REVIEW – HYDRAULICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

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SOIL MECHANICS
A. Compute the porosity of the soil
PHASE RELATIONSHIPS IN SOIL sample.
B. Compute the buoyant unit weight of
1.) In its natural state, a moist soil has the soil sample.
a volume of 0.00935 m3 and weighs 178 N. C. Compute the weight of water in kN to
The oven dried weight of the soil is be added per cu.m. of soil for 90%
154 N. if Gs = 2.67, determine the degree saturation.
following:
6.) The moist unit weight and degrees of
A. Moisture Content saturation of a soil are given in the
B. Moist Unit Weight following table.
C. Dry Unit Weight
D. Void Ratio Unit Weight Degree of
E. Porosity (kN/m3) Saturation
F. Degree of Saturation (%)
16.64 50
17.73 75
2.) A sample is being weighed before drying
and has a volume of 100 cm3 with a
Determine the following:
weight equal to 200g. After oven-
a.) Void Ratio
drying, its weight is being reduced to
b.) Specific Gravity
160g. If specific gravity of solids is
c.) Saturated Unit Weight
2.7, determine the following:
RELATIVE DENSITY
A. Void Ratio
- or specific gravity, is the ratio of
B. Degree of Saturation
the density (mass of a unit volume) of
C. Dry unit weight at zero air voids
a substance to the density of a given
reference material.
3.) (CE BOARD NOVEMBER 2006) A soil sample
having a mass of 1850 grams and a
1.) (CE BOARD NOVEMBER 2006) A soil sample
volume of .001 m3 was taken from the
taken from the field has a density of
field. It has a moisture content of
1880 kg/m3. In the laboratory, it was
12%. The density of the solid particles
found that the same sample has a
was found to be 2620 kg/m3.
moisture content of 10%, and the void
Determine the following: ratios at its densest and loosest
states were 0.43 and 0.62 respectively.
A. Dry Density Also, the solid particles were found to
B. Void Ratio have a density of 2,620 kg/m3.
C. Degree of Saturation Determine the following:

4.) (CE BOARD MAY 2009) Dry soil is mixed
with 13.50% by mass with water and then
compacted. The moist soil has mass 1.60
kg. and a volume of 0.001 m3. The
specific gravity of the soil solids is
2.61.
Determine the following:
A. Dry Unit Weight
B. Void Ratio
C. Degree of Saturation
5.) For a given soil sample it has a
specific gravity of 2.74, moisture
content of 16.6% and a moist unit
weight of 20.6 kN/m3.
A. Dry Density of the soil sample
B. Void Ratio of the soil sample
C. Relative Density of the soil sample
2.) A highway along San Fernando Pampanga
is being filled with loose uncompacted
clay backfill of 1.5 m. depth with a
relative density of 45%. Laboratory
testing shows that the maximum and
minimum void ratios of the backfill are
0.93 and 0.47 respectively. Specific
gravity of soil solids is 2.6. If the
sand is compacted to a relative density
of 95%, what is the decrease in
thickness of the backfill
3.) The following data were obtained in an
experiment:

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• DESCRIPTION OF SOIL BASED ON PLASTICITY
Mass of pycnometer jar = 550 g INDEX
Mass of pycnometer when full of clean
water = 1565 g PLASTICITY INDEX DESCRIPTION
Mass of pycnometer jar with soil = 990 0 NON- PLASTIC
g 1-5 SLIGHTLY PLASTIC
Mass of pycnometer jar with soil topped 5-10 LOW PLASTICITY
with water = 1850 g 10-20 MEDIUM PLASTICITY
20-40 HIGH PLASTICITY
>40 VERY HIGH PLASTICITY
A. What is the specific gravity of the
soil particles?
B. If the void ratio is 0.4, compute • DESCRIPTION OF SOIL BASED ON LIQUIDITY
the dry unit weight of the soil.
INDEX

4.) Following are the results of a field LI < 0 BRITTLE SOLID

unit weight determination test using 0 < LI <1 PLASTIC
the sand cone method. LI > 1 LIQUID

Dry unit weight of sand = 16.36 kN/m3

Wt. of sand to fill the cone = 11.15 N
Wt. of jar + cone + sand (before use) =
58.9 N
Wt. of jar + cone + sand (after use) =
27.65 N
Wt. of moist soil from hole 32.55 N
Moisture content of moist soil = 11.6 %
A. Compute the weight of sand to fill
the hole
B. Compute the dry weight of soil from
the field.
C. Compute the dry unit weight of
compaction in the field.
5.) In a core cutter test a steel cylinder
having a mass of 1472 g., an internal
diameter of 102 mm. and a length of 125
mm was rammed into an in-situ soil
mass. After removing it and trimming
the ends flat, its mass was found to be
3482 g. The moisture content of the
soil was later found to be 16.4%. If
the specific gravity of the soil is
2.70.
A. Determine the bulk density
B. Determine the dry density
C. Determine the degree of saturation
if the void ratio is 0.60.
ATTERBERG LIMITS (CONSISTENCY LIMITS)
- a basic measure of the critical water
contents of a fine-grained soil: its
shrinkage limit, plastic limit, and
liquid limit. As a dry, clayey soil takes on
increasing amounts of water, it undergoes
distinct changes in behavior and consistency.
1.) (CE BOARD MAY 2003) A soil sample was
determine in the laboratory to have a
liquid limit of 41% and a plastic limit
of 21.1%. If the water content is 30%,
determine the following:
a. Plasticity Index
b. Liquidity Index
c. What is the characteristic of the
soil?
2.) A shrinkage limit test is conducted and
the following data are collected:
Saturated Volume = 25.4 cc
Dry Volume = 16 cc
Saturated Mass = 47 g
Dry Mass = 32 g
Specific Gravity = 2.7
A. Determine its shrinkage limit.
B. Saturated Unit Weight if e = 0.467
C. Dry Unit Weight
3.) Laboratory test results for a sample
of clay soil for the purpose of
evaluating the potential for volume
change (swelling, expansion) are as
shown.
Liquid limit = 68 %
Plastic limit = 24 %
Particles smaller than 0.002 mm. = 44%
A. Compute the Plasticity Index
B. Indicate the Activity Classification
for this clay
C. The rate of the volume change
potential (refer to the table)

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LL > 60 and PI >35 High B. Plasticity Index
LL 50-60 and PI 25-35 Medium C. Liquidity Index
LL < 50 and PI < 25 Low
6.) An engineer used cone penetrometer to
4.) The following are the results from identify the liquid limit of a soil,
the liquid and plastic limit test for a the following readings were recorded
soil. and tabulated below.

No. of Blows Moisture Content (%) PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

15 42 TRIAL MOIST UNIT WEIGHT DRY UNIT WEIGHT
20 40.8 1 128.6 105.4
28 39.1 2 141.4 116.8
3 132.6 109.6
4 134.5 111.2
The Plastic Limit is 18.7%. 5 136 113.4
A. Compute the Liquid Limit
B. What is the Plasticity Index of the LIQUID LIMIT TEST
soil? MOISTURE CONE PENETRATION
CONTENT (mm)
C. What is the Liquidity Index if the 42.5 16
water content is 24%? 47.5 17.5
58.1 22.8
D. What is the Consistency Index? 60 26

5.) (CE BOARD MAY 2004) The following NATURAL WATER CONTENT
table shows the results of liquid and TRIAL WATER CONTENT
plastic limit tests. 1 37.5
2 38.4
3 36.4
A. LIQUID LIMIT 4 39.6
TEST NUMBER 1 2 3 4
NO. OF BLOWS 39 23 20 13 A. Determine the liquid limit of the
WEIGHT OF
WET SOIL AND soil.
CONTAINER 22.24 21.19 21.27 26.12 B. Determine the plasticity index of
(g)
WEIGHT OF the soil.
DRY SOIL ANF C. Determine the liquidity index.
CONTAINER 19.44 18.78 18.75 22.10
(g) D. If 45% of the soil is smaller than
Weight of 0.002, determine the activity
Container 12.74 13.24 13.06 13.27
(g)
classification for clay.

B. PLASTIC LIMIT
2
Test No. 1
WEIGHT OF WET
SOIL AND
22.12 21.84
CONTAINER (g)
WEIGHT OF DRY
SOIL ANF
20.42 20.19
CONTAINER (g)
Weight of
13.07 13.18
Container (g)

C. NATURAL WATER CONTENT

2
Test No. 1
WEIGHT OF WET
SOIL AND
17.53 16.97
CONTAINER (g)
WEIGHT OF DRY
SOIL ANF
14.84 14.36
CONTAINER (g)
Weight of
7.84 7.50
Container (g)

Determine the following:

A. Liquid Limit

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WEIGHT- VOLUME Answers FLOWS OF WATER IN SOIL
RELATIONSHIP Discharge velocity ѵ = 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾
Total Volume V = Vs + Vw + Vair Hydraulic gradient i=
∆ℎ
𝐿𝐿
Volume Void Vv = Vw + Vair
Rate of flow q = KiA
Unit weight water 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 =Mw/Vw 𝑉𝑉 𝑉𝑉(1 + 𝑒𝑒)
Seepage velocity ѵ𝑠𝑠 = =
Unit weight soil 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = Ms/Vsoil 𝑛𝑛 𝑒𝑒
Total Weight W = Ws + Ww Critical hydraulic gradient ic=
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺−1
=
𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
1+𝑒𝑒 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
Void ratio e = Vv/Vs = n/1-n 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾
Absolute permeability ꝁ=
Porosity n = Vv/V = e/1+e 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
Degree saturation ( S) S = 𝜔𝜔Gs/e = Vw/Vv Allen Hazen formula K = C (𝐷𝐷10 )² where C is constant.
Moisture content (𝜔𝜔) 𝜔𝜔 = Ww/Ws Cassagrande equation 𝐾𝐾1 𝑒𝑒12
=
Unit weight/Moist unit wt. 𝛾𝛾 = M/V =
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺(1+𝜔𝜔) 𝐾𝐾2 𝑒𝑒22
1+𝑒𝑒 Kozeny Carman equation 𝑒𝑒12
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 𝛾𝛾 𝐾𝐾1
Dry Unit weight 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 = Ms/V = =
1+𝑒𝑒 1+𝜔𝜔 = 1 + 2𝑒𝑒1
𝐾𝐾2 𝑒𝑒2
Saturated Unit weight 𝛾𝛾sat =
(𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺+𝑒𝑒)(𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾)
1 + 𝑒𝑒2
1+𝑒𝑒
Settling velocity (𝐺𝐺−𝐺𝐺 ′)²
Bouyant/Effective/Submerged 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 =
(𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺−1)(𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾) V=
1+𝜔𝜔 18𝑛𝑛
Unit wt. Time travel (t) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 = 𝛾𝛾sat - 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 t=
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
Bulk Specific Gravity. g = Gs ( 1-n) Permeability Constant Head. 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄
𝑒𝑒 K=
Relative Density Dr = max − 𝑒𝑒 𝐴𝐴ℎ𝑡𝑡
𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 Falling Head Test K=
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
ln[ ]
ℎ1
𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾−𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 𝐴𝐴∆𝑡𝑡 ℎ2
Dr =[ ]( )
𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾− 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 𝛾𝛾𝑑𝑑 Unconfined Aquifer 𝑟𝑟1
𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞[𝑟𝑟2]
Relative Compaction (R) 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 K=
R= x100% 𝜋𝜋(ℎ12 −ℎ22 )
𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
Confined Aquifer 𝑟𝑟1
𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞[𝑟𝑟2]
Liquid Limit. ( LL ) blows and 25 blows, K=
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋(ℎ1−ℎ2)
penetration 20mmpenetration
Transmissibility of soil (t) t = K(distance)
Plasticity index ( PI) PI = LL - PL 1
Equivalent Permeability Keq = ( 𝑘𝑘1ℎ1 + 𝐾𝐾2ℎ2+. . )
Shrinkage Limit (𝑀𝑀1−𝑀𝑀2)
SL = 𝑀𝑀2 (100%) − 𝐻𝐻
Parallel flow
(𝑉𝑉1−𝑉𝑉2)𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 𝐻𝐻
𝑀𝑀2
(100%) Perpendicular flow Keq = ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3
+ +
SL = 100e /Gs 𝐾𝐾1 𝐾𝐾2 𝐾𝐾3

Shrinkage Ratio ( SR) 𝑀𝑀2 Rate of Seepage through

SR =
𝑉𝑉2𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 Foundation
1
Specific Gravity ( SR and SL) Gs = 1 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 Rate of Seepage (Isotropic) Qs =
𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾
− 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 100
Liquidity Index ( LI ) 𝜔𝜔−𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 Rate Seepage (Non Isotorpic) Qs =
√𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐻𝐻 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁
LI = 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃
Consistency Index ( CI) CI =
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿−𝜔𝜔 Uplift Force (F) F=
(𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃+𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃)
(𝐿𝐿)(1𝑚𝑚 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ)
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 2
Shrinkage index ( SI ) SI = PL – SL Potential drop. 𝐻𝐻
Group Index. ( GI ) GI = (F-35) (0.2+0.005(LL- 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁
40)) + 0.01(F-15)(PI-10) SOIL MECHANICS
Uniformity Coeff. ( Cu ) 𝐷𝐷
Cu = 60 Seepage Force. (F) F = i𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
𝐷𝐷10 𝐶𝐶
Capillary Action (h) h=
Coeff. Curvature/gradiation CC =
𝐷𝐷30 ² 𝑒𝑒𝐷𝐷10
𝐷𝐷60 𝐷𝐷10 Total Pressure (PT) Pt = 𝛾𝛾1 ℎ1 + 𝛾𝛾2 ℎ2 + ⋯.
Sorting Coeff. (So) 𝐷𝐷75 Pore Water Pressure (Pw) Pw = = 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 ℎ𝑤𝑤
So = �
𝐷𝐷25
Effective Pressure (Po) Po = Pt - Pw
Suitability Number (SN) 3 1 1
Boussinesq Equation 3𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄³
SN = 1.7� + + Qv = 5
𝐷𝐷50 ² 𝐷𝐷20 ² 𝐷𝐷10 ²
(Point Load) 2𝜋𝜋(𝑟𝑟 2 +𝑧𝑧 2 )2
Critical Hydraulic Gradient ic ic =
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺−1
=
𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
where r =�𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2
1+𝑒𝑒 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾
Activity Clay 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 Lane Loading Qv =
2𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄³
A= 𝜋𝜋(𝑟𝑟 2 +𝑧𝑧 2 )²
%𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
Sensitivity Clay (st) St =
𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢
𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
where qu = compressive strength
Water added. (Mwadded) 𝜔𝜔1 − 𝜔𝜔2 = Mwadded/Ms
Volume borrowed. (V) 𝑉𝑉 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
=
1 + 𝑒𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 1 + 𝑒𝑒𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
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