GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 4

Stresses in Soil & Settlement

SIT 1
A saturated clay layer has a thickness of 6 m with a 9. Find the vertical effective stress in at 10 m depth.
water content of 24.2% and a sp.gr. of 2.70. Assume unit weight of solids = 26.5 kN/m 3 and that the
1. Compute the total density of the clay layer. soil above the capillary action rise and ground surface is
a. 18.67 kN/m3 b. 19.90 kN/m3 partially saturated at 50%.
c. 20.37 kN/m 3
d. 16.76 a. 144.44 kPa c. 113.26 kPa
2. Compute the total stress at the bottom. b. 193.48 kPa d. 163.36 kPa
a. 122.22 kPa b. 119.38 kPa
c. 100.56 kPa d. 112.02 kPa SIT 4
3. Compute the effective stress at the bottom. A soil profile is shown in the figure. A zone of capillary
a. 60.52 kPa b. 41.70 kPa rise of 2.5 m is on the sand layer overlying a clay layer.
c. 63.36 kPa d. 53.16 kPa In this zone, the average degree of saturation is 60%.

SIT 2
The soil profile shown consists of a layer of dry sand 4 m
thick which overlies a layer of clay having a thickness of
6 m. Ground water table is located at the interface of the
sand and clay.

10. Determine the effective stress right below B.

a. 57.34 kPa c. 68.72 kPa
b. 84.30 kPa d. 77.90 kPa
11. Determine the effective stress at C.
4. Compute the effective stress at the bottom of the clay a. 113. 88 kPa c. 142.36 kPa
layer. b. 124.57 kPa d. 139.82 kPa
a. 128.40 kPa c. 138.72 kPa 12. Determine the effective stress at D.
b. 119.69 kPa d. 114.38 kPa a. 137.65 kPa c. 132.01 kPa
5. If the water table rises by 2 m, determine the effective b. 148.76 kPa d. 144.15 kPa
stress at the bottom of the clay layer.
a. 128.40 kPa c. 138.72 kPa
b. 119.69 kPa d. 114.38 kPa SIT 5
6. If the water table lowers by 2 m, determine the Given is the soil formation and the corresponding
effective stress at the bottom of the clay layer. properties of soil in each layer. To consolidate the
a. 128.40 kPa c. 138.72 kPa ground, a load is added at the top as shown in the figure
b. 119.69 kPa d. 114.38 kPa or dewatering is being considered.

SIT 3
A dense silt clay layer has the following properties: void
ratio = 0.40, effective diameter = 10μm, capillary
constant = 0.20 cm2. Free ground water level is 8 m
below the ground surface.
7. Find the height of capillary rise in the silt.
a. 4 m c. 5 m
b. 3 m d. 6 m
8. Find the vertical effective stress at 5 m depth. Assume
unit weight of solids = 26.5 kN/m 3 and that the soil above
the capillary action rise and ground surface is partially
saturated at 50%.
a. 133.88 kPa c. 75.02 kPa
b. 153.29 kPa d. 94.56 kPa
 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 4
Stresses in Soil & Settlement

13. With the load only, what is the increase in stress at

mid-layer of the bottom soil assuming a trapezoidal SIT 7
stress distribution of 1 horizontal to 2 vertical?

a. 4.41 kPa c. 8.26 kPa

b. 10.91 kPa d. 6.36 kPa
14. With dewatering by 2 m, what is the stress increase
at the mid-layer at the bottom of soil as water is lowered
down?
a. 4.41 kPa c. 8.26 kPa
b. 10.91 kPa d. 6.36 kPa
15. How much must the water level be lowered to be
more effective than the load added at the top?
a. 2.05 m c. 1.66 m
b. 4.14 m d. 0.81 m

SIT 6
The soil shown has its properties. A surcharge of 140
kPa is applied at the ground surface.
A soil formation as shown in the figure has its ground
water table located at 2m. below the ground surface.
The ground surface is subjected a uniformly distributed
load of 40 kPa.

18. Compute the primary compression index.

a. 0.293 c. 0.221
b. 0.371 d. 0.184

19. Compute the primary consolidation settlement of the

16. Estimate the primary consolidation settlement of the normally consolidated clay layer.
clay layer assuming that it is normally consolidated. a. 175 mm c. 180 mm
a. 65 mm c. 142 mm b. 185 mm d. 190 mm
b. 191 mm d. 86 mm
20. Compute the secondary settlement of the clay layer
17. Estimate the primary consolidation settlement if the 5 yrs. after the completion of primary consolidation
pre-consolidation pressure is 200 kPa. Assume CS = settlement. Time of completion of primary settlement is
1
C. 1.5 years. Secondary compression index is cα = 0.02
5 c
a. 65 mm c. 142 mm a. 32 mm c. 33 mm
b. 191 mm d. 38 mm b. 34 mm d. 35 mm

18. Estimate the primary consolidation settlement if the

pre-consolidation pressure is 160 kPa. Assume CS =
1
Cc.
5
a. 65 mm c. 142 mm
b. 191 mm d. 86 mm