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Mkaj 1093 - Unsaturated Soil Mechanics Project SEMESTER II, SESSION 2020/2021

This document describes a project on unsaturated soil mechanics. It includes two problems: 1. Explain the concepts of "raindrop effect" and "ink bottle effect" which describe hysteresis in the capillary potential-moisture content relationship. It also asks to explain the difference between unsaturated and saturated soil conditions and why understanding unsaturated soil mechanics is important. 2. Given information about an unsaturated silty clay layer, it asks to plot the pore water distribution and calculate stresses. It also asks to derive the extended Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, describe stresses from triaxial test results, and determine shear strength parameters.

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Lingeswarran Numbikannu
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245 views3 pages

Mkaj 1093 - Unsaturated Soil Mechanics Project SEMESTER II, SESSION 2020/2021

This document describes a project on unsaturated soil mechanics. It includes two problems: 1. Explain the concepts of "raindrop effect" and "ink bottle effect" which describe hysteresis in the capillary potential-moisture content relationship. It also asks to explain the difference between unsaturated and saturated soil conditions and why understanding unsaturated soil mechanics is important. 2. Given information about an unsaturated silty clay layer, it asks to plot the pore water distribution and calculate stresses. It also asks to derive the extended Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, describe stresses from triaxial test results, and determine shear strength parameters.

Uploaded by

Lingeswarran Numbikannu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MKAJ 1093 – UNSATURATED SOIL MECHANICS

PROJECT
SEMESTER II, SESSION 2020/2021

PROBLEM 1

1. The capillary potential-moisture content relationship is known to be both non-linear


and hysteresis. Few concepts to describe hysteresis are known as the ‘raindrop effect’
and ‘ink bottle effect’. With illustration, clearly explain these two phenomena.
(12.5 marks)

2. Explain what is the different between unsaturated soil condition and saturated soil
condition. Why we need to understand the important of fundamental principles of
unsaturated soil mechanics.
(12.5 marks)

PROBLEM 2

1. A 20 m-thick flat unsaturated silty clay (Figure P1-a) has total unit weight, γ = 18.5
kN/m3. The pore air pressure, ua is set as a zero reference and effective stress parameter,
χ can be found in Figure P1-b.
(12.5 marks)

a) Plot the pore water distribution at the unsaturated zone as shown in Figure P1-a.

b) Tabulate the matrix tensor of the net normal stresses, (σxyz - ua) and matric suction, (ua
- uw) at depths of 2, 8, 16 and 20 m (Points ZA, ZB, ZC, and ZD under the hydrostatic
condition). Assume the K = σh/σv = 0.27.
Figure P1-a

Silty Sand
0.45

0.4
Vol. Water Content (m³/m³)

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

Matric Suction (kPa)

Figure P1-b
2. (12.5 marks)

a) Derive the 3-D extended Mohr-Coulomb criterion equation as shown in Figure P2 in


terms of principal net normal stresses under triaxial test.

Figure P2

(b) A series of triaxial tests was conducted for four identically prepared specimens of
unsaturated soil. The results of tests are given in Table P2. Given the value of ua - uw
is isotropic during the tests.

i. Describe the state of stress at failure for each test in matrices form.
ii. Determine analytically the shear strength parameters c’, φ’ and φb from the results of
the testing series.
iii. Construct the extended Mohr-Coulomb, M-C failure surface.
Table P2
Test No. σz - ua σx - ua σy - ua ua - uw
(kPa) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
1 80 24 24 20
2 128 48 48 20
3 135 24 24 80
4 180 48 48 80

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