CVG 3106 Winter – 2016

SOIL MECHANICS II

Assignment 1
(Due: 27 January, 2016 by 17:00)

Q1. In a liquid limit test, the moisture content at 10 blows was 70%, and that at 100 blows
was 20%. The liquid limit of the soil, is:
a. 35%
b. 50%
c. 65%
d. none of these.

Q2. The minimum water content at which the soil just begins to crumble when rolled into
threads 3 mm in diameter, is known as:
a. liquid limit
b. plastic limit
c. shrinkage limit
d. plasticity index.

Q3. The quantity of seepage of water through soils is proportional to:

a. coefficient of permeability of soil
b. total head loss through the soil
c. neither (a) nor (b)
d. both (a) and (b).

Q4. The ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of soil solids in a given soil mass, is
known
a. porosity
b. specific gravity
c. void ratio
d. water content.

Q5. A compacted soil sample with 10% moisture content has a weight of 200 g and a unit
weight of 2.0 g/cm3. If the specific gravities of soil particles and water are 2.7 and 1.0,
respectively the degree of saturation of the soil is:
a. 11.1%
b. 55.6%
c. 69.6%
d. none of these.

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 CVG 3106 Winter – 2016
SOIL MECHANICS II

Q6. Refer to the soil profile shown in Figure 1. Determine the total stress, pore-water
pressure, and effective stress at points A, B, C, and D and plot the effective and total
stress variation with depth below the surface of the soil.

Figure 1

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 CVG 3106 Winter – 2016
SOIL MECHANICS II

Q7. The coefficient of consolidation of a clay soil for a given pressure range was obtained
as 7.8×10-3 mm2/sec on the basis of one-dimensional consolidation test results. In
the field, there is a 2m-thick layer of the same clay (see Figure 2a). Based on the
assumption that a uniform surcharge of 70 kN/m2 was to be applied instantaneously,
the total consolidation settlement was estimated to be 170mm. However, during
construction, the loading was gradual; the resulting surcharge can be approximated
as shown in Figure 2b. Plot the settlement against time for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 300
days and determine the time for 50 % and 90 % consolidation.

Hint: Use Olson's ramp loading solution chart (Figure 3).

Figure 2

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 CVG 3106 Winter – 2016
SOIL MECHANICS II

Figure 3. Olson's ramp loading solution

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 CVG 3106 Winter – 2016
SOIL MECHANICS II

Q8. A clay soil specimen 25mm in height (drained on top only) was tested in one
dimensional consolidation. For a given load increment, the time for 60% consolidation
of the specimen was 6 min 20 sec. How long will it take for a similar clay layer in the
field that is 3m thick and drained on both sides to achieve 50% consolidation?

Q9. The results in Table 1 given below were obtained at failure conditions in a series of
consolidated-undrained (CU) triaxial tests with pore water pressure measurements
on fully saturated clay specimens.

Table 1. Consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial test results at failure

Specimen Confining stress, Deviator stress, Pore-water pressure,

3 (kPa) (1 – 3 ) kPa u (kPa)
A 150 103 82
B 300 202 169
C 450 305 252

a. Determine the effective shear strength parameters for the tested soil graphically
(Use graph paper for this question).
b. Determine the Skempton's pore water pressure parameter, A for the three
specimens.
c. Is the clay normally consolidated or over consolidated? Give reasons.