ONE

The weight of a soil and its container is 7N. After oven drying, the weight reduced to
5.9N. If weight of the container is 1N, Gs is 2.70 and the volume of the soil is 327.8cm3,
determine
1. Water content
2. Void ratio
3. Bulk unit weight
4. Saturated unit weight
5. Effective unit weight
6. Dry unit weight
7. Percentage air voids
8. Degree of Saturation
Solution:
Calculations: Bulk unit weight = weight of soil / volume of soil (see calculation below
under bulk unit weight)
Volume of soil solids = Ws x 1000/(G x w) = 4.9 x 1000 / 2.7 x 9.8 = 185.18cm3
Volume of voids = volume of soil - volume of solids = 327.8 - 185.18 = 142.68cm3
Volume of water = Ww x 1000 / w = 1.1 x 1000/9.8 = 112.24cm3
Volume of air = volume of voids - volume of water = 142.67 - 112.24 = 30.43cm3
Water content: w = 1.1x 100 / 4.9 = 22.44%.
Void ratio: e = volume of voids/volume of drysoil = 142.67/ 185.18 = .77
Bulk unit weight: = ( 1.1+ 4.9) x 1000 / 327.8 = 18.29kN/m3.
Saturated unit weight: = 19.2kN/m3. (use equation 2.11)
Effective unit weight: = 9.4kN/m3. (use equation 2.13)
Dry unit weight: = 14.94kN/m3. (use equation 2.12)
Percentage air voids: = volume of air x 100/volume of voids = 21.33%.
Degree of Saturation: = volume of water x 100/volume of voids = 78.66%.
TWO
The wet weight of a saturated soil and its container is 7N. After oven drying, the dry
weight of the soil and its container is 5N. If the weight of the container is 2N. Determine
1. Water content
2. Void ratio
3. Bulk unit weight
4. Saturated unit weight
5. Effective unit weight
6. Dry unit weight
Water content: w = 2x 100/ 3 = 66.66%.
Void ratio: e = .66x 2.7/ 1 = 1.8

Bulk unit weight: = 2.7x 9.8x(1 + .66)/(1 + 1.8) = 15.75kN/m3.

Saturated unit weight: = 15.75kN/m3. (use equation 2.11)
(Same as bulk unit weight as soil is saturated)
Effective unit weight: 5.95kN/m3. (use equation 2.13)
Dry unit weight: 9.45kN/m3. (use equation 2.12)
THREE
A sieve analysis of a soil sample of mass 500 grams gave the following results.
Sieve Number Opening(mm) Mass Retained(grams)
4

4.75

10

2.00

13

20

0.85

97

40

0.425

87

100

0.15

179

200

0.075

104

Pan
1.
2.
3.
4.

20
Plot the particle size distribution curve.
Determine the USCS classification of the soil.
Determine the effective size (D10) and the average size (D60).
Determine the uniformity coefficient and the coefficient of curvature.

Solution:
Partial Solution: (see example 2.5)
Sieve Opening Percentage Finer
4.75

100

2.00

97.4

0.85

78

0.425

60.6

0.15

24.8

0.075

4
0

FOUR

The results obtained from a liquid limit test on a clay using the Casagrande cup device
are
Number of Blows 6
12 20
28
32
Water Content (%) 45.51 43.8 42.54 41.72 41.39
The natural water content is 40% and the plastic limit is 25%. Determine
1. Liquid limit
2. liquidity index
3. Do you expect brittle type of failure for this soil? Why?
Solution: (see exercise 2.14)
Liquid limit = 42%
Liquidity index = .88

FIVE
A constant head test was conducted on a sample of soil 15 cm long and 60cm2 cross
sectional area. In 15 seconds, the quantity of water collected was 39cm3 under a head
difference of 26cm.
1. Calculate the coefficient of permeability.
2. If porosity of sand were 55%, determine average velocity and seepage velocity.
3. Estimate coefficient of permeability for a similar soil with porosity of 39% from
the results of this test
Solution:
Coefficient of permeability k = ( 39x 15)/(60 x 15 x 26) = .025cm/s
Average velocity V = 39/ (60 x 15) = .04cm/s
Seepage velocity = .02 x 26/15 x 0.55 = .07cm/s
Coefficient of permeability of second sample = 1.7727cm/s

SIX
A falling head permeability test was carried out on a fine-grained soil of diameter 100mm
and length 150mm. In 4 minutes, the head in the standpipe of diameter 5mm dropped
from 694 to 544mm. Calculate the coefficient of permeabilty.

Coefficient of permeability = (0.52 x 15)x ln( 694)/ 544 /(102 x 4 x 60) = .00003cm/s
SEVEN
A pumping test was carried out in a sand deposit 20m thick overlying impermeable clay.
The discharge from the pumping well was 12E-3 m3/s. Drawdowns in the observation
wells located 15m and 30m from the centerline of the pumping well were 2m and 1.5m
respectively. Ground water table was located at 3.2m below the ground surface.
1. Determine the coefficient of permeability of the sand.
2. Estimate the effective grain size using Hazen's equation.
Coefficient of permeability = .0032cm/s (use equation 2.41)
Effective grain size D10 = .05 (use Hazen's equation)

EIGHT
The load on a concrete slab, 3m x 4.5m, resting on the surface of a soil is 2019kN.
Determine the vertical stress increase at a depth of 3m.
1. Under the center of the slab
2. Under the center of edge of the slab
3. Under the corner of the slab
4. Under the point 1.5m away from center of the slab.
Solution:
(see example 3.10)
Stress under the center of the slab z1 = 62.81kPa.
Stress under the center of edge the slab z2 = 47.24kPa.
Stress under the corner of the slab z3 = 29.88kPa.
Stress under the point 1.5m away from center of the slab z4 = 13.44kPa.