ECE 3103 – SOIL MECHANICS I TUITORIAL QUESTIONS

1. The results in Tables Q (1) (i), Q (1) (ii) and Q (1) (iii) were obtained after carrying out
unspecified laboratory tests on a soil sample.
Table Q (1) (i)
1. Mass of container + wet soil 74.88g
2. Mass of container + dry soil 65.23g
3. Mass of container empty 22.07g

Table Q (1) (ii)

Test No. Tin Mass (g) Tin + wet Soil (g) Tin + Dry Soil (g) No. of blows
1 21.58 41.36 34.38 14
2 20.73 43.12 35.41 21
3 24.37 38.62 33.97 48

Table Q (1) (iii)

Test No. Tin Mass (g) Tin + wet Soil (g) Tin + Dry Soil (g)
1 25.14 32.07 31.01
2 24.83 30.28 29.31
i) Determine the plasticity index, flow index, toughness index, consistency index and
liquidity index. Comment on the nature of the soil.
ii) Classify the soil according to the British Soil Classification System.

2. Briefly explain the corrections required to be applied to the recorded hydrometer readings
before being used for the computation of the unit weight of the suspension.

3. In a hydrometer analysis, the corrected hydrometer reading in a 1000 ml uniform soil

suspension at the start of sedimentation was 28. After a lapse of 30 minutes, the corrected
hydrometer reading was 12 and the corresponding effective depth 10.5 cm. the specific gravity
of the solids was 2.68. Assuming the viscosity and unit weight of water at the temperature of
the test as 0.001 Ns/m2 and 9.81 kN/m3 respectively. Determine the weight of solids mixed in
the suspension, the effective diameter corresponding to the 30 minutes reading and the
percentage of particle finer than this size.
4. A sample of dry soil having specific gravity of 2.74 and having a mass of 133.7 gm is
uniformly dispersed in water to form 1000 cc of suspension.
i). Determine the density of suspension immediately after it is prepared.
ii). A 10 cc of the suspension was removed from the depth of 21 cm beneath the top
surface after the suspension was allowed to stand for 2 min 30 sec. The dry mass
of the soil in the sample drawn was found to be 0.046 gm. Determine one point on
the grain-size distribution curve corresponding to this observation.
 Temperature of suspension = 20 ℃
 Viscosity of water at 20 ℃ = 0.0102 poise

1|Page
5. A soil sample has a grain size distribution as shown in table below with a liquid limit of 32%
and plastic limit of 15%.
Sieve size (mm) 20 10 4.75 2 1 0.6 0.425 0.212 0.150 0.075 Pan
Soil retained (gm) 35 40 80 150 150 140 115 55 35 25 75
i) Draw the particle size distribution curve and give the percentage of gravel, sand and
silt present in the soil.
ii) Determine D10, D30, and D60 then compute Cu and Cc.
iii) Classify the soil based on USCS giving the group symbol & group name. Refer to
appropriate attached classification chart(s).

6. The results of a soil sieve analysis and Atterberg limits tests are as shown below. Classify the
soil using USCS
Sieve size, mm 25.4 19.05 12.7 4.75 2 0.42 0.075 LL = 45%

% passing 100 90 70 60 30 10 7 PL = 33%

7. List two advantages of the semi-log plot for the particle size distribution over natural plots.
8. Explain the differences between a flocculated and a dispersed soil structure?
9. A sample of clay was collected and taken to the lab for a series of tests to be carried out on it.
The following data was obtained: Liquid limit = 53.9%, Plastic limit = 23.4%, Natural water
content = 51.2%, D60 = 0.0050 mm, D10 = 0.0007 mm, Unconfined compressive strength
(undisturbed) = 180 kN/m2 and Unconfined compressive strength (remoulded) = 85 kN/m2.
Determine the following:
i. the uniformity coefficient
ii. the plasticity index
iii. the liquidity index
iv. the sensitivity of this soil
v. In what region can the soil be placed on the plasticity chart?

10. The results of a liquid limit test are as shown in table below:
No. of blows 48 38 29 20 14
Water content (%) 32.1 35.9 40.7 46.1 52.8
i). Determine the liquid limit of the soil
ii). If the plastic limit of the soil is 23%, find out the plasticity index, flow index and
toughness index. Hence comment on the nature of the soil.

