Geotechnical Engineering Set 1 SITUATION 4 SITUATION 7

Soil Composition
The moist soil having a volume of 0.0154m3 has a unit The following are the results of shrinkage limit test:
SITUATION 1 weight of 16.5kN/m3 and a moisture content of 15%. If Initial volume of soil in saturated state = 25.4 cm3
the specific gravity of solid is 2.7, determine the Final volume of soil in dry state = 16.1 cm3
The sample of soil weighing 30.6 kg had a volume of following: Initial mass in saturated state = 41.2 g
0.0183m3. The sample is allowed to dry in an oven and 1. degree of saturation Final mass in a dry state = 28.3 g
the weight was reduced to 27.2 kg. The specific gravity of 2. volume of air in the original sample 1. Determine the shrinkage limit
the solids was found to be 2.65, determine the following: 3. weight of water to be added to reach full saturation 2. Find the shrinkage ratio
1. moist unit weight of soil in kN/m3 3. Compute the specific gravity of solid
2. dry unit weight of soil in kN/m3 SITUATION 5
3. moisture content SITUATION 8
3
4. void ratio The moist unit weight of sample of soil is 17.43 kN/m . It
5. porosity has a specific gravity of solid of 2.65 and water content A proposed embankment fill requires 5000 cu m of
6. degree of saturation of 16%. The sample has a void ratio of 0.88 in the loosest compaction soil. The void ratio of the compacted fill is
condition and 0.36 in the densest condition. Solve for the specified as 0.70. Three borrow pits are available as
SITUATION 2 following: described in the following table.
1. density index Borrow Pit Void Ratio Cost/cum
The soil sample in natural state having a volume of 2. if the dry unit weight at optimum water content was A 0.85 P830
0.0012 m3 weighs 1.73 kg. The degree of saturation 16.2 kN/m3, what is the minimum dry unit weight? B 0.95 P760
being 61.6%. After drying in an oven the final weight of 3. dry unit weight at zero air void C 1.10 P720
sample was 1.44 kg. What is the total cost for acquiring soil from:
1. Find the specific gravity of solid SITUATION 6 1. Borrow Pit A
2. Determine the void ratio 2. Borrow Pit B
3. Compute the critical hydraulic gradient The relative compaction of sand in the field is 94%. The 3. Borrow Pit C
maximum and minimum dry unit weights of the sand are
SITUATION 3 16.2 kN/m3 and 14.9 kN/m3 respectively. For the field SITUATION 9 (Problem for practice)
condition determine the following:
A saturated soil has a unit weight of 18.85 KN/m3 and 1. Dry unit weight A proposed earth fill needs 30,000 m3 of soil and be
water content of 32%. Determine the following: 2. Relative density of compaction compacted to 95% of Standard Proctor dry density. Tests
1. Specific gravity of solid 3. Moist unit weight at moisture content of 8% indicate that the max dry density is 19.4 kN/m3 at an
2. Porosity optimum water content of 16%. The borrow material in
3. Submerged unit weight its natural condition has a unit weight of 17.6 kN/m3 and
water content of 12%. Determine the following:
1. Total volume of borrow required
2. Volume of void of borrow material if Gs = 2.67
3. Quantity of water to be added to bring the soil to
the optimum moisture content
 Geotechnical Engineering Set 2 SITUATION 3 SITUATION 5 (Problem for practice)
Sieve Analysis, Field Density Test and Atterberg Limits
The following are the results of a field unit weight The following observations were recorded when sand
SITUATION 1 determination test performed on the soil by means of replacement test was conducted using sand-cone
the sand cone method. equipment in order to find the density of natural soil.
A sample of dry coarse-grained material was Calibrated mass of Ottawa sand = 1570 kg/m3 Density of sand used in the test = 1.4 g/cm3
taken through a layer of sieves and the following Calibrated mass of Ottawa sand to fill the cone = 0.545 Weight of soil excavated from the pit = 950 grams
results were obtained: kg Weight of sand filling the pit = 700 grams
Sieve no. Openings Mass of soil Retained Mass of jar + cone + sand (before use) = 7.59 kg Water content of natural soil = 15%
4 4.76 mm 46.0 grams Mass of jar + cone + sand (after use) = 4.78 kg Specific gravity of solid = 2.70
10 2.0 165.6 Mass of moist soil dug from hole = 3.007 kg 1. Compute the dry density of soil in g/cm3
20 0.84 92.0 Water content of moist soil = 10.2%
40 0.42 55.2 Max dry unit weight = 19 kN/m3 SITUATION 6
60 0.25 23.0 1. Determine the moist unit weight of compacted
100 0.149 36.8 soil in kN/m3 In a liquid limit test using fall cone apparatus, the
200 0.074 23.0 2. Find the dry unit weight in kN/m3 following readings were recorded.
Pan 18.4 3. Compute the relative compaction in the field Sample Water Content Penetration of Cone (mm)
Draw the particle size distribution curve 1 40% 12
1. Find the effective particle size SITUATION 4 2 45% 16
2. Determine the uniformity coefficient 3 50% 21
3. Find the coefficient of curvature In a specific gravity test, the following data were 4 58% 35
recorded: While in a plastic limit test, the following data were
SITUATION 2 Mass of pycnometer jar = 40 g obtained:
Mass of pycnometer jar when full of clean water = 674 g Wt. of wet soil + container = 22.12 g
Sand cone equipment is used to perform a field density Mass of pycnometer jar containing soil = 485 g Wt. of dry solid + container = 20.42 g
test on a compacted earth fill. Mass of pycnometer jar containing soil and topped with Wt. of container = 13.07 g
Soil sample dug from test hole = 20.60 N water = 946 g 1. Find the liquid limit
Dry weight of soil sample = 17.92 N 1. Compute the specific gravity of solid 2. Compute the plastic limit
Ottawa sand used to fill the hole weighs 16.05 N and is 2. Find the void ratio of the soil if the dry unit 3. Determine the plasticity index
known to have a density of 15.74 KN/m3. weight is 1.63 g per cm3
Determine the following: 3. If the water content is 16% compute the degree
1. Water content of the tested soil of saturation
2. In-place dry density of the soil
3. Percentage of compaction if the dry unit weight
at optimum water content is 18.10kN/m3
SITUATION 7

