CE CORREL SOIL MECHANICS (A)

A sample of saturated soil weighs 588N and has a volume of 0.03m3. If the void ratio of the soil is 0.75, determine:
1. Moist Unit Weight
a. 19,600 N/m3 b. 18,600 N/m3 c. 20,600 N/m3 d. 21,600 N/m3
2. Specific Gravity
a. 2.60 b. 2.65 c. 2.70 d. 2.75

A clay sample has unit weight of 21.1 kN/m3 at moisture content of 9.8%. When completely saturated with water, its unit weight is 22.58 kN/m 3.
3. Determine Void Ratio
a. 48.21% b. 54.21% c. 50.21% d. 52.14%
4. Determine Porosity
a. 34.3% b. 32.3% c. 36.3% d. 30.3%

A saturated clay encountered in a deep excavation is found to have a water content of 28%. Assume Gs = 2.7
5. Determine Void Ratio
a. 77.60 b. 73.60 c. 75.60 d. 71.60
6. Determine Moist Unit Weight
a. 17.31 kN/m3 b. 15.31 kN/m3 c. 21.31 kN/m3 d. 19.31 kN/m3

A hand-carved sample of soft saturated clay weighs 350 grams and has a volume of 200 cc. After oven-drying, it weighs 240 grams. Calculate:
7. Moisture Content
a. 45.83% b. 43.83% c. 47.83% d. 49.83%
8. Specific Gravity of Solids
a. 2.65 b. 2.67 c. 2.72 d. 2.77
9. Porosity
a. 52% b. 55% c. 58% d. 61%

A specimen of sand has a porosity of 45%, and the specific gravity of its solids is 2.71. Compute:
10. Void Ratio
a. 75.82% b. 83.82% c. 78.82% d. 81.82%
11. Specific Weight of this Soil in the Submerged State
a. 7.23 kN/m3 b. 11.23 kN/m3 c. 13.23 kN/m3 d. 9.23 kN/m3

A soil sample was compacted. The result of the standard proctor test shows that at 100% compaction, the soil weighs 131.1 pcf with optimum moisture content of
14%. Gs = 2.67
12. Detemine Void Ratio
a. 32.38% b. 35.38% c. 37.38% d. 39.38%
13. What is the maximum dry unit weight of the soil (at zero air voids) in pcf?
a. 118.28 pcf b. 121.28 pcf c. 124.28 pcf d. 127.28 pcf

A wet soil sample has a volume of 4.85x10-4 m3 and weighs 8.5N. After oven drying the weight reduces to 7.5N. Use Gs = 2.70. Determine:
14. Unit Weight
a. 14.53 kN/m3 b. 17.53 kN/m3 c. 19.53 kN/m3 d. 21.53 kN/m3
15. Moisture Content
a. 13.33% b. 16.33% c. 19.33% d. 10.33%
16. Degree of Saturation
a. 52.50% b. 47.50% c. 50.50% d. 57.50%

Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg limit test.

A. LIQUID LIMIT
TEST NO. 1 2 3 4
No. of Blows 38 29 20 14
Weight of Wet Soil + Container, g 22.47 21.29 21.27 26.12
Weight of Dry Soil + Container, g 19.44 18.78 18.75 22.10
Weight of Container, g 12.74 13.24 13.20 13.27
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry Soil, g
Water Content %
B. PLASTIC LIMIT AND NATURAL WATER CONTENT PLASTIC LIMIT NATURAL WATER CONTENT
TEST NO. 1 2 1 2
Weight of Wet Soil + Container, g 23.20 22.80 17.53 16.97
Weight of Dry Soil + Container, g 20.42 20.19 14.84 14.36
Weight of Container, g 12.90 12.95 9.50 9.55
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry Soil, g
Water Content, %
Average, %
17. Determine Liquid Limit
a. 42.35% b. 48.35% c. 51.35% d. 45.35%
18. Determine Plastic Limit
a. 33.51% b. 36.51% c. 39.51% d. 42.51%
19. Determine Liquidity Index
a. 1.788 b. 1.588 c. 1.988 d. 2.188

Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg limit test.

A. LIQUID LIMIT
TEST NO. 1 2 3 4
Cone Penetration, mm 16 18 28 33
Weight of Wet Soil + Container, g 35.62 36.91 41.26 45.70
Weight of Dry Soil + Container, g 28.84 29.89 31.42 33.69
Weight of Container, g 10.52 12.33 11.74 11.45
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry Soil, g
Water Content %
B. PLASTIC LIMIT AND NATURAL WATER CONTENT PLASTIC LIMIT NATURAL WATER CONTENT
TEST NO. 1 2 1 2
Weight of Wet Soil + Container, g 30.18 31.78 27.77 30.04
Weight of Dry Soil + Container, g 25.76 27.18 25.39 27.23
Weight of Container, g 10.52 12.33 11.74 11.45
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry Soil, g
Water Content, %
Average, %

20. Determine Liquid Limit

a. 42% b. 47% c. 52% d. 37%
21. Determine Plastic Limit
a. 30% b. 33% c. 27% d. 36%
22. Determine Liquidity Index
a. -1.533 b. 1.533 c. 1.033 d. -1.033
A saturated soil has the following characteristics: Initial Volume = 25cc, Final Volume = 16cc, Mass of Wet Soil = 45g, Mass of Dry Soil = 31g.

