6m4D69-CIVIL 221 Semester2 2020-1

QUESTION/ANSWER BOOKLET CIVIL 221
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
SEMESTER TWO 2020

Campus: City, NZ Online, Offshore Online
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Geomechanics 1
(Time Allowed: TWO hours)
NOTE: Answer ALL questions.

This exam contributes up to 50% of the final mark for this course.
Write your answers in this booklet and hand in at the end of the exam.
If an item of information appears to be missing make a reasonable assumption.

State your assumptions clearly.
Assume that gravitational acceleration, g is equal to 9.81 m/s2.
Information that may be of assistance is provided in the appendices booklet.
Surname: …………………………….…………….. Forenames: …………………………
University of Auckland ID number: …………………………
Page 1 of 29
ID: …………………………
1. Question 1:
(a) Define specific gravity and explain how the specific gravity of a soil sample could be
measured in the lab.
(3 marks)
Page 2 of 29
ID: …………………………
(b) Describe the theory behind the hydrometer test and how this can be used to characterise
fine grained soil particles.
(3 marks)
Page 3 of 29
ID: …………………………
(c) Sketch a Mohr’s circle using effective stresses for an element of soil at rest where K0 is
equal to 0.5. Using the same axes sketch an element of soil at failure where only the
horizontal stress has been increased from the at rest state. Assume the soil is a 𝜙′ material
and label all important parameters clearly.
(3 marks)
Page 4 of 29
ID: …………………………
(d) Describe two different approaches that can be taken to increase the piping factor of safety
for a dam. Provide sketches to aid your description and discuss how each approach
changes the key parameters that control the factor of safety calculation.
(3 marks)
Page 5 of 29
ID: …………………………
(e) Describe the effect of changing the following constant head permeameter test setup
parameters on the water level in each piezometer and the coefficient of permeability of
the soil sample: (1) the elevation of the water reservoir; (2) the distance between the
piezometer ports.
(3 marks)
Page 6 of 29
ID: …………………………
(f) Sketch and label representative particle size distribution curves for a uniform soil, a well
graded soil and a gap graded soil.
(2 marks)
Page 7 of 29
ID: …………………………
(g) Sketch a compaction curve and label the important variables. Sketch how shear strength
and permeability are influenced by moisture content in relation to the compaction curve
and describe the reasons behind this.
(3 marks)
Page 8 of 29
ID: …………………………
2. Question 2:
(a) A flow net for seepage through a silty sand deposit beneath a sheet pile wall is shown in
the figure for question 2 (a). The total width (dimension into the page) of the sheet pile
wall is equal to 40 m. The seepage rate beneath the sheet pile wall is equal to 500 m3/day.
Figure for Question 2 (a)
(i) Calculate the coefficient of permeability of the silty sand.

(3 marks)
Page 9 of 29
ID: …………………………
(ii) Using pore pressures from locations A, B and C, provide an estimate of the force
acting on the left hand side of the sheet pile wall (per unit width) from the pore
pressure distribution.
(8 marks)
Page 10 of 29
ID: …………………………
(Question 2 (a) (ii) answer continued)
Page 11 of 29
ID: …………………………
(b) A pumping well has been installed into an unconfined aquifer for water extraction. The
well is installed down to the base of a silty sand deposit 20 m thick, underlain by an
impermeable layer. The water table in the silty sand deposit prior to pumping was 3 m
below the ground surface. In observation wells installed 20 m and 50 m away from the
centre of the pumping well, water levels dropped by 3 m and 2 m, respectively. The
pumping rate was equal to 200 m3/day.
(i) Calculate the coefficient of permeability of the silty sand.

(4 marks)
Page 12 of 29
ID: …………………………
(ii) A warehouse containing sensitive equipment is going to be constructed near the

pumping well location. Previous analysis showed that if there was a drop in the
ground water table of greater than 0.75 m at this site there could be damage to the
equipment. Calculate how far the warehouse would need to be from the well
pumping location to avoid any damage.
(5 marks)
Page 13 of 29
ID: …………………………
3. Question 3:
(a) A compacted earth fill embankment with a volume of 5,000 cubic metres needs to be
constructed. At the embankment the soil will be compacted until it has a dry density of
1600 kg/m3 and a water content of 19%. The soil used to construct the embankment is to
be taken from a borrow pit with the following properties:
Air voids 7.3%

