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ZIMBABWE

MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION

HIGHER EDUCATION EXAMINATTONS COUNCIL
(HEXCO)

NATIONAL DIPLOMA
.IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJPCT: Soil Mechanics PAPER NO: 578/SO1

NOVEMBER 2O1 1 EXAMINATION

REQUIREMENTS
1. Calculator
2. Graph book

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE

Answer ALL questions.

This pdper consists of 4 printed pages.

 !
PAPER NO: 578lSO1 - SOIL MECHANICS
OUESTION 1

a) Describe the determination of Bulk density in the iaboratory.

(3 marks)
b) What do you understand by the following terms with reference to the
soil?
i) Submerged density
ii) Specific gravity
iii) Critical hydraulic gradient
irr) Porosity
v) Phase t.

vi) Dry density

vii) Void ratio
(7 marks)

Describe the sand replacement method of deterrnining the in-situ

density of the soil.

The following results were obtained from a test:

Mass of soil extracted from hole 4,O kg

Water content of soil L8%
Mass of dry sand to {i11 hole 3,1kg
Mass of dry sand to fill container of
Volume 4,2 litres 5,9 kg

il Calculate the wet and dry densities of the soil.

iil If the specific gravity of the particle is 2,68 find the degree of
saturation of the soil. Fil1 up the phase diagram.
(10 marks)
OUESTION 2

a) What is the purpose of soil classification? (3 marks)

b) Define the following terms in relation to the soil:

i) Plastic limit
ii) Liquid limit
iii) Shrinkage limit
iv) Plasticity index
(4 marks)

The following results were obtained from a liquid limit test:

Number of taps 6 B L2 26 28 31
Water Content (7ol 53,4 52,2 48,3 40,0 38,8 37,L

Find the iiquid limit.

Find also the plasticity index if the plastic limiL was 28o/o.
(5 marks)

2
 !

PAPER NO: 578/SO1 - SOIL MECHANICS

d) The results of a sieve analysis of a soil were as folloq's:
Retafuaed 20 12,5 10 6,3 5,6 2,8 2 1L 0,5 n ?ii 0,180 0,063
on sieve
lmml
Weight 0 c1 8,4 5,7 t2,9 3,5 1,1 30,5 25,4 7,4
retalned lel

The total weight of the sample was 147 ,2g

i)Plot the particle size distributions curye and describe the soil
ii) State the effective grain size (Dro)
iii) Find the Al1en Hazen's uniformity coefficient (CCU).
(8 marks)
QUESTION 3

a) Define the following terms:

il Flow lines
ii) Equipotential lines
iii) Quicksand condition
(3 marks)

b) A sheet pile wall is driven to a depth of 6m into permeable soil which

extends'to a depth of 13,5m below ground level. Below this there is an
impermeable stratum. There is a depth of water of 4,5m on one side of
the sheet pile wall. Make a neat sketch of the flow net and determine
the approximate seepage under the sheet pile wall in litres/day, taking
the permeability of the soil as 6 x 10-3mm/s. (4 marks)

c) A sratum of sandy soil overlies a horizontal bed of impermeable

material, the surface of which is also horizontal. Inorder to determine
the in-situ permeability of the soil, a test well was driven to the bottom
of the stratum. Two observation boreholes were made at distances 12
and 24rrr respectively from the test well.

Water was pumped from the test well at the rate of 180 litres/min until
the water level became steady. The heights of the water in the two
boreholes were then found to be 4,2 and 6,3m above the impermeable
bed. Find the value, expressed in mm per second, of the coefficient of
permeability of the sand soil stating the formula used. Start by drawing
the sketch. (8 marks)

d) In a falling head perrneameter test on a silty day samples, the following

results were obtained; sample iength 120mm; sample diameter SOmm;
initial head 1100mm; final head 42Omm; time for fal1in head 6 minutes;
stand pipe diameter 4mm. Determine from the given data, the
coefficient of permeability. (5 marks)

3
PAPER NO: 578/SO1 - SOIL MECHANICS
OUESTION 4

a) Why is there need to carry out site investigation thoroughly before

executing a civil engineering project? (3 marks)

Discuss in brief the foliowing terms:

Shafts and headings (1 mark)
Hand and portable Augers (1 mark)
iii) Wash boring (1 mark)
1vl Rotary drilling (1 mark)
v) Borehole logs (2 marks)
vi) Trial pits (2 marks)

c) What do you understand by the term response time in relation to water

leve1 determination in boreholes? (2 marks)

d) List three types of works in engineering projects which would use

results from undisturbed samples, (3 marks)

e) List the four types of tube samples used in site investigation.

