CE 424 Soil Mechanics 1

HOMEWORK/PLATE NO. 3 Second Term, A.Y. 2016-2017

Problem 1
For the seepage condition shown below where the horizontal distance between the two piezometers is 1.5 m,
determine the following:
1.1 The total head at points A and B.
1.2 The pressure in kPa at points A and B.
1.3 The hydraulic gradient between points A and B.
1.4 If the permeability of the soil is 0.27 m/day, what is the discharge velocity through the soil in cm/sec?
1.5 If the soil has a porosity of 0.50, what is the seepage velocity in cm/sec?

1.0 m

1.3 m

1.9 m
1.0 m

Figure 1

Problem 2
A field pumping test was conducted from an aquifer of sandy soil of 4 m thickness confined between two
impervious strata. When equilibrium was established, 90 liters of water was pumped out per hour. The water elevation
in an observation well 3.0 m away from the test well was 2.1 m and another 6.0 m away was 2.7 m from the roof level
of the impervious stratum of the aquifer. Find the value of k of the soil in m/sec.

Figure 2

Problem 3
The effect of layering on permeability is evaluated through a constant head permeability test conducted on a
combined soil specimen (sand and clayey silt) as shown in Figures 3.1 and 3.2. The hydraulic conductivities of the
two soils are: ksand = 0.05 cm/s and ksilt = 5x10-5 cm/s, respectively. The dimensions of the test setup are: A (cross-
sectional area, assume circular shape) = 100 cm2, h = 80 cm, Δh = 25 cm and L = 50 cm.
3.1 Compute the ratio of the head drop in the silt layer to the head drop in the sand layer (i.e. Δhsilt/Δhsand) for
the case in Figure 3.1.
3.2 Plot the variation of total head with respect to the length of the sample along the center of the specimen in
each case.
3.3 Compute the ratio of flow in the silt to flow in the sand (i.e. qsilt/qsand) for the case in Figure 3.2.
3.4 Determine the hydraulic conductivity for an equivalent uniform sample for both cases.
 Figure 3.1 Figure 3.2

Problem 4
Draw the flow net for the system shown in Figure 4. Using the flow net, calculate:
4.1 The flow rate per unit length around the structure for k = 10-5 m/s.
4.2 The pore pressure distribution on the base of the structure.
4.3 The total uplift force.
4.4 The exit (hydraulic) gradient.

Figure 4

Problem 5
A soil profile is shown in the figure:
5.1 Compute the effective stress immediately below A.
5.2 Compute the effective stress at B.
5.3 Compute the effective stress at C.

Figure 5
Problem 6
Given the following soil profile:

Depth, m Soil Type γ, kN/m3 γsat, kN/m3 Ko

0 to 2 ML 16 17 0.60
2 to 5 CH 18 19 0.55
5 to 10 SM 20 21 0.50

The water table is at 3 m depth. Calculate and plot the following:

6.1 Total vertical stress.

6.2 Pore water pressure.
6.3 Effective vertical stress.
6.4 Effective normal stress.
6.5 Total horizontal stress.

Problem 7
Given the state of stresses, determine the principal stresses. Also, calculate the normal and shear stresses on
plane AB. Draw diagram of all results with magnitudes and directions.

Figure 7