IESL College of Engineering

Academic Year 2017 -Full Time Programme

Advanced Diploma Level · Semester 6

CE3004 · Geotechnical Engineering

Date: zzm.1 September 2 0 1 7

Duration: Three (03) H o u r s + 15 minutes to read the question paper

From: 9:00 a.m. - 1 2 : 1 5 p.m.

Read the following instructions before starting to answer the question paper

1. This question paper has seven (07) questions. Answer only Five (05) questions.

2. If you have answered more than five questions {either partly or in fult) cross out the

extra answers. Otherwise, only the first five answers appearing in the answer book

will be evaluated.

3. All questions carry equal marks. Marks assigned to questions within a question are

given.

4. Write the relevant numbers of the questions to which you provide answers in the cage

on the cover page of the answer book.

5. Start answering each question from a fresh page of the answer book and write the

relevant question number at the top of the page.

6. Use sketches to explain your answers wherever relevant.

7. Neat and dear handwriting and steps involved in calculations are extremely

important.

8. Delete any material, which does not require the attention of the examiner, by drawing

a line over such material.

9. Use only black ink pens to write answer.

10. Marks will be deducted if the above instructions are not adhered to.
Ql. (i) List down the types of laboratory triaxial tests that you would specify to be carried

out in connection with the following field problems:

(a) The stability of a clay foundation of an embankment, the rate of construction being

such that some consolidation of the clay occurs

(b) The initial stability of a footing on saturated clay

(c) long term stability of a slope in stiff fissured clay. Give reasons for your choice of test.

[6 marks)

(ii) The Table Ql contains data obtained from consolidated undrained tests on a soft clay.

Determine the shear strength parameters in terms of effective stress. (6 marks)

Table Ql

Cell pressure during At failure

2
consolidation and Deviator stress (kN/m ) Pore water pressure
2 2
shear [kN/m ) [kN/m )

200 117 110

400- 242 227

800 468 455

(iii) A different specimen of the same soil is tested in undrained triaxial compression test

2, 2•
at a cell pressure of 150kN/m and fails when the deviator stress is 75 kN/m Calculate

the pore pressure at failure. (5 marks)

(iv) Give two advantages of triaxial test over direct shear test.

(3 marks)

Q2. (i) The table Q2 gives data obtained from a direct shear test conducted on samples of

compacted sand. The shear box dimensions are 60mm x 60mm.

Determine the peak and ultimate angles of shearing resistance of sand.

(8 marks)

Table Q2

Norma Load {kN) Shear load at failure {N)

Peak Ultimate

110 95 65

225 195 135

340 294 200

(ii) List down two advantages and two disadvantages of direct shear test. (4 marks)
 (iii) Draw typical plots of shear stress and change in height of specimen against shear

displacement for loose and dense dry sand that would be obtained from direct shear

=· �-�

(iv) Explain what is meant by peak shear strength and residual shear strength of sand.

(4 marks)

Q3. (i) Describe briefly with a sketch, the Oedometer test for determining the consolidation

properties of saturated clay. (4 marks)

(ii) Explain the difference between normally consolidated clay and overconsolidated clay.

(2 marks)

(iii) The Table Q3 shows values obtained from an oedometer test on a sample of a clay.

Plot e vs. log Op and estimate the compression index Cc and the preconsolidation pressure

Ope.. (8 marks)

Table Q3

Applied 0 25 so 100 20 400 500

pressurE:;

2
(kN/m )

a,

Void 2.11 . 2.08 1.99 1.85. 1.61 1.35 Lll

ratio (e)

2
(iv) A 4m thick clay layer with preconsolidation pressure of 170 kN/m is surcharged with a

2•
uniform fill of 100 kN/m If the overburden pressure at the mid point of the clay layer is

2
79 kN/m estimate the consolidation settlement of the clay layer under the surcharge

load. Assume natural void ratio of clay ec = 0.8 and the liquid limit= 40.

