ENGR 340 – Soil Mechanics

ASSIGNMENT 4
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2 questions (Total marks 20)

1. As shown in the figure below, a 3 m layer of clay is buried beneath two 5m thick layers
of very compact granular soil composed of materials having a unit weight, 17 kN/m3
and 19 kN/m3, respectively. The water table is located above the granular sand layer
of unit weight 19 kN/m3. The unit weight of clay is 20.5 kN/m3. Compact sand underlies
the clay. A laboratory compression test on a sample of the clay indicates a
compression index (Cc) of 0.8, recompression index (Cr) of 0.05 and initial void ratio
(or natural void ratio) of 1.10. A planned building loading will cause a 50 kPa effective
stress increase at the middle of the clay layer.
For the above system, determine the primary consolidation settlement if the
preconsolidation pressure (σ’c) is: (i) 160 kPa, (ii) 200 kPa and (iii) 240 kPa

q = 50 kPa
Datum 0m

Compacted sand
ϒ = 17 kN/m3
GWT
5.0 m

Compacted sand
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 19 kN/m3

10.0 m
Clay, Cc = 0.8, e0 = 1.1
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20.5 kN/m3
13 m
Fine sand

1
2. As shown in the figure below, the soil profile at a construction site consists of a 3m thick sand
layer (𝛾=16.5 kN/m3, 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 18.5 kN/m3) underlain by a 6-m thick clay layer (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 21.5 kN/m3,
w= 27%, Gs=2.7, mv = 3.1x 10-4 m2/kN, cv = 2.6 m2/yr). The clay is underlain by a permeable
gravel layer. A 3m compacted fill (additional surcharge load, ∆σ’v) with a unit weight of 20
kN/m3 is placed at the ground level.

3m Compacted fill
GL
3m Sand 2m

6m Clay

Gravel

For the given condition, consider a soil element in the middle of the clay layer and

a) Calculate the final (or ultimate) consolidation settlement?

b) How long will it take for a settlement of 50 mm?
c) Calculate the consolidation settlement in one year?