BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

II Semester 2015-2016
Course: CE F243 SOIL MECHANICS
MID SEM. TEST (OPEN BOOK)
Duration: 90 min. Dated: 16-03-2016 Max. Marks: 25
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Q1. Calculate the IS compaction energy used per unit volume for soil sample having more than 25% retained
on 19 mm sieve. Compaction test results to be used for field compaction of National Highway embankment.
(2 marks)

Q2.At a site top 3 m soil is sand layer. Below sand is 6 m thick saturated clay layer (Cc=0.8, Cs=0.09, Cr=
0.12, water content 35%, Gs=2.7). Initial effective stress at centre of clay layer is 60 kPa. It is proposed to
build a circular tower which is transferring a total load of 12000 kN through 8 m diameter raft foundation. (a)
In an attempt to reduce post construction settlement, a proposal is made to apply surcharge by spreading 3 m
high soil (unit weight 17 kN/m3)layer over large area and once consolidation was complete the surcharge was
removed. What would be the settlement of ground due to this process? (b) If after removing surcharge tower
is constructed, what would be the consolidation settlement of warehouse? (Consider change in void ratio and
thickness of clay layer during different steps). (8 marks)

Q3. In top 6 m thick saturated silt (unit weight of 20kN/m3) water table rises from a depth of 3 m to 2 m
measured from ground level (GL). All the silt layer is saturated up to ground level before and after the water
table rises. Draw pore water pressure distribution from GL to 6 m depth showing value at GL and 6 m from
GL before and after rise of water table. Find effective stress at a depth of 0.75 m (from ground level) before
and after rise of water table. (3 marks)

Q4. Why dry unit weight first increases with increase in moisture content than start decreasing after OMC
during compaction test of fine grained soils? With increase in compaction efforts less increase in dry unit
weight is observed on wet side of optimum compare to dry side of optimum, explain. [2M]

Q5. A circular ring foundation for a chimney resting at ground transmits a contact
pressure of 200 kN/m2. Its internal diameter is 4 m and external diameter 6 m.
(a)Compute the vertical stress on the outer edge of the foundation due to the imposed
load at a depth of 2 m below the ground level. Use Newmarks chart. (b)Compute the
vertical stress at centre of the foundation due to the imposed load at a depth of 2 m
below the ground level. (4marks)

Q6. A Proctor Compaction test in the laboratory on a borrow pit soil gives following results.
Moisture content% 8 11.5 12 13 16
Dry unit weight (kN/ m3) 16 18.05 19 18.05 16.4
In-situ bulk unit weight and water content of the soil in borrow pit are 17 kN/ m3 and 9% respectively. A
highway embankment is to be constructed using this soil at 95% relative compaction.
(a) How many cubic meter of borrow pit soil is required for a 100000 m3 of compacted highway
embankment?
(b) What is the minimum additional weight of water to be required to achieve desired compaction? [4 marks]

Q7. Falling head permeability test is conducted in your Soil Mechanics lab apparatus. Height of soil sample=
16.8 cm, Dia of soil sample= 10 cm, inner dia of stand pipe= 5 cm. Initial scale reading of water level in pipe
=80 cm , after 2 minute scale reading of water level is 42.5 cm. Outlet of water from permeability mold is 20
cm below zero mark of scale. Find permeability of soil. [2 marks]
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