(4 marks)
OUESTION 5

a) Discuss any one advantage of the triaxial test over the shear box test.
(1 mark)

b) The result shown in table below were obtained at failure in series of

consolidate undrained triaxial tests. Pour water pressure
measurements were taken on the fu11y saturated day. Calculate the lt

shear strength parameters wiih respect to:

il Total
ii) Effective stress
Cell Pressure Deviator Stress Pure Water Pressure
kN/m2 kN/m2 kNm/m2
150 103 82
300 202 169
450 305 252
600 410 331
(15 marks)

c) The resuits of a direct shear box test on a sand sample are shown in
table Q2(c). Determine the values of shear strength parameter.

Normal Stress kN/m2 50 100 200 300

Shear stress at failure lkN/m2 36 80 154 235

4
 !
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ZIMBABWE

MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION

HIGHER EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
(HExco)

NATIONAL DIPLOMA
IN
CTUL ENGINEERING/ IVATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING AND
IRRIGATION ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: Soil Mechanics PAPER NO: 578/SO1

ocToBER/ NOVEMBER 2OL2 EXAMINATION

REQUIREMENTS
1. Graph paper
2, Particle size distribution chart
3. Casagrande plasticity chart

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE
1. Answer ALL questions.

2. Begin each question on a fresh page.

This paper consists of 5 printed pd.ges.

 T
PAPER NO: 578/S01- SOIL IvIECF{ANICS

OUESTION i
(a) Define the following terms:-
(i) porosity (1 mark)
(ii) buik density (1 mark)
(iiil saturated density (1 mark)
(i") phase of a soil (1 mark)

(b) Explain how you would determine the bulk density of a soil
sample. (10 marks)

(c) In order to measure the in sifu density of a soil, the following sand
replacement test was carried out.

4.5kg of soil were extracted from a hole at the surface of the soi1.
The hole was then just filled with 3.54kg of loose dry sand.

(i) If it took 6.57kg of the same sand to fill a container

0.0042m3 in volume, determine the bulk density of the soil.
(4 marks)

(ii) In water content determinatton,24g of the moist soil weighed

20g after drying in an oven at 105'C. If the specific gravity of
the soil particles was 2.68, calculate the water content, dry
density and degree of saturation. (6 marks)

QUESTION 2

(a) Describe the importance of carrying out compaction when

executing a civil engineering project. (4 marks)

(b) In a standard compaction test on a soil the following resuits were

obtained.

Bulk
density 2470 2139 2187 2212 2228 22tl 2193
(ks/m3)
Moisture
content (o/o) 6.8 8.5 9.4 ro.2 11.3 12.5 13.6

(i) Plot the curve moisture content against dry density and
determine the optimum moisture content and maximum
compaction. (10 marks)

(ii) If the specific gravity of the solids is 2.65, plot the zero arr
voids line. (5 marks)

(iii) Find the percentage air voids at the maximum dry density
and optimum moisture content. (3 marks)

2
 I
PAPER NO: 578 qO1- SOIL IVTECHANICS

(iv) Calculate the moisture content required to saturate the soil

at its maximum dry densitY. (2 marks)

OUESTION 3

(a) Give a brief outline of Casagrande's system of soil classilication.

(4 marks)

(b) The following results were contained from a liquid iimit test on a
fine grained soi1.

Penetration 15.6 18.2 2L.4 23.6

(mm)
Moisture 48.6 54.8 62.2 67.4
content (%o)

A plastic limit test gave a value of 22oh.

Determine:-
(i) The liquid limit (2 marks)
(ii) The plasticity index (2 marks)
(iii) What is the Casagrande classification of this soil?
(2 marks)
PAPER NO: 578/S01 - SOIL MECHANICS
OUESTION 4

(.) (i) The diagram beiow shows a grain size classifr.cation curve for
a soil sample. Describe the test carried out to obtain this
curve. (8marks)

(ii) Describe the soil (2 marks)

',;lli i

1:
)

(b) Sketch the foliowing on the sarne sheet of the particle size
distribution chart.

(i) well-graded silt sand (2 marks)

(ii) uniform fine sand (2 marks)

(iii) well graded sand (2 marks)

4
P

OUESTION 5

(a) I)iscuss the difliculties of estimating the site value for the
coefficient of permeability of a soil in laboratory tests.
(5 marks)
(b) A graded filter is constructed of 4 layers of soi1. The layers are
400rnm, 30omm, 140mm and 60mm thick and comp"Lt.d to give
permeabiiities of 2x1,0-2mmf s,4x7\-tmmls, B x l}-rmm/
s and lmm/s respectively.
Calculate ttre average coefficient of permeability in the directions
pa,a-1ie1 to and at right angles to the layers. (6 marks)

OUESTION 6

(a) Explain the following terms as applied to saturated soil and show
how the pressures are related to one another:-
(i) total pressure (2 marks)
(ii) effective pressure (Z mart<si
(iii) pore-water pressure (Z marts!
(b) what is the influence of pore-water pressure on the shear strength
of soil? (3 marks)

(c) A series of undrained triaxiai tests on sampies of saturated soil

gave the following results:

Internal pressure (kN /pz1 100 200 300

EgIq :we!q pressure (kN/m2) 20 70 136
Princlpal stress difference at failure (kN/m2) 290 400 534

Find the values of the shear strength parameters:-

(il wrth respect to total stress (3 marks)
(ii) with respect to effective stress (3 marks)

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ZIMBABWE

MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION

HIGHER EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
(HExCo)

NATIONAL DIPLOMA
IN

CIVIL ENGINEERITU(} / U'ATER RE$OURCES ENGINEERING AND

IRRIGATION EN GINEEILING

SUBJECT: Soil Mechanics PAPER NO: 578/SO1

MARCH/APRIL 20 L3 EXAMINATION

R.EQUIREMENTS

1. Graph paper
2. Particle size distribution chart
3. Casagrande PlasticitY chart

INSTR.UCTIONS TO CANDIDATE

1. Ansurer all flve questions.

2. Start each question on a new Page.

ffris paper consfsts of 5 printed, pages.

 !
PAPBR NO: 578/S01 - SOiL MECHANICS

ouEsTIoN I
a) Explain how organic and inorganic soils are formed.
(4 marks)
b) The following data is given for a soil sample:

Mass 2, 80kg
Volume 1, 63 litres
Moisture ConLent 10%
Void ratio 0, 40

Calcuiate the following;

1' Specific gravity of the solid soil particles

iil Saturated densitY
iiil Degree oI saturation
iv) Dry densitY
v) Submerged unit weight
vi) Porosity
viil Air content
viii) Water content for a sample of the sarne soil but only B0%
saturated
ix) Bulk density of a sample of the same soil but only 60%
(16 marks)
saturated.

OESTICN 2

a) Discussthetwoadvantagesandtwodisad.vantagesoftheshear
(4 marks)
box test over the triaxial test'

The results shown in Table Q2b r,vere obtained

at failure in a series
b)
with pore water pressure
of consoliciated - undrained triaxia-l tests,
measuremenl, on specimens of fuily saturated clay'
to effective
calculate the si-rear strength parameters with respect (11 marks)
stress.

Table Q2b

Cell pressure (kNf m2

Pore water pres qlleSt l41EI9 -I1tlIl m

2
PAPBR NO: 578./S01- SOIL MECHANICS

c) Table Q2c shows the results of a direct shear test on a sand

sample. Evaluate the values of the shear strength parameters'
(5 marks)

Tab1e Q2c

Norrnal Stress (kN/m2) Shear stress at failure (ENltn3)

50 -JO

100 80
200 154
300 2J5

OUESTION 3

a) Discuss the application of the results of the laboratory compaction

test in fie1d compaction. (3 marks)

b) Differentiate between compaction and consolidation.

