Term End Examination - November 2012

Course : CLE315 - Ground Improvement Techniques Slot: D2

Class NBR : 1624

Time : Three Hours Max.Marks:100

PART – A (10 X 4 = 40 Marks)

Answer ALL the Questions

1. Explain how water content and compaction energy affect the degree of compaction.
Give neat sketches.
2. Discuss how the process of compaction affects structure and permeability of soils. Give
neat sketches.
3. Explain the reactions that take place upon adding lime to clay in presence of water.
How do these reactions affect plasticity and strength of lime-clay blends? Give neat
sketches.
4. What do you understand by bulging? Explain with neat pictures. Define ‘critical stone
pile length’. What are the factors that influence bulging?
5. How does bulging take place in different layered clay systems? Explain with the help
of neat pictures.
6. What are the different modes of failure of different types of stone column groups?
Discuss with the help of neat pictures.
7. Discuss different methods available for controlling bulging. Give neat pictures.

8. What do you understand by preloading? Discuss in detail the methodology of

preloading and explain how it helps in improving soft clays.
9. What are the disadvantages of preloading?

10. What do you understand by grouting? Define groutability and groutability ratio.

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 PART – B (5 X 12 = 60 Marks)
Answer any FIVE Questions

11. Giving neat sketches explain various stages of a rammed stone column.

12. Discuss ‘unit cell idealization’ of stone columns in detail. Develop equations for
obtaining stresses in stone column (σs) and surrounding clay (σc) in terms of stress
concentration factor. Give neat sketches.
13. Explain in detail how lime affects various physical properties and engineering
properties of soft clays. Give neat pictures.
14. Discuss the installation and efficacy of lime-soil columns. Discuss a case study.

15. Discuss the philosophy and uses of electro-osmosis.

16. Giving neat pictures, explain the technique and efficacy of preloading and sand drains.
Discuss various advantages and disadvantages.
17. A soft clay stratum of depth 12 m needed to be improved through vertical sand drains.
Laboratory consolidation tests revealed that the coefficient of horizontal consolidation
(ch) was twice that of vertical consolidation (cv). If cv = 0.05 mm2/sec, determine the
time required for the clay stratum to undergo 90% degree of consolidation for n = 5,
10, 20 and 50 through radial consolidation. Assume dw = 30cm.
18. Explain in detail (i) permeation grouting, (ii) compaction grouting, (iii) hydro-
fracturing and (iv) suspension grouting.

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