UNIVERSITY of GUYANA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SEMESTER 11, 2020/21

CIV2212 − SOIL MECHANICS

ASSIGNMENT No.2 − SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOILS
DUE DATE: SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021

INSTRUCTIONS/INFORMATION:

▪ Complete the core reading on the topic, ‘Shear Strength of Soils’ − Chapter 3: Shear
Strength of Soils; Elements of Soil Mechanics (7E) by G. N. Smith and I. G. N. Smith −
before attempting the assignment.

▪ Work in groups of no more than ten (10) members. On the first page of your submission,
clearly state the question part(s) each group member worked on.
▪ If you are found guilty of plagiarism, you will receive a mark of zero.
▪ No late submission will be taken.

𝐚. How are soils classified on the basis of shear strength? Draw the Mohr-Coulomb
strength envelope and present the shear strength equation for each soil type. [6]

𝐛. A soil profile is shown in Figure 𝑄-𝑏. Compute the shear strength on the horizontal
and vertical planes at points 𝐴 and 𝐵. [20]

⋮ Figure 𝑄-𝑏

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𝐜. An undisturbed soil sample, 110 mm in diameter and 220 mm in height, was tested in a
triaxial machine. The sample sheared under an additional axial load of 3.35 kN with a
vertical deformation of 21 mm. The failure plane was inclined at 50˚ to the horizontal and
the cell pressure was 300 kN/m2 .

i. Draw the Mohr circle diagram representing the above stress conditions, and from it
determine:
− Coulomb’s equation for the shear strength of the soil, in terms of total stress;
− the magnitude and obliquity of the resultant stress on the failure plane.

ii. A further undisturbed sample of the soil was tested in a shear box under the same
drainage conditions as used for the previous test. If the area of the box was 3600 mm2 and
the normal load was 500 N, what would you expect the failure stress to have been?
[34]

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