CVG3109 Fall 2021

Soil Mechanics I

Assignment 2
(Due: 13 October 2021 by 23:59)
Q1. A soil profile consists of 4.5 m silty sand followed by 3.5 m of clay. In Scenario 1, the
groundwater table is located at 2.0 m below the ground surface, as shown in Figure 1a.
In Scenario 2, the groundwater table rises 2.0 m above the ground surface, as shown
in Figure 1b.
For each scenario:
a). Calculate the total stress, the PWP, and the effective stress at depths of 0, 2,
4.5, 6.25, and 8 m below the ground surface.
b). Plot the total stress, the PWP, and the effective stress variation with depth
below the ground surface (on the same plot).
a) Scenario 1 b) Scenario 2

Figure 1. Subsurface profile and layer characteristics

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 CVG3109 Fall 2021
Soil Mechanics I
Q2. A permeameter tube of uniform diameter is filled with three layers of different soils
(Figure 2). The hydraulic conductivities of the soils are: k1 = 1.0 x 10-5 m/s,
k2 = 2.0 x 10-5 m/s and k3 = 0.5 x 10-5 m/s. Determine the pressure head, elevation
head, and total head at points A, B, C and D with respect to the specified datum.
Hint: Measure the length of flow paths along the centerline of the tube.

Figure 2. A permeameter with three different soils

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 CVG3109 Fall 2021
Soil Mechanics I
Q3. For each of the two cases shown in Figure 3 determine:

a). The pressure head, elevation head, and total head at points A, B and C of the
soil sample with respect to the specified datum.

b). The total stress, the effective stress and the PWP at point B, if the soil has a
saturated unit weight of 19 kN/m3.

Case I Case II

Figure 3. Seepage through soil

Q4. For the dam shown in Figure 4 (next page):

a). Draw the flow net. Use four flow channels.
b). Compute the flow rate under the dam per meter width if the coefficient of
permeability is 8 x 10-3 cm/s.
c). Calculate the PWP at points A, B, C, D, E, and F, evenly spaced at 4.0 m.
d). Plot the PWP distribution at the base of the dam and determine the resultant
uplift force per meter width.

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 CVG3109 Fall 2021
Soil Mechanics I

Figure 4. Seepage under a dam