23. Determine Shrinkage Limit of Soil

a. 22.13% b. 19.13% c. 13.13% d. 16.13%

24. Determine Shrinkage Ratio

a. 1.64 b. 1.94 c. 2.34 d. 2.74

25. Determine Specific Gravity of the Soil

a. 2.62 b. 2.82 c. 2.42 d. 3.02

The following data were obtained from sieve analysis.

Sieve No. Diameter (mm) Mass Retained (grams)

4 4.76 5
8 2.38 45
10 2.00 65
20 0.84 92
40 0.42 152
60 0.25 115
80 0.180 212
100 0.149 63
200 0.074 32
PAN 14
TOTAL

26. Determine Effective Size

a. 0.57 mm b. 0.01 mm d. 0.37 mm c. 0.17 mm
27. Determine Coefficient of Uniformity
a. 3.0 b. 5.0 c. 1.0 d. 7.0
28. Determine Coefficient of Curvature
a. 0.509 b. 1.509 c. 0.009 d. 2.009
A soil has the following particle-size distribution:

Gravel 20%
Sand 10%
Silt 30%
Clay 40%

29. Classify the soil according to USDA Classification System.

a. Loam b. Sand c. Silt d. Clay

Classify the following soils by the AASHTO Classification System

Description Soil A Soil B Soil C

Percent finer than No.10 Sieve 83 100 48
Percent finer than No.40 Sieve 48 92 28
Percent finer than No.200 Sieve 20 86 6
Liquid Limit 20 70 -
Plasticity Index 5 32 Nonplastic

30. Soil A
a. A-1-b (0) b. A-2 c. A-1-b (5) d. A-5
31. Soil B
a. A-7-5 (20) b. A-7-5 (33) c. A-5 (20) d. A-5 (33)
32. Soil C
a. A-1-a (0) b. A-1-a (2) c. A-5 (5) d. A-6 (9)
Soil Classification using USCS Method:

Soil Sample
Sieve No. A B C D
#4 100 100 100 90
#8 99 90 100 64
#10 98 77 98 54
#20 92 59 92 34
#40 70 51 84 22
#60 46 42 79 19
#100 25 35 70 9
#200 0 33 63 4
Characteristics of -40 Fraction
LL - 46 47 -
PL - 29 24 -

33. Soil A (Cu = 4, Cc = 2)

a.GW b. GP c. SW d. SP
34. Soil B (Assume Clay > Silt)
a. SC b. SW c. GC d. GM
35. Soil C (Assume Clay > Silt)
a. CH b. ML c. CL d. MH
36. Soil D (Cu = 8, Cc = 2)
a. SW b. SP c. GW d. GP
The results of a standard compaction test are shown in the table below. Determine the maximum dry unit weight and optimum water content.

Water Content (%) 6.2 8.1 9.8 11.5 12.3 13.2

Bulk Unit Weight 16.9 18.7 19.5 20.5 20.4 20.1
(kN/m3)

37. What is the maximum dry unit weight?

a. 16.3 kN/m3 b. 19.2 kN/m3 c. 17.0 kN/m3 d. 18.4 kN/m3
37. What is the optimum water content?
a. 9.5% b. 11.5% c. 13.5% d. 15.5%
38. At 95% compaction, what is the maximum dry unit weight?
a. 19.0 kN/m3 b. 17.5 kN/m3 c. 16.0 kN/m3 d. 21.0 kN/m3
39. What is the optimum water content at 95% compaction?
a. 13.2% b. 11.2% c. 7.2% d. 9.2%

An earth dam requires 1 million cubic meters of soil compacted to a void ratio of 0.80. In the vicinity of the proposed dam, three borrow pits were identified as having
suitable materials. The cost of purchasing the soil and the cost of excavation are the same for each borrow pit. The only cost difference is transportation cost. The
table below provides the void ratio and the transportation cost for each borrow pit.

Borrow Pit Void Ratio Transportation Cost ($/cu.m)

1 1.8 $ 0.60
2 0.9 $ 1.00
3 1.5 $ 0.75

40. What is the cost for borrow pit 1?

a. $933,333 b. $1,055,555 c. $1,041,667 d. $1,321,220
41. What is the cost for borrow pit 2?
a. $933,333 b. $1,055,555 c. $1,041,667 d. $1,321,220
42. What is the cost for borrow pit 3?
a. $933,333 b. $1,055,555 c. $1,041,667 d. $1,321,220
43. Which is the most economical?
a. Burrow Pit 1 b. Burrow Pit 2 c. Burrow Pit 3 d. Both Burrow Pit 1 and 2