FKA.B.PP.03 Ed.

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER II, SESSION 2008/2009
COURSE CODE

SAB 1713

COURSE

SOIL MECHANICS

PROGRAMME

SAW

DURATION

2 HOURS 30 MINUTES

DATE

APRIL 2009

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES:
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

WARNING!
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 study.

THIS EXAMINATIONS QUESTIONS CONSISTS OF ( 11 ) PRINTED PAGES ONLY

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Q1.

A moist clayey soil sample has an initial void ratio, e = 1.5. The specific gravity
and dry mass of the soil is 2.7 and 75g. The sample is left exposed to the
atmosphere so that its moisture content reduces, and the sample volume
decreases. When the volume is half of the initial volume, determine:

i)
ii)

the final void ratio

the mass of water in the voids if the degree of saturation is 27%

(10 marks)

A soil sample was taken from a site and sent to the laboratory for a Standard
Proctor Test. The results are tabulated below;

Bulk density
(kg/m3)
Moisture content
(%)

i)

2060

2105

2154

2160

2142

13.0

14.4

15.8

17

18

Determine the maximum degree of compaction for the soil. Show

all the calculation.
(12 marks)

ii)

What is the minimum dry unit weight of compacted soil at site to

be achieved by an engineer to fulfill the specification for the
earthwork?
(3 marks)

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Q2.

Classification tests to determine the particle size distribution of a soil obtain the
following results:

Particle Size
(mm)

% finer

6
2.36
1.3
0.6
0.2
0.075
0.02

99
80
63
33
10
3
2

Then using cone penetrometer for Liquid Limit, the results were recorded.

Cone
penetration

15.9

17.7

19.1

20.3

22.5

32.6

42.9

51.6

59.8

66.2

(mm)
Water
content (%)

While in plastic limit test conducted in the same soil were recorded as below:-

Test No.

Wet soil

10.01

11.23

9.72

Dry soil

8.02

9.01

7.72

i)

Plot the grain size distribution curve on the graph log that has been
provided. (Figure Q2a).

ii)

Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu and the coefficient of

gradation, Cc for the soil sample.

iii)

Determine the plastic limit, liquid limit and plasticity index of the
soil. Plot the graph to help you obtain the results (if necessary).

iv)

Use the Unified soil classification (USCS) to describe the soil.

(You may use Figure Q2b until Figure Q2f).
(25 marks)

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Q3.

Nabil had attended a short seminar on the application of mat foundation on the
peat soil. Due to lack of knowledge in geotechnic, he could not understand
what is the effective stress mentioned by the keynote speaker. As friend, could
you help Nabil by explaining to him the relationship between effective stress,
total stress and pore pressure?
(5 marks)

When you come back from the seminar, you are required to do an analysis on a
soil work. A small house was built on a soil deposit as shown in Figure Q3.
The size of house is 5 m width, 6 m long, and 3 m height. The weight of the
house is 450 kN. Due to heavy rain, the ground water level increases up to
ground surface (level A). Plot the variation of total stress, pore water pressure
and effective stress with depth due to the weight of the house and increasing
the ground water level. (Ignore the effect of the soil capillary rise). For the
soil, you are given e = 0.5 and Gs = 2.75. Show all the equation.

dry =

Gs w
,
1+ e

(G s + Se) w
1+ e

sat =

(G s + e) w
1+ e

(12 marks)

In the same problems, you found out that when the rain stops, the ground water
level decreases to the initial level at C. Due to decreases of the ground water
level, the first soil layer settle about 0.5 meter from previous height. Calculate
the value of the total stress, pore water pressure and effective stress with the
depth due to the settlement process.
(8 marks)

Q4.

Normally consolidated clay is tested using triaxial apparatus at drained

condition. The confining pressure is 110 kN/m2 and the deviator stress at
failure is 175 kN/m2.
i)

Draw the illustration of the Mohr coulomb

ii)

Find the friction angle,

SAB1713
-4-

iii)

Determine the angle that the failure plane makes with the major
principal plane

iv)

Find the normal stress and the shear stress on the failure plane

v)

Find the maximum shear stress and its corresponding normal stress

(25 marks)

SAB1713
-5FKA.B.PP.06.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
COURSE

SESI : 2008/2009

: ___SOIL MECHANICS________

PROGRAM ME

: ___SAW_____

CODE COURSE

Figure Q2a : Answer sheet for Q2

: _SAB 1713___

SAB1713
-6FKA.B.PP.06.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
SESSION: 2008/2009
COURSE
: SOIL MECHANICS

PROGRAMME: SAW
COURSE CODE : SAB 1713

Figure Q2b : USCS Table

SAB1713
-7FKA.B.PP.05.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
COURSE

SESSION : 2008/2009

: ___SOIL MECHANICS______

PROGRAMME

: _ SAW

CODE COURSE

: _SAB 1713

Figure Q2c : USCS Gravel Table

___
_

SAB1713
-8FKA.B.PP.05.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
COURSE

SESSION : 2008/2009

: ___SOIL MECHANICS______

PROGRAMME

: _ SAW

CODE COURSE

: _SAB 1713

Figure Q2d : USCS Sand Table

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_

SAB1713
-9FKA.B.PP.05.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
COURSE

SESSION : 2008/2009

: ___SOIL MECHANICS______

PROGRAMME

: _ SAW

CODE COURSE

: _SAB 1713

Figure Q2e : USCS Clay Table

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_

SAB1713
- 10 FKA.B.PP.05.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
COURSE

SESSION : 2008/2009

: ___SOIL MECHANICS______

PROGRAMME

: _ SAW

CODE COURSE

: _SAB 1713

Figure Q2f : Plasticity Chart

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_

SAB1713
- 11 FKA.B.PP.05.Ed.1

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
SEMESTER : II
COURSE

SESSION : 2008/2009

: ___SOIL MECHANICS______

450 kN

2m

PROGRAMME

: _ SAW

CODE COURSE

: _SAB 1713

Level A

Soil
Level B

1m

Clay, S = 60%

Level C

3m

Level D

Impermeable layer

Figure Q3

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_