Degree of saturation 85%
Water content 30%
(i) Construction estimates were based on the excavation of 6,000 cubic metres of soil
from the borrow pit. Calculate whether this will be enough soil to construct the
embankment.
(10 marks)
Page 14 of 29
ID: …………………………
(Question 3 (a) (i) answer continued)
Page 15 of 29
ID: …………………………
(b) The results of a standard Proctor compaction test are summarised in the data for question
3 (b). The specific gravity of the soil deposit is equal to 2.6.
Water content Bulk density

(%) (kg/m3)
6 1800
8.3 1950
9.7 2060
11.5 2130
12.2 2140
13.6 2110
14.5 1970
Data for Question 3 (b)
(i) Using the axes for question 3 (b) (i), plot the compaction curve and estimate the
maximum dry density and the optimum water content.
(6 marks)
Page 16 of 29
ID: …………………………
Axes for Question 3 (b) (i)
(ii) Calculate the range of the percentage of air voids at 95% of the maximum dry
density.
(4 marks)
Page 17 of 29
ID: …………………………
(Question 3 (b) (ii) answer continued)
Page 18 of 29
ID: …………………………
4. Question 4:
(a) An element of soil is located at a depth of 10 m within a soil profile. The water table is at
the ground surface and the saturated unit weight of the soil is equal to 18 kN/m3. Assume
K0 = 0.5. The shear strength parameters are c’ = 10 kPa and 𝜙′ = 35⁰.
(i) Calculate the increase in the major principal effective stress that is required to move
from the at rest condition to the failure condition. Assume that the minor principal
effective stress is the same at rest and at failure.
(6 marks)
Page 19 of 29
ID: …………………………
(ii) Calculate the theoretical angle of the failure plane in the soil sample and the shear
stress and normal effective stress on this failure plane.
(3 marks)
Page 20 of 29
ID: …………………………
(Question 4 (a) (ii) answer continued)
(iii) Using the Mohr’s circle for failure conditions, calculate the maximum shear stress
that could act on any plane within the soil element and the theoretical angle of this
plane.
(2 marks)
Page 21 of 29
ID: …………………………
(b) A consolidated drained triaxial test was carried out on a sand sample. The sample had an
initial diameter of 38 mm and an initial height of 76 mm. The cell pressure was equal to
75 kPa, and after the cell pressure stage the sample dimensions were a diameter of 37 mm
and a height of 75 mm. The results of the shearing phase of the triaxial test are summarised
in the figure for question 4 (b).
Figure for Question 4 (b)
(i) Assuming that the sand has a cohesion intercept of 0, calculate the angle of shearing
resistance of the sand.
(6 marks)
Page 22 of 29
ID: …………………………
(Question 4 (b) (i) answer continued)
Page 23 of 29
ID: …………………………
(ii) If a different element of this same soil has a minor principal stress of 400 kPa, a
major principal stress of 800 kPa and a pore pressure equal to 150 kPa, calculate
whether failure would occur on any plane within the soil element.
(3 marks)
Page 24 of 29
ID: …………………………
5. Question 5:
(a) The soil profile at a construction site consists of 1 m of fill at the ground surface, sitting
above 2.5 m of sandy clay. Below this is a layer of clay 6 m thick. The water table is at a
depth of 2.5 m. The soil properties are:
Fill γ = 16 kN/m3 K0 = 0.45

Sandy clay above the water table γ = 17 kN/m3 K0 = 0.45
Sandy clay below the water table γ = 18 kN/m3 K0 = 0.45
Clay below the water table γ = 17.5 kN/m3 K0 = 0.45
(i) Calculate the vertical effective stress characteristics to a depth of 6 m. Include

values at enough depths to represent all the key changes in the slope of the vertical
effective stress profile. No sketch is required.
(7 marks)
Page 25 of 29
ID: …………………………
Page 26 of 29
ID: …………………………
(ii) As part of the construction process 2 m of soil was removed over a large area and
replaced with a 1 m thick compacted layer of soil with a density of 1900 kg/m3.
Calculate the change in horizontal and vertical effective stress at a depth of 6 m
below the original ground surface.
(5 marks)
Page 27 of 29
ID: …………………………
(b) The soil profile at a site consists of a clay deposit with a unit weight of 17 kN/m 3 above
the water table and 19 kN/m3 below the water table. The water table at the site is at a
depth of 2 m. There is a proposal to construct a large square tank on the site that will be
embedded 1 m below the ground surface. The dimensions of the tank will be controlled
by the vertical effective stresses in the soil profile, with a limit of 100 kPa defined for a
depth of 8 m below the original ground surface beneath the centre of the tank. Using the
soil profile characteristics and the vertical effective stress limit, calculate the maximum
dimensions of the tank if it exerts a pressure of 50 kPa across its entire base area.
(8 marks)
Page 28 of 29
ID: …………………………
(Question 5 (b) answer continued)
Page 29 of 29
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
SEMESTER TWO 2020

