1

ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY - INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Civil &Urban Engineering Department
Final Examination, (1st Semester, AY 2013-14)
Course Code: CENG-6205
Group: PG1(Geotech.Engg)
Examiner-Dr.R.K.Verma
Instructions-

1(a)

Course Title: Field Exploration and soil Testing.

Time: 3Hrs
Maximum Marks: 40

1.Attempt all questions

2. Assume suitable data, if not given.
3. Marks are given against each question.
4. Return the question paper along the answer book.
5. It is a closed book examiner.

You are required to procure soil samples for the tests listed below. Write against each of
these the approximate minimum quantities of soil specimen you should procure for these
tests:
(4)
Type of test

Fine grained soil Medium grained soil Coarse grained soil

(g)
(g)
(g)

1. water content
2.Specific gravity by
pycnometer or flask
3.sieve analysis
4.Standard proctor
test
(b)

Specific gravity of sandy-clayey silt is determined by pycnometer and following

observations are obtained:
(4)
Determination No.
Pycnometer No.
Mass of pyc + water + soil, M1,
Temperature, T, in 0C
Mass of pyc + water, M2,
Evaporating Dish No.
Mass of dish + dry soil ,
Mass of dish,
Specific gravity of water at T, GT

(g)
(g)
(g)
(g)

1
8
706.11
30
673.67
A-15
491.12
438.92
0.996

2
8
706.80
25.5
674.28
A-15
491.12
438.92
0.997

3
8
707.07
23
674.57
A-15
491.12
438.92
0.998

Determine the specific gravity of the soil.

2(a)

Write the corrections that are necessary to be applied to the hydrometer reading, with
their reasons. Describe the procedure to determine them experimentally. If R is the
hydrometer reading in the soil suspension, write this reading after applying the above
corrections.
(4)

2
(b) Plot a graph between water content and number of blows on an appropriate graph sheet
and determine the liquid limit of the soil whose observations are recorded in the following
table:
(4)
Table- Observation sheet for the liquid limit test
SNo Test nos
1
2
3
4
1
Water content tin no.
5
6
7
8
2
Nos of blows
18
22
30
35
3
Mass of tin + wet soil
g 41.17
40.00
43.11
41.43
4
Mass of tin + dry soil
g 35.52
35.28
38.19
36.77
5
Mass of empty tin
g 23.10
24.08
24.70
22.42
3

A soil sample consisting of gravels, sand and fines is collecting from the local site of the
University for Sieve Analysis which is conducted and following observations are
recorded.
Total mass of dry sample
= 5,000 g
For separating large sized particles, it is sieved through course sieves given below, with
quantities retained on them
Sieve
Mass retained (g)
80mm
0.00
40 mm
105
20 mm
615
20 mm
4280 passing
A quantity of 2000 g from the material passing through 20 mm sieve is taken for further
intermediate sieve analysis as given below:
Sieve
Mass retained (g)
10 mm
106
4.75 mm
214
4.75 mm
1680 passing
Out of this 1680 g material, 140 g is further sieved with finer sieves as follows;
Sieve
Mass passing (g)
2 mm
10.80
1 mm
18.40
600 micron
31.60
425 micron
29.20
300 micron
17.76
212 micron
12.18
150 micron
6.66
75 micron
11.00
Passing 75 micron
2.40
Make a proper analysis of this sample and draw the grain size distribution curve
between percent -finer and particle size on the appropriate graph sheet. Report the
values of D10 , D30 and D60
and calculate Cu and Cc.
(8)

3
4(a)

Remoulded specimens of a sandy clay are tested in a shear box, 36 cm2 in area, under
undraied conditions. The observations for normal load and maximum shear force are
given in the following table:
(4)
Normal load (N)
90
180
270
360
450

Maximum shear force (N)

125
155
185
225
255

Plot a failure envelop for the soil and determine the values of angle of shearing
resistance and cohesion.
(b) Standard proctor test (light weight) is conducted on a soil sample whose observations
are recorded as follows;
1. Size of mould
= 100 mm dia. X 127.3 mm high
2. Capacity of mould = 1000 ml
3. Rammer
= 2.6 kg x 310 mm
4. No. of layers
=3
5. Blows per layer
= 25
SNo. Test No.
1
2
3
4
5
1
Mass of mould + soil
g
6779
6893
6957
6968
6894
2
Mass of empty mould
g
4937
4937
4937
4937
4937
3
Water content (given ) %
9.1
11.6
13.4
15.0
17.3
Note- Water content is determined separately but its observation sheet is not given.
Plot a graph between dry density and water content. Report maximum dry density and
OMC as is read from the graph.
(4)
5 (a)

Observation sheet is given hereunder for a CBR test:

Penetration test on soaked specimen
1. Proving ring constant
1 div = 42.5 N
2. Plunger: 50 mm in diameter
3. Surcharge mass = 5kg
Penetration (mm) Proving
ring
dial
gauge
readings(division)
0.0
0.0
0.5
31
1.0
69
1.5
88
2.0
98
2.5
106
3.0
113
4.0
123
5.0
130
7.5
142
10.0
150
12.5
155

Plot a graph between loads on plunger versus correspondence penetrations and

calculate CBR value for the specimen.
(4)
5. (b) SPT is conducted at the project site where sand is available up to 6 m depth below the
general ground surface and thereafter saturated clay is available. Data are as follows:
(4)
Test Depth below GS (m)
Observed N-value
1.5
6
3.0
9
4.5
13
6.0
10
7.5
14
9.0
12
10.5
15
12
17
Bore hole diameter
= 100 mm
Split spoon sampler is used
Energy level
= 45%
Unit weight of soil up to 6m depth
= 17.4 kN / m3
Saturated unit weight of clay
= 18.7 kN / m3
Water table exists at depth
= 9.0 m below the ground surface
Calculate corrected values of N with proper designations i.e N60 or (N1)60
Use
S
R
Variation of B
Diameter
mm

Variable

Rod
length
(m)

60-120

1.0

>10

1.0

150

1.05

0.8

6-10

0.95

200

1.15

Standard
sampler
With
liner for
dense
sand &
clay
With
liner for
loose
sand

0.9

4-6

0.85

0-4

0.75

And for overburden correction CN , use

Skemptons relationship (1986)

2
CN =

01 where 0/=effective overburden pressure and Pa=atmospheric pressure

P
a

..end