Prelim Exam

1. A cubic meter of soil in its natural state is 18.90 kN. After oven-drying, it
weighs 15.75 kN. Assuming specific gravity is 2.71, determine the moisture
content, void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation of the soil.
Moisture content;
 18.9   0.20
d  15.75 
1  1
Void ratio,
Gs   w 2.719.81
d  15.75  e  0.6879
1 e 1 e
Porosity;
e 0 . 6879
n  n n  0.4075
1 e 1  0 . 6879
Degree of saturation;

G s   Se 2.71(0.20)  S (0.6879) S  0.7879

. In natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 0.025 m3 and weighs 490 N.
The oven-dried weight of the soil is 400 N. If Gs = 2.71, calculate the moisture
content, moist unit weight, dry unit weight, void ratio, porosity, and degree
of saturation.
Solution:
Moisture
content;
Ww W Ws
 
Ws Ws
490  400
 ( )100%
400
  22.50%
Moist unit weight;
W
 
V
490
  19,600 N m3   19.60 kN m 3
0.025
Dry unit weight;
W 400
d  s d   16,000 N m3  16kN / m 3
V 0.025
Void ratio;
s s
Gs 
w
2.71 
9.81  s  26.59 kN m3
Ws 0.40
s  26.59 Vs  0.015m3
Vs Vs
Vv  V  V s Vv  0.025  0.015  0.010m3
V 0.010
e v e  0.667
Vs 0.015

Porosity:

Vv 0.010
n n  0.40
V 0.025
Degree of saturation;

Ww W Ws 0 .49  0 .40

w   9.81  V w  0 . 0092 m 3
Vw Vw Vw
Vw 0 . 0092
S  S   0 . 92
Vv 0 . 010
3. Figure shows the result of a sieve analysis. Determine the percentage finer of
each particles retained in each sieve and the percentage that passes the # 200 sieve.

Sieve No. Mass Retained Cumulative Mass Percent Finer

(grams) (grams) %
100
100 (1 )100 93.77
4 1605
100 220
8 120 100120 220 (1 )100 86.3
1605
330
10 110 220110 330 (1  )100 79.43
1605
520
20 190 330190 520 (1  )100 69.6
1605
625
40 105 105 520 625 (1 )100 61.05
1605
775
60 210 6255 210 835 (1  )100 51.71
1605
1115
80 280 835 2801115 (1 )100 30.52
1605
1405
100 1115 2901405 (1 )100 12.46
1605
290 1555
200 14051501555 (1 )100 3.1
1605
150
Pan 50 1555 50 1605

 Total Mass Retained  1605 Percent Passing # 200 Seive  100  3.1  96.9%
 2. A soil particle has the following grain characteristics
Size (mm) Percent Fine
2.0 100
0.050 65
0.002 15
Using the USDA classification sy stem determine the following
a ) percentage of sand
b) percentage of silt
c) Percentage of clay
d) classification of the soil
Solution From USDA classification System

Gravel Sand Silt

Clay
> 2 mm 2 mm to 0.05 mm 0.05 mm to 0.002 mm <
percentage of sand = 100 – 80 = 20%
0.002
percentage of silt = 80 – 20 = 60%

percentage of Clay = 20%

Check 100 %
 60

20

20

Soil is SILT LOAM

 5. Table shows the results for a liquid limit and plastic limit test
for a soil

Soil Sample WeightLIQUID

of LIMIT TEST
Weight of Number of
wet soil(kg) dry soil(kg) blows

A 10.7 7.1 30
B 9.1 6.6 22
C 8.4 5.6 18
D 8.8 5.9 20
PLASTIC LIMIT TEST NATURAL WATER CONTENT TEST
Soil Sample Weight of Weight of Soil Sample Weight of Weight of
wet soil(kg) dry soil(kg) wet soil(kg) dry soil(kg)
1 9.5 7.6 4 10..6 7.8
2 8.9 7.2 5 9.4 6.4
3 8.4 6.9 6 10.2 7.3
a) Compute the liquid limit
b) Compute the plastic limit
c) Compute the natural water content
d) Compute the plasticity index
 Solution;

Liquid Limit
Compute the moisture(water) content of samples A,B,C,D

Soil Sample Weight of Weight of Weight of Water Content (%)

WW
wet soil(kg) dry soil(kg) Ws WaterWw 
WS

3 .6
A 10.7 10.7  7.1  3.6 100  50.7
7 .1
7.1
2 .5
B 9.1 6.6 9.1 6.6  2.5 100  37.9
6 .6
2 .8
C 8.4 5.6 8.4  5.6  2.8 100  50
5 .6

