H24G05-E1

The University of Nottingham

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

A LEVEL 4 MODULE, SPRING SEMESTER 2016-17

PREDICTIVE SOIL MECHANICS

Time allowed TWO Hours

Candidates may complete the front cover of their answer book and sign their desk card but
must NOT write anything else until the start of the examination period is announced

Answer ALL questions

Only silent, self contained calculators with a Single-Line Display or Dual-Line Display are
permitted in this examination.

Dictionaries are not allowed with one exception. Those whose first language is not English
may use a standard translation dictionary to translate between that language and English
provided that neither language is the subject of this examination. Subject specific translation
dictionaries are not permitted.

No electronic devices capable of storing and retrieving text, including electronic dictionaries,
may be used.

DO NOT turn examination paper over until instructed to do so

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: A MCQ computer marking sheet is provided for SECTION A

A separate answer booklet is provided for SECTION B
Geotechnics Data Book provided.

INFORMATION FOR INVIGILATORS:

MCQ marking booklets and answer books should be collected separately.

Question papers should be collected in at the end of the exam – do not allow candidates to
take copies from the exam room.

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SECTION A
Answers MUST be written on the MCQ answer sheet provided

1. Which of the following is NOT a possible stress dilatancy rule?

A. 𝑑𝜀𝑣 /𝑑𝜀𝑞 =𝑀−𝜂

B. 𝑑𝜀𝑣 /𝑑𝜀𝑞 = 𝑀2 − 𝜂 3
C. 𝑑𝜀𝑣 /𝑑𝜀𝑞 = (𝑀 − 𝜂)/𝜂
D. 𝑑𝜀𝑣 /𝑑𝜀𝑞 = 𝑞2 − 𝜂2 [2]

2. What are the peak and ultimate friction angles according to the data in the figure
below from a direct shear test (with plan dimensions of 60 mm × 60 mm) on dry
sand with a normal load of 800 N? [2]
Shear stress, τ (kPa)

175

140

Shear displacement, x (mm)

A. φ’max = 40°, φ’ult = 30°

B. φ’max = 40°, φ’ult = 32°
C. φ’max = 38°, φ’ult = 32°
D. φ’max = 38°, φ’ult = 30°

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Study the figure below and answer the following questions 3-5:

Shear stress, τ CSL

E
Φʹc

A
Effective normal
B D stress, σʹ
Void ratio, e

D
B
C CSL
E Effective normal
stress, σʹ

3. This figure shows that [2]

A. Loose soil has a higher strength in the long term than in the short term
B. A soil starting at C would have a drained strength equal to the undrained
strength
C. Soils denser than critical dilate
D. All of the above

4. A dense sand in an undrained direct shear test would follow path? [2]

A. B→C
B. B→A
C. D→C
D. D→E

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5. The figure shows that the following are true? [2]

A. Soil D is “loose”
B. Soil B is “dense”
C. Soils B, C and D are the same density
D. All of the above

6. Which one of the following could NOT possibly be a yield surface? [2]

A. 𝑞 = Μ𝑝′ ln(𝑝𝑜 ′⁄𝑝′ )

B. 𝑞 2 = Μ 2 𝑝′ (𝑝𝑜′ − 𝑝′)

C. 𝑞 = Μ𝑝′ (3 ln(𝑝𝑜 ′⁄𝑝′ ))1⁄3

2
D. 𝑞 2 = Μ 2 𝑝′ (𝑝𝑜′ − 𝑝′)

7. Which of these statements is correct? [2]

A. Original Cam Clay cannot distinguish between isotropic and the one-
dimensional plastic yielding
B. For a heavily overconsolidated soil (i.e. denser than critical) under
compressive shearing in the drained condition, the Cam clay model correctly
predicts ductile hardening behaviour associated with expansion of the yield
surface in 𝑝′ − 𝑞 space
C. Original Cam clay can incorrectly predict a peak strength for dense undrained
soils
D. Both A and C are true but not B

8. A sample of kaolin obeying Cam clay is isotropically normally compressed to

250kPa and then subjected to a conventional undrained test. The undrained
strength Cu is [2]

