Assignment on CE 6402

Dec 14, 2022

1. Two small commercial buildings have been constructed at a site underlain by a sandy silt (ML)
that has D10 = 0.03 mm. The ground water table is at a depth of 6 ft. Both buildings have concrete
slab-on-grade floors. In Building A, the slab was placed directly onto the natural soils, while
Building B has a 4-in layer of poorly graded coarse gravel between the slab and the natural soils.
Both buildings have vinyl floor coverings similar to those typically used in residential kitchens.
Both buildings are now three years old.
Unfortunately, the tenant in Building A is having continual problems with the vinyl floors
peeling up from the concrete slab. While the peeled sectioned are examined, moisture is always
evident between the vinyl and the concrete. Curiously, the tenant in Building B has had no such
problems, even though both buildings have the same floor covering. Could the problem in Building
A be due to capillary action in the underlying soil? Explain why or why not. Also, explain why
Building B is not having any such problems.

2. An unlined irrigation canal is aligned parallel to a river, as shown in Figure 1. The cross-section
continues for 4.25 miles. The soils are generally clays, but a 6-inch-thick sand seam is present as
shown. This sand has k = 9x10-2 cm/s. Compute the water loss from the canal to the river due to
seepage through this sand layer and express your answer in acre-ft per month.
Note: One acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover one acre of ground to a depth of
one foot, and thus equals 43,560 ft3.

Figure 1

3. Three piezometers have been installed in the confined aquifer shown in Figure 2 below. The
aquifer has a uniform thickness of 3.5 m and a hydraulic conductivity of 2x10 -1 cm/s. Determine
the hydraulic gradient, the direction of flow, the transmissivity, and the flow rate per unit width
of the aquifer.
 Figure 2

4. A sample of soil compacted according to the Standard Proctor test has a density of 20.2
kN/m3 at 100% compaction and at optimum moisture content of 14%. (i) What is the dry
unit weight? (ii) If the voids become filled with water what would be the saturated unit
weight? (iii) What would be its dry and saturated unit weights if the soil were to be at
saturated condition with the mentioned moisture content? (iv) Is the estimated value
obtained in (iii) practically achievable or merely a theoretical estimation? Explain your
answer using ‘Double Diffused Layer’ theory. (v) State probable method(s) that you can
try to achieve the state mentioned in (iii). Assume Gs= 2.67.

5. Determine the effective vertical stress at a depth of 5 m below the ground surface in a
deposit of fine sand where the water table is 1.3 m below the ground level. The density of
saturated sand is 2 g/cm3. Assume the sand above water table to be saturated by capillary
water. If the water table rises to the ground surface what will be the change in effective
pressure at a depth of 5 m?

6. The subsoil strata at a site consists of a stratum of fine sand 1.6 m thick overlying a stratum
of clay 1.4 m thick. Under the clay stratum lies a deposit of coarse sand extending to a
considerable depth. The water table is 1.5 m below the ground level. Assuming the top fine
sand to be saturated by capillary water, calculate the effective pressures at ground surface
and at depths of 1.6, 3.0 and 5.0 m below the ground surface. Assume for fine sand Gs =
2.65, e = 0.6, for clay Gs = 2.75, e = 0.8, and for coarse sand Gs = 2.66, e = 0.5.
 What will be change in effective pressure at depth 3.0 m if no capillary water is present in
the fine sand and its bulk density is assumed to be 1.7 g/cc?

7. A foundation trench is to be excavated in a stratum of stiff clay, 10 m thick, underlain by

a bed of sand. In a trial bore hole, the ground water is observed to rise to an elevation of
3.5 m below the ground surface. Find the depth to which the excavation can be safely
carried out without the danger of the bottom becoming unstable under uplift pressure of
ground water. For clay Gs = 2.75 and e = 0.8. If excavation to be carried safely to a depth
of 8 m, how much should the water be lowered in the vicinity of the trench?

8. Describe the ‘Double Diffuse Layer (DDL)’ concept of clay soil, and hence explain the
concept of ‘flocculated’ and ‘dispersed’ structure of clay using DDL. Which clay
(flocculated or dispersed) is easy to compact (if necessary)? And, why? Explain in the light
of DDL. ‘The presence of water in clay eases compaction of clay soil’ – explain why? Also,
explain in the light of DDL.

9. Fine grained soils (e.g., clay) can be drained and stabilized (for example, in case deep and
long excavation in clay below ground water table) by ‘electro-osmosis’. Explain ‘electro-
osmosis’ method of dewatering, and hence explain the process of dewatering in this method
using DDL concept.

Submission:
Deadline: Dec 28, 2022 (by 5-00 pm)
Answer to all questions. Use A4 size papers as answer script. This assignment will carry 20%
marks.
Refrain yourself from copying others, which is strictly prohibited and punishable.