D 8.8 5.9 8.8  5.9  2.9 2 .9

100  49.2
5 .9
 Plastic Limit
Compute the moisture(water) content of samples 1,2 and 3
Soil Sample Weight of Weight of Weight of Water Content (%)
WW
wet soil(kg) dry soil(kg) Ws WaterWw 
WS

1 .9
1 9.5 9.5  7.6 1.9 100  25
7 .6
7.6 1 .7
2 8.9 7.2 8.9  7.2 1.7 100  23.6
7 .2
1 .5
3 8.4 6.9 8.4  6.9 1.5 100  21.7
6 .9
25  23.6  21.7
Natural Water Content PL   23.43%
3
Compute the moisture(water) content of samples 4,5 and 6

Soil Sample Weight of Weight of Weight of Water Content (%)

WW
wet soil(kg) dry soil(kg) Ws WaterWw 
WS
2 .8
4 10.6 10.6  7.8  2.8 100  35.9
7 .8
7.8
9.4  6.4  3 3
5 9.4 100  46.9
6 .4
6.4
6 10.2 10.2  7.3  2.9
2 .9
7 .3
100  39.7   40.83%
7.3
idterm Exam

A pumping test was made from a well in a permeable layer underlain by an impervious
stratum. When steady state was reached, the following observations were made:
q = 150 gal/min, h1 = 30 ft, h2 = 20 ft, r1 = 150 ft, and r2 = 50 ft. Determine the
coefficient of permeability of the permeable layer.
 r1 
q ln  
 r2 
k 

2
 h1  h 2
2

3
 3.78L  1m3  3.28 ft  3
q  100gal min     13.34 ft min
 1gal  1000L  1m 

 150 
13.34 ln 
k  50 

 302  202 
k  0 .00932 ft min
 The results of a constant head permeability test for a fine sand sample having a
diameter of 250 mm and a length of 400 mm are as follows:
Constant head difference = 500 mm
Time of collection of water = 5 min
Volume of water collected = 0.35 L
rmine the coeffecient of permeability.

VL  h  0 . 50 m
k  L  0 . 40 m
A  ht
V  0 .00035 m 3

A  0.25  0.0491m 2
2

4
t  5 min  300 s
0.000350.40  m 3m m
k k  2 
0.04910.50 300 m ms s
k  1.9 x105 m / s
The coefficient of permeability of sand at a void ratio of 0.70 is 0.45 mm/s.
Estimate the coefficient of permeability of this sand at a void ratio of 0.45.

From
k  1 . 4 e 2 k 0 . 85
k
1.4k0.85  2
 constant
e
k1 k2
2
 2
e1 e2
0 .45 k 0 .50

( 0 . 70 ) 2 ( 0 . 45 ) 2

k0.50  0.186 mm s
4. A sand layer of the cross-sectional area shown has been determined to exist for
a 500 meters length of the levee. The coefficient of permeability of the sand layer
is 3 m/day. Determine the quantity of water, Q, in liters per minute.

El
.
180
m

Impervious
levee

El
.
150
m
Sand layer,
1
.50
m Ditch
Impervious foundation material

150
m
Solution:
VL V
k   EQ . 1 Q  EQ .2
A  ht t

QL
therefore; k 
Ah
 h  180  150  30 m
3
k  3 m day k  3.47 x10  5 m s
24(3600)

A  (1 . 5 ) 500   750 m 2

Q 150 
3.47 x10  5 
( 750 ) 10 

Q  1 . 735 x10  3 m 3 s
Q  1 . 735 x10  3 x1000 x 60
L
Q  104.1
min
5. For the masonry dam shown in figure with k=6m/day; determine the following:
a) seepage flow per meter width of dam in liters per minute
b) uplift pressure at A and B in kPa
c) Uplift force per meter width of dam in kN.

30 m

27 m

1m A B

Impervious layer
 30 m
SOLUTION:

Number of Flow Channels:

Nf  4
27 m
Number of pressure drops:

1m
1
B
Nd  9
1 A 1
11
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 11 1 1 1
2 1 1 9 Nf 
1
1
2
1
1
3 1 11 1 1 71
1 41 51 31 61 1
8 1
1 1 q  kH   w
1 1Impervious 41 1  Nd 
1 1 1
1 1 1layer
1  4 
q  6 ( 27 )  1
9 
m3
q  72
day
q  50 lpm 1000
q  72
24 ( 60 )
 30 m Pressure at A and B

Pressure head drop

H
hP 
27m Nd

27
hP   3 m drop
9
1m A B
h1 Pressure head at A
h2 h h
3 h4 h5 h 6 h 7 8
h1  27  3 (1)  24 m