(6 marks)

Assume:

Cc = 0.009(LL -10)

Cs = 1/6 Cc

Sc= (C,H)/(1+ eo) log (a(/ oo') + ( Cc H I (1 + eo)) log ( ( oo' +Ila)/ ao')

Where,

LL = Liquid Limit

Cc = Compression index

Cs = Swelling index

H = Thickness of the layer

eo = Initial void ratio

oc' = preconsol!datlon pressure

oo' = effective overburden at mid height of layer

t:.o= Surcharge pressure increment

Q4. (i) During a loading stage in an Oedometer test, the stress was increased by lOOkPa and

following results were measured and are given in Table Q4.

Table Q4

Tlme (min) Thickness of sample (mm)

0.00 12.200

0.25 12.141

1 12.108

2.25 12.075

4 12.046

9 11.985

16 11.922

25 11.865

39 11.827

49 11.809

64 11.800

Using the root time method, determine the coefficient of consolidation. You may

assume that m=l, and that the test specimen is drained at the top and bottom. For

U=90%; T,= 0.848 (8 marks)

(ii) How long would a layer of this clay soil, lOm thick and drained on its top surface

onty, take to reach 75% consolidation? Present your answer in years. For U=80%,

T,= 0.48 (4 marks)

(iii) If the void ratios at the beginning and end of stress increment were 0.92 and 0.80

respectively, determine the coefficient of permeability. (4 marks)

(iv) Explain how the vertical drains could be used in the above soil to accelerate the

consolidation process. (4 marks)

QS. {i) State the assumptions used in the total stress analysis.

(3 marks)

(ii) Explain how you would take into account a tension crack in determining factor

of safety against sliding of soil slopes.

(3 marks)

(iii) Figure QS represents the section of a clay bank. In an investigation of the bank a

trial slip surface BED is chosen in the form of a circular arc of radius ll.75m. The

2
area of the figure BCDEF is 87 m and its centroid is at G as shown. The average

3
density of the soil is 1.76Mg/m • Above the level of the line ABE the cohesion of

2, 2•
the soil is 21.5 kN/m and below this level 33.75 kN/m Estimate the factor of

safety on this assumed surface taking q> = o·. (8 marks)

 t:

,{,
••
. .. c

'

'
•
--
F

Figure Q5

2,
(iv) A Sm deep canal has side slopes of 1 : 1 . The properties of soil are Cu= 25kN/m

3.
<Pu= 1'0°. Saturated unit weight is 19.62 kN/m

(a) lf the Taylor's stability number is 0.108 determine the factor of safety with respect

to cohesion when the canal runs full (3 marks)

(bl Also find the same in case of sudden drawdown if Taylor's stability number for this

condition is 0.137 (3 marks)

[Taylor's Stability N u m b e r = Cf (yH)]

Where: C = Cohesion; y = Unit weight of soil; H = Height of the slope

Q6. (i) Subsurface explorations comprise of obtaining preliminary information using a desk

study, the site reconnaissance survey and detailed site investigation. State the

objectives of these three functions (6 marks)

(ii) List the important information that should be included in a borehole log.

(2 marks)

(iii) Explain briefly a suitable sampling method to extract samples in weak soils such as

soft clays. (4 marks)

{iv) Describe briefly the plate loading test, explaining it's purpose. (4 marks)

(iv) A vane, used to test a deposit of soft alluvial clay required a torque of 60Nm. The

dimensions of the vane were: D=75mm and H=lSOmm. Determine the undrained

shear strength of clay. (4 marks)

 2
T = C, (nD H/2) { 1 + (D/3H}}

Where,

T = applied Torque

D= width of vane

H= height of vane

Q7. (i) The attribute of a planar geological feature such as a rock bed is defined by the strike

and dip. Define these two parameters. (3 marks)

(ii) Describe the various types of folds encountered in rocks. (5 marks)

(iii) Classify and describe the different types of joints in rocks. {5 marks)

(iv) The lengths of intact pieces of rock core recovered during a drilling operation are as

follows:

5, 2, 6, 4, 3, 6, 5, 4 ,3, 2, 8 inches. Length of core run is 60 inches.

(a) Determine the core Recovery and the Rock Quality Designation (4 marks)

(b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Rock Quality Designation method.

(3 marks)