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Department of Technical Education and Training

NVQ Level 06 Written Examination - December 2014 (Semester II)

National Diploma in Construction Technology

Advanced Soil Mechanics 6S2NVQ 1521 Three Hours

Instructions: Answer any five questions.
(This paper consists of 02 pages)

01. (i) How can bearing capacity of soil be improved? (05 Marks)

(ii) Explain what is meant by the ultimate bearing capacity of soil. (05 Marks)

(iii) A footing of 6m2 square carries a total load including its own weight of
10,000kn. Find the gross foundation pressure. (05 Marks)

(iv) What is shear strength of soil? (05 Marks)

02. (i) A moist sample of soil in a bottle had a mass of 25.64g and the bottle when
empty has a mass of 13.60g. After drying in an oven for 24hrs the bottle and
soil sample had a mass of 21.42g
Find the water content of the soil. (06 Marks)

(ii) What are the pressures acting on a retaining? (04 Marks)

(iii) Explain bearing capacity of soil. (05 Marks)

(iv) Explain particle size analysis. (05 Marks)

03. (i) What are the advantages of cast in site concrete piles? (05 Marks)

(ii) Explain the situation in which the pile foundation is preferred. (05 Marks)

(iii) How do you classify shallow and deep foundations? (06 Marks)

(iv) Explain “saturated soil”. (04 Marks)

04. Write short notes on the following:

(i) Permeability
(ii) Porosity
(iii) Compression of soil
(iv) Plastic Limit
(v) Liquidity index (20 Marks)

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05. Phase diagram of a soil sample is given in the diagram given below.

Weight Velocity

Ma Air Va

M MW VW
water
V

VS
MS Soil

For the above soil phase diagram,

Find
(i) Void Rakio
(ii) Moisture content
(iii) Bulk density
(iv) Dry density (15 Marks)

(ii) Find relationship between bulk density, dry density and moisture content.
(05 Marks)

06. (i) Explain clay minerals drawing diagrams

(i) Kaolinite

(ii) Illite

(iii) Montmorillonite (12 Marks)

(ii) What is the purpose of soil compaction? (03 Marks)

(iii) An embankment is constructed of soil for which Ø/=250, C/=2.5kg/cm2.

Calculate the shear strength of the soil on a horizontal plane at a point 5m below
the surface of the embankment. Assume the bulk density as 2.5g/C.C and the
pore pressure at that point as 1.1kg/cm2. (05 Marks)

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