Prepared by: Er. Prakash Bdr.
Adhikari, Associate Professor, Pokhara University
TUTORIAL
ON SOIL MECHANICS
Unit: 1 Introduction to soil, its Phases, Properties, and Classification
Q.1 Calculate the void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation of a soil sample if it’s dry density, bulk
density and specific gravity of soil solids are 1.8 gm/cc, 2.1 gm/cc and 2.66 respectively.
Q.2 In bulk density determination a sample of clay with a mass of 683 gm. was coated with paraffin wax.
The combine mass of clay and wax was 690.6 gm. The volume of clay and wax was found by immersion
in water to be 350 ml. The sample was then broken open and moisture content and specific gravity of
solid particle tests gave 17 % and 2.73 respectively. The specific gravity of wax was 0.89. Determine
(i) Bulk density, (ii) degree of saturation (iii) void ratio and (iv) dry density.
Q.3 Two soil C and D are mixed dry in proportion of 25%:75% by mass. The specific gravity of soil C and
D are 2.65 and 2.75 respectively. If the bulk density of mixed soil is 1.7 gm/cc at 12% water content,
determine void ratio and degree of saturation.
Q.4 A fully saturated sample of clay has a void ratio of 2.25 and a moisture content of 85%. Determine it’s
saturated density and submerged density.
Q.5 A natural soil deposit has a bulk unit weight of 17 kN/m3 and water content of 10%. Determine the
amount of water required to be added to 1 m3 of soil to raise the water content to 15%. Assume void
ratio to remain constant.
Q. A 5*10-5 m3 specimen of a moist soil weigh 0.932 N. It’s dry weight is 0.735 N and the specific gravity
of soil solid is 2.68. Compute the water content, void ratio and degree of saturation.
Q.7 A coarse grain soil is compacted to a unit weight of 20 kN/m3 at a water content of 20%. Determine
the relative density. Given that emax = 0.85, emin =0.4 and G = 2.65. Also indicate about type of soil.
Q.8 A fully saturated clay sample has volume of 160 c.c. and weigh 285 gm. after oven drying. Specific
gravity of solid is 2.75. Determine the void ratio, porosity, water content, dry unit weight and saturated
unit weight.
Q.9 Earth is required to be excavated from a borrow pit for building an embankment. The unit weight of
undisturbed soil in wet condition is 18 kN/m3 and it’s water content is 8%. In order to build 4 m. high
embankment with top width 2 m. and side slope 1:1. Estimate the quantity of earth required to be
excavated per meter length. The dry unit weight in the embankment is 15 kN/m3 with a moisture
content of 10%. Assume specific gravity of solid as 2.67.
Q.10 The total weight of a fully saturated clay sample placed in a glass dish was found to be 57.5 gm.
before drying and 51.3gm after drying. The weight of glass dish is 27.5 gm. The specific gravity of soil
is 2.7. Compute the water content, porosity, void ratio and unit weight of soil.
Q.11 Determine the maximum possible void ratio for a uniformly graded soil. Also find the porosity.
Q.12 A Sample of saturated soil has a water content of 25% and a bulk unit weight of 20 KN/m3. Determine
the dry unit weight, void ratio and the specific gravity of solids.
What would be the bulk unit weight of above soil if it is compacted to the same void ratio but, has a
degree of saturation of 90%.
Q.13 A soil mass has a volume of 5 m3 and bulk unit weight of 20 KN/m3 with water content of 19%.
Compute dry unit weight, void ratio, porosity, degree of saturation and submerged unit weight. Take G
= 2.7. Draw neat phase diagram indicating each component.
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Prepared by: Er. Prakash Bdr. Adhikari, Associate Professor, Pokhara University
Q.14 On an undisturbed soil sample collected from a depth of 6.5 m. below the ground level, laboratory
test were made to determine different properties. It was found that, natural moisture content, bulk unit
weight and % of particles of size less than 2 micron(μ) are 31.8%, 19.92 kN/m3 and 18.5 respectively.
Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit of soil were 51.5% and 24.5% respectively. From Liquid Limit test,
flow index was found to be 22.5. Find the plasticity Index, Liquidity Index, Consistency Index,
Toughness Index and Activity Number. Comment about the type of soil.
Q.15 Two soils A and B are compared by means of consistency limit. The following dada were obtained in
the laboratory:
Soil : A Soil : B
L.L. = 38.5% L.L. = 58%
P.L. = 20% P.L. = 20%
wn = 42% wn = 50%
If = 11.4 (flow Index) If = 4.4
(i) Which soil has higher degree of plasticity?
