CONFIDENTIAL EC/FEB 2022/ECG243

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

TEST 2

COURSE SOIL MECHANICS

COURSE CODE ECG243
EXAMINATION FEB 2022
TIME 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This question paper consists of three (3) questions.

2. Answer ALL questions in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page.

3. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the
invigilator.

4. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of:

i) the Question Paper

ii) a one - page Appendix

5. Answer ALL questions in English.

Endorsed by RP,

Name: TS. DR. ROHAYA ALIAS

Date: 16/2/2022

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 4 printed pages
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QUESTION 1

a) Permeability is one of the most important soil properties in geotechnical engineering.

(C01-P01)(C2)

i) Describe the term of 'soil permeability'.

ii) Give and briefly explain TWO (2) types of laboratory tests that can be carried out to
determine the coefficient of soil permeability.
(5 marks)

b) During a test using falling-head permeameter, the following data in Table Q1(b) were
recorded. Calculate the average coefficient of permeability of the soil in m/s. (C02-
P02)(C4)

Diameter of sample =100 mm

Length of sample = 110mm

Table Q1(b)
Level in standpipe
Standpipe diameter The initial The final Time interval
(mm) level, hi level, h2 (s)
(mm) (mm)
800 400 47
6
650 300 58
800 400 83
8
650 300 90
800 400 140
10
650 300 152

(15 marks)

QUESTION 2

a) Shear strength is one of the important soil engineering properties that need to be
considered in any geotechnical design. (C01-P01)(C2)

i) Define the term of 'shear strength'.

ii) Explain the Consolidated Drained (CD) and Consolidated Undrained (CU) triaxial test
in the context of drainage condition and shear strength parameter obtained.

(5 marks)

b) A sandy silt soil was tested in a series of direct shear box test. The tests were carried out
slow enough so that the soil was fully drained at all times. Table Q2(b) shows the data
obtained from the test. (C02-P02)(C4)

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Table Q2(b)
Sample Size : 60 mm x 60 mm x 20 mm
Normal load (kN) Shear load at failure (kN)
0.55 0.32
1.10 0.58
1.84 1.01
2.75 1.51

i) Plot shear stress versus normal stress graph.

ii) Determine the effective shear strength parameters of the soil.
iii)Using results obtained in Q2(b)(ii) above, determine the shear stress of the soil if the
effective normal stress on the failure plane is 200 kN/m2.
iv) Using results obtained in Q2(b)(ii) above, what is the shear load required to cause
failure in the specimen for an effective normal stress of 150 kN/m2.
(15 marks)

QUESTION 3

a) Compaction and consolidation processes can reduce the volume of soil. Explain TWO (2)
objectives of compaction. (C01-P01)(C2)
(3 marks)

b) Figure Q3(b) shows four compaction curves for a sandy clay. The numbers of layers for
compaction were the same for all cases. However, the number of hammer blows per each
layer varied from 20 to 50. Interprete the effect of the compaction effort on the maximum
dry density (pdmax) and optimum moisture content (wopt). (C01-P01)(C3)
(4 marks)

S
-T3

Moisture content, w (%)

Figure Q3(b)
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c) An oedometer test was conducted on a specimen of saturated clay to obtain the

consolidation settlement of the soil. Table Q3(c) shows the reading from the test. The
final thickness of the specimen was 16.44 mm. At the end of the test, the water content
was 30% and the specific gravity of the soil was 2.70. (C02-P02)(C4)

Table Q3(c)
Applied stress (kN/m2) 0 50 100 200 400 800

Thickness (mm) 17.22 16.80 16.54 16.24 15.98 15.88

i) Calculate and tabulate the void ratio (e) at the end of each pressure stage,
ii) Plot the void ratio (e) versus effective stress (a) curve.
iii) Determine the coefficient of volume compressibility (mv) if the effective stress
changes from 180 kN/m2 to 350 kN/m2.
(15 marks)

d) Table Q3(d) shows the results from an oedometer test on Clay 1, Clay 2, Clay 3 and Clay
4. The layer thickness of Clay 1 is 5 m and the same as the layer thickness of Clay 2,
Clay 3 and Clay 4. (C02-P02)(C5)

Table Q3(d)
Type of Effective stress changes, Coefficient of volume compressibility,
clay ACT mv
(kN/m2) (m2/kN)
Clay 1 220 - 360 1.04 x10" 4
Clay 2 200 - 400 0.98 x10" 4
Clay 3 180-380 0.82 x10" 4
Clay 4 240 - 420 1.12 x10" 4

i) Predict which type of clay experience large amounts of consolidation settlement,

ii) Suggest a suitable method to accelerate the rate of consolidation of clay soil and
prevent soil settlement.
(8 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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 CONFIDENTIAL EC/FEB 2022/ECG243

FORMULA LIST

v= vs + vw + va = vs + vv Nt
q = kh- '/
Nd
w --= ws + ww
Tf = c + a tan 0
- f X 100%
a = a' + u

ws a' = a — u
Gs
vsPw
Pb = Pd ( 1 + w)
PI = LL-PL
GsPw
w -PL Pd Vi
LI (1 + wGs)
PI
AH Ae
PI
A= H 1 + e0
% Clay fraction
Ae
60 Cc-- Aloga'
r =
10
Ae 1
v
ACT' 1 + e 0
C„ =
^loAsO
Sc = mv ACT'//
v =ki

5,=
k =
Aht
Tv90d2 0.848d 2
aL InM-,
P) r =
t 90 t 90
k =
A(t2 - h)
2
T^rnd
!
tf50<- 0.197d 2
r —
'1
t 50 t 50
k = 2
n(h 2-hl)

<\
k =
2nD (h2 - ht)

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