Assignment

Geotechnical Engineering
(3130606 )

B.E. Semester 3 (Civil)

GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE, PALANPUR

Directorate of Technical Education

Gandhinagar, Gujarat
 Preface

The assignment of Geotechnical Engineering is prepared with reference to the syllabus described by the
Gujarat Technological University. Geotechnical engineering is very fundamental subject to study for
determination of various soil parameters theoretically and experimentally based on laws of mechanics.
Any civil engineering structure needs strong and stable foundation which depends on proper
understanding of soil properties and its behavior, determination of stresses and settlements in soil etc.
Knowledge of the geotechnical engineering will prepare students to enter into mutli-disciplinary folds of
this subject into various other civil engineering schemes.

The assignments are thus designed so as students at least be aware of basics and fundamentals of the
geotechnical Engineering. These assignments are focusing on descriptive questions along with
numericals.

The assignments cover not all but major content of the syllabus. It is also important to note that students
must not stick the questions given in assignments only, but also require additional reading and practice
for the exam and skill development in Geotechnical Engineering.
Course Outcomes
Sr. CO statement
No.

CO-1 Classify the soil and will be able to understand its behaviour and will be able to
compute/estimate index parameters.

CO-2 Interpret soil behaviour through learning soil compaction, consolidation, and analyise
various theories and calculate parameters needed in design.

CO-3 Compute earth pressure, stress distributions and FOS for slopes using various graphical and
analytical tools for various engineering projects/site.

CO-4 Differentiate, compare, formulate, and evaluate soil parameters through performing various
tests as per site conditions or project needs ethically and professionally.

CO-5 Suggest suitable type of foundation as per soil type, estimate bearing capacity and
demonstrate its socio-economic feasibility.
 Tutorial- I
Type of Soils, Index Properties, Inter-relationships and Soil Characterization
1 Define the following term: CO1
(a)Void ratio (b)Porosity (d)Degree of saturation (e)Air content (f)Bulk mass density
(g)Dry mass density (h)Saturated mass density (i)Mass density of soil (j)bulk unit
weight (k)Dry unit weight (l)unit weight of soil solid (m)Specific gravity (n) Water
content
2 Derive the relation between following: CO1
(i) Void ratio and Porosity
(ii) Porosity and Void ratio
(iii)Water content, Void ratio, Specific Gravity and Degree of saturation.
(iv)Bulk unit weight (γB), Unit weight of water (γw),
specific gravity of soil solid (G), Water content (w) and void ratio (e).
(v)Dry unit weight (γd), Unit weight of water (γw),
Specific gravity(G) of soil Solid and Void ratio (e).

3 A saturated sample of soil has water content of 35%. Adopting specific gravity G = CO1
2.70 , calculate dry density (γd) , saturated density (γsat) and submerged density (γ’)

4 A sample of soil was prepared by mixing a quantity of dry soil with 10% by mass of CO1
water. Find the mass of this wet mixture required to produce a cylindrical, compacted
specimen of 15 cm diameter and 12.5 cm deep and having 6% air content. Find also
the void ratio and the dry density of the specimen if G=2.68.

5 A soil deposit to be used for construction of an earth embankment has an average dry CO1
density of 1.62 gm/ml. If the compacted embankment is to have an average dry density
of 1.72 gm/ml, determine the volume of soil to be excavated for 1000 m 3 of
embankment. The water content of the soil in the borrow pit is 10%.

6 A soil has porosity of 40%, the specific gravity of solid of 2.65 and a water content of CO1
12%. Determine the mass of water required to be added to 100 m 3 of this soil for fully
saturation.

7 The liquid limit of a clay soil is 56% and its plasticity index is 15%. (a) In what state CO1
of consistency is this material at a water content of 45%? (b) What is the plastic limit
of the soil? (c) The void ratio of this soil at the minimum volume reached on
shrinkage, is 0.88.What is the shrinkage limit, if its grain specific gravity is 2.71?

