CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

TEST 1
SEMESTER I
SESSION 2017/2018

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS 1

COURSE CODE : BFC21702

PROGRAMME CODE : BACHELOR

BFF OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING WITH HONOURS
EXAMINATION DATE : 5 NOVEMBER 2017 / MARCH 2017

DURATION : 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES

INSTRUCTIONS : 1. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

2. WRITE DOWN YOUR ANSWERS
IN THE ANSWER BOOKLET
3. ATTACH ALL YOUR ANSWERS
IN GRAPH PAPERS TO THE
ANSWER BOOKLET

THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF SIX (6) PAGES

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CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

Q1 (a) Liquid Limit (LL) can be defined as the moisture content at which soil begins to behave
as a liquid material and begins to flow. Sketch and explain the difference of liquid limit
measurement method using Casagrande apparatus and Fall Cone method.
(5 marks)

(b) Two soil samples were collected in Melaka, Malaysia denoted as sample A and B. Both
samples were tested using different liquid limit measurement methods and the result
were recorded in Table Q1(a).

(i) Plot and determine the liquid limit (LL) of sample A and B.
(3 marks)

(ii) Determine the flow index of both soil samples. Equation List can be used as
references.
(3 marks)

(iii) If given correlation between plastic index and flow index is PI(%) = 4.12 IF(%)
and/or PI(%) = 0.74 IFC(%), determine the PI of each sample.
(3 marks)

(iv) Based on Q1(b)(iii), choose which PI is more reasonable for construction project.
Explain your answer.
(2 marks)

(c) Organic soils have been taken in Mersing, Sri Alam and Penggarang, Johor and denoted
as sample X, Y and Z, respectively. The grain-size analysis of the soils are tabulated in
Table Q1(b).

(i) Classify the soils using the AASHTO classification system in Table Q1(c).
(3 marks)

(ii) Calculate the Group Index of each soil. Use Equation List as your references.
(3 marks)

(iii) Choose the best soil to be used as subgrade material for the road construction.
Justify your answer.
(3 marks)

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CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

Q2 (a) Explain the following components of soil based on weight-volume relationships.

(i) Bulk Density

(ii) Specific Gravity
(iii) Degree of saturation
(iv) Unit weight
(4 marks)

(b) Soil mass consist of three main phases including fully saturated, partially saturated
and dry soil. Illustrate and indicate the phase diagram of :

(i) Partially saturated soil with volume of soil solids equal to one.
(3 marks)

(ii) Fully saturated soil with volume of soil solids equal to one.
(3 marks)

(c) If Gs   s  w ,where  s is the unit weight of soil and  w is the unit weight of water,
proof that Vs has relationship with Ws  wGs .
(5 marks)

(d) A soil sample collected in Ulu Tiram, Johor has a volume of 0.28 m3 and weighs
5450 N. The oven dry weight of the soil is 4928 N. If Gs = 2.73, calculate:

(i) The moisture content (%) and moist unit weight (kN/m3).
(2 marks)

(ii) Dry unit weight (kN/m3) and void ratio (%).

(3 marks)

(iii) Porosity (%) and degree of saturation (%).

(4 marks)

 END OF QUESTIONS 

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CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

TEST 1

SEMESTER/SESSION : SEM I / 2017/2018 PROGRAMME CODE : 2 BFF

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS I COURSE CODE : BFC21702

TABLEQ1(a) : Samples collected in Melaka, Malaysia

Soil Sample
A B
Number of blows, Moisture content, Cone Penetration, Moisture content,
N w (%) d (mm) w (%)
`
32 37 17 37
27 42 28 42
22 48 39 45
18 53 58 49

TABLE Q1(b) : Samples collected from Mersing, Sri Alam and Penggarang, Johor

Sieve analysis – Percent finer Liquid Plastic

Soil Type
No.10 No.40 No.200 Limit Limit
X 100 92 80 56 33
Y 83 48 20 20 5
Z 92 68 30 42 24

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CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

TEST 1

SEMESTER/SESSION : SEM I / 2017/2018 PROGRAMME CODE : 2 BFF

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS I COURSE CODE : BFC21702

TABLE Q1(c): AASHTO Classification System (AASHTO M-145)

General Granular Material Fine Grained Soils

Classification (35% or less passing 0.075 mm (Sieve No. 200) (>35% passing 0.075 min (No. 200)
A-1 A-2 A-7
Group
A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7-5a
classification A-1-a A-1-b A-2-4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7
A-7-6b
Sieve analysis
(% passing)
No.10 (2.0 mm) 50 max
No.40 (425µm) 30 max 50 max 51 min
No.200 (75µm) 15 max 25 max 10 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 36 min 36 min 36 min 36 min
Characteristics
of fraction
passing No. 40
(425µm)

Liquid Limit 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min
Plasticity Index 6 max N.P 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 max 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min
Usual types of
significant Stone fragments, Fine
Silty or clayey gravel and sand Silty soils Clayey soils
constituent gravel and sands sand
materials
General rating
Excellent to good Fair to poor
as subgrade
a For A-7-5, PI ≤ LL-30 @ PL ≥ 30
b For A-7-6, PI > LL – 30 @ PL < 30

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CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

TEST 1

SEMESTER/SESSION : SEM I / 2017/2018 PROGRAMME CODE : 2 BFF

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS I COURSE CODE : BFC21702

EQUATION LIST

𝑤2 (%) − 𝑤1 (%)
𝐼𝐹𝐶 =
log 𝑑2 − log𝑑1
𝑤1 − 𝑤2
𝐼𝐹 =
𝑁
log ቀ 2 ቁ
𝑁1

𝐺𝐼 = (𝐹 − 35)ሾ0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)ሿ + 0.01(𝐹 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)

𝐺𝐼 = 0.01(𝐹 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)

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