(2 marks)

c) A compaction test was carried. out in a 105mm diameter mould of

volume 1000cm3 and mass 14009. The test results are shown in
Table Q3c.

The specific gravity of the soil particles is 2, 65'

i) Draw tlre graph of dry density against moisture content.

(4 marks)
li]Dererminethemaxirnumdrydensityarrdoptimummoisture
content of the soii' (7 marks)
iii) Dras'r,he 0% and 10% voids iines' (4 marks)

Table Q3c
IVIassof moutda@

J
PAPER NO: 578/501 - SOIL MECHANIC$

QUBSTIQN 4

a) The results of ar sieve analysis test on a soii are given in Table Q4a'
The total mass of the soil was 150g. Ciassify the soil using the
Unified Soil Classification System. (8 marks)

Table Q4a

Steve size {mm) Mass retained (g)

9,5 1,50
+,75 9,OO
2,36 39,75
1,18 42,OO
0,6 24,OO
0,3 13,50
0, 15 7,50
0,07s 10,50

b) DescriLre how the liquicl limit of a soil sample is obtained in the

laboratory using the casagrande apparatus' (4 marks)

c) In a test to cletermine the iiquid limit of a soil sampie the results

shorvn in Table Q4c were obtained.

Table Q4c

Test ml m2 ms Come Penetration (mm)

1 rt,62 2r,28 19,08 15,5
) ro,B7 19,50 17,24 L9,2
? IL,21 21,26 18,39 ODo
4 r.0,46 19,62 t6,74 28,t

Where: :ll- : mass of emPtY tare (g)

i-n: = Inass of tare plus wet soil (g)
m3 = rrass of tare Plus dry soii (g)
The plastic limit v,-as 22oh. Classify the soil using the Unified Soil
Classification SYstem' (8 marks)

4
PAPER NO: 578/So1 - SOIL MECHANICS
QUESTIQN 5

a) I)iscr-rss the information to be included in a borehole log after

carrying out a site investigation. (4 marks)

b) A shear box test was carried out on sandy clay and the results
shown in Table QSb were obtained'

Table QSb

Vertical load (kg) 36,8 73,5 110,5 146,O

Shear stress (kN/m2) 94 144 L94 244

If the box is 60mm square determine the apparent cohesion and

the angle of internal iriction of the soil (6 marks)

c) A series of und.rarned trixial tests on samples of a saturated soil

gave the results shor,vn in Table QSc. Calculate the shear strength
parameters of the soil w-ith respect to effective stress'

I'able QEc
Lateral Pressure Principal stress Difference
(kN/m2) at failure (kN/m!
100 20 290
200 70 400
300 136 534

.\ crfferent specimen of the same soil was tested in undrained

rria-xrai ccrnpression at a ce11 pressure of 150kN/m2 and
failed
l,,,hen rhe cle...iator stress was 300kN/m',. calculate the pore water
pr-essr-rre in tite specimen r'vhien it faiied'
(10 marks)
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ZIMBABWE

MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY

EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
HIGHER EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
(HExco)

NATIONAL DIPLOMA
IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING/ IRRIGATION ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: SoilMechanics PAPER NO: 578/SO1

DURATION: 3 hours

MARCH/APRIL 2O1 4 EXAMINATION

REQUIREMENTS
t
1. Giaph Paper.
2. Particle size distribution chart.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE
I". Answer FIVE (5) questions.

2. Start each question on a new page.

This paper consists of 5 printed pages.

