SHEET NO.

4 SUBSOIL EXPLORATION
HOME WORK
Assistant Prof./ Dr. Rafi’ M.S.

Q1. a- List the general rules for estimating the number and depth of soil investigation
boreholes.
b- What are the different types of samplers you may use to obtain undisturbed
samples of cohesive soil.

Q2. a- The load-settlement data obtained from load test of a square plate of size 1ft are
as shown below. If a square footing of size 7ft settles 0.75 inch, what is the
allowable soil pressure (consider the soil is a cohesionless soil)? .

Load (Tsf) 2 5 8 10 14 16 19
Settlement (inch) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

b- Compute the area ratio (Ar) of the standard split spoon dimensions (OD = 51
mm and ID = 38mm). Then, what ID would be required to give Ar = 10%?.

Q3. For the cone penetration records shown in table below, plot the CPT data
including fR and then estimate Su and φ at depth of 5.6m if IP = 30. Take γ av =
16.5 kN/m3 up to ground water table (GWT) at depth of 3m and γ = 19.81 kN/m3
for soil below the GWT?.

Depth qs qc Soil
(m) (kPa) (MPa) Classification
0.51 22.02 1.86 sandy silt
1.52 27.77 1.83 silt and clayey silt
1.64 28.72 1.16 silty clay
2.04 32.55 1.15 silty clay
2.56 24.89 2.28 silty sand
3.04 22.02 0.71 silty clay
3.56 12.44 0.29 Clay
4.08 15.32 0.38 Clay
4.57 21.06 1.09 silty clay
5.09 31.60 1.22 silty clay
5.60 28.72 1.57 silt and clayey silt
6.09 30.64 1.01 silty clay
6.61 28.72 6.90 sand

1-5
Q4. For the cone penetration records of clay soil shown below, if LL = 45 and PL =
20% estimate each of S and φ at the 7-8 m depth. Assume an γ av = 16.5 kN/m3
u
for soil above the GWT and γ = 19.81 kN/m3 below it?.

Q5. In the soil profile shown in figure below, if the cone penetration resistance (qc) at
point (x) as determined by an electric friction cone penetrometer is 0.80 MN/m2
find:
(a) the undrained cohesion Cu ,
(b) the overconsolidation ratio, OCR .


G.S.

2m
W.T
.

4m  sat
x

2-5
Q6. For the vane shear data shown in figure below, estimate S u , v and S u , remolded if a
100mm diameter vane is used with h/d=2 (rectangular). Also, estimate λ if p =
I
'
40 and Po =125 kPa.

200
200 -
Total torque, N-m

150 -

T for Su,v

Friction
100 -

50 - Tremolded
16.7

0-


Typical vane shear data

Q7. Vane shear tests were conducted in a layer of clay. The vane dimensions were 63.5
mm (D) x 127mm (H). At certain depth, the torque required to cause failure was
0.051 N-m. The liquid limit of the clay was 46 and the plastic limit was 21.
Estimate the undrained cohesion of the clay for use in the design by applying
Bjerrum's λ relationship:
λ=1. 7−0 .54 log 10 (PI (% )) .

Q8. Given: A two-thin walled sample tubes of dimensions are as follows:

OD ID Length
(inch) (inch) (inch)
3.0 2.875 24
3.5 3.375 24

Required: What is the area ratio of each of these two sample tubes? and what kind
of sample disturbance ?.

3-5
Q9. For the soil profile shown in figure below, a long with the standard penetration
numbers in the clay layer. Determine the variation of Cu . . and . . OCR with depth?.
2 0. 72
Cu.( kN/m )=29 N 60

( )
0. 689
(use. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. N 60
OCR=0 .193
σ 'o
………..)
'
where σ o = effective vertical stress in (MN/m2).
G.S.

2.0m W.T. 
N 60  sat
2.0m
5


1.5m
1.5m
6 sat
4
1.5m
6
Sand

Q10. For the soil profile shown in figure below, a long with the standard penetration
numbers in sand layers. Calculate the corrected N-values? and then estimate an
'
average peak soil friction angle φ using:
' 2
1. φ (deg . )=27 . 1+0 .3 N 60−0 . 00054 (N 60 )

( )
0.34
' −1 N 60
φ =tan

( )
'
σo
12. 2+20 .3
100
2.

G.S.

1.5m N 60
6

6.0m Dry sand γ = 18 KN/m3 3.0m 8

W.T. 4.5m 9
6.0m 8

γ sat 7.5m 13
Sand = 20.2 KN/m3
9.0m 14

4-5
Sand
- -2.0
9

Q11. For the log of boring shown in figure below. Make a reasonable estimates of the
relative density D r .. and . . φ for the sand both above and below the GWT. Assume
Er =60 for the N-values shown. Assume the unit weight of the sand increases
linearly from 15 to 18.1 kN/m3 from near surface to the water table and
γ sat =19 .75 kN/m3 below GWT. Estimate the N-value you would use for a
footing which is 2m x 2m located at the -2m depth.

G.S.
N- values
0.0
Top soil
- 0.3
-6

-10

-8
Depth (m)

- 4.0 W.T.

-7

-9
 sat  19.75
- 6.0

-11
 q u  50.kPa
- 8.0 -15

 q u  60.kPa
-14

Sandy clay

5-5