CE 3811 2017 TUTORIAL 1 SBSA

1. A building site is underlain by a layer of dry sand resting on two clay layers. The water table is
at the interface of the two clay layers as shown in the figure. Assume 50% saturation in
capillary zone.

2m 1. DRY SAND, Gs = 2.66, e = 0.5

1.5m 2. CLAY IN CAPILLARY

ZONE, Gs = 2.71, e = 0.75 WT

3m
3. CLAY , Gs = 2.72, e = 0.95

Calculate and draw the pore water pressure distribution, the effective vertical stress
distribution and the total vertical stress distribution through the depth of the three layers.

2. At a point in a soil deposit, the maximum normal stress is found to be 14.6 kN/m 2 and the
minimum normal stress is found to be -4.18 kN/m2. Find the normal stress and the shear
stress on a plane that is inclined by 500 with respect to the major principal plane. What is the
maximum shear stress at the point of interest.