peak strength failure envelope

6 kg 12 kg 18 kg
Normal stress, σ 163.5 327.0 490.5
(kN/m2)
Max shear stress, Ʈ 27.903 33.0278 45.556
(kN/m2)
 Table 1.0
Shear Box Area = 60mm x 60mm
Axial Load = 6 kg
SHEAR
DEFORMATION PROVING RING
STRESS
ΔV(mm) x
LOAD, P=
HORIZONTAL ΔL(mm) x VERTICAL 0.01
DIAL DIAL x P/A
DIAL 0.01 DIAL Expansion (-)
2.05x10-3
Settlement (+)
(kN) (kN/m2)
0 0.0 0 0.00 0 0 0
50 0.5 5 0.05 9 0.0185 5.125
100 1.0 10 0.10 14 0.0287 7.972
150 1.5 -35 -0.35 18 0.0369 10.250
200 2.0 -42 -0.42 21 0.0431 11.958
250 2.5 -43 -0.43 25 0.0513 14.236
300 3.0 -48 -0.48 28 0.0574 15.944
350 3.5 -49 -0.49 31 0.0636 17.653
400 4.0 -57 -0.57 31 0.0636 17.653
450 4.5 -62 -0.62 32 0.0656 18.222
500 5.0 -68 -0.68 35 0.0718 19.931
550 5.5 -68 -0.68 37 0.0759 21.069
600 6.0 -70 -0.70 39 0.0800 22.208
650 6.5 -74 -0.74 41 0.0841 23.347
700 7.0 -76 -0.76 42 0.0861 23.917
750 7.5 -78 -0.78 45 0.0923 25.625
800 8.0 -79 -0.79 46 0.0943 25.625
850 8.5 -80 -0.80 47 0.0964 25.625
900 9.0 -80 -0.80 48 0.0984 27.333
950 9.5 -83 -0.83 48 0.0984 27.333
1000 10.0 -83 -0.83 49 0.1005 27.903
1050 10.5 -83 -0.83 49 0.1005 27.903
1100 11.0 -83 -0.83 49 0.1005 27.903
1150 11.5 -83 -0.83 49 0.1005 27.903
1200 12.0 -83 -0.83 49 0.1005 27.903

Shear Box Area = 60mm x 60mm

Axial Load = 12 kg
SHEAR
DEFORMATION PROVING RING
STRESS
 ΔV(mm) x
LOAD, P=
HORIZONTAL ΔL(mm) x VERTICAL 0.01
DIAL DIAL x P/A
DIAL 0.01 DIAL Expansion (-)
2.05x10-3
Settlement (+)
(kN) (kN/m2)
0 0.0 0 0.00 0 0 0
50 0.5 10 0.10 5 0.0103 2.847
100 1.0 -20 -0.20 13 0.0267 7.403
150 1.5 -25 -0.25 15 0.0308 8.542
200 2.0 -36 -0.36 16 0.0328 9.111
250 2.5 -38 -0.38 23 0.0472 13.097
300 3.0 -43 -0.43 28 0.0574 15.944
350 3.5 -45 -0.45 33 0.0677 18.792
400 4.0 -61 -0.61 37 0.0759 21.0694
450 4.5 -62 -0.62 40 0.0820 22.778
500 5.0 -63 -0.63 43 0.0882 24.486
550 5.5 -63 -0.63 46 0.0943 26.194
600 6.0 -65 -0.65 48 0.0984 27.333
650 6.5 -65 -0.65 50 0.1025 28.472
700 7.0 -66 -0.66 52 0.1066 29.611
750 7.5 -68 -0.68 54 0.1107 30.750
800 8.0 -69 -0.69 55 0.1128 31.319
850 8.5 -69 -0.69 56 0.1148 31.889
900 9.0 -69 -0.69 57 0.1169 32.458
950 9.5 -69 -0.69 58 0.1189 33.0278
1000 10.0 -69 -0.69 58 0.1189 33.0278
1050 10.5 -69 -0.69 58 0.1189 33.0278

Shear Box Area = 60mm x 60mm

Axial Load = 18kg
SHEAR
DEFORMATION PROVING RING
STRESS
ΔV(mm) x
LOAD, P=
HORIZONTAL ΔL(mm) x VERTICAL 0.01
DIAL DIAL x P/A
DIAL 0.01 DIAL Expansion (-)
2.05x10-3
Settlement (+)
 (kN) (kN/m2)
0 0.0 0 0.00 0 0 0
50 0.5 -2 0.02 8 0.0164 4.556
100 1.0 -3 0.03 12 0.0246 6.833
150 1.5 -4 -0.04 18 0.0369 10.25
200 2.0 -9 -0.09 25 0.0513 14.25
250 2.5 -12 -0.12 31 0.0636 17.653
300 3.0 -14 -0.14 36 0.0738 20.5
350 3.5 -18 -0.18 41 0.0841 23.347
400 4.0 -20 -0.20 46 0.0923 25.625
450 4.5 -24 -0.24 50 0.103 28.472
500 5.0 -26 -0.26 54 0.111 30.75
550 5.5 -32 -0.32 58 0.119 33.0278
600 6.0 -33 -0.33 60 0.123 34.167
650 6.5 -34 -0.34 65 0.133 37.0139
700 7.0 -34 -0.34 67 0.137 38.153
750 7.5 -35 -0.35 69 0.141 39.292
800 8.0 -36 -0.36 71 0.146 40.431
850 8.5 -37 -0.37 72 0.148 41.000
900 9.0 -37 -0.37 75 0.154 42.708
950 9.5 -37 -0.37 76 0.156 43.278
1000 10.0 -37 -0.37 78 0.160 44.417
1050 10.5 -37 -0.37 78 0.160 44.417
1100 11.0 -37 -0.37 79 0.162 44.986
1150 11.5 -37 -0.37 80 0.164 45.556
1200 12.0 -37 -0.37 80 0.164 45.556
1250 12.5 -37 -0.37 80 0.164 45.556

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

COURSE : SOIL MECHANICS

COURSE CODE : ECG243
 ASSIGNMENT

CLASS : J4EC1103H1
LECTURER’S NAME : HAIROL ANUAR BIN HARON

GROUP NAME STUDENT ID

MEMBERS
1 NUR ATIQAH BINTI MOHD 2017253072
ZAIN
2 AINNUR MARDHIAH BINTI 2017219274
AHMAD ALJUFERY
3 MOHAMMAD IRFAN IQBAL BIN 2017207496
MOHAMAD SAHIDAN

Question PO CO Total

Q1 a) PO1 CO1 /12

b) PO1 CO1 /3
Q2 a) PO2 CO2 /6
b) PO2 CO2 /3
c) PO2 CO2 /3
d) PO2 CO2 /2
e) PO2 CO2 /1
TOTAL /30

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 10th DECEMBER 2018