CVX4343 Soil Mechanics

Tutor Marked Assignment 2

Academic Year 2022-23
Due date: 04.10.2023

1. Figure below shows a road embankment constructed over a dense sand. The Geotechnical Engineer
wishes to identify the zone of influence corresponding to 10% and 5% of the imposed vertical stress.
Suppose that you have been entrusted with the task of constructing the “Pressure Bulb” for the
above two situations based on Stress due to a strip load (pg. 62, CVX4343 course material) and Area
transmitting a triangular strip load (pg. 63, CVX4343 course material). (50 points)

a. Model the above two situations on an MS Excel Worksheet, considering the respective
mathematical expressions for the imposed vertical stress, z, for the sub-surface region.
b. Hence plot the stress contours corresponding to 10% and 5% of the imposed vertical stress.
c. Determine the zone of influence that requires a geotechnical investigation to perform a
detailed Geotechnical investigation.
2. An unfractured Gneissic bedrock has a Young’s Modulus of 3 x 105 kg/cm2, and a Poisson’s Ratio of
0.15. If the said formation has a constant K of 0.43, where 2 = K1. Assuming that a uniform
vertical stress of 30MPa is applied on the bedrock formation by each socketed pile, compute the
stresses and strains acting in an element of bedrock. (20 points)

Please note the following correction to be made on Page 69 of CVX4343 course material:
K0 loading condition considers that the horizontal stress is always proportional to the
vertical stress. This condition prevails during one-dimensional consolidation, which is
when a large extent of land is being compressed by placing a uniform surcharge load. K0
condition yields 2 = Ko 1 and  2 = 0 .

3. Read the material given in the following web links: (a)

https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/College_Physics/College_Physics_1e_(OpenStax)/12%3A_Fl
uid_Dynamics_and_Its_Biological_and_Medical_Applications/12.04%3A_Viscosity_and_Laminar_Flo
w_Poiseuilles_Law,; (b) Session 11 of CVX4343 course material; (c)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V3Ctem6hdM; (d) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
bYptlimsdI.

Discuss (maximum 100 words) as to why (a) the drop in total head across the uniform soil column is
linear and (b) what causes the energy loss when a real fluid flows through a porous medium.
(30 points)