New Era University

College of Engineering and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department

SOIL MECHANICS
(CE 324-18)

PROBLEM SET #2
BY:
MONSALES, MAICA JOYCE C.
3CE-1

DATE SUBMITTED:
MARCH 3, 2023

RATING

ENGR. RANDY R. AUREADA

INSTRUCTOR
 New Era University
College of Engineering and Architecture
Civil Engineering Department

1. For a given soil, the following are known. Gs = 2.74, moist unit weight = 20.6 kN/m3, and
moisture content is 16.6%.

a. Determine the dry unit weight.

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑑
20.6 = (1 + 16.6)𝛾𝑑
𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟔𝟕 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
b. Determine the void ratio.
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
(2.74)(9.81𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 )
17.67 =
𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐

c. Determine the porosity.

𝑒 0.52
𝑛= = = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟒
𝑒 + 1 0.52 + 1

d. Determine the degree of saturation.

𝐺𝑠 𝑤 2.74(16.6%)
𝑆= = = 𝟖𝟕. 𝟐𝟑%
𝑒 0.52

e. Determine the weight of water in kN to be added per cubic meter of soil for a 100% degree of
saturation.

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒)𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
𝑒+1
(2.74 + 0.52)(9.81)
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = 21.04𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
0.52 + 1

𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑 = 21.04 − 20.6 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟒𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑

2. The moist weight of 0.0057 m3 of a soil is 102.6 N. The moisture content and the specific
gravity of soil solids are determined in the laboratory to be 11% and 2.7 respectively.
Calculate the following:

a. Moist unit weight

0.1026𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = = 𝟏𝟖𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
0.0057𝑚3

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b. Dry unit weight

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑑
18 = (1 + 11)𝛾𝑑
𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟐𝟐𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
c. Void ratio

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
(2.7)(9.81)
16.22 =
𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟑
d. Porosity

𝑒 0.63
𝑛= = = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟗
𝑒 + 1 0.63 + 1

e. Degree of saturation

𝐺𝑠 𝑤 (2.7)(11)
𝑆= = = 𝟒𝟕. 𝟏𝟒%
𝑒 0.63

3. In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 0.00935 m3 and weighs 178 N. The oven
dried weight of the soil is 154 N. If Gs = 2.67, determine the following:

a. Moisture content

𝑊𝑤 178 − 154
𝑤= = ∗ 100 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟓𝟖%
𝑊𝑠 154

b. Moist unit weight

0.178𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟎𝟒𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
0.00935𝑚^3

c. Dry unit weight

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑑
19.04 = (1 + 15.58)𝛾𝑑
𝟏𝟔. 𝟒𝟏𝒌𝑵
𝜸𝒅 =
𝒎𝟑

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d. Void ratio

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
(2.67)(9.81)
16.41 =
𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟎
e. Porosity

𝑒 0.60
𝑛= = = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟖
𝑒 + 1 0.60 + 1
f. Degree of saturation

𝐺𝑠 𝑤 (2.67)(15.58)
𝑆= = = 𝟔𝟗. 𝟑𝟑%
𝑒 0.60

4. The dry density of a sand with a porosity of 0.387 is 1600 kg/m3. Determine the following:

a. Void ratio
𝑒
𝑛=
𝑒+1
𝑒
0.387 =
𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟑

b. Specific gravity of soil

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
1000𝑘𝑔
1600𝑘𝑔 𝐺𝑠 ( 𝑚3 )
=
𝑚^3 0.63 + 1
𝑮𝒔 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟏

c. Saturated unit weight of soil in kN/m3

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒)𝛾𝑤 (2.61 + 0.63)(9.81)

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟓𝟎𝒌𝑵/𝒎^𝟑
𝑒+1 0.63 + 1

5. The moist unit weight of a soil is 16.5 kN/m3. If water content is 15% and sp.gr. of soil is 2.7,
determine the following:

a. Determine the dry unit weight

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑑
16.5𝑘𝑁/𝑚^3 = (1 + 15%)𝛾𝑑
𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟑𝟓𝒌𝑵/𝒎^𝟑

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b. Determine the void ratio

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
9.81𝑘𝑁
14.35𝑘𝑁 2.7 ( 𝑚3 )
=
𝑚3 𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟓
c. Determine the porosity

𝑒 0.85
𝑛= = = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟔
𝑒 + 1 0.85 + 1

d. Determine the degree of saturation

𝐺𝑠 𝑤 (2.7)(15)
𝑆= = = 𝟒𝟕. 𝟔𝟓%
𝑒 0.85

e. Determine the mass of water in kg/m3 to be added to reach full saturation.