11. A wet cylindrical soil sample has the following properties:

 Diameter ( D = 3.8 cm )
 Height ( H = 7.62 cm )

2|Page
  Specific gravity ( Gs = 2.73 )
 Total weight of wet soil = 1.659 x 10-3 kN
 Degree of saturation (Sr = 77.31 % )
Determine the following
i) Air content (A %).
ii) Mass of water (in gm) needed to fully saturate the sample at the same initial volume.

12. A 1.0 m deep cut is to be made across an entire 10,000 m2 site. The average unit weight of this
soil is 18.5 kN/m3, and the average water content is 9.6%. It also has a Proctor maximum dry
unit weight of 19.2 kN/m3 and an optimum water content of 11.1%. The excavated soil will be
placed on a nearby site and compacted to an average relative compaction of 93%. Compute the
volume of fill that will be produced.

13. The results of a laboratory proctor test are as shown in table below:
1 2 3 4 5 6
No. of test
Weight of Mould and Soil (Kg) 3.526 3.711 3.797 3.906 3.924 3.882
Water content (%) 8.33 10.40 12.23 16.20 17.92 20.39
The mould is 12.7cm high and has an internal diameter of 10cm. the weight of an empty mould
is 1.89Kg.
i). Plot the moisture content vs dry density curve and determine the optimum moisture
content and the maximum dry density.
ii). Plot the zero air content and 10% air content curve given Gs = 2.68

14. Given the data in Table below and given a maximum dry density of 1980kg/m 3, comment on
the effectiveness of the associated field compaction process.

1. Initial mass of cylinder + sand (g) 10,543

2. Mass of sand in pouring cone (g) 432
3 Capacity of calibrating container (ml) 1,180
4. Mass of cylinder + sand after pouring in calibrating 8,390
container (g)
5. Mass of tray + excavated soil (g) 4,069
6. Mass of empty tray (g) 1,740
7. Mass of cylinder + sand after pouring in hole (g) 8,397
8. Water content (%) 8

15. The following data refers to a compaction test as per British Standard (Light Compaction):
Water content (%) 8.5 12.2 13.75 15.5 18.2 20.2
Weight of wet soil sample (Kg) 1.8 1.94 2.00 2.05 2.03 1.98

3|Page
 If the specific gravity of soil grains was 2.7:
i) Plot the compaction curve along with the zero air voids curve and obtain the maximum
dry unit weight and the optimum moisture content.
ii) Plot the 80% and 100% saturation lines.
iii) If it is proposed to secure a relative compaction of 95% in the field, what is the range
of water content that can be allowed?
iv) Would the 20% air voids curve be same as the 80% saturation curve?
v) If the test result for relative compaction exceeds 100%, should engineers accept the
result?

16. A layer of clay of 4 m thick is overlain by a sand layer of 5 m, the top of which is the ground
surface. The clay overlay an impermeable stratum. Initially the water table is at the ground
surface but it is lowered 4 meters by pumping. Calculate δ’v at the top and base of the clay
layer before and after pumping. For sand e = 0.45, G = 2.6, Sr (sand, after pumping) = 50%.
For clay e = 1.0, G = 2.7.

17. A layer of sand 5 meters deep overlies a thick bed of clay. Draw diagrams indicating the total
and effective stresses and pore water pressure on horizontal planes to a depth of 9 meters below
the ground surface in the following cases given for sand: γsat=20.9 KN/m3, γdry=17.4 KN/m3
and for clay: γsat=17.8KN/m3:

i) If the water table is at the ground level.

ii) If the water table is at 2 meters below ground level and the sand above remains saturated
with capillary moisture.

18. Using a neat sketch, describe how variable permeability test is carried out in the lab. Also
derive an expression for finding coefficient of permeability from this test.

19. A pumping-out test was carried out in the field in order to determine the average co-efficient
of permeability of an l8 m thick sand layer. The groundwater table was located at a depth of
2.2 m below the ground level. A steady state was reached when the discharge from the well
was 21.5lit/sec. At this stage, the drawdown in the test well was 2.54 m, while the drawdowns
in two observation wells situated at 8 m and 20 m from the test well were found to be 1.76 m
and 1.27 m respectively. Determine:
i) Co-efficient of permeability of the sand layer in m/day.
ii) Radius of influence of the test well.

