CENG 197 Problem Set Geotechnical Engineering 1

CENG 197 – Competency Appraisal 2
Problem Set – Geotechnical Engineering 1
1. A specimen of moist soil weighing 122g has an apparent specific gravity of the solids is 2.53. After the specimen is
oven-dried the weight is 104g. Determine the following:
a. void ratio
b. porosity
c. dry density
2. When the moisture content of a soil sample is 3.45%, the degree of saturation is 18.09%. When the moisture content
of the same soil sample is 5.56%, determine its degree of saturation.
3. A sample of saturated clay has a water content of 56%. Assume Gs = 2.72. Compute the following:
a. void ratio
b. saturated unit weight
c. porosity
4. A soil sample weighing 11.23 lbs. has a volume of 0.092 cu.ft. If water content = 13.4% and Gs = 2.65, determine the
following:
a. unit weight of soil
b. dry unit weight
c. void ratio
d. porosity
e. degree of saturation
5. The unit weight of a soil sample is 1 900 kg/m3 and the unit weight of the soil particles is 2 660 kg/m3. The soil has a
moisture content of 12%. The void ratios corresponding to the densest and loosest state of the soil are 0.42 and 0.63,
respectively. Solve for the following:
a. dry unit weight of the soil
b. void ratio of the soil
c. relative density of the soil
6. The result of plastic limit determination of a soil sample is given below.
Mass of container with wet soil Mass of container with dry soil
Trial Moisture content (%)
(grams) (grams)
1 33.43 29.81
2 32.16 28.52 21.05
3 34.80 20.17
4 35.47 31.29
Determine the following:
a. mass of the container used in all trials
b. mass of the dry soil in the third trial
c. plastic limit of the soil
7. A soil sample was determined in the laboratory to have a liquid limit of 52% and a plastic limit of 34%. The soil has a
natural water content of 44%. Compute for the following:
a. plasticity index
b. liquidity index
8. The Atterberg’s limit values for a certain soil sample are LL = 70%, PL = 46% and SL = 16%. The in-situ moisture
content of the soil is 52%. Determine the:
a. shrinkage index
b. liquidity index
c. consistency index
9. A confined aquifer has a hydraulic conductivity of 40m/day and a porosity of 0.25. The piezometric heads in the two
observation wells 1 200 m apart are 65 m and 60 m from a common datum. The aquifer has an average width of 4 km and
a height of 25 m. Determine the following:
a. rate of flow of water
b. seepage velocity
c. time of travel from the head of the aquifer to a point 3.30 km downstream
10. A falling head permeability test was run on a soil sample 9.60 cm in diameter and 10 cm long. The head at the start
of the test was 90 cm. The coefficient of permeability of the soil was found to be 5 x 10 -6 cm/s. The diameter of the
stand pipe was 1 cm. Determine the following:
a. rate of flow at the start of the test
b. potential drop during the first 30 seconds
c. rate of flow after 30 minutes
11. The data from a falling head test on a silty clay are as follows:
Cross-sectional area of soil = 80 cm2
Length of soil = 10 cm
Initial head = 90 cm
Final head = 84 cm
Duration of test = 15 min
Diameter of tube = 6 mm
Temperature = 22° C
a. coefficient of permeability of the sample
b. time elapsed when the potential drop is 3 cm
c. rate of flow at an instant when the potential drop is 5 cm
12. An unconfined aquifer underlies a confined aquifer as shown.

a. equivalent coefficient of permeability for flow in the horizontal direction
b. hydraulic gradient
c. rate of flow from one stream to another per meter width
13. A layer of sand 4.50 m thick (Gs = 2.60, e = 0.70, S = 0.85) is underlain with 5 m thick clay (Gs = 2.65, ω = 0.28). Ground
water table is located at the interface of the two soils. Compute for:
a. depth below the ground surface that the effective vertical stress be equal to 100 kPa.
b. vertical effective stress at a depth of 8 m below the ground surface
14. A dense silt layer has the following properties: void ratio e = 0.60, effective diameter D 10 = 40 μm, capillary constant
C = 0.72 cm2, unit weight of soil particles = 26.72 kN/m3. The free ground water is 12 m below the ground surface. Determine:
a. height of capillary rise in the silt using Hazen formula
b. effective stress at a point 10 m below the ground surface. Assume that the silt in the capillary zone is 50%
saturated and the layer above it is dry.
c. effective stress at a point 15 m below the ground surface
15. A 2.60 m dry fill (Gs = 2.62) has a relative density of 22% and 86% before and after compaction, respectively. The void
ratios corresponding to the loosest and densest condition are 0.89 and 0.51, respectively. Solve for:
a. decrease in height of the soil after compaction
b. degree of saturation if 0.204 m3 of water is added per cubic meter of soil after compaction
c. amount of water required per cubic meter of soil to fully saturate the compacted soil

CENG 197 Problem Set Geotechnical Engineering 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CENG 197 Problem Set Geotechnical Engineering 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CENG 197 Problem Set Geotechnical Engineering 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CENG 197 – Competency Appraisal 2

Problem Set – Geotechnical Engineering 1

Determine the following:

You might also like