8 Determine total stress, neutral stress and effective stress at a depth of 16m below CO1
ground level for the following condition. Water table is 3 m below ground level.
e = 0.72, G = 2.68 average water content of the soil water table is 8%.
 Tutorial- II
Permeability and Seepage
1 Define: CO1
(i) Permeability (ii) Seepage (iii) Hydraulic Gradient (iv) Critical Hydraulic Gradient
(v)Discharge velocity (vi) Seepage velocity (vii) Seepage pressure (viii)Uplift pressures
(ix) Darcy's law (x) Equipotential lines (xi) Flow net (xii) Phreatic Line/Seepage Line

2 Discuss the factors affecting the permeability of soil. CO1

3 A sand sample of 30 cm2 cross sectional area and 20 cm long was tested in a constant CO1
head permeameter. Under a head of 60 cm, the discharge was 120 ml in 6 min. The dry
weight of sand used for the test was 1120 g, and Gs= 2.68. Determine (a) the hydraulic
conductivity in cm/sec, (b) discharge velocity (c) seepage velocity.

4 The data given below relate to two falling head permeameter tests performed on two CO1
different soil samples: (a) stand pipe area = 4 cm 2, (b) sample area = 28 cm2, (c) sample
height = 5 cm, (d) initial head in the stand pipe =100 cm, (e) final head = 20 cm, (f) time
required for the fall of water level in test 1, t = 500 sec, (g) for test 2, t = 15 sec.
Determine the values of k for each of the samples. If these two types of soils form
adjacent layers in a natural state with flow (a) in the horizontal direction, and (b) flow in
the vertical direction, determine the equivalent permeability for both the cases by
assuming that the thickness of each layer is equal to 150 cm.

5 A concentrated load 10 kN acts on the surface of a soil mass. Using Boussinesq analysis CO1
find the vertical stress at points.
(i) 3 m below the surface on the axis of loading and (ii) At radial distance of 2 m from
axis of loading but at same depth of 3 m.

6 Two railway wagon lines in a harbour yard are located 6 m centre to centre. The average CO1
load per meter run in the lines are 100 kN/m and 80 kN/m. Find the vertical stress induce
by the loading at a depth of 2 m beneath each loading and half way between them.

7 Calculate the stress in a soil mass below the centre of a uniformly loaded circular area of CO1
radius 1.5 m with a pressure of 60 kN/m2 and obtain the exact depth at which the stress
reduces to 10% of the applied stress.

8 For a homogeneous earth dam 52 m high and 2 m free board, a flow net was constructed CO1
and following results were obtained:
Number of potential drops = 25
Number of flow channels = 4
The dam has a horizontal filter of 40 m length at its downstream end. Calculate the
discharge per meter length of the dam if the coefficient of permeability of the dam
material is 3x 10-3 cm/sec.
 Tutorial- III
Compaction & Consolidation of soil

1 Differentiate between compaction and consolidation CO2

2 Explain Terzaghi’s “Spring analogy” for consolidation of soil. CO2

3 Define the following: Compression index, expansion index, Coefficient of volume CO2
compressibility, Coefficient of consolidation.

4 A laboratory compaction test on soil having g=2.68 have a dry density 1.8gm/cc and CO2
water content 14%. Determine the degree of saturation, air content and % air voids at
maximum dry density. What could be theoretical maximum dry density corresponding
to zero air voids at optimum moisture content.

5 An Oedometer test is performed on a 2 cm thick clay sample. After 8 minutes, 50% CO2
consolidation is reached. After how long a time would the same degree of
consolidation is achieved in the field where the clay layer is 4.50 m thick? Assume the
sample and the clay layer has the same drainage boundary conditions (double
drainage).

6 The thickness of saturated specimen of clay under a consolidation pressure of 100 CO2
kN/m2 is 22.12mm and its water content is 14%. On increase of the consolidation
pressure to 200 kN/m2, the specimen thickness decreases by 1.28mm. Determine the
compression index for the soil. Take G = 2.70.
 Tutorial – IV
Stress Distribution
1 Differentiate between the Boussinesq’s theory & Westergaard’s theory of stress CO3
distribution in soils.

2 Explain briefly New-mark’s influence chart. CO3

3 Explain pressure bulb. CO3
4 A concentrated load of 50kN acts on the surface of a homogeneous soil mass of large CO3
extent. Find the stress intensity at a depth of 5m and
a) Directly under the load, and
b) At a horizontal dist of 5m. Use Boussinesq’s equation.

5 CO3
A rectangular footing of 2.6 m x 2.1 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 400
kN/m². Find the intensity of vertical pressure at a depth of 5 m below the centre of the
footing.

6 A square footing 3m x 3m carries a uniformly distributed load of 450 kN/m². Find the CO3
intensity of vertical pressure at a depth of 6 m below a point 0.75 m inside each of the
two adjacent side of footing.

