H24G05-E1

The University of Nottingham

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

A LEVEL 4 MODULE, AUTUMN SEMESTER 2015-16

CRITICAL STATE 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
Data sheet – handout 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. What is the peak friction angle 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
hanger load of 80 kg? [2]
Shear stress, τ (kPa)

125

100

Shear displacement, x (mm)

A. φ’max = 24°
B. φ’max = 29°
C. φ’max = 35°
D. φ’max = 41°

2. For the test data in Question-1 what is the ultimate friction angle?

A. φ’ult = 15°
B. φ’ult = 19°
C. φ’ult = 24°
D. φ’ult = 28°
[2]

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

A. ݀ߝ௩/݀ߝ௤ =‫ ܯ‬−ߟ
B. ݀ߝ௩/݀ߝ௤ = ‫ ܯ‬ଶ − ߟଶ
C. ݀ߝ௩/݀ߝ௤ = (‫ ܯ‬− ߟ)/ߟ
D. ݀ߝ௩/݀ߝ௤ = ‫ݍ‬ଶ − ‫݌‬ଶ
[3]

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4. The following curve is NOT applicable to:

Shear
Stress

Shear displacement

A. A dense sand at low confining stress

B. A normally consolidated clay in drained condition
C. A dense sand in undrained condition
D. None of the above
[3]

5. A critical state is reached when

A. A rupture forms
B. There is no more shear strain
C. The effective stresses and volume are constant
D. The effective stresses are constant while volume is increasing
[3]

6. In triaxial testing what is the correct relationship for calculating distortional

strain increments?

ଶ
A. ߜߝ௤ = (ߜߝ௔ − ߜߝ௩)
ଷ
ଶ
B. ߜߝ௤ = (ߜߝ௔ + ߜߝ௩)
ଷ
C. ߜߝ௤ = ߜߝ௔ + ߜߝ௩/3
D. ߜߝ௤ = ߜߝ௔ − ߜߝ௩/3
[3]

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7. The figure below shows the Mohr Circle at failure for an undrained triaxial test.
What is the excess pore water pressure at failure?
τ (kPa)

'=30°

cu=20

σ, σʹ (kPa)
60 100

A. 0 kPa
B. 20 kPa
C. 40 kPa
D. 60 kPa
[3]

8. From the data in Question-7 what are the values of major and minor principal
effective stresses at failure?

A. σ’1 = 100 kPa, σ’3 = 60 kPa

B. σ’1 = 80 kPa, σ’3 = 40 kPa
C. σ’1 = 60 kPa, σ’3 = 20 kPa
D. σ’1 = 40 kPa, σ’3 = 0 kPa
[3]

9. A sample of London clay obeying the Cam clay model has been isotropically
normally compressed to 300kPa and then isotropically unloaded to 200kPa. The
final specific volume of the sample is:

A. 2.871
B. 2.514
C. 1.965
D. 1.741
[3]

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SECTION B
Answers MUST be written on separate answer book provided

10. A saturated sample of reconstituted Weald clay has been isotropically normally
compressed to 300kPa in a triaxial test cell, and allowed to swell back to an
effective cell pressure of 120kPa. The deviatoric stress is then increased to
20kPa at constant cell pressure, the test sample is now at its initial state.
Assume that Weald clay obeys Cam Clay on the wet side of critical states, and
approximate the Hvorslev part of the yield locus to be a straight line of slope
0.8M in q:p’ space.

(a) Find the equation of the Hvorslev line and point of intersection with the
tensile fracture line in q:p’ space. [10]

(b) Predict the effective stresses at yield under the following triaxial tests:

i) From the initial state, a fully drained compression is carried out at

constant axial stress with cell pressure falling. [8]

ii) From the initial state, a fully drained compression is carried out with
rising cell pressure at constant deviatoric stress. [7]

11. (a) The surface of a one-dimensionally normally consolidated clay layer is

defined as the level at which the vertical effective stress is 0.1kPa.
Assuming the normal consolidation of the clay to be given by the equation

‫ = ݒ‬2.865 − 0.185 ln ߪ௩ᇱ

in the interval ߪ௩ᇱ = 0.1 to 30kPa, and that the specific gravity of the soil
particles is 2.65, calculate the depth at which the vertical effective stress is
30kPa. [15]

(b) Explain why Cam clay incorrectly predicts that the coefficient of earth
pressure at rest Ko for one-dimensionally normally compressed soil is equal
to unity (you may ignore elastic strains). [10]

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12. (a) Two triaxial samples of London clay are normally compressed under a
stress ratio ߟ = 0.6 until the cell pressure is 300kPa, and then unloaded at
constant stress ratio until the cell pressure is 250kPa, all under drained
conditions with zero back pressure. An undrained compression test is then
performed on one sample and a fully drained test on the other sample,
each at constant mean total stress, by applying increments of axial stress
and appropriate decrements of cell pressure. You may assume that London
clay obeys the Cam clay model on the loose side of critical states.

i) For the undrained test, calculate values of mean effective stress,

deviatoric stress and pore pressure at yield and at failure.
[12]
ii) For the drained test, calculate values of mean effective stress and
deviatoric stress at failure and the change in specific volume of the
sample.
[5]
(b) Assuming that the critical state angle of friction of London clay is the same
in triaxial compression as in triaxial extension, calculate the value of the
critical state frictional constant M in triaxial extension. [8]

END

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