Campus: City, NZ Online, Offshore Online
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Geomechanics 1
APPENDICES BOOKLET
Page 1 of 7
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
Particle size
D
Cu = 60 Cc =
(D30 )2
distribution D10 D60 D10
′ 𝜎𝜎ℎ′
𝜎𝜎 = 𝜎𝜎 − 𝑢𝑢 𝐾𝐾0 =
Stresses in Soils 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣′
Volume Mass
Va Air 0
Vv
Vw Water Mw
V M
Properties and
Phase
relationships
Vs Solids Ms
𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 𝑒𝑒
𝐷𝐷𝑟𝑟 = 𝑥𝑥100
𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑣𝑣
𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑣𝑣𝑠𝑠 =
𝑛𝑛
𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ℎ
𝑘𝑘 = 𝑘𝑘 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 1 �
𝐴𝐴∆ℎ𝑡𝑡 𝐴𝐴(𝑡𝑡2 −𝑡𝑡1 ) ℎ2
q ln(r2 / r1 ) q ln(r2 / r1 )
k= k=
(
π h22 − h12 ) 2πH (h2 − h1 )
Seepage 𝑛𝑛 𝑛𝑛
𝐻𝐻 𝐻𝐻𝑗𝑗 1
= � 𝑘𝑘𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = � 𝐻𝐻𝑗𝑗 𝑘𝑘𝐻𝐻(𝑗𝑗)
𝑘𝑘𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑘𝑘𝑉𝑉(𝑗𝑗) 𝐻𝐻
𝑗𝑗=1 𝑗𝑗=1
𝑁𝑁𝑓𝑓
𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑁𝑁𝑑𝑑
𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝐹𝐹𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = −1
𝑖𝑖𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤
Page 2 of 7
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
σ h'
τ= c ' + σ ' f tan φ ' K 0 = ' = 1 − sin φ '
f
σv
σ '1 f − σ '3 f
sin φ ' =
σ '1 f + σ '3 f
 1 + sin φ '   cos φ ' 

=σ '1 f σ '3 f   + 2c '  
 1 − sin φ '   1 − sin φ ' 
σ '1 f 1 + sin φ '  φ'

= = tan 2  45 + 
σ '3 f 1 − sin φ '  2
Shear strength σ '1 f − σ '3 f

sin φ ' = 2
σ ' + σ '3 f
c 'cot φ '+ 1 f
2
𝜎𝜎1 + 𝜎𝜎3 𝜎𝜎1 −𝜎𝜎3 𝜎𝜎1 −𝜎𝜎3
𝜎𝜎 = + 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐2𝛼𝛼 𝜏𝜏 = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2𝛼𝛼
2 2 2
1 − ev 𝜙𝜙′
A = A0 𝛼𝛼 = 45° +
1 − ea 2
𝑃𝑃
𝑞𝑞 = 𝜎𝜎1 − 𝜎𝜎3 =
𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴
𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 (1 − )
𝜌𝜌
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑 = 100
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑 = 1 + 𝑤𝑤𝑐𝑐 𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠
1+𝑤𝑤𝑐𝑐
Compaction
Page 3 of 7
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
Page 4 of 7
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
Page 5 of 7
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
Page 6 of 7
APPENDIX CIVIL 221
∆σ v = Iσ × q
Page 7 of 7

6m4D69-CIVIL 221 Semester2 2020-1

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QUESTION/ANSWER BOOKLET CIVIL 221

THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

SEMESTER TWO 2020

(Time Allowed: TWO hours)

NOTE: Answer ALL questions.

If an item of information appears to be missing make a reasonable assumption.

Assume that gravitational acceleration, g is equal to 9.81 m/s2.

Information that may be of assistance is provided in the appendices booklet.

Surname: …………………………….…………….. Forenames: …………………………

University of Auckland ID number: …………………………

Figure for Question 2 (a)

(i) Calculate the coefficient of permeability of the silty sand.

(i) Calculate the coefficient of permeability of the silty sand.

(ii) A warehouse containing sensitive equipment is going to be constructed near the

Air voids 7.3%

Water content Bulk density

Axes for Question 3 (b) (i)

Figure for Question 4 (b)

Fill γ = 16 kN/m3 K0 = 0.45

(i) Calculate the vertical effective stress characteristics to a depth of 6 m. Include

THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

SEMESTER TWO 2020

 1 + sin φ '   cos φ ' 

σ '1 f 1 + sin φ '  φ'

Shear strength σ '1 f − σ '3 f

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