CIVE1178 Geotechnical Engineering 1

Revision

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Final exam of CIVE 1178 is similar to Mid exam
(Duration 2hr 15min, Bring your approved calculator)

We have (Approximately):
Multiple choice (1-13) (26marks)
And Problem solving (14-22) (34marks)
The final exam covers ALL topics in this
semester
Final Exam: 60marks
Mid-test: 35marks
Mini-test: 5marks
Soil Physical Characteristics
Soil Formations Soil are formed from the physical and chemical weathering of rocks.
 Soil Types according to grain size

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 Composition of Soil

V = Vs + Vw + Va Vv = Vw + Va

W = Ws + Ww

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 DEFINITIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Ww
Water content :=
w 100% is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids

Ws
Vv Vw + Va
Void ratio : =
e = is the ratio of the volume of void to the volume of solids
Vs Vs
Vv e
Porosity : =
n = is the ratio of the volume of void to the total volume of soil
V 1+ e
Vw wGs
Degree of saturation : =
S = is the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of void

Vv e
Dry unit weight:
Ws Ws
=
Specific gravity : G = 2.7 Ws Gs
s
Ww Vw w d = =( ) w =
V 1+ e 1+ w
W Gs + eS
Bulk unit weight: = = w= (1 + w) d
V 1+ e
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 Particle size of fine-graded soils

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 Physical State and Index Properties of Fine-graded soils
The physical and mechanical behaviour of fine-grained soils is linked to four
Distinct states:
solid, semisolid, plastic and liquid in order of increasing water content

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 Experimental results from soils tested from different parts of the
world were plotted on a graph of plasticity index versus liquid limit.
It was found that clays, silts and organic soils lie in distinct regions
of the graph.

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Soil Compaction
 The water content at which the maximum dry unity weight
is achieved is called the optimum water content

Dry unit weight-water content curves

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 Compaction Quality Control, Fill Specifications

Sand Replacement Test (Sand Cone Test)

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 Nuclear Density Meter

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Soil Investigation
Site investigation/ground investigation/soil investigation
 Why a ground investigation?

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 A soil investigation is necessary to provide information for
design and construction and for environmental assessment.

The purposes of a soil investigation are:

1. To evaluate the general suitability of the site for the

proposed project.
2. To enable an adequate and economical design
to be made.
3. To disclose and make provision for difficulties that
may arise during construction due to ground
and other local conditions.

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 Phases of ground investigation program

Phase I: Collection of available information

Phase II: Preliminary site reconnaissance or a site visit
Phase III: Detailed soil exploration.

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 Standard penetration test (SPT)
The SPT test is made in boreholes by means of
the standard 50mm diameter split sampler.
The sampler is driven to penetration of 450mm
be repeated blow of a 63.5kg monkey falling
through 760mm.
Only the number of blows for the last 300mm of driving
is recorded as the SPT N value.

The SPT test is a very useful

means of determining the
approximate in-situ density of
coarse-grained soils

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 Flow of water through soils
Bernoullis Principle
Darcys Law

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 Bernoullis Principle

H = u/w + v2/2g + h z

Pressure Head Velocity Head Elevation Head

Where H = Total head

u = pressure
v = velocity
g = acceleration due to gravity
w =unity weight of water
hz= Elevation head
The Velocity of flow through soil is generally small,
neglect the velocity head, we have: H = u/w + hz

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 Bernoullis Principle
H = u/w + v2/2g + h
z

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 Darcys Law

The flow of water through soils is governed by Darcys law (1850),

which states that flow velocity through soils is proportional to
the coefficient of permeability and
hydraulic gradient:
v=ki
Where v = flow velocity / flow rate (m/s)
k = coefficient of permeability/hydraulic conductivity (m/s)
i = H/l is the hydraulic gradient

Rate of flow from Darcys equation: q = v A = kiA (m3/s)

