SI5221 - Advanced Soil Mechanics

Lecturer: Prof. I Wayan Sengara, Ph.D

Assistant: Ahmad Sulaiman, MT
1. A CU triaxial test is performed on a cohesive soil. The effective consolidation stress was 750 kPa. At
Failure, the principal stress difference was 1250 kPa, and the major effective principal stress was 1800
kPa. Compute Skempton’s pore pressure coefficient A at failure?

2. Two samples of a slightly overconsolidated clay were tested in triaxial compression, and the following
data at failure were obtained. The preconsolidation stress for the clay was estimated from oedometer
tests to be about 400 kPa.
Specimen X (kPa) Y (kPa)
𝜎 75 750
(𝜎 − 𝜎 ) 265 620
∆𝑢 -5 +450
(a) Determine the Skempton’s pore pressure parameter A at failure for both tests.
(b) Plot the Mohr circles at failure for both total and effective stresses.
(c) Estimate φ’ in the normally consolidated range, and c’ and φ’ for the overconsolidated
range of stresses.

3. An undrained triaxial compression test was performed on saturated sample of normally consolidated
clay. The consolidation pressure was 100 kPa. The specimen failed when the principal stress difference
was 85 kPa and the induced pore water pressure was 67 kPa. A companion undrained test was
performed on an identical sample of the same clay, but at a consolidation pressure of 250 kPa. What
maximum principal stress difference would you expect at failure for this second test specimen? What
are φ’ and φtotal? Predict the angle of the failure planes for the two undrained tests. Determine Af for
this clay.

4. The following data were obtained from a CU test with pore pressures measured on an undisturbed
specimen of sandy silt. The consolidation pressure was 850 kPa and the specimen was sheared in axial
compression.
 SI5221 - Advanced Soil Mechanics
Lecturer: Prof. I Wayan Sengara, Ph.D
Assistant: Ahmad Sulaiman, MT
(a) Plot curves of principal stress difference and pore pressures versus strain. Please plot on one
sheet
(b) Plot the stress paths on a p-q diagram.
(c) Is there any difference in φ’ as determined when the principal stress difference or the
principal effective stress ratio is a maximum?

5. A series of conventional triaxial compression tests were conducted on three identical specimens of a
saturated clay soil. Test results are tabulated below.

Specimen 𝜎 (kPa) (𝜎 − 𝜎 ) (kPa) ∆𝑢 (kPa)

A 100 170 40
B 200 260 95
C 300 360 135
(a) Sketch the total and effective stress paths for each test and determine the Mohr-Coulomb
strength parameters in terms of both total and effective stresses.
(b) Estimate the theoretical angle of the failure planes for each specimen.
(c) Do you believe this clay is normally or overconsolidated? Why?