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒)𝛾𝑤 (2.7 + 0.85)(9.81)

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = 18.82 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝑒+1 0.85 + 1
𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙:

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 = 18.82 − 16.5 = 2.32𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 → 𝟐𝟑𝟔. 𝟓𝟕𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝟑

𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙:

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 = 18.82 − 14.35 = 4.47𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 → 𝟒𝟓𝟓. 𝟖𝟏𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝟑

6. For given sandy soil, emax = 0.75, emin = 0.46 and Gs = 2.68. If the relative density of the soil is
78% and its water content is 9%, determine the following:

a. In situ void ratio

𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
0.75 − 𝑒
0.79 =
0.75 − 0.46
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐

b. Moist unit weight of compaction in kN/m3

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 + 𝑤) (2.69)(9.81)(1 + 0.09)
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = =
𝑒+1 0.52 + 1

𝜸𝒘𝒆𝒕 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟖𝟓𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑

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c. Dry unit weight in kN/m3

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (2.68)(9.81)
𝛾𝑑 = =
𝑒+1 0.52 + 1
𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑𝟎𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑

7. A loose, uncompact sand fill 1.8 m depth has a relative density of 40%. Laboratory tests
indicated that the minimum and maximum void ratios of the sand are 0.46 and 0.90
respectively. Specific gravity of the solids of the sand is 2.65, determine the following:

a. Void ratio of the sand having a relative density of 40%

𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
0.90 − 𝑒
40 =
0.90 − 0.90
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟐
b. Dry unit weight of the sand

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
9.81𝑘𝑁
(2.65)( )
𝛾𝑑 = 𝑚3
0.72 + 1
𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟏𝟏𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑

c. If the sand is compacted to a relative density of 75%, what is the decrease in the thickness of
the 1.8m fill?
∆𝑒 = 𝑒𝑜 − 𝑒𝑓

𝑒𝑜 = 0.72
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
0.90 − 𝑒
0.75 =
0.90 − 0.46
𝑒𝑓 = 0.57
1.8𝑚 → 1800𝑚𝑚
∆𝑒𝐻 (0.72 − 0.57)(1800)
∆𝐻 = =
𝑒𝑜 + 1 0.72 + 1
∆𝑯 = 𝟏𝟓𝟔𝒎𝒎

8. The moist unit weight of 0.00283 m3 of soil is 54.4 N. If the moisture content is 12% and Gs
= 2.72, determine the following:

a. Moist unit weight

0.0544𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟐𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
0.00283𝑚^3

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b. Dry unit weight

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑑
19.22 = (1 + 12)𝛾𝑑
𝟏𝟕. 𝟏𝟔𝒌𝑵
𝜸𝒅 =
𝒎𝟑
c. Void ratio

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
(2.72)(9.81)
17.16 =
𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟓
d. Porosity
𝑒 0.55
𝑛= = = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓
𝑒 + 1 0.55 + 1
e. Degree of saturation

𝐺𝑠 𝑤 (2.72)(12)
𝑆= = = 𝟓𝟗. 𝟑𝟓%
𝑒 0.55

f. Volume occupied by water

𝑉𝑤
𝑆= 𝑉𝑣 = 𝑒
𝑉𝑣
𝑉𝑤
𝑆=
𝑒
𝑉𝑤
0.5935 =
0.55
𝑽𝒘 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟐𝟔𝟒𝒎𝟑

9. A granular soil located in a borrow pit is found to have an in place dry density of 1895
kg/m3. In the laboratory, values of dry maximum density and minimum density are
determined as 2100 kg/m3 and 1440 kg/m3, respectively.

a. Compute the relative density of soil in the borrow pit.

1895 − 1440 2100

𝐷𝑟 = [ ] = 𝟕𝟔. 𝟑𝟗%
2100 − 1440 1895

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b. Compute the void ratio of the soil in the natural condition if the maximum and minimum
densities indicate void ratios of 0.28 at the maximum density and 0.92 at minimum density.
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
0.28 − 𝑒
0.7639 =
0.28 − 0.92
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟕

c. Compute the specific gravity of this soil.

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
𝑒+1
𝐺𝑠 (1000)
1895 =
0.77 + 1

𝑮𝒔 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟓

10. The moist unit weight and degrees of saturation of a soil are given in the following table.
𝛾(𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 ) Degree of Sat (S)%
16.64 50
17.73 75
Determine the following:
a. Void ratio

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑆𝑒)𝛾𝑤 𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 (𝑒 + 1)

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = → 𝐺𝑠 = − 𝑆𝑒
𝑒+1 𝛾𝑤
𝐺𝑠 = 𝐺𝑠
16.64(𝑒 + 1) 17.73(𝑒 + 1)
− 0.5𝑒 = − 0.75𝑒
9.81 9.81

𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟗
b. Sp.gr of soil

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 (𝑒 + 1) 16.64(0.79 + 1)
𝐺𝑠 = − 𝑆𝑒 = − 0.5(0.79)
𝛾𝑤 9.81
𝑮𝒔 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟒

c. Saturated unit weight

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒)𝛾𝑤 (2.64 + 0.79)(9.81)
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟖𝟎𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝑒+1 0.79 + 1

11. A sample of sand has relative density of 40% with a solid specific gravity of 2.65. The
minimum void ratio is 0.45 and maximum void ratio is 0.97.