Note: the units for k is length/time. e.g. m/s. The units for flow, q, is
volume/time, e.g. m3/s. A is the cross-sectional area
Darcys equation gives the average velocity over a cross section of soil
normal to the direction of flow

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 Determination of the Hydraulic conductivity

Constant-Head Test Falling-Head Test

Budhu CD 4.10.2 Virtual Lab Budhu CD 4.10.3 Virtual Lab

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 Stresses in Soils

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 DETERMINATION OF STRESSES
In-situ stress and induced stress

x q

In-situ stress Induced stress

z h

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 Terzaghis effective stress
The principle of effective stress states that the effective
stress is the total stress minus the pore water pressure.

= - u
The principle of effective stress is the most important principle in
Soil Mechanics.

The principle of effective stresses applies only to normal

stresses and not shear stresses. Because the shear stress of water is
always equal to zero.

Deformations of soils are a function of effective stresses and not

total stresses.

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Vertical stress

Vertical strain

E: Youngs modulus
v: Poisson's ratio
Vertical stress

Horizontal stress

Vertical stress

Horizontal stress
Vertical stress at corner of
rectangular
 Shear Strength of Soils

= c + n tan

Coulomb (1736-1806)
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 n

Vary normal force to get full curve:

= c + n tan

c
n
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 Mohr circle and principle stress
1
3 3

3 2

1

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 How to obtain soil shear strength?

Laboratory Tests -
Direct shear box test
Triaxial test

Field (In-situ) Tests -

Vane shear test
SPT/CPT

Empirical Relationships

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Shallow foundation
Design Criterion for Shallow Foundation

qa = qu/FS+Df
(need to remember)
FS usually ranges from 2 to 3 and FS = 3 is
most often used
qu = ultimate load
Df = embedment depth = distance between ground
level and base of the foundation
B = width of the foundation
= bulk unit weight of soil
Nq, N = Bearing capacity factors
Nq, N = Bearing capacity factors
Nq, N = Bearing capacity factors
sq, dq, s, d = four geometric parameters
 Feed back on Mini-Test

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 Sample of previous examinations

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 Question 3

Degree of saturation is defined as:

a. The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of void.
b. The ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids.
c. The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of solids.
d. The ratio of the volume of water to the total volume of soil.

(a)

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 Question 8

A soil sample with water content of 26% is tested in laboratory. Testing

results show that the plastic limit is 20% and the liquid limit is 40%. The
liquidity index is:
(a) 0.46
(b) 0.66
(c) 0.60
(d) 0.30

(d)

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 Question 8

A soil sample with water content of 26% is tested in laboratory. Testing

results show that the plastic limit is 20% and the liquid limit is 40%. The
liquidity index is:
(a) 0.46
(b) 0.66
(c) 0.60
(d) 0.30

(d)

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 Question 9

The falling head test is used with:

a. Coarse-grained soils.
b. Sandy gravels.
c. Fine-grained soils.
d. Any type of soils.

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 QUESTION 13

For the soil profile with water table at 1.2m below ground level,

(1) Calculate the total vertical stress, pore water pressure and effective vertical
stress at 1.2m depth (2 marks)
(2) Calculate the total vertical stress, pore water pressure and effective vertical stress at 2.5m
depth (2 marks)
(3) Calculate the total vertical stress, pore water pressure and effective vertical stress at 5.0m
depth (2 marks)
(4) Calculate the total vertical stress, pore water pressure and effective vertical stress at 8.0m
depth( 2 marks)

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 Question 9

The falling head test is used with:

a. Coarse-grained soils.
b. Sandy gravels.
c. Fine-grained soils.
d. Any type of soils.

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 No tutorials and lectures in Week 13 (Next Week)

About the final exam:

1) Close-book exam; bring a calculator.
2) Note the date, time and venue of the exam.
3) No question is allowed during test.
4) Time is more than adequate, so take your time
5) You need to remember Definition Equations; other
equations/formulas will be provided.
6) Pay attention to units.

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 Good Luck with your exams

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