Geotechnical

Engineering 1
Chapter 1: Soil Composition
Chapter 1: Soil Composition
Chapter 1: Soil Composition
Chapter 1: Soil Composition
Chapter 1: Soil Composition
Problem 1: Soil Composition
The moist unit weight of 0.0057 cu.m soil is 102.6 N. The
moisture content and the specific gravity of soil solids
are determined in the laboratory to be 11% and 2.7
respectively. Calculate the following:

1. Moist unit weight

2. Dry unit weight

3. Void Ratio

4. Porosity

5. Degree of Saturation
Problem 2: Soil Composition
For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin =
0.46 and Gs = 2.68. If the relative density of
the oil Dr = 78% and its water content is
9%. Determine the following:

1. In situ void ratio

2. Moist unit weight of compaction in kN/

cu.m

3. Dry unit weight in kN/cu.m

Chapter 2: Atterberg Limits
Chapter 2: Atterberg Limits
Chapter 2: Atterberg Limits
Problem 3: Atterberg Limits
The following data shows the results of the
liquid limit, and plastic limit test.
A. Liquid Limit
Test No. 1 2 3 4

No. of Blows 35 21 16 11

Wt. of Wet Soil +

22.46 g 21.33 g 21.29 g 26.12 g
Container
Wt. of Dry Soil +
19.44 g 18.75 g 18.78 g 22.10 g
Container

Wt. of Container 12.76 g 13.06 g 13.26 g 13.27 g

Problem 3: Atterberg Limits
The following data shows the results of the
liquid limit, and plastic limit test.
B. Plastic Limit
Test No. 1 2

Wt. of Wet Soil + Container 22.10 g 21.77 g

Wt. of Dry Soil + Container 20.42 g 20.19 g

Wt. of Container 13.07 g 13.18 g

Problem 3: Atterberg Limits
The following data shows the results of the
liquid limit, and plastic limit test.
C.Natural Water Content
Test No. 1 2

Wt. of Wet Soil + Container 17.94 g 17.39 g

Wt. of Dry Soil + Container 14.84 g 14.36 g

Wt. of Container 7.84 g 7.5 g

 Problem 3: Atterberg Limits
The following data shows the results of the
liquid limit, and plastic limit test.

1. Compute the liquid limit.

2. Compute the plastic limit.

3. Compute the liquidity index.

4. Compute the plasticity index.

Problem 4: Atterberg Limits
A laboratory test was conducted to determine the shrinkage limit of a
soil sample. The following data were obtained.

Mass of Dish Coated with Petroleum Jelly = 11.30g = MT

Mass of Dish Coated with Petroleum Jelly plus Wet Soil = Mw = 38.51
g

Mass of Dish Coated with Petroleum Jelly plus Dry Soil = MD = 32.81 g

Vol. of Wet Soil Pat (Same as Volume of Shrinkage Dish) = V = 15.26

cu. cm

Vol. of Oven Dried Soil Pat = Vo = 12.83 cu.cm

1. Compute the water content of the wet soil pat.

2. Compute the shrinkage limit

3. Compute the shrinkage ratio.

Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Problem 5: Soil Classification - AASHTO
From the given data, shows a sieve analysis of
soil samples A, B and C.
Sieve No. Diam. (mm) A B C
#4 4.760 100 100 100
#8 2.380 97 90 100
#10 2.000 92 77 78
#20 0.840 87 59 92
#40 0.420 53 51 84
#60 0.250 42 42 79
#100 0.149 26 35 70
#200 0.074 17 33 63
Characteristics of 40 Fraction
LL 35 46 47
PL 20 29 24
Problem 5: Soil Classification - AASHTO

From the given data, shows a sieve analysis of

soil samples A, B and C.

1. Classify Soil A using AASHTO Method

2. Classify Soil B using AASHTO Method

3. Classify Soil C using AASHTO Method

Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Problem 6: Soil Classification - USCS
From the given data, shows a sieve analysis of
soil samples A, B and C.
Sieve No. Diam. (mm) A B C
#4 4.760 90 100 100
#8 2.380 64 90 100
#10 2.000 54 77 98
#20 0.840 34 59 92
#40 0.420 22 51 84
#60 0.250 17 42 79
#100 0.149 9 35 70
#200 0.074 4 33 63
Characteristics of 40 Fraction
LL 35 46 47
PL 20 29 24
Problem 5: Soil Classification - USCS

From the given data, shows a sieve analysis of

soil samples A, B and C.

1. Classify Soil A using USCS Method

2. Classify Soil B using USCS Method

3. Classify Soil C using USCS Method

Chapter 4: Soil Compaction
 Problem 5: Soil Compaction

A soil sample has a mass of 1830g taken from

the field having a volume of 1x10^(-3) cu.m. It
has a sp.gr. of 2.60 and a water content of
10%. Values of emax=0.63 and emin=0.44

1. Compute the dry unit weight.

2. Compute the void ratio.

3. Compute the relative density.

 Problem 6: Soil Compaction
Proctor compaction test was conducted on a
soil sample and the following observations
were made:
Water Content % Wt. of Wet Soil

7.70 1700

11.50 1890

14.60 2030

17.50 1990

19.70 1960

21.20 1920
Problem 5: Soil Classification - AASHTO

If the volume of the mould was 950 cc and Gs

= 2.65, what is the optimum moisture content
and maximum dry unit weight in g/cc?

a. 21% / 2

b. 14.70% / 1.87

c. 17.50% / 1.87

d. 14% / 1.78
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Chapter 5: Permeability
Problem 6: Permeability
In the figure below, Soil 1 is silt (K = 0.0006 ft/min)
while soil 2 is sand (K = 0.002 ft/min).

1. Find the total yield of the system in cubic feet

per minute.

2. Find Keq of the upper soil segment for both

annular and inner ring.

3. Determine the volume of water which percolate

after 30 min in cu. ft.
Problem 7: Permeability
From the figure shown:

1. What is the equation in determining the equivalent

coefficient of permeability in the horizontal direction?

2. What is the equivalent coefficient of permeability

in the horizontal direction if each soil layer is 3m
thick and has the given values of K1, K2, K3, and
K4

3. What is the total flow if iav=0.70.

Problem 8: Permeability
A confined aquifer underlies an unconfined
aquifer as shown in the figure.

1. Compute the equivalent horizontal

coefficient of permeability.

2. Compute the hydraulic gradient.

3. Compute the flow rate from one stream to

another per meter width.
Problem 9: Permeability
A confined aquifer has a source of recharge as shown in
the figure. The hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer is
40m/day and its porosity is 0.25. The piezometric head in
the two wells is 1000m apart is 65m and 60m
respectively from a common data. The average thickness
of the aquifer is 25m and the average width is 4km.

1. Compute the rate of flow through the aquifer in cu.m

per day.

2. Compute the seepage velocity.

3. Compute the time of travel from the head of the aquifer

to a point 3km downstream in days.