University of Alberta

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CIVE 381
SOIL MECHANICS

Deferred Examination

STUDENT NAME:

ID#:

Time: 2 Hours 9:00 am – 11:00 am

June 18, 2001

Question Mark

1 /12

2 /20

3 /20

4 /10

5 /15

TOTAL /80

No Notes or texts permitted

All answers must be contained on the examination sheets. Three extra pages are
provided. Use the back of the page if necessary.

When answering all the questions, it is very important to provide all the steps leading
to the answer. Correct answers without showing calculations will not be given full
marks.

Formula sheets are provided.

 NAME:
ID #:

QUESTION 1 - GENERAL

Define clearly and unambiguously (using equations or diagrams where possible), the following terms:

(1) • Effective Stress

(2) • Plasticity Index

(2)
• Pore Pressure Parameter A

• Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

(2)

(2) • Preconsolidation stress of clay, σp’

(1) • Coefficient of Consolidation

(2) • Coefficient of Active Earth Pressure

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QUESTION 2 - CONSOLIDATION

For the soil profile shown below;

a) Calculate the primary consolidation settlement due to the fill. Assume the clay to be
normally consolidated and the sand above the groundwater table to be dry.
(8)
3.0 m SAND FILL γd = 17.5 kN/m3
Original Ground Level

γd = 17.5 kN/m3
2.5 m SAND
Groundwater Table

SAND
4.5 m γsat = 18.0 kN/m3

5.2 m CLAY γs= 19.0 kN/m3 eo = 0.9 Cc = 0.36

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QUESTION 2 – Consolidation Continued

(2) b) What is meant by overconsolidation ratio (OCR)?

c) Describe BRIEFLY two mechanisms that can cause overconsolidation in clays?

(4)

d) The process of retrieving a sample in the field results in varying degrees of sample
(6) disturbance. This sample disturbance has a strong influence on a laboratory
consolidation test. Comment BRIEFLY on the effects that sample disturbance has on
the following

1. e – log σ’ curve

2. σp’

3. Cc

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QUESTION 3 – SHEAR STRENGTH

Two specimens of saturated clay were tested to failure using the consolidated – undrained (CU) triaxial
test. The initial pore pressure in the sample prior to the application of the deviator stress was 150 kPa.
The cell pressure ( σ3 ), the total vertical stress ( σ1 ), and the pore pressure (u) measured at the time for
failure were:

Specimen # Cell Pressure Vertical Stress Pore Pressure at Failure

σ3 (kPa) σ1 (kPa) u (kPa)

1 400.0 656.1 257.6

2 600.0 1021.9 327.2

From these data, determine graphically or numerically;

(5) 1. The effective strength parameters of the soil (c’ and φ’)

(5) 2. The effective normal stress on the failure plane (at failure) for specimen #1

(5) 3. The undrained strength of specimen #2

(5) 4. The pore water pressure parameter A for each specimen, assuming B = 1.

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QUESTION 3 – Extra Page

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QUESTION 4 – Effective Stress

(10)
Determine the total vertical stress,
pore water and effective vertical
stress distribution of the soil profile
shown below. 2.0 m

2.0 m Fine Sand γs= 18.0 kN/m3

7.0 m

γs= 17.5 kN/m3

Silty Clay

3.0 m Coarse Sand γs= 19.0 kN/m3

σv (kPa) u (kPa) σ'v (kPa)

0 0 0

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QUESTION 5 – Lateral Earth Pressure

For the retaining wall configuration shown below, determine the following:

1. The width of wall required to meet the following design parameters:

(8)
a) A factor of safety against sliding of at least 1.8 and
b) A factor of safety against overturning of at least 2.0.

(4) 2. What assumptions are implicit in your analysis?

(3) 3. Indicate 3 measures that could be implemented to increase the factor of safety against sliding
given that the 4.0 m retained height of soil must remain the same.
b
Concrete:
γ concrete = 23 kN/m3
FILL:
c' = 0 kPa
4.0 m φ'=33°
γ = 19.5 kN/m3

Native Soil:
c' = 0 kPa
1.5 m φ'=24°
γ = 18.5 kN/m3

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EXTRA PAGE

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EXTRA PAGE

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EXTRA PAGE

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FORMULA SHEET

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