20. A falling head permeability test was carried out on a 15 cm long sample of silty clay. The
diameter of the sample and the stand pipe were 9.8 cm and 0.75 cm respectively. The water
level in the stand pipe was observed to fall from 60 cm to 45 cm in 12 minutes. Determine:
i). The coefficient of permeability of the soil in m/day
ii). Height of water level in stand pipe after 20 minutes
iii). Time required for water level to drop to 10 cm

4|Page
21. Distinguish between an isobar and pressure bulb. Construct an isobar for a vertical stress of 40
kN/m2 when ground surface is subjected to a concentrated load of 1000 kN.
22. Briefly describe (in six lines or less and you can include graphics if necessary) the mechanism
of quicksand, and derive the formula of how to calculate the quicksand critical hydraulic
gradient. Using the formula derived above, determine the critical hydraulic gradient for these
two states of sand with specific gravity of solids being 2.66. The air content and degree of
saturation of the soil in its loosest state is 27% and 40% and in its densest state is 10% and
73%.
23. A proposed office block with a flat roof will be constructed to be used as a security office. This
building will have a flexible rectangular foundation subjected to a uniformly distributed load
of 225 kN/m2 on a horizontal ground surface. Determine the increase in vertical stress, at a
depth of z = 3 m under columns at positions A, B, and C as shown in the figure below.

24. Site investigation was carried out on certain road construction project and soil samples were
collected for analysis in the laboratory. The results for the modified proctor test carried out are
as shown in the table below and specific gravity of the soil was found to be 2.71. The mould
volume and weight were 950 cm3 and 1462 g respectively.
Water content (%) 7.7 11.5 14.6 17.5 19.7 21.2
Mass of mould + wet soil (g) 3201 3381 3543 3495 3448 3410
i) Plot the compaction curve and determine the optimum water content and the
maximum dry density of the fill material. Would the 20% air voids curve be same as
the 80% saturation curve? (show sample calculations).
ii) The resident engineer instructed the contractor by giving the compaction
specification required as 96% of proctor maximum dry density. The site is located in
a remote area in a hot and dry environment, the current moisture content of the borrow
material is known to be well below optimal. What is the lowest moisture content that

5|Page
 the contractor must achieve to meet the required specification? What is the
corresponding void ratio, degree of saturation and air content?
iii) Sieve analysis and atterberg limits were conducted and the soil was classified as 60%
clay with a liquid limit of 220% and a plastic limit of 45%. What field equipment
would you specify to compact the soil in the field, and why?
iv) What (at least four) practical measures would you suggest to achieve better
compliance with the project specifications if the field tests failed to meet the
construction project specifications.
25. In order to determine the average coefficient of permeability of a bed of sand, a 60cm well was
sunk through the sand and a pumping test was carried out at a rate of 1360 liters/minute.
Measurements were made and drawdown in the observation wells at 60 meters and 15 meters
respectively from the test well were found to be 6 m and 1.5 m respectively. The bottom of the
well is 90 m below the ground water table.
a. Find out the coefficient of permeability.
b. If all the observed points were on the Dupuit curve, what was the drawdown in
the well during pumping?
c. What is the specific capacity of the well?

26. Using neat sketches, explain the graphical method of locating phreatic line in an earth dam
with horizontal filter.

27. A soil profile shown in the figure below consists of three layers’ soil with depths given as H1
= 4 m and H3 = 4.5 m and H2 being the height of the zone of capillary rise (with effective grain
size of 0.017 mm and constant C = 28.9 mm2, degree of saturation in this zone is 60%) within
a clay layer above the groundwater table. Calculate and plot the distribution of total stress,
effective stress and porewater pressure.

28. Two railway wagon lines in a harbour yard are located at 6 m centre-to-centre. The average
loads per metre run in the lines are 100 and 80 kN/m. Find the vertical stress induced by this
loading at a depth of 2 m beneath each load and halfway between them. If a 100 kN crane is
installed exactly midway between the lines, what additional stress is caused below the crane at
the same depth.

