NPTEL Course

Geotechnical Engineering-II
Instructor: Prof. D N Singh
Assignment- 03 (Week-3)
Total Marks: 15

1. The ballast laid below the railway tracks would take care of the:

(a) Primary settlement [1]

(b) Secondary settlement
(c) Immediate settlement
(d) Creep

Answer: (c) Immediate settlement

2. In an in-situ vane shear test on a saturated clay, the torque required to share the sample
is 35 Nm. If the diameter of the vane is 50 mm and its length is 100 mm, then:

(i) Compute the undrained shear strength of the clay (in kN/m2) [2]

(a) 0.076
(b) 0.76
(c) 76
(d) 7.6

Answer: (c) 76

(ii) What is the sensitivity of the clay, if the torque required to shear the sample in the
remoulded state is 5 Nm? [2]

(a) 7.6
(b) 7
(c) 7.5
(d) 7.3

Answer: (b) 7
3. Determine shear strength (in terms of effective stresses in kN/m2) on a plane within a
saturated soil mass at a point where the total normal stress is 200 kN/m2 and the pore
water pressure is 80 kN/m2. The effective shear strength parameters for this soil are
16 kN/m2 and 30o. [2]

Ans: 85.2 Range: 85.1 to 85.3

4. The initial correction that is to be applied in (𝜏) vs (axial strain %) graph is due to the
to which of the following statement(s) MSQ [1]

(a) slip between the sample and loading plate

(b) poor contact between the sample and the loading plate
(c) roughness of the sample and loading plate
(d) size irregularities of the loading plate

Answer: (b) and (c)

Poor contact between the sample and the loading plate
Roughness of the sample and the loading plate
5. Creep is time-dependent deformation of the soil mass at constant stress [1]
(a) True
(b) False

Answer: (a) True

6. 𝜏 vs σ graphs remain constant with change in the density of the soil [1]
(a) True
(b) False
 Answer: (b) False
7. Which of the following(s) are attributes of Granularity MSQ [1]
(a) Flakiness
(b) Angularity
(c) Roundness
(d) Sphericity

Answer: (b), (c), (d) Angularity, Roundness, Sphericity

8. For a sensitivity value in the range of (8-16) what will be the description of soil?
[1]
(a) Sensitive
(b) Extra sensitive
(c) Low sensitive
(d) Quick

Answer: (b) Extra sensitive

9. What kind of test will be recommended for designing an Oil platform over marine
clay deposits? [1.5]
(a) CU
(b) CD
(c) UU
(d) UCS

Answer: (c) UU
10. Which of the following is the correct relationship for determination of immediate
settlement
[1.5]
𝐵×𝑞×(1−𝜈 2 )𝐼𝐵
(a) 𝐸𝑢 2

𝐵×𝑞 2 ×(1−𝜈 2 )𝐼𝐵

(b) 𝐸𝑢

𝐵×𝑞×(1−𝜈 3 )𝐼𝐵
(c) 𝐸𝑢

𝐵×𝑞×(1−𝜈 2 )𝐼𝐵
(d) 𝐸𝑢

𝑩×𝒒×(𝟏−𝝂𝟐 )𝑰𝑩
Answer: (d) 𝑬𝒖