1

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINNERING LEC/LAB QUIZ/EXAM 1

a. 0.45 b. 0.34 c. 0.55 d. 0.42
NAME: SCORE: /100 4. Calculate the density of water to be added to a cubic meter of soil to obtain 80%
COURSE: DATE: saturation in 3. Use ρwater = 1000 kg/m3.

I. IDENTIFICATION. Any form of erasure or tampering is considered incorrect and will mean a. 47.39 kg/m3 b. 43.58 kg/m3 c. 50.14 kg/m3 d. 42.91 kg/m3
3 points deduction per item. Read and answer the following items CAREFULLY. Per item is 2 5. A fully saturated soil sample has a porosity of 0.30 and a specific gravity of 2.65.
points each. (2*8 = 16 points) Determine the dry unit weight.

_____________________ 1. The type of soil that is recommended for for supporting roads, a. 17.95 kN/m3 b. 18.92 kN/m3 c. 19.44 kN/m3 d.18.20 kN/m3
structures and backfill materials. 6. The moist unit weights and degree of saturations of different are given in the
tabulation shown. Determine the void ratio.
_____________________ 2. It is the ratio of water to weight of solids.
Moist unit weight Degree of Saturation
_____________________ 3. The types of cohesionless soils (For items 3-5) 18.35 kN/m3 0.70
17.91 kN/m3 0.56
_____________________ 4.
a. 0.56 b. 0.47 c. 0.32 d. 0.41
_____________________ 5.
7. Determine the porosity in (6).
_____________________ 6. Sand is classified on what type of soil?
a. 0.56 b. 0.47 c. 0.32 d. 0.41
_____________________ 7. The formula for POROSITY IN TERMS OF VOID RATIO
8. Determine the specific gravity in (6).
_____________________ 8. Soils that have lower shear strength and loose shear strength.
a. 2.42 b. 2.55 c. 2.68 d. 2.81
II. Problem Solving. Any form of erasure or tampering is considered incorrect and will mean
5 points deduction per item. Read and analyse carefully and SHADE the nearest answer IN 9. For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46, and Gs = 2.68. What will be the void
ANSWER SHEET. Use two decimal places for the FINAL ANSWER ONLY. PROVIDE YOUR ratio of compaction (kN/m3) in the field if Relative density is 78% and water
SOLUTIONS IN TEST PAPER AT THE BACK. BOND PAPERS CAN BE ONLY IF THE BACK PAGES content = 9%
OF THE TEST PAPER HAS BEEN ALREADY USED. (7 * 12 = 84 points)
a. 0.46 b. 0.52 c. 0.58 d. 0.68
1. A saturated soil has a moisture content of 30%. Determine the specific gravity of
the sample if the saturated unit weight is 18.5 kN/m3.
10. Determine the dry unit weight in (9).
a. 2.40 b. 2.72 c. 2.57 d. 2.81
a. 18.11 kN/m3 b. 17.79 kN/m3 c. 18.62 kN/m3 d.17.30 kN/m3
2. The moisture content of the soil sample is 2.5%. If the void ratio is equal to 0.50,
determine the moist unit weight of the soil. Use 2.7 as the value for specific 11. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.005 cu. m. The dry
gravity. weight of the sample is 150 N. Water is added carefully to the container so as not
to disturb the condition of the sand. When the container is filled, the combined
a. 18.10 kN/m3 b. 17.59 kN/m3 c. 19.62 kN/m3 d.16.84 kN/m3 weight of water plus water is 175 N. Compute the void ratio.
3. (*CE BOARD REVIEW) If a soil sample has a dry unit weight of 19.5 kN/m 3,
moisture content of 8% and specific gravity of 2.67. Calculate the void ratio.
 2

a. 0.65 b. 0.58 c. 0.70 d. 0.49

12. The in-situ moisture content of the soil is 21% and the moisture unit weight is
18.75 kN/m3. The specific gravity of soil solids is 2.70. The soil is to be excavated
and transported to a construction site and then compacted to a minimum dry
weight of 17.85 kN/m3at a moisture content of 25%. How many cubic meters of
soil is to be needed to produce 12500 m3 of compacted fill?

a. 13400 b. 15500 c. 14400 d. 12500

---END OF EXAMINATION---
 3

ANSWER KEY: ∴ G s=2.57 Ans .

Test 1: 2. The moisture content of the soil sample is 2.5%. If the void ratio is equal to 0.50,
determine the moist unit weight of the soil. Use 2.7 as the value for specific
1. GRANULAR SOILS gravity.
2. WATER CONTENT
3. GRAVEL a. 18.10 kN/m3 b. 17.59 kN/m3 c. 19.62 kN/m3 d.16.84 kN/m3
4. SAND
5. SILT SOLUTION:
6. COHESIONLESS
7. e/(1+e) Solve for the unknown by substituting the values:
8. COHESIVE
G s (1+ω) γ w
Test 2: γ soil =
1+e
1. A saturated soil has a moisture content of 30%. Determine the specific gravity of
the sample if the saturated unit weight is 18.5 kN/m3. 2.7 ( 1+0.025 ) (9.81)
γ soil =
a. 2.40 b. 2.72 c. 2.57 d. 2.81 1+ 0.5

SOLUTION: ∴ γ soil=18.10 kN /m3 Ans .