In a liquid limit test using cup apparatus, the following

data were taken:
Sample Water Content No. of Blows
A 41.8% 39
B 43.5% 23
C 44.3% 20
D 45.5% 13
While in a plastic limit test, the following data were
observed:
Wt. of wet soil + container = 21.19 g
Wt. of dry solid + container = 18.78 g
Wt. of container = 8.20 g
1. Find the liquid limit
2. Compute the plastic limit
3. Solve for the liquidity index if natural water
content is 38%

SITUATION 8 (Problem for Practice)

The following observations were recorded when sand

replacement test was conducted using sand-cone
equipment in order to find the density of natural soil.
Density of sand used in the test = 1.4 g/cc
Wt. of soil excavated from the pit = 950 g
Wt. of sand filling the pit = 700g
Water content of natural soil = 15%
Specific gravity of solid = 2.70

Find the dry density of soil in g/cc.

 Geotechnical Engineering Set 3 SITUATION 2 SITUATION 4
Classification of Soil and Flow of Water in Soil
A sample of soil has the following grain-size From constant head permeability test on fine sand, the
SITUATION 1 characteristics: following data were recorded:
Length of sample = 16 cm
The given data shows a sieve analysis of soil samples A, Diameter of sample = 9.6 cm
B, and C. Constant head difference = 50 cm
Volume of water collected in 4 min. = 420 cc
1. Determine the coefficient of permeability in
cm/sec
2. Find the discharge velocity in cm/sec
3. If void ratio is 0.55 compute the seepage velocity
in cm/sec

SITUATION 5
1. Find the percentage of silt
2. Classify the soil using the Triangular
A falling head hydraulic conductivity test is performed on
Classification Chart
a sample of soil. The standpipe having a diameter 0.2 cm
3. Determine the activity classification if the
is observed and it takes 60 seconds for the water to drop
plasticity index is 34%
by 50 cm form an initial hydraulic head of 90 cm. The
sample has a length of 20 cm, and a diameter of 4 cm:
SITUATION 3
1. Find the coefficient of permeability of soil
2. Solve for the hydraulic gradient
The following are the details for the backfill material in a
3. Compute the rate of flow of water in the soil
vibroflotation project:
1. Classify soil A using USCS method
2. Classify soil B using AASHTO method
3. Classify soil C using USCS method

1. Find the suitability number

2. Determine the rating
3. Compute the sorting coefficient
SITUATION 6
Pumping test was carried out in a layer of soil extending
to a depth of 28 m. The initial position of water table is
located 4 m below the ground. Observation wells were
sighted at 33.5 m and 97.5 m from the pumping well.
Water is pumped at 248.4 cubic meters per hour and
when steady level was attained, the drawdowns at the
observation wells were observed to be 1.1 m and 0.54 m
respectively.
1. Determine the height of water at the farthest
observation well
2. Compute the coefficient of permeability in
m/day
3. Determine the transmissibility (drainage
capability) of the soil in sq. m per day
SITUATION 7
Three layers of soil is shown with the corresponding
values of coefficient of permeability.
Determine the following:
1. Equivalent horizontal coefficient of permeability
2. Equivalent vertical coefficient of permeability
3. Ratio of equivalent coefficient of permeability
SITUATION 8
The figure shows the layers of soil in the tube that is 10
cm by 10 cm in cross section. When the tube is supplied
with water, a constant head difference of 30 cm is
observed.
The coefficient of permeability of each sample are as
follows:
Sample K (cm/sec)
A 2 x 10-3
B 3 x 10-3
C 4 x 10-3
1. Find the equivalent coefficient of permeability
2. Determine the hydraulic gradient
3. Compute the rate of power supply
SITUATION 9
A test is set up as shown in the figure. A cylindrical mold
4 cm in diameter is filled with silt to a height of 15 cm
whose coefficient of permeability K1 = 1.1 x 10-2 cm/min.
A second coaxial mold is placed around the first mold to
form an annular ring whose outside diameter is 10cm
and whose height is also 15 cm. Its thickness is negligible.
The second mold is filled with sand whose coefficient of
permeability is K2 = 8.2 x 10-2 cm/min. The test set up is a
permeameter of constant head. Water is placed in the
mold and maintained at a level of 36 cm above the level
of the outlet.
1. What is the total flow of water in cm3/min?
2. What is the equivalent coefficient of
permeability cm/min?
3. What is the total amount of water percolated
after 55 min.?