MODULE NO.

4 (HYDRO-GEO)

PROBLEM NO. 1 (TOPIC: COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL)

A 2-m clay layer (e=0.92, G=2.72, Cc=1/3) is overlain with 3 m thick of sand layer (e=0.5,
G=2.62, MC=0).
The water table is 1.5 m below the ground (sand) surface. If a 3-m thick
3
land fill (=17.3 KN/m ) is placed over the existing ground surface, compute the settlement of
the clay layer.
Ans: 106.7 mm
PROBLEM NO. 2 (TOPIC: COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL)
Given in the Figure is the borehole log in a project site. The proposed building will exert
a net stress of 12 Newton per square centimeter.
a.) Determine the submerged unit weight of the clay.
b.) Determine the effective vertical stress at the mid-height of the clay layer.
c.) Determine the average settlement of the normally consolidated clay layer. Use
compression index Cc=0.009(LL-10).
Ans: a.) 8.278 KN/m3; b.) 40 mm; c.) 152.8 mm

PROBLEM NO. 3 (TOPIC: COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL)

A soil is shown in the figure. A uniformly distributed load, P=50 Kpa, is applied at the
ground surface. Assume Cs=(1/5)Cc. Determine the settlement of the clay layer caused by
primary consolidation if:
1 (MODULE 4)

a.) The clay is normally consolidated.

b.) The preconsolidation pressure pc is 210 Kpa.
c.) The preconsolidation pressure pc is 150 Kpa.
Ans: a.) 200 mm; b.) 40 mm; c.) 152.8 mm

PROBLEM NO. 4 (TOPIC: COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL)

A normally consolidated clay layer, 3 m thick, has the following properties:
Initial void ratio, e=0.8
Compression index, Cc=0.25
Average effective pressure, p0=125 Kpa
Expected pressure increase, P=45 Kpa
Secondary compression index, C=0.02
Time for completion of primary settlement=1.5 years
What is the total settlement of the clay layer five years after the completion of primary
consolidation settlement?
Ans: 73.4 mm

2 (MODULE 4)

PROBLEM NO. 5 (TOPIC: COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL)

A rigid footing 1.2-m in diameter is constructed on unsaturated clay layer. The load on
the footing is 170 KN. Estimate the immediate settlement. Assume the clay has 6900 Kpa and
=0.2, let If=0.79.
Ans: 19.8 mm
PROBLEM NO. 6 (TOPIC: SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL)
A direct test is performed on a specimen of dry sand. The shear box is circular in cross
section with a diameter of 50 mm. The normal force imposed on the specimen is 250 N. The
shears when the shear force is 150 N. determine the angle of internal friction of this sand.
Ans: =30.96
PROBLEM NO. 7 (TOPIC: SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL)
A 7-m thick soil has water table 3m below the ground surface. The soil above the water
table has degree of saturation of 45%, void ratio of the soil is 0.4 and the solids have specific
gravity of 2.70. Tests show that the soil have angle of internal friction of 32 and cohesion of
14.6 kPa. What is the potential shear strength on a horizontal plane at a depth of 2 m below the
ground surface?
Ans: =39.82 kPa
PROBLEM NO. 8 (TOPIC: SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL)
In a triaxial test, a specimen of saturated (normally consolidated) clay was consolidated
under a chamber confining pressure of 90 kilopascals. The axial stress on the specimen was
then increased allowing the drainage from the specimen. The specimen fails when the deviator
stress is 60 kilopascals. The Pore water pressure (pw) at the time was 40 kilopascals. What the
consolidated drained friction angle (phi):
Ans: =22.024

3 (MODULE 4)

PROBLEM NO. 9 (TOPIC: SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL)

A triaxial test on a saturated soil has the following results:
Cell pressure
(kPa)

Deviator stress
(kPa)

200
119
400
143
600
178
a.) Determine the drained angle of internal friction of the soil.
b.) Determine the cohesion of the soil in drained condition.
Ans: a.) 8.737; b.) 42.22 kPa

Pore pressure
(kPa)
142.5
275.5
396

PROBLEM NO. 10 (TOPIC: SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL)

An unconfined compression test was carried out a saturated clay sample. The maximum
load the clay sustained was 127 N and the vertical displacement is 0.8 mm. The size of the
sample was 38 mm diameter x 76 mm long.
a.) Calculate the axial strain of the soil sample.
b.) Calculate the major principal stress at failure.
c.) Calculate the undrained shear strength of the soil sample.
Ans: a.) 0.010526 mm/mm b.) 110.814 kPa; c.) 55.4 kPa

PROBLEM NO. 11 (TOPIC: SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL)

The following data were obtained from a triaxial test on a cohesive soil:
Critical shearing stress=70 kPa
Angle of friction=28
Cohesion=30 kPa
a.) Determine the normal stress at failure plane.
b.) Determine the maximum normal stress (plunger stress) applied on the soil.
c.) Determine the minimum normal stress (confining pressure).
Ans: 75.23 kPa; b.) 191.73 kPa; c.) 33.17 kPa

4 (MODULE 4)