A. 114 kPa
B. 112 kPa
C. 57 kPa
D. 28 kPa

9. Which of these is UNTRUE: [2]

A. When a soil is unloaded under 1-D conditions, the ratio of horizontal effective
stress to vertical effective stress is constant
B. The earth pressure coefficient at rest for 1-D normally consolidated soil is a
soil constant
C. Tensile fracture in triaxial compression occurs when the radial effective stress
is zero
D. Modified Cam clay can distinguish between isotropic and 1-D normally
consolidated soil

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10. A sample of reconstituted London clay obeying the Cam clay model has been
isotropically normally compressed to 300kPa and then undergoes a drained test to
critical state. The specific volume at failure is: [2]

A. 1.784
B. 1.874
C. 1.478
D. 1.748

11. The figure below shows the Mohr Circle at failure for an undrained triaxial test.
What is the pore pressure at failure? [2]
τ (kPa)

'=24°

cu=75

σ, σʹ (kPa)
150 300

A.  kPa
B.  kPa
C.  kPa
D.  kPa

12. The relationship between critical state stress ratio  and critical state friction ’c in
triaxial compression is: [3]

6 sin 𝜙′
A. Μ = 3−sin 𝜙′𝑐
𝑐

6 sin 𝜙′
B. Μ = 3+sin 𝜙′𝑐
𝑐

𝜙′
C. Μ≈ 25
𝑐

D. Both A and C

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SECTION B
Answers MUST be written on separate answer book provided

13. (a) A sample of saturated reconstituted soil containing 129.8g of solids was
isotropically normally compressed under a cell pressure of 300kPa and zero
back pressure. It is known that at this stage the sample was 37.2mm in
diameter and 74.2 mm high. The specific gravity of the soil grains was
2.65. Further isotropic compression was then carried out until the cell
pressure reached 400kPa, resulting in 1634 mm3 of water draining from the
sample. The cell pressure was then slowly reduced to 300 kPa again, and
521 mm3 of water was observed to flow back into the sample. Calculate
the parameters  and  and the specific volume N on the isotropic normal
compression line at p' = 1 kPa. [8]

(b) A conventional drained compression test was then performed at a cell pressure
of 300 kPa. At failure, the value of deviatoric stress was found to be 398 kPa,
and 3857 mm3 of water had been expelled from the sample. Calculate the
parameters  and  for the soil. [6]

(c) Show that the parameters N, , ,  are consistent with a yield surface given
by the equation

34
4 
q  p'  lnp' o p' [5]
3 

(d) If the conventional test had been performed undrained, calculate the pore
pressure at failure. [6]

14. (a) A reconstituted sample of London clay has been normally compressed to a
stress ratio =0.5 and a cell pressure of 200 kPa, and then unloaded at the
same constant stress ratio to a cell pressure of 150 kPa, all at zero back
pressure. The drainage tap is then closed and an undrained test is
performed by reducing cell pressure at constant axial stress. Calculate the
values of q, p' and pore pressure u at yield and failure. It may be assumed
that London clay obeys the Cam clay model. [15]

(b) If it is assumed that soil at the liquid limit has an undrained strength cu of 2 kPa
and soil at the plastic limit has an undrained strength of 200 kPa, show that
critical state soil mechanics predicts that the plastic compressibility index  is
related to the plasticity index Ip by the equation:

  0.6I p
[10]

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15. (a) i) Show that the coefficient of earth pressure at rest Ko for an
overconsolidated clay with a 1-D history and an overconsolidation
ratio n is given by:

'
K o  nK o,nc  n  1 [7]
1  '

ii) The value Ko,nc is given approximately by the equation:

K o,nc  1  sin 'crit

If 'crit for the soil is 23o and the Poisson ratio on one-dimensional
unloading is 0.15, calculate the overconsolidation ratio of the soil when
the effective stress path in q:p’ space crosses the p' axis. [3]

(b) i) The failure criterion in terms of effective stress for a moderately or heavily
overconsolidated soil can be written as:

 '
 c' pe  tan '
p' e p' e

where p'e is the mean effective stress on the isotropic normal compression
line at the failure specific volume. The equation can be re-written as:

q p'
gh
p' e p' e

Derive expressions for g and h in terms of c'pe and ' for triaxial
compression. [10]

ii) Show that the corresponding normalised yield surface is given by the
equation:


q  p'  p'
 g  h

p' o  p' o  p' o

where p'o is the isotropic preconsolidation pressure for the unload-reload

line corresponding to the failure specific volume.
[5]

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