PROBLEMS IN SOIL MECHANICS (GIRON,LAURELES,OCAMPINA)

Situation I.(#1-3) - Given the following soil properties:

Specific gravity of soil solids, Gs = 2.67 [1-5]
Void ratio, e = 0.45
Degree of saturation, S = 40%

Calculate the following:

1.) The unit weight of the soil.

A. 18.52 kN/m3 C. 19.28 kN/m3
B. 20.14 kN/m3 D. 19.63 kN/m3

Solution:
𝐺𝑠+𝑆𝑒
𝛾𝑚 = 𝛾𝑤
1+𝑒

2.67+0.40(0.45)
𝛾𝑚 = 1+0.45
(9.81)

𝜸𝒎 = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟖𝟐 𝒌𝑵/𝒎3

2.) The dry unit weight of the soil.

A. 18.57 kN/m3 C. 17.56 kN/m3

B. 18.06 kN/m3 D. 19.21 kN/m3

Solution:
𝐺𝑠
𝛾𝑑 = 1+𝑒 𝛾𝑤
2.67
𝛾𝑑 = 1+0.45 (9.81)

𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟎𝟔𝟒 𝒌𝑵/𝒎3

3.) The unit weight of the soil when fully saturated.

A. 20.45 kN/m3 C. 21.58 kN/m3

B. 20.89 kN/m3 D. 21.11 kN/m3

Solution:
𝐺𝑠+𝑒
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 1+𝑒
𝛾𝑤
2.67+ 0.45
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 1+0.45
(9.81)

𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟏𝟏 𝒌𝑵/𝒎3

Situation II (#4-6). – A soil has a dry unit weight of 15 kN/m3[10-20] and void ratio of 0.50.

Given:
Dry unit weight, 𝛾𝑑 = 15 kN/m3
Void ratio, e= 0.50
Unit weight of water, 𝛾𝑤 = 9.81 kN/m3

4.) Evaluate the specific gravity of the soil solids.

A. 2.29 C. 2.78
B. 2.56 D. 2.84

Solution:
𝐺𝑠
𝛾𝑑 = 𝛾𝑤
1+𝑒
𝐺
15 = 1+0.5 (9.81)

G= 2.2936

5.) Obtain the unit weight of the sample, in kN/m3, when fully saturated.
A. 19.32 C. 20.14
B. 18.27 D. 22.63

Solution:
𝐺+𝑒
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 1+𝑒 𝑤
𝛾
2.2936
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 1+0.5
(9.81)
𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟐𝟕 𝒌𝑵/𝒎3

6.) Obtain the hydraulic gradient of the soil at critical condition

A. 1.214 C. 0.956
B. 0.754 D. 0.862

Solution:
𝐺−1
𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡 =
1+𝑒
2.2936−1
𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡 = 1+0.5
𝒊𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟔𝟐

Situation III.(#7-8) -Given the following properties of a soil sample:

Liquid limit= 63.2%

Plastic limit=36.8% [30%-50%]
Liquid Index=0.52
Calculate the following:

7.) The plasticity index of the soil.

A. 32.5% C. 26.4%
B. 25.4% D. 28.7%

Solution:

PI=LL-PL
PI=63.2% - 36.8%
PI=26.4%

8.) The natural water content of the soil.

A. 50.53% C. 51.78%
B. 52.24% D. 48.65%

Solution:
𝑀𝐶𝑛 −𝑃𝐿
𝐿𝐼 = 𝑃𝐼
𝑀𝐶𝑛 −36.8
0.52 = 26.4

𝑴𝑪𝒏 = 𝟓𝟎. 𝟓𝟐𝟖%

9.) Calculate the void ratio of a soil sample with porosity of 0.25 [0.1-0.5]

Given:
Porosity, n=0.25

Solution:
𝑛
Void ratio, e=1−𝑛
0.25
e=1−0.25

e=0.3333

e=33.33%

10.) The dry unit weight of a soil sample is 10 kN/m3 [5-15]. What is the moist unit weight of the soil
when its moisture content is 15%?

Given:
Dry unit weight, 𝛾𝑑 =10 kN/m3
Moisture content, MC=15%
Solution:
𝛾𝑚 = 𝛾𝑑 𝑥 (1 + 𝑀𝐶)
𝛾𝑚 = 10 (1 + 0.15)
𝜸𝒎 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓 𝒌𝑵/𝒎