CONFIDENTIAL

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

TEST 1
SEMESTER II
SESSION 2016/2017

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS 1

COURSE CODE : BFC21702

PROGRAMME CODE : BACHELOR

BFF OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING WITH HONOURS
EXAMINATION DATE : 31 MARCH 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) Atterberg limit is a basis measurement of the critical water contents for fine-grained
soil. Illustrate and explain the atterberg limit boundary by consider the liquid limit
(LL), plastic limit (PL) and shrinkage limit (SL).

(5 marks)

(b) Grain size distribution curves of samples A and B are given in Figure Q1(b-1). Based
on this figure;

(i) Determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt and clay of both soil types
according to AASHTO classification system as shown in Figure Q1 (b-2).
(4 marks)

(ii) On the basis of the gravel, sand, silt and clay percentages, classify the types
of soil sample A and B.
(1 marks)

(c) Soil investigations were carried on four different samples designated as W, X, Y and
Z that collected in several locations in Malaysia. The results were recorded in Table
1 and analyzed in Figure Q1(c).

(i) Determine the Plastic Limit (PL) of sample W, X, Y and Z.

(2 marks)

(ii) Classify the soils type of each sample by the AASHTO classification system
as shown in Table 2.
(5 marks)

(iii) If F is the percentage of particles passing sieve No. 200, calculate the Group
Index (GI) of Sample W, X, Y and Z using Equation 1 and/or Equation 2
(Refer page 6).
(6 marks)

(iv) According to the AASHTO classification system on sample W, X, Y and Z,

which sample would make the best highway subgrade? Why?
(2 marks)

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

(i) Void ratio

(ii) Porosity
(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 ρsat = M/ V, where M is the mass of saturated soil and V is the volume of the soil,
demontrate that ρsat is equal to ρw(Gs + e)/ 1+e .
(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.

(2 marks)
(ii) Dry unit weight and void ratio.
(4 marks)
(iii) Porosity and degree of saturation.
(4 marks)

 END OF QUESTIONS 

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CONFIDENTIAL

TEST 1

SEMESTER/SESSION : SEM II / 2016/2017 PROGRAMME CODE : 2 BFC

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS I COURSE CODE : BFC21702

`
A
B

FIGURE Q1(b-1) : Particle-size distribution curves of sample A and B

FIGURE Q1(b-2) : Grain size of various classification systems

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CONFIDENTIAL

TEST 1

SEMESTER/SESSION : SEM II / 2016/2017 PROGRAMME CODE : 2 BFC

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS I COURSE CODE : BFC21702

TABLE 1: Result of Sample W, X, Y and Z.

Percentage Passing (%)

Plasticity
Soil Type Liquid Limit
No. 4 No.10 No.40 No. 200 Index
(4.75 mm) (2.00 mm) (0.075 mm) (0.075 mm)
W 80 72 62 38 28 10

X 100 90 68 30 30 9

Y 100 100 96 72 58 23

Z 94 80 51 15 26 12

Y X

FIGURE Q1(c) : Grain size distribution of sample W, X, Y and Z.

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CONFIDENTIAL BFC21702

TEST 1

SEMESTER/SESSION : SEM II / 2016/2017 PROGRAMME CODE : 2 BFC

COURSE NAME : GEOTECHNICS I COURSE CODE : BFC21702

TABLE 2: 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-7-5*
classification A-1-a A-1-b A-2-4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7
A-7-6ψ
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
* For A-7-5, PI ≤ LL-30 @ PL ≥ 30
Ψ For A-7-6, PI > LL – 30 @ PL < 30

EQUATION - 1

𝐺𝐼 = ሺ𝐹 − 35ሻሾ0.2 + 0.005ሺ𝐿𝐿 − 40ሻሿ + 0.01ሺ𝐹 − 15ሻሺ𝑃𝐼 − 10ሻ

EQUATION - 2

𝐺𝐼 = 0.01ሺ𝐹 − 15ሻሺ𝑃𝐼 − 10ሻ