Impervious layer Uplift Pressure at A

u A   w h1

u A  9 . 81 ( 24 )

u A  235 . 44 kPa
Pressure head at B

h8  27  3 (8 )  3 m

Uplift Pressure at B

u B   w h8

u B  9 . 81 ( 3 )

u B  29 . 43 kPa

Uplift Pressure per unit length of dam

U  Area of uplift pressure diagram
A B
(u A  u B )
29.43 U  (L)
2
(235.44  29.43)
U  ( 30 )
Uplift Pressure Diagram 2
235.44
U
U  3973 kN/ meter width
30 m
Prelim Exam
GeoTech 1

1. A container with saturated soil has a mass of 102 g. After being dried, it weighs 96 g. The soil has a
specific gravity of 2.70. The container alone weighs 42 g. Determine the moisture content, void ratio and
porosity of the given soil.

2. A sample of uniform sand has a porosity of 45%. From laboratory test the value of the void ratio in
loosest condition is 0.85 and a void ratio of 0.38 in the densest condition . If the water content is 16%
and specific gravity is 2.7; determine the following:
a) density index
b) degree of saturation
c) moist unit weight
3. A saturated soil has the following characteristics
Initial volume = 21.6 cu.cm
Final volume = 14.7 cu.cm
Mass of wet soil = 38 g
Mass of dry soil = 27 g
Determine the following
a) Shrinkage limit
b) Shrinkage ratio
c) Specific Gravity
4. A soil particle has the following grain characteristics
Size (mm) Percent Fine
2.0 100
0.050 75
0.002 25
Using the USDA classification sy stem determine the following
a ) percentage of sand,silt and clay
b) classification of the soil
 Prelim Exam
GeoTech 1

1. The weight of excavated moist soil is 915 g with a volume of 426 cm 3.

After drying the weight shrink to 801 g. Of the dried soil only 420 g was
poured into a container at its loosest state with a volume of 305 cm3. That
same 420 g of dried soil was tamped and the volume was found out to be 229
cm3. Determine the following:
a) Minimum dry unit weight
b) Maximum dry unit weight
c) relative density of the soil sample
2. A sample of saturated soil has a weight of 16 kN. After oven-drying, it weighs 11.8 kN. Its specific
gravity is 2.68. Compute the submerged unit weight of the soil.
3. A saturated soil has the following characteristics
Initial volume = 25.6 cu.cm
Final volume = 16.7 cu.cm
Mass of wet soil = 48 g
Mass of dry soil = 37 g
Determine the following
a) Shrinkage limit
b) Shrinkage ratio
c) Specific Gravity
4. A soil particle have the following particle size distribution : 16% sand, 20% gravel , 40% silt and 24%
clay. Using the USDA method determine the following:
a ) percentage of sand , silt and clay
b) classification of soil
Midterm Exam
. The following data were obtained from the Atterberg Limit tests for a soil:
Liquid Limit = 42.0 %
Plastic Limit = 23.1 %
. What is the plasticity index of the soil?
. If the in situ moisture content of the soil is 32%, what is the liquidity index of the soil?
What would be the nature of the soil?

2.Classify the following soils by the AASHTO Classification System.

Description Soil A Soil B
Percent finer
than No. 10 80 46
sieve
Percent finer
than No. 40 47 26
sieve
Percent finer
than No. 200 18 4
sieve
Liquid limit 20
3. Following is the result of a sieve analysis for a soil sample . Determine the cumulative mass and
Percent finer corresponding to each kind of sieve.

Diameter Mass retained

Sieve No.
(mm) (grams)

4.76 4 50

2.38 8 100

2.00 10 120

0.84 20 160

0.42 40 190

0.25 60 220

0.18 80 370

0.149 100 410

0.074 200 90

Pan 55

Discuss briefly how to conduct laboratory test for liquid limit and plastic limit.
 Classification of Highway Subgrade Materials for
Granular Materials (AASHTO)
Table 1
General
Granular materials
Classificatio
35% or less of total sample passing No. 200
n
Group A-1 A-2
classification A-1-a A-1-b A-3 A-2-4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7
Sieve
analysis
(percentage
passing)
No. 10 50 max
No. 40 30 max 50 max 51 min
No. 200 15 max 35 max 10 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max
Characteristi
cs of
fraction
passing
No. 40
Liquid
40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min
limit
Plasticity
6 max NP 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min
index
Usual types
of
Stone fragments, Fine
significant Silty or clayey gravel and sand
gravel, and sand sand
constituent
Materials
General
subgrade Excellent to good
Rating