Geotech 2
Situation A: A soil profile is shown in the figure below. The clay is saturated due to the effect of
the ground water table.
A
3
1.8 m γ =15.1 kN /m
B
1.6 m γ =16.3 kN /m
3
C GROUNDWATER TABLE
2.9 m
3
γ =19.8 kN /m
D
1. Determine the effective stress at point C.
a. 53.26 kPa
b. 82.23 kPa
c. 106.76 kPa
d. 110.68 kPa
Solution:
Effective stress , σ E =σ T −σ W
σ E =( 15.1× 1.8 ) +(16.3 × 1.6)−0
σ E =53.26 kPa
2. Determine the effective stress at point D.
a. 53.26 kPa
b. 82.23 kPa
c. 106.76 kPa
d. 110.68 kPa
Solution:
Solution:
Effective stress , σ E =σ T −σ W
σ E =( 15.1× 1.8 ) + ( 16.3 ×1.6 ) +(19.8−9.81)(2.9)−0
σ E =82.231 kPa
Situation B: A submerged clay layer has a thickness of 8m. The water content of the soil is 50%.
The specific gravity of the soil particles is 2.78.
3. Which of the following most nearly gives the total stress at the bottom of the clay layer?
a. 129.59 kPa
b. 134.66 kPa
c. 136.93 kPa
d. 127.08 kPa
Solution:
ωGs
S=
e
(50)(2.78)
100=
e
e=1.39
(Gs+ e)(γ W )
γ SAT =
1+ e
(2.78+1.39)(9.81)
γ SAT =
1+1.39
γ SAT =17.11619247
Effective stress , σ E =σ T −σ W
σ E =17.11619247(8 m)
σ E =136.93 kPa
4. Which of the following gives the effective stress of the bottom of the clay layer?
a. 48.60 kPa
b. 56.18 kPa
c. 58.45 kPa
d. 51.11 kPa
Solution:
'
σ =σ TOTAL−u
'
σ =136.93−(9.81 ×8 m)
'
σ =58.45 kPa
Situation C: A stressed soil sample was found to have the following properties:
60 kPa
45 kPa
C D
A
74 45 kPa
140
kPa
B
E F
5. Determine the maximum principal stress of the sample.
a. 39.792 kPa
b. 86.878 kPa
c. 178.766 kPa
d. 200.208 kPa
True Ans: 160.208 kPa
6. Determine the minimum principal stress of the sample.
a. 39.792 kPa
b. 86.878 kPa
c. 178.766 kPa
d. 200.208 kPa
7. Normal stress at failure plane B.
a. 42.244 kPa
b. 89.326 kPa
c. 181.214 kPa
d. 202.656 kPa
Situation D: A soil profile is shown in the figure. A uniformly distributed load △P, is applied at
the ground surface. Assuming Cs = 115 Cc. The thickness of the samples are as follows; t 1 = 2m,
t2 = 4m, and t3 = 8m.
Sand
3
γ DRY =15 kN /m
3
γ SAT =19 kN /m
Clay
3
γ SAT =15 kN /m
e=0.8
¿=40
t1 Sand
γ DRY GROUNDWATER TABLE
Sand
t2 γ SAT
Clay
t3 γ SAT
E, LL
8. Determine the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary consolidation if the clay is
normally consolidated.
a. 199.0517 mm
b. 120.5673 mm
c. 60.1978 mm
d. 39.8031 mm
9. Determine the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary consolidation if the pre-
consolidation pressure Pe = 200 kPa.
a. 199.0517 mm
b. 120.5673 mm
c. 60.1978 mm
d. 39.8031 mm
10. Determine the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary consolidation if the pre-
consolidation pressure Pe = 200 kPa.
a. 199.0517 mm
b. 120.5673 mm
c. 60.1978 mm
d. 39.8031 mm