 -
PAPER NO: 578/501 - SOIL MECHANICS

OUtrSTION 1

a) Describe how the in situ density of a soil is obtained on site.

o (4 marks)

b) The foilowing results were obtained from a test:

Mass of soil 4.4kg

Mass of dry soil 39 10g
Degree of saturation 60%
Diameter of extruded specimen 1OO mm
Length of extruded specimen 300 mm

Calculate the following:

i) Specific gravity of solids

ii) Saturated density
iii) Dry density
iv) Buik density of a sample of the same soil but only 80%
saturated
v) Porosity
vi) Moisture content of a sample of the same soil but only 90%
saturated
vli) Void ratio
v1i1) Submerged unit weight (16 marks)

QUESTION 2

a) A permeameter of SOmm diameter contains a sample of soil of

overall iength 36Omm and is used in the constant head
permeabiiity test. If the ioss of head was 120mm measured on a
length of the sample of 0.3lm and the volume of water collected in
1.3 minutes was TOml calculate- the coefficient of permeability of
the soil rn mm/ L'tr. (5 marks)

b) A layer of sand 8m thick lies beneath a clay stratum 5m thick and

above a bed of thick granite. In order to measure the in situ
coefficient of permeability of the sand, a well was driven to the top
of the granite and water pumped out at the rate of
1.45 x 1O-2 m3 /minute until steady conditions were obtained. Two
observation borehoies were driven through the clay at distances of
l2m and.2amfrom the pump well and the water was found to rise
to levels of 2.5m and 1.6m below the ground surface respectrveiy.
Draw a sketch for this and calculate the coefficient of permeability
of the soil in m/ s and cm/hr. (10 marks)

2
PAPtrR NO: 578/S01 - SOIL MECHANICS
c) In a falling head permeameter test the soil sample had a diameter
of Tomm and a length of Lsomm. The stand pipe had a diameter of
16mm. A stop watch was started when the head was 50omm and
read 26.2 seconds when the head was 250mm. The test was
repeated for a drop in head from 2somm to l2omm and, the time
was 26.4 seconds. Ca-lculate the coefficient of permeability of the
soil in mm/ sec. (5 marks)

OUESTION 3

a) Describe how the moisture density relationships of a soil is

obtained on the laboratory. (5 marks)

b) The following results were obtained from a compaction test. The

volume of the mould was 1 litre.

Mass of soil (e) 1978 2083 2147 2208 2 188 2147

Moisture content (%) 11.3 12.2 13.0 L4.2 i5.1 16.4

Plot the moisture content dry density curve and the ook and,Sok air
holds lines. Calculate the air content at maximum dry density.
The specific gravity of soil particles is 2.7. (15 marks)

OUESTiON 4

a) Discuss the objectives of classifying soil for engineering purposes.

(2 marks)

b) Tabie Q4B shows results of a sieve analysis test carried out on a

sample of soil of total mass 3009. PIot the particle size distribution
curve and classify the soi1. (10 marks)

Table O4B

Sieve size (mm\ Mass retained {q)

9.5 30
4.75 45
2.36 90
1. 18 27
0.6 48
0.3 48
0.15 24
0.075 15

J
PAPER NO: 57BlS01 - SOIL MECHANICS

c) The results shown in Table Q4C were obtained from a iiquid limit
test on a soil. The piastic limit test gave the resuits 22.3#; 22.8o/o;
23.2% and 23.7ok.

Number of taps 13 18 23 27 32 38
Moisture content (%) 44.6 42.8 4L.6 40.3 39.1

Plot the graph of log number of blows against moisture

content.

ii) Determine the liquid limit of the soil.

ii0 Classify the soi1. (8 marks)

OUESTION 5

a) Describe the sheer box test for the determination of the shear
strength parameters in the laboratory. (4 marks)

b) Discuss the three objectives of carrying out a ground investing

atsa. (3 marks)

c) The results shown in Table QSC were obtained at failure in a series

of consolidated undrained triaxial tests on specimens of fully
saturated clay.

i) Calculate the shear length parameters with respect to

effective stress.

ii) A different specimen of the sarne soil was tested in

underained triaxial compression at a cell pressure of
160kN/m2 and failed when the deviator stress was
20OkN/mz. Calculate the pore water pressure in the
specimen when it failed. (13 marks)

OUESTION OSC

Cel1 Pressure (kN/m2) Deviater stress at Pore water pressure at

failure (kN/m2) failure (kN/m2)
150 192 70
300 385 i39
500 638 234

.../tL
e)

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