1.

Prior to placement of a fill covering a large area at a site, the thickness of a

compressible soil layer was 40 ft. Its original in situ void ratio was 0.85. Sometime
after the fill was constructed, measurements indicated that the average void ratio
was 0.78. Estimate the settlement of the soil layer.

2. Test results shown are representative of the compressibility of a 45 ft layer of

normally consolidated San Francisco Bay mud. The initial void ratio is about 2.6.
Estimate the consolidation settlement of a large fill on the site if the average total
stress increase on the clay layer is 200 psf.

3. Estimate the consolidation settlement if the structural loads at the surface will increase
the average stress in the middle of 10 m thick clay layer by 35 kPa. Effective vertical
overburden stress = 80 kPa and eo = 0.84.
The structural engineer made an error in computing the loads; the correct loads now will
produce an average stress increase of 90 kPa in the middle of silty clay layer.
4.

Determine the average consolidation settlement using stress increase computed by 2:1
method.
5. During a consolidation test, a sample of fully saturated clay 3 cm thick is consolidated
under a pressure increment of 200 kN/m2. When equilibrium is reached, the sample
thickness is reduced to 2.60 cm. The pressure is then removed, and the sample is allowed
to expand and absorb water. The final thickness is observed as 2.8 cm and the final
moisture content is determined as 24.9%. If the specific gravity of the soil solids is 2.70,
find the void ratio of the sample before and after consolidation.

6. A stratum of normally consolidated clay 7 m thick is located at a depth 12 m below

ground level. The natural moisture content of the clay is 40.5 percent, and its liquid limit
is 48 per cent. The specific gravity of the solid particles is 2.76. The water table is located
at a depth 5 m below the ground surface. The soil is sand above the clay stratum. The
submerged unit weight of the sand is 11 kN/m3 and the same weighs 18 kN/m3 above the
water table. The average increase in pressure at the center of the clay stratum is 120
kN/m2 due to the weight of a building that will be constructed on the sand above the clay
stratum. Estimate the expected settlement of the structure.

7. A soil profile is shown below. If a uniformly distributed stress is applied

at the ground surface over a large area, what is the settlement of the clay layer caused
by primary consolidation if:
a. The clay is normally consolidated
b. The preconsolidation pressure is 190 kN/m2
c. The preconsolidation pressure is 170 kN/m2

.
Assume Cr = 1/6 Cc