6|Page
29. Site investigations were carried out on three borrow pits to get a quality material for a road
construction project to raise the ground level for a roadway surface of a one-kilometer long
embankment whose cross-section is shown below. The samples were taken to the laboratory
for testing and it gave the results shown in the table below. The embankment is expected to be
compacted to a bulk unit weight of 20kN/m3 at a placement water content of 22%. You have
been tasked as an engineer to select an economical borrow pit for the construction works.
Which of the three borrow pits is will you select? What will be the estimated degree of
saturation of the compacted fill? [12 Marks]

Borrow Pit A Borrow Pit B Borrow Pit C

Soil Properties 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥=20 kN/m3 𝛾𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑘=19 kN/m3, 𝐺𝑠=2.65
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛=16 kN/m3 LI = -0.5 n =0.411
𝐷𝑟=0.7 LL = 50% PL = 30%
Cost of production and 205 180 180
hauling (Kshs/m3)

30. A shrinkage limit test was carried out the following results were obtained: Initial volume of
soil in a saturated state = 24.6 cm3, Final volume of soil in a dry state = 15.9 cm3, Initial mass
in a saturated state = 44.0 g and Final mass in a dry state = 30.1 g. Determine the shrinkage
limit, shrinkage ratio, specific gravity of the soil solids. If the soil is at a moisture content of
28%, estimate the maximum volumetric shrinkage (VS) and the linear shrinkage (LS).

31. The figure below shows a setup of a cylindrical tube of diameter 150 mm in which three
different soil layers are inside it, each 200 mm in length. A constant-head difference of 470
mm is maintained across the soil sample. The porosities and hydraulic conductivities of the
three soils in the direction of the flow are as given in the following table:

i) Determine the quantity of water flowing through the sample per hour.

7|Page
 ii) Denoting the downstream water level (Y-Y) to be the datum, determine the elevation
head, pressure head, and the total head at the entrance and exit of each soil layer.
iii) Plot the variations of discharge velocity and the seepage velocity along the sample axis.
iv) What will be the height of the vertical columns of water inside piezometers A and B
installed on the sample axis?

32. Due to application of line loads q1 and q2 as shown in the figure below, the vertical stress
increase at point A is 58 kN/m2. Determine the magnitude of q2.

33. Combined sieve analysis performed on 350 gm dry soil sample. The sample was divided into
coarser and finer fractions by washing it through a 75microns sieve. The fine fraction was
125 g. The coarser fraction was used for the sieve analysis yielding the data is as shown in
Table Q33(a) and 50 g of the finer fraction was used for the hydrometer analysis and the
results are tabulated in Table Q33(b).
Tables Q33 (a)
Sieve Dia (mm) 4.75 2.0 1.4 1.0 0.5 0.35 0.18 0.12 0.075
Mass (g) 9.0 15.5 10.5 10.5 35.0 524.5 49.0 528.0 43.0

Tables Q33 (b)

retained (g)
Particle dia(mm) 0.0758 0.055 0.0417 0.0324 0.0236 0.0170 0.0126 0.009 0.0064 0.0045
% finer 94.45 77.88 60.27 33.27 23.09 16.24 11.76 9.59 7.93 5.67

retained (g)
8|Page
 i) Plot the particle size distribution curve of the soil.
ii) Find out the percentage of gravel, sand, and fines present in the soil.
iii) Determine the coefficient of uniformity and the coefficient of curvature then
comment on the basis of the test results whether the soil is well graded or not.
iv) Classify the soil based on AASHTO classification system given the liquid limit and
plastic limit achieved are 52.6% and 19.8% respectively.

British Soil Classification System Plasticity chart

9|Page
 Unified classification system plasticity chart

Flow chart for USCS.

10 | P a g e
AASHTO classification system chart

11 | P a g e
 chart for grading curve

0.063
0.150
0.212
0.300
0.425
0.600
1.18
2.00
3.35
5.00
6.30
10.0
14.0
20.0
28.0
37.5
50.0
63.0
75.0
100

12 | P a g e
90

80

70

60

50

40

weight percentage
30

20

10

0
0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00
clay and silt fine sand medium sand coarse sand fine gravel medium gravel coarse gravel
particle size in mm