7 An elevated structure with a total weight of 10000 kN is supported on a tower with CO3
four legs. The legs rest on piers located at the corners of a square 6 meter on a side.
What is the vertical stress increment due to this loading at a point 7 meter beneath the
centre of the structure?
 Tutorial – V
Shear Strength of Soil

1 What is Mohr’s strength theory for soil? Sketch the typical envelop for clean sand. CO4

2 Explain modified Mohr-coulomb theory. CO4

3 A sample of cohesion less sand is direct shear test fails under a shear stress of CO4
160kN/m2, when normal stress is 140kN/m2. Find the angle of shearing resistance &
principal stress at failure.

4 If the major and minor principal stress through a specimen of failure are 600kN/m 2 & CO4
200kN/m2 respectively. Calculate the values of normal & shear stress on plane making
an angle of 30o with the direction of minor principal stress by graphically.

5 A soil specimen having c=80kN/m2 and =25 is tested in triaxial test apparatus. CO4
Estimate
a) deviator stress at which sample fails when cell pressure is 55 kN/m 2.
b) the cell pressure of sample if fail at major principal stress of 880kN/m 2.
 Tutorial – VI
Earth Pressure & Stability of Slopes

1 Define earth pressure at rest. Show the earth pressure distribution on a retaining wall, CO3
assuming the soil is dry.

2 Enlist the assumptions of Rankine’s theory. Derive the expression for active pressure CO3
and passive pressure.

3 Discuss Culmann’s method for determination of active earth pressure. CO3

4 Define stability number. Discuss its utility in the analysis of stability of slopes. CO3
5 Discuss the method for checking the stability of an infinite slope in a cohesive soil. CO3
6 Enlist different types of slope failures. CO3
7 A vertical cut is made through a homogeneous soil mass(c= 30 kN/m 2,Φ= CO3
20°,γ=16.5 kN/m3).Using Culmann’s method, determine the safe depth of the cut,
taking factor of safety of 2.0

8 A cut of depth 10m is made in a cohesive soil deposit (c=20 kN/m 2, Φ=0, γ= 17 CO3
kN/m3). There is a hard stratum under the cohesive soil at a depth of 12 m below the
original ground surface. If required factor of safety 1.50, determine the safe slope.

9 Mention whether the following statements are “True” or “false”. CO3

(i) The friction circle method can be used for non-homogeneous soil mass.
(ii) Culmann’s method assumes that failure surface is a plane.
(iii)The total stress analysis can be used for stability of slopes.
(iv) The active earth pressure is minimum pressure which develops when the wall
moves away from the fill.
(v) Coulomb’s theory always gives conservative results
The basement walls are generally designed for at-rest pressure.
 Tutorial – VII
Introduction to Foundations and Bearing Capacity

1 Define the following terms: CO5

I. Foundation
II. Bearing Capacity
III. Gross Bearing Capacity
IV. Ultimate bearing capacity
V. Net ultimate bearing capacity
VI. Safe baring capacity
VII. Net Safe bearing capacity
VIII. Allowable bearing pressure
2 Differentiate between shallow foundation and deep foundation. CO5
3 Enlist the assumptions made in the derivation of Terzaghi’s bearing capacity theory. CO5
Also derive the equation for calculating ultimate bearing capacity of soil?

4 Mention the conditions where pile foundation is more suitable than shallow CO5
foundation.

5 A strip footing 2m wide carries a load intensity of 400 kN/m 2 at a depth of 1.2 m in CO5
sand. The saturated unit weight of sand is 19.5 kN/m 3 and unit weight above water
table is 16.8 kN/m3, and having angle of shearing resistance is 35˚.Determine the
factor of safety with respect to shear failure for the following cases of location of
water table:
i. Water table is 4m below G.L
ii. Water table is 1.2 m below G.L
iii. Water table is 2.5 m below G.L
iv. Water table is 0.5 m below G.L
v. Water table is at G.L itself.
Use Terzaghi’s theory.( Nq=41.4, Nγ=42.4)

6 A rectangular footing has a size of 1.8m *3m has to transmit the load of a column at a CO5
depth of 1.5m. Calculate the safe load which the footing can carry at a factor of safety
of 3 against shear failure. Use IS code method. The soil has following properties:
n=40%, G=2.67, w=15%, c=8 kN/m2, ϕ=32.5˚.(use IS 6403)

7 A 30 cm diameter concrete pile is driven into homogeneous consolidated clay deposit CO5
(c= 40 kN/m2, α=0.7). If the embedded length is 10m , estimate the safe load( F.S.=
2.5).