Compute first the value of e in terms of Gs.
3. (*CE BOARD REVIEW) If a soil sample has a dry unit weight of 19.5 kN/m 3,
moisture content of 8% and specific gravity of 2.67. Calculate the void ratio.
ωGs
S=
e a. 0.45 b. 0.34 c. 0.55 d. 0.42

SOLUTION:
0.3 Gs
1= Solve first the unknown:
e
G s γw
e=0.3 G s γ dry =
1+ e
Then, substitute and solve for the value of Gs:
2.67( 9.81)
19.5=
(G¿¿ s+ e) γ w 1+ e
γ sat = ¿
1+ e ∴ e=0.34 Ans
(G ¿ ¿ s+ 0.3G s)( 9.81) 4. Calculate the density of water to be added to a cubic meter of soil to obtain 80%
18.5= ¿
1+ e saturation in 3. Use ρwater = 1000 kg/m3.

a. 47.39 kg/m3 b. 43.58 kg/m3 c. 50.14 kg/m3 d. 42.91 kg/m3

 4

e
SOLUTION: n=
( 1+ e )
Compute first the moist unit weight for soil:
e
0.30=
(G s + Se) ρw 1+ e
γ soil =
1+e
e=0.4285

γ soil =
[ 2.67+ ( 0.80 ) ( 0.34 ) ] (1000) Then compute for the dry unit weight of the soil:
1+0.34
G s γw
γ soil =2195.52 kg/m3 γ dry =
1+ e
Solve for the original moist unit weight of soil: 2.65 (9.81)
γ dry =
G s (1+ω) ρw 1+0.4285
γ soil =
1+ e ∴ γ dry=18.20 kN /m3 Ans .
2.67 (1+0.08)(1000) 6. The moist unit weights and degree of saturations of different soils are given in the
γ soil =
1+0.34 tabulation shown. Determine the void ratio.

γ soil =2151.94 kg /m3 Moist unit weight Degree of Saturation

18.35 kN/m3 0.70
17.91 kN/m3 0.56
Then subtract the new moist density from the original ones:
a. 0.56 b. 0.47 c. 0.32 d. 0.41
ρw =2195.52−2151.94
SOLUTION:
∴ ρw =43.58 kg/m3 Ans .
(Gs + Se)γ w
5. A fully saturated soil sample has a porosity of 0.30 and a specific gravity of 2.65. γ soil =
1+ e
Determine the dry unit weight.
( G s+ 0.7 e ) 9.81
a. 17.95 kN/m3 b. 18.92 kN/m3 c. 19.44 kN/m3 d.18.20 kN/m3 18.35= (1)
1+ e
SOLUTION:
( Gs +0.66 e ) 9.81
Solve the void ratio first: 17.91= (2)
1+e
 5

18.35= ( G s +0.7 e ) 9.81−18.35 e (1) 0.75−e

0.78=
17.91=( G s +0.66 e ) 9.81−17.91 e(2) 0.75−0.46

∴ e=0.52 Ans .
10. Determine the dry unit weight in (9).
Using CASIOTM 991 ES PLUS, MODE 5 1
a. 18.11 kN/m3 b. 17.79 kN/m3 c. 18.62 kN/m3 d. 17.30 kN/m3
The resulting unknowns are: SOLUTION:

∴ G s=2.42 ( 8 )∧e=0.47 ( 6 ) G s γw
γ dry =
7. Determine the porosity in (6). 1+ e

a. 0.56 b. 0.47 c. 0.32 d. 0. 9.81(2.68)

γ dry =
1+0.52
SOLUTION:

e ∴ γ dry=17.30 kN /m3 Ans .

n=
1+ e 11. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.005 cu. m. The dry
weight of the sample is 150 N. Water is added carefully to the container so as not
0.47 to disturb the condition of the sand. When the container is filled, the combined
n=
1+0.47 weight of water plus water is 175 N. Compute the submerged unit weight in
N/m3.
∴ n=0.32 Ans .
a. 0.65 b. 0.58 c. 0.70 d. 0.49
8. Determine the specific gravity in (6)
SOLUTION:
a. 2.42 b. 2.55 c. 2.68 d. 2.81
Solve first the weight of water, then the unknown volume of water use 9810
N/m3:
9. For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46, and Gs = 2.68. What will be the void
ratio of compaction (kN/m3) in the field if Relative density is 78% and water Weight of water
γ water =
content = 9% Volume of water
a. 0.46 b. 0.52 c. 0.58 d. 0.68 175−150
9810=
SOLUTION: Volume of water

e max−e V water =0.00255 m 3

Dr =
emax −e min Compute the void ratio:
 6

∴ V fill=14395.16 ≈ 14400 m 3 Ans .

Vv
e=
Vs

0.005−0.00255
e=
0.005

∴ e=0.49 Ans .
12. The in-situ moisture content of the soil is 21% and the moisture unit weight is
18.75 kN/m3. The specific gravity of soil solids is 2.70. The soil is to be excavated
and transported to a construction site and then compacted to a minimum dry
weight of 17.85 kN/m3at a moisture content of 25%. How many cubic meters of
soil is to be needed to produce 12500 m3 of compacted fill?

a. 13400 b. 15500 c. 14400 d. 12500

SOLUTION:

Compute the dry unit weight first:

γ
γ dry =
1+ ω

18.75
γ dry =
1+0.21

γ dry =15.50 kN /m 3
Then solve for the volume of the fill:

Note: Weights for the required at the site must be equal to needed ones.

Weight fill=Weightrequired

γ dfill V fill =γ dreq V req

( 15.50 ) ( V fill ) =( 17.85 ) (12500)