CE7a: Geotechnical Engineering 1 – Soil Mechanics

Problem Set for Prelim Project

1. For a given soil, show that: 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝛾𝑑 + 𝑛𝛾𝑤

𝑒𝑆𝛾𝑤
2. For a given soil, show that: 𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝛾𝑑 + (1+𝑒)𝑤
3. A soil sample weighs 14.46 N and has a volume of 0.000991m3. The specific gravity of is 2.65. The volume of air is 0.000167m3. Find
the dry unit weight of the original soil sample in kN/m3.
4. Soil solids have a specific gravity of 2.71. Find the unit weight of the solids in SI units (kN/m3).
5. A soil has a bulk density of 20.1 kN/m3 and water content of 15%. Calculate the water content in percent if the soil partially dries to a
density of 19.40kN/m3 and the void ratio remain unchanged.
6. The porosity of a soil sample is 35% and the specific gravity of its particles is 2.70. Calculate the void ratio, dry unit weight, saturated
unit weight, and submerged unit weight in kN/m3.
7. Given that the moisture content is 10%, the unit weight of soil solids is equal to 165.4lb/ft3 and the moist unit weight of the soil sample
is 127 lb/ft3, determine the value of porosity.
8. The mass specific gravity of a fully saturated specimen of clay having a water content of 30.5% is 1.96. On oven drying, the mass
specific gravity drops to 1.60. Calculate the specific gravity of clay.
9. A soil sample with a grain specific gravity of 2.67 was filled in a 1000ml container in the loosest possible state and the dry weight of the
sample was found to be 14.75 N. It was then filled at the densest state obtainable and the weight was found to be 17.70N. The void
ratio of the soil in the natural state was 0.63. Determine the density index in the natural state.
10. The dry unit weight of a sand sample in the loosest state is 13.34 kN/m3 and in the densest state, it is 21.19kN/m3. Determine the
density index of this sand when it has a porosity of 33%. Assume the grain specific gravity as 2.68.
11. One cubic meter of wet soil weighs 19.80 kN. If the specifc gravity of soil particles is 2.70 and water content is 11%, find the void ratio,
dry unit weight (kN/m3), and the degree of saturation in percent.
12. The following are the results of a sieve analysis. Draw the particle size distribution curve and determine D10, D25, D30, D60, D75, CU, CC
and SC.
Sieve No. Mass Retained, g
4 0
10 90
20 160
40 81
60 150
80 120
100 133
200 100
pan 38
13. The dry density of a soil is 1780kg/m3. Given that the specific gravity id equal to 2.68, what would be the moisture content of the soil
when saturated?
14. The moist unit weights and degrees of saturation of a soil are given in the table. Determine the void ratio, specific gravity and the weight
of water, in lb, that will be in a 2.5 ft3. of soil when it is saturated.
Unit weight in pcf Degree of saturation in %
105.73 50
112.67 75
15. The moist density of a soil is 1680kg/m3. Given that the moisture content is equal to 18% and the specific gravity is 2.73, determine the
dry density, porosity, degree of saturation and the mass of water in kg/m3 to be added to reach full saturation.
16. Refer to problem 15. Find the mass of water to be added to a 3m3 sample to reach 90% degree of saturation.
17. In an experiment of determining the porosity and specific gravity of solids of a soil, a soil is dug from the ground and, weighed, then
oven dried, and then saturated with water. The weight of soil taken from the test hole is 1390g. It was then oven dried and weighed
1100g. After saturating it with water, it weighed 1523g. The volume of the test hole was then measured and found to be 750cc. Determine
the void ratio of the soil.
18. A building requires a 500-m3 fill at a void ratio of 15%. Material for earth fill was available from a borrow site at P330 per cubic meter. It
was found out that the average void ratio from the site is 75%. Estimate the total cost of fill.
19. An embankment for a highway 30m wide and 1.2m in compacted thickness is to be constructed from a sandy soil trucked from a borrow
pit. The water content of the sandy soil in the borrow was pit is 12% and the void ratio is 0.77. The specification requires the embankment
be compacted to dry unit weight of 18.2kN/m3. The length of embankment is 2km. Determine the total cost of borrow required if the
borrow costs P320 per cubic meter.
20. For a sandy soil, emax = 0.89, emin = 0.40 and specific gravity = 2.70. What is the required void ratio at 60% relative density?

Deadline of submission is on Feb. 20, 2020 before 9:00AM.