POKHARA UNIVERSITY

Level: Bachelor Semester: Fall Year : 2015

Programme: BE Full Marks: 100
Course: Soil Mechanics Pass Marks: 45
Time : 3hrs.

Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far
as practicable.
The figures in the margin indicate full marks.
Attempt all the questions.

1. a) Define soil and rock. Explain the process of soil formation in brief. 4
b) Define clay minerals and explain its types. 4
c) Define phase diagram and derive the following relationship. 7
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 + 𝑤)
𝛾𝑏 =
(1 + 𝑒)
Where all symbols stand for their usual meaning.
2. a) Write purpose and factors affecting compaction. Describe the methods 8
for determination of in-situ bulk density of a soil deposit in the field
for coarse grained soil.
b) In a test to determine the liquid limit of silty clay the following results 7
were recorded.
Mass of container with wet soil,(gm) 19.62 21.26 19.5 21.28
Mass of container with dry soil, (gm) 16.74 18.39 17.24 19.08
Mass of container (gm) 10.46 11.21 10.87 11.62
Number of blows (N) 12 19 28 41
Plot the result in graph paper and determine the liquid limit for the
soil. If the plastic limit for the soil was 22% and natural water content
35%, find the plasticity index, liquidity index and consistency index.
3. a) What are purpose of soil classification? How do you classify the soil 7
according to USCS?
b) A sand deposit is 12 m thick and overlies a bed of soft clay. The 8
ground water table is 4m below the ground surface. If the sand above
the water table has a degree of saturation of 40 %, plot the diagram
showing the variation of total stress, pore pressure and effective stress.
The void ratio of the sand is 0.8 and G = 2.7.
1
4. a) Derive Laplace equation for two dimensional flow and write 7
characteristics & applications of flownet.
b) A concentrated point load of 250kN acts at the ground surface. Find 8
the intensity of vertical pressure at depth of 5m below the ground
surface at the point on the axis of loading using Bossiness analysis.
What will be the difference in the vertical pressure at the same point if
the load shifted to a distance of 2m from it’s original position
horizontally.
5. a) Derive a relationship between Principal stresses at failure using Mohr- 7
Coulombs failure criterion.
b) A saturated soil stratum 5 m thick lies above an impervious stratum 8
and below a pervious stratum. It has a compression index of 0.3 and a
coefficient of permeability of 3.2×10‾4 cm/sec. It has a void ratio at a
stress of 1.4 kg/m2 is 0.5, Compute:
i. The void ratio if the stress is increased to 2 kg/m2
ii. Settlement of soil stratum due to above increase of stress.
iii. Time required for 80 % consolidation.
6. a) Define normally consolidated and Overconsolidated clays. Describe 7
the procedure to determine preconsolidation pressure by Cassagrande
method?
b) A direct shear test was conducted on a soil sample with the cohesion 8
of 10kN/m2. The cross sectional area of the sample was 60mm by
60mm. The normal load applied to the sample was 0.72kN.
Determine:
i. The friction angle of the soil if the shear load at failure is
0.42kN.
ii. The shear force at failure if the same soil is subjected to a
normal load of 1.44kN.
7. Write short notes on: (Any two) 2×5
a) Different modes of slope failure and their remedial measures.
b) Pressure Bulb.
c) Liquefaction.