B Tech IV Sem (Civil), 2019

Geotechnical Engineering I
CE 221 - Assignment I

Last Date for Submission: 11.02.2019

1. A sample of saturated clay from a consolidation test has a total mass of 1.526 kg and
dry mass of 1.053 kg, specific gravity is 2.7 for the sample. Determine water
content, void ratio, porosity and bulk density (γw=1 gm/cc).
2. A sand sample has porosity of 28% and specific gravity = 2.65, determine dry unit
weight, unit weight for S=56%, unit weight of saturated sand and submerged unit
weight of the soil.
3. A sample of wet soil has a volume of 0.0192 and weight 32 kg. Sample is dried out
in oven and its weight reduces to 28.5 kg and G=2.65. Find γ b, w, γd, γsub , n void
ratio and degree of saturation.
4. An undistributed soil from a pit has w = 15% , e = 0.6 and G =2.7. Soil from this pit
to be used to construct at road fill having finished volume of V =5000m 3. The soil is
transported by truck with capacity 6 tones After compaction fill soil has w=18 %, γ b
=1.7g/cc , calculates total number of trips truck has to make.
5. An air dry soil sample weighing 25 kg was sieved in a laboratory. The results are
given below:

IS 2.0 1.0 0.6 0.425 0.212 0.150 0.075 Pan

Sieve
(mm)

Mass 0 2.02 3.51 7.53 8.15 2.81 0.90 0.08

retained
(kg)

Draw the grain size distribution curve and determine the coefficient of curvature and
the uniformity coefficient.
6. A relative density test conducted on a semi soil and given a emax =1.2 , e min =0.48
relative density 42% and G =2.67. Find dry density of soil in a present state if 3m
thickness is densified to a relative density of 62%. How much will soil will reduced
the thicknesses, what will be new γd and γsat ?
7. A sample of saturated soil has a w = 0.25 and γb = 20kN/m3. Find γd, γsat, G and e.
8. In a liquid limit test, specimens of a certain sample of clay at water contents of
31.39, 27.62, 25.51 and 23.30% required 5, 16, 23 and 42 blows, respectively to
close the standard groove. The plastic limit of the clay is 13%. Natural water content
is 18%. Determine the liquid limit, plasticity index, liquidity index, relative
consistency, flow index and toughness index of the soil.
9. A sample of soil with a liquid limit of 72.8% was found to have a liquidity index of
1.21 and a water content of 81.3%. what are its plastic limit and plasticity index?
Comment on the consistency of the soil.
10. In a shrinkage test, a container of volume 9.6 cc was filled with soil slurry. The
weight of the saturated soil was 17.46 gm. The slurry was then gradually dried, first
in atmosphere and then in an oven at a constant temperature of 110°C. the weight
and volume of the dried soil were 11.58 gm and 5.22 cc, respectively. Determine the
shrinkage limit of the soil and shrinkage ratio.
11. The soil fill for a road embankment is to be compacted in place to a void ratio of
0.7. If the void ratio of the borrow pit is 1.2, how many cubic meters of compacted
fill are obtained per 1000 m3 of borrow material? If no water is either added or lost
during the placement of the fill, what would be the percentage change in the degree
of saturation of the soil? The compacted fill is not fully saturated.
12. A fully saturated clay has a water content of 38% and a mass specific gravity of
1.82. After oven drying, the mass specific gravity reduces to 1.70. Determine the
specific gravity of the solids and the shrinkage limit.
13. The soil in a borrow pit has a water content of 10% and void ratio of 0.65. it is to be
used for the construction of an embankment with water content of 12% and bulk
density of 1.95 g/cc. calculate the volume of soil required per cubic meter of
embankment. Assume Gs= 2.67.
14. Explain the characteristics and structure of clay mineral Kaolinite, Montmorillonite
and Illite.
15. Describe different types of soil structure that occur in nature.
16. What is particle size distribution curve? What is its use in soil engineering?
17. What is Strokes Law? What is its use in sedimentation Analysis? What are their
limitations?
18. What do you understand by calibration of hydrometer? How it is done? What are the
various corrections that are applied to hydrometer reading and how are they
determined?