MAB TOLSMAI 1013 |! @UIM~ (We rERST TERMELOG! WALATS | FINAL EXAMINATION SEMESTER I, SESSION 2009/2010 COURSECODE =; -MABTO/MAIOD course ADVANCED SOIL MECHANICS PROGRAMME Mal DURATION 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES Date ocroBER 2009 INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES: 1. ANSWER ANY FOUR (4) QUESTIONS ONLY. WARNI Students caught copying/cheating during the examination will be liable for disciplinary actions and the faculty may recommend the student to be expelled from the stud) This examination question consists of (9) printed pages only,SECTION A MAB 7013/MAJ 1013. |2 QL (@) A consolidated drained (CD) test was conducted on a 38 mm diameter x 76 mm height sample of dense sand. The cell pressure was 200 kPa and the results obtained during shearing are shown in Table Qi(a). Determine (Critical state parameter, Mi Gi) Modulus of elasticities, F and Ese. (ii) Shear modulus if poisson’s ratio, v'= 0.3. (13 marks) Table QU(a) Axial [Axial [ Changein | “Axial [Axial | Change in iplacement | oad | volume | diplacement | load | volume (mm) © | cm) (mm) ) | (cm) 7 oS was a} os ar ar sy Cie | 32 2359 or 64 3760 | 34 i seo TOF 7 3a8 [as | 13 | 45a 1035 a7 {3252 [36 re feos 07 m9 470 [37 is | see | 8 155 | 4800 [3.7 (©) The following parameters had heen obiained from tests on normally consolidated clay samples taken from a construction site A; = 18 kNim’, M= 1.09, 7 = 251 €9 = 1.59 and C= 0.299. Assuming that the water table is at the surface, use the critical state theory to predict a relationship ‘between the undrained shear strength, S, and depth below ground level. = for the soil at construction site A. Comment on the result obtained. (12 marks) (25 marks)Q Q3. @ () (a) MAB 7013/MAJ 1013, “Stress Paths” could be used in preventing failures in Geotechnical Engineering. Discuss (8 marks) ‘Two samples of soft clay were tested in a triaxial apparatus. Both samples were isotropically consolidated under a cell pressure of 275 kPa and then allowed to swell back to a mean effective stress of 175 kPa, Sample A was later sheared in drained condition while Sample B was in undrained condition. The soil parameters are & = 0.15, « = 0.04, pq = 26.7%, 3. €o~ 1.08 and poisson’s ratio, v Estimate the stress-strain, volumetric strain (Sample A), and excess pore Water pressure (Sample B) responses for the two samples (17 marks) (25 marks) A clay sample was isotropically normally consolidated to 863 KPa and allowed to swell to 40 kPa with specific volume alter swelling was 2.052. ‘The sample was then subjected to undrained compression test. The values Of soil constants for the clay are °=3.13, 2= 0.19 and 0.93. Find the pore water pressure at failure (7 marks)a @ &) () ‘MAB 7013/MAL 1013 A clay sample with a volume of 86.2 ml was fully saturated before being ‘isotropically consolidated in a triaxial cell ata cell pressure of 300 kPa. It ‘was observed that during consolidation, 6.2 ml water was expelled and the void ratio after consolidation was 0.893. ‘The sample was later subjected to triaxial compression test in drained condition and the results obtained are as shown in Table Q3(b). If N = 2.92, 2 = 0,18 and H = 0.09, predict @ ‘complete critical state boundary surface of the soil. Table Q3(b) [Axial Strain | Deviator | Volume | ) Stress | Change (kray | (mb) Sian |) 27 | 10 350 5.12 (is fais | 672) 20 a8 7s | 2B 309 8.08 (critical is) (18 marks) (25 marks) ‘Based on its crystalline of atomic structure of elay, the elay mineral 1s classified into three important groups. What are they? Describe briefly the characteristics of each group and explain how the mineral content can influence the behavior of the clay. (12 marks) Activity (A) value of a “montmorillonite” is higher that that of “kaolinite”, ‘Comment on the statement th respect to structural arrangement, specificMAB 7013/MAS 1013 | 6 {b) Assuming the settlement is purely one-dimensional and laboratory test indicates that the consolidation properties are: Cz = 04, C, = 01, OCR=1.5, = 12, G,= 26. Estimate the value of m, and calculate the 1-D consolidation settlement of the soft clay (14 marks) (©) Comparing the results in (a) and (b), would you expect these values 10 agree? What cause the differences in your answer to (a) and (by? (5 marks) (25 marks) Q6. (a) _List the methods used to assess the coefficient of rate of consolidation in horizontal direction (¢,). Explain the problems related to the predietion of ‘ey by Asaoka methods. 0 marks)MAB 7013/MAJ 1013.7 (6) AS m bigh fill vas placed on top of a 15 m deep deposit of soft ‘compressible clay overlying impermeable bedrock, The embankment was completed within 200 days. Settlement measured were as shown in Table 2600). Table Q6(0) Time, (days) 00 ‘Based on the above observational data and Asaoka’s procedure, solve the followings: (i) estimate final settlement 5 (ii) ifeardboard drains with an equivalent diameter of 5 em were used t0 speed up the consolidation, calculate the coefficient of horizontal consolidation cy, assuming ¢,~ 10* m?isee. (the drains are spaced in 4 triangular pattern with a spacing of 1 m). (iid) by using the cardboard drains, what isthe time needed t0 reach 90% consolidation (ts). (18 marks) (25 marks) ve ve wlogep” 9 = Mp! S.= a? o's = Keo'y with Ky = 0.5 for undrained condition a= Hei ~ ines] =|MAB 7013/MAJ 1013, [~~ ~~ FQuatior Blast Setiement POs a | 1-D consolidation settlement Hint: sketch the figure and plot e-log p eurve to get es 4a, S.=m, 40H whee ™, Gaelllgaea Tre, Te, (¢',-0" (Gren lee Yea In general, Asaoka’s methods is expressed as xing 86, ate, a Da 4H with the symbols carrying the commonly accepted meanings. 0.75 i Uynt-o eet) |