MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SOIL MECHANICS-CIE 352
ASSIGNMENT 2
Due on 26/05/2021
Question 1
A constant-head test was conducted on a sample of soil 15 cm long and 60 𝑐𝑚2 in cross-
sectional area. The quantity of water collected was 50 𝑐𝑚3 in 20 seconds under a head difference
of 24 cm. Calculate the hydraulic conductivity. If the porosity of the sand is 55%, calculate the
average velocity and the seepage velocity. Estimate the hydraulic conductivity of a similar soil
with a porosity of 35% from the results of this test.
Question 2
A well of 0.1 m radius is part of a well point network to keep an excavation dry (Figure below).
The groundwater at the far edge of the excavation must be 0.5 m below the base.
(a) Calculate the radius of influence.
(b) Calculate the maximum drawdown.
(c) Plot the drawdown curve.
(d) For the radius of influence in (a),
(i) Calculate the discharge if the well radius increases to 0.2 m, and
(ii) Compare it to the discharge for the 0.1-m-radius well.

Question 3
At a given construction site, there is a deep and homogenous deposit of sand and the water table
is 2m below the soil surface. The dry unit weight of sand is 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 = 17 𝐾𝑁/𝑚3 and the saturated
unit weight of sand is 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20𝐾𝑁/𝑚3.
a) Calculate the total stress, effective stress and pore pressure at a depth of 5m below the
surface.
b) Plot (Sketch) the total stress, and the pore pressure distributions with depth for the entire
soil profile.
Question 4
A sheet piling system with its corresponding flow net is shown in the figure below.
a) Estimate the flow rate in 𝑚3 /𝑑𝑎𝑦 per 1m run of piling.
b) For the element A with L=1.5m, calculate the average velocity and effective vertical stress.
c) Determine the magnitude of the effective vertical stress ay the base and at the right hand
side of the sheet pile.
d) Calulate the factor of safety against quick condition, defined as the ratio of existing
hydraulic gradient along the downstream face of sheet pile to the critical hydraulic gradient
𝑘 = 0.02 𝑚𝑚/𝑠, 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 20𝐾𝑁/𝑚3

Question 5
The following are the results of four drained, direct shear tests on a normally consolidated clay. Given:
• Size of specimen = 60 mm * 60 mm
• Height of specimen = 30 mm

Draw a graph for the shear stress at failure against the normal stress, and determine the drained
angle of friction from the graph.
Question 6
A consolidated-drained triaxial test was conducted on a normally consolidated clay. The results were as follows: