POKHARA UNIVERSITY

Level: Bachelor Semester – Spring Year: 2020

Program: BE Full Marks: 70
Course: Soil Mechanics Pass Marks: 31.5
Time: 2 hrs.
Candidates are required to answer in their own words as far as practicable.
Assume necessary data if required.
The figures in the margin indicate full marks.

Attempt all the questions.

Section - A: (5×10=50)
Q. N. 1 “When placing any fill material, it is generally desirable to achieve the smallest possible 5+5
void ratio” Justify the statement.
For a stable packing of regular spheres at the minimum density, find the void ratio and
the dry unit weight. Unit weight of soil solids is 25 kN/m3.
Q. N. 2 Samples from three different sites were collected. The results of particle size analyses 3+3+3+1
and, where appropriate, limit tests on samples of three soils were done and particle size
distribution curve was plotted in figure 2.1. Classify the soils (A, B, C) as per USCS and
compare the results. For soil C :- Liquid limit =30 Plastic limit= 22.

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE

110.00
100.00
90.00
Soil
80.00 sample
Percentage passing %

A
70.00
Soil
60.00 Sample
B
50.00
Soil
40.00 Sample
C
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
particle size mm
Figure 2.1
Q. N. 3 Differentiate between Flocculent structure and Honeycomb structure. 3+7
When road pavement is under construction, Geotechnical consultant tested the base of
pavement from standard compaction test and the result obtained is tabulated as:

1
 w% 7.70 11.5 14.6 17.5 19.5 21.2
Weight(gm) 1.70 1.89 2.03 1.99 1.96 1.92
The Volume of the mould is used was 950 ml. Make necessary calculation and draw
compaction curve along with 100% and 80% saturation line. Calculate void ratio and
degree of saturation for maximum dry density. Take G=2.7.
Q. N. 4 Explain the construction of flow net in an earth dam. A section through a dam is shown 4+6
in Fig. 4.1. Plot the distribution of the uplift pressure on the base of the dam.

Figure 4.1
OR
What is the difference of assumptions between Boussinesq and Westergaard’s theory?
4+6
A point load of 1000 KN is applied at the ground surface. Show the variation of vertical
stresses on horizontal plane at a depth of 5 m below the surface
Q. N. 5 A clay sample originally 25 mm thick and at a void ratio of 1.12, was subjected to a 6+4
compressive load. After the clay sample was completely consolidated, its thickness was
measured to be 24 mm. Compute the final void ratio.
Explain any one types of failures of finite slopes indicating the situations in which they
are likely to occur.
Section - B: (1×20=20)
Q. N. 6 a) Explain the laboratory procedure for calculation of shear parameters in direct shear 6+7
test. In a direct shear test conducted on dense sand the sample fails in a shear stress of
75 KN/m2, when the normal stress was held constant at 100 KN/m2. Draw the Mohr
circle for the failure condition and determine
i. the angle of shearing resistance
ii. the orientation of the major and minor principal planes and stress on them
iii. the orientation of the plane of maximum shear stress.

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b) Prove that for stratified deposits of soils, the average permeability in the horizontal 7
direction is greater than the average permeability in the vertical direction.