(ii) Which soil will most probably be better foundation material when remoulded and why?
(iii) Which soil will have better strength?
(iv) Which soil have organic material?
Q.16 An undisturbed saturated specimen of clay has a volume of 18.9c.c. and a mass of 30.2 gm. On oven
drying the mass reduces to 18 gm. The volume of dry specimen is 9.9 c.c. Determine the Shrinkage
Limit (S.L.) and specific gravity. Also find out degree of shrinkage and comment on type of soil.
Q.17 A soil sample has Liquid Limit of 62% and Plasticity Index (P.I.) as 32%, what is the state of
consistency if soil has natural water content of 34%. Calculate the Shrinkage Limit if void ratio of
sample at the shrinkage limit is 0.7. Assume G = 2.7.
Q.18 A volume of clay soil has a water content of 40% at full saturation. It’s shrinkage limit is 15%. Assume
G = 2.7. Determine the degree of shrinkage and comment nature of soil.
Q.19 A fully saturated clay has a water content of 40% and bulk unit weight 1.95 gm/cc. After drying, the
dry unit weight is 1.8 gm/cc. Find Shrinkage Limit and specific gravity of solid.
Q.20 An oven-dried soil sample having a mass of 200 gm. is placed in a pycnometer which is then
completely filled with water having combine mass 1605 gm. The pycnometer is filled with water alone
has a mass of 1480 gm. Calculate the specific gravity gravity of soil solid.
Q.21 In order to determine the water content, 370 gm of a wet soil sample was placed in a pycnometer. The
mass of pycnometer, soil sample and water was found to be 2148 gm. The mass of pycnometer full of
clean water was 1932 gm. take, G = 2.65. Determine the water content.
Q.22 A partially saturated sample of soil from an earth fill has a natural moisture content of 20% and bulk
unit weight of 1.8 gm/cc. The specific gravity of solid is 2.7. Determine the degree of saturation and
void ratio. If the sample1 gets saturated subsequently, determine it’s unit weight.
Q.23 Determine the Liquid Limit with the help of test result obtained as below:
Number blow : 10 15 20 30 35
Water content (%) : 60 55 50 48 45
Q.24 Determine the time(t) required in minutes for the particles of diameters 0.2, 0.02, 0.01 and 0.005 mm
to fall a height of 10 cm from surface in water.
Given: μ = 8.15*10-3 poises, G = 2.65
(Hints: 1 poise = 1 dyne-sec/cm2 = 10-4 kN-sec/m2 )
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Prepared by: Er. Prakash Bdr. Adhikari, Associate Professor, Pokhara University
Q.25 A sand sample comprising of particles ranging from 0.2 to 0.05 mm is put on the surface of a still
water tank of 3 m depth. Find the time required for the coarsest and the finest of the particles to reach
the bottom of the tank.
Given: G = 2.7, μ = 0.51 poise
Q.26 500 gm. of dry soil was used for sieve analysis. The masses of soil retained on each sieve is given
below:
IS Sieve Mass (gm) IS sieve Mass (gm)
2.00 mm 10 500 μ 135
1.40 mm 18 250 μ 145
1.00 mm 60 125 μ 56
75 μ 45
Plot a grain size distribution curve and compute the following:
(a) Percentage of gravel, coarse sand, medium sand, fine and silt as per IS: 1498-1959. (b) Uniformity
coefficient (c) Coefficient of curvature.
Comment type of soil.
Q.27 Find the coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature if size of soil grain at 10% finer, 30%
finer and 60% finer are 0.1mm, 0.3mm and 0.55mm.
Q.28 A soil having particle size from 0.6mm to 0.02mm is put on the surface of a water tank whose depth
is 6 mtr. Calculate the time of settlement of the coarsest and finest particles of the soil to the bottom of
tank. Assume specific gravity of soil solid as 2.7 and viscosity of water as 0.01 poise.
(Hint. 1 poise = 1 dyne-sec/cm2 = 10-4 kN-sec/m2 )
Q.29 Samples from three different sites were collected. The results of particle size analyses and, where
appropriate, limit tests on samples of three soils were done and particle size distribution curve was
plotted in figure 2.1. Classify the soils (A, B, C) as per USCS and compare the results. For soil C :-
Liquid limit =30 Plastic limit= 22.