a. Void ratio of the sand having a relative density of 40%

𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛

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0.97 − 𝑒
40 =
0.97 − 0.45
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟔

b. Density of the sand in a saturated condition in pcf

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒)𝛾𝑤 (2.65 + 0.76)(9.81)
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = 19𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
𝑒+1 0.76 + 1
𝑙𝑏
19𝑘𝑁 6.3659 𝑓𝑡 3 𝒍𝒃
∗ = 𝟏𝟐𝟎. 𝟗𝟓 𝟑
𝑚 3 𝑘𝑁 𝒇𝒕
1 3
𝑚

c. If the sand is compacted to a relative density of 65%, what is the decrease in the thickness of the
4 ft thick layer?
ℎ = 4𝑓𝑡 → 1.219𝑚
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑒 + 1 = 𝑤 ∗ 𝐿 ∗ ℎ
𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙: 𝑒 = 0.76; ℎ = 1.219𝑚
0.76 + 1 = 𝑤 ∗ 𝐿 ∗ 1.219
𝑤 ∗ 𝐿 = 1.44𝑚3
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙: 𝐷𝑟 = 65%; 𝑒 =? ; ℎ =?
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
0.97 − 𝑒
0.65 =
0.97 − 0.45
𝑒 = 0.632

𝑒+1=𝑤∗𝐿∗ℎ
0.632 + 1 = 1.44ℎ
ℎ = 1.13𝑚
𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠:
1.219 − 1.13 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝟗𝒎 → 𝟎. 𝟑𝟎𝒇𝒕

12. A sample of soil weighing 2.62 kN is removed from a test pit. 1.33 kN of water will fill the
pit. A sample of the soil weighing 112.4 grams is dried in the oven and its weight after is
103.6 grams. Assume the specific gravity of the solids is 2.67. Max attainable dry unit
weight of soil is 18.47 kN/m3 and minimum attainable dry unit weight is 16.35 kN/m3.

a. Determine the wet unit weight of soil.

𝑊 2.62𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = = = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟑𝟐𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝑉 0.1356𝑚3

b. Determine the dry unit weight of soil.

𝑊𝑤 112.4 − 103.6
𝑤= =
𝑊𝑠 103.6
𝑤 = 8.49%

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𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 19.32
𝛾𝑑𝑟𝑦 = =
1 + 𝑤 1 + 8.49
𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟖𝟏𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑

c. Determine the relative density of soil sample.

17.81 − 16.35 18.47

𝐷𝑟 = [ ] = 𝟕𝟏%
18.47 − 16.35 17.81

13. Following are the results of a field unit weight determination test using the sand cone
method.
Dry unit weight of sand = 16.36 kN/m3
Wt. of sand to fill the cone = 11.15 N (Wc)
Wt. of jar + cone + sand (before use) = 58.9 N (W1)
Wt. of jar + cone + sand (after use) = 27.65 N (W4)
Wt. of moist soil from the hole = 32.55 N (W2)
Moisture content of moist soil = 11.6%

a. Compute the weight of sand to fill the hole

𝑊5 = 58.9𝑁 − 27.65𝑁 = 31.25𝑁

31.25 − 11.15𝑁 = 20.1𝑁 → 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟎𝟏𝒌𝑵

b. Compute for the moist unit weight of the soil

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑑
23.72𝑘𝑁
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = (1 + 11.6) ( ) = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟒𝟕𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝑚3

c. Compute for the dry unit weight of the soil

0.0201𝑘𝑁
𝑉ℎ = = 1.23𝑥10−3 𝑚3
16.36𝑘𝑁/𝑚^3

𝑊2 = (1 + 𝑤)𝑊3
32.55𝑁 = (1 + 11.6)𝑊3
𝑊3 = 29.17𝑁 → 0.02917𝑘𝑁

𝑊3 0.02917
𝛾𝑑 = = = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟕𝟐𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝑉 1.23𝑥10−3

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14. A soil sample has a bulk unit weight of 19.6 kN/m3 at a water content of 10%. Determine the
following if it has sp.gr. of 2.7.

a. Void ratio

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑤𝐺𝑠 )𝛾𝑤

𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 =
𝑒+1
(2.7 + (0.10)(2.7))(9.81)
19.6 =
𝑒+1
𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟗

b. Percent air in void (air void ratio)

𝑒 − 𝑤𝐺𝑠
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
1+𝑒
0.49 − (0.10)(2.7)
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 = = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟕𝟔𝟓
1 + 0.49

c. Degree of saturation
𝐺𝑠 𝑤 (2.7)(10)
𝑆= = = 𝟓𝟓. 𝟏𝟎%
𝑒 0.49

15. The hydraulic gradient for quicksand condition is equal to 1.13 with a void ratio of 0.50.
The moist unit weight of soil is 19.04 kN/m3.

a. Compute the sp.gr. of the soil.

𝐺𝑠 − 1
𝑖=
𝑒+1
𝐺𝑠 − 1
1.13 =
0.50 + 1
𝑮𝒔 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟗𝟓

b. Compute the dry unit weight of soil.

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (2.695)(9.81)
𝛾𝑑 = = = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟔𝟑𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑
𝑒+1 0.50 + 1

c. Compute the water content of the soil.

(𝐺𝑠 + 𝑤𝐺𝑠 )𝛾𝑤 (2.695 + 2.695𝑤)(9.81)
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = 19.04 =
𝑒+1 0.50 + 1
𝒘 = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟑%

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