Unit 1 (SITE INVESTIGATION AND SELECTION OF FOUNDATION)

1. Draw and Explain the Split spoon Sampler method.

2. Write detailed notes on SPT & SCPT
3. Discuss about the Geophysical Method.
4. Explain any two methods of site exploration in detail?
5. Explain wash boring method of soil exploration?
6. Explain the arrangements and operations of stationary piston sampler?
7. Explain about standard penetration test?
8. Explain any two important types of samplers
9. Explain with neat sketch auger boring method of soil exploration.
10. Explain dynamic cone penetration test.
11. Describe the salient features of a good sub-soil investigation report?
12. Illustrate and explain the Denison and Chunk sampler
13. Illustrate and explain the Shelby tubes and piston sampler
14. Write details note on Open method of excavation.
15. Illustrate and explain the Bore Log Report.
16. Write the detailed notes on observation of ground water table
17. Draw and explain the concepts of Seismic methods
18. Draw and explain the concepts of Electrical Resistivity Method.
19. Describe the Sub Soil Profile Investigation Report.
20. Detail notes on selection of foundation for different types of soil conditons.

Unit 2 (SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS)

1. What is shallow foundation? Explain its types?
2. What is settlement? What are the components of settlement? Distinguish between
them?
3. Explain the test to be conducted for find out the bearing capacity?
4. What is bearing capacity? What are the factors affecting bearing capacity? what are
improving factors of bearing capacity?
4. Explain Terzaghis analysis of bearing capacity of soil in general shear failure.
5. Explain different types of shear failures of soil with neat sketch
6. Explain the plate load for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil.
7. Write short notes on the methods of minimizing settlement.
8. Explain the plate load for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil.
9. A Square footing 2.5m by 2.5m is built in a homogeneous bed of sand of unit weight 20
KN/m3 and having an angle of shearing resistance of 36. The depth of the base of footing is
1.5m below the ground surface. Calculate the safe load that can be carried by a footing with FOS
of 3 against complete shear failure. Use Terzaghi analysis.
10. What will be the Max safe load for above problem if the soil is loose sand of unit weight 16
KN/m3 and the angle of shearing resistance is 25.

11. A Strip footing 1m wide at its base is located at a depth of 0.8m below the ground
surface
the properties of soil are = 18 KN/m3. C=30 KN/m3 & = 25. Determine the safe
bearing capacity FOS= 3 uses Terzaghi analysis assume local Shear failure.
12. Draw the different types of footing and explain the functions, purposes of it?
13. A Strip Footing 2m wide carries a load intensity of 400 KN/m 2 at a depth of 1.2m in
sand. The saturated unit weight of sand is 19.5 KN/m3 and unit weight above the W.T is 16.8
KN/m3. The shear strength parameters are C=0, = 35. Determine The FOS with respect to the
shear failure for the following cases of location of W.T
a. W.T is 4m below G.L
b. W.T is 1.2m below G.L
c. W.T is @ G.L itself.
14. A rectangular footing 2m X 3m rest on frictional cohesive soil. With its base at 1.5m below the
ground surface. Calculate the safe bearing capacity using a factor of safety of 3 on a) net ultimate
bearing capacity b) ultimate bearing capacity. The soil has the following parameter are cohesive
= 10 kN/m2, Unit wt = 18 kN/ m3, angle of shearing resistance = 30
15. A square footing 2 x 2 m is founded at a depth of 1.2 m below the ground surface of a deep
stratum of soft saturated clay having a unit weight of 19.5 kN/ m 3, the soil has a undrained
parameters of are cohesive = 25 kN/m2 angle of shearing resistance = 0 and consolidated
undrained parameters of cohesive = 0 angle of shearing resistance = 22.5 . Determine the
ultimate bearing capacity of the foundation.
I) immediately after the construction
II) Few years of the construction
16. Write the detailed notes on depth of footing concepts ?
17. Describe the foundation loading concepts should be taken for analysis & design
18. A Strip footing of width 3m is founded at a depth of 2m below the ground surface in a
(c-_) soil having a cohesion c = 30 kN/m2 and angle of shearing resistance _ = 35o.
The water table is at a depth of 5m below ground level. The moist weight of soil above
the water table is 17.25 kN/m2.
For _ = 35o, Nc = 57.8, Nq = 41.4 and N_ = 42.4
Determine (i) the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil
(ii) the net bearing capacity of soil
( iii) the net allowable bearing pressure and the load/m length
for a FS = 3.
Use the general shear failure theory of Terzaghi.
19. Size of an isolated footing is to be limited to 1.5 metres square. Calculate the depth at
which the footing should be placed to take a load of 200 kN, with a factor of safety 3.
The soil is having angle of internal friction _ = 30o. The weight of the soil is
21 kN/m3. Bearing capacity factor for _ = 30o, Nq=22 and N_ = 20.
20. Calculate the settlement of a structure founded on a clay. Thickness of clay stratum is
6m at 10m below from the ground level. The overlaying layer is sand upto ground

level. Water table is at 6m from the ground level. Unit weight of sand above the water
table is 18 kN/m3 and below water table it is 21 kN/m3. Specific gravity of the clay is
2.75, natural moisture content of the clay is 40% and its liquid limit is 45%. Increase in
overburden pressure at the centre of the clay structure, due to proposed construction of
the building is 100 kN/m2.
21. A Strip footing of width 3m is founded at a depth of 2m below the ground surface in a
(c-_) soil having a cohesion c = 30 kN/m2 and angle of shearing resistance _ = 35o.
The moist weight of soil above the water table is 17.25 kN/m2.
For _ = 35o, Nc = 57.8, Nq = 41.4 and N_ = 42.4
For _ = 25o, Nc = 25.1, Nq = 12.7 and N_ = 9.7
The water table is at a depth of 5m below ground level. Determine
(i) the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil
(ii) the net bearing capacity of soil
(iii) the net allowable bearing pressure and the load/m length for a FS = 3.
Assume the soil fails in local shear.
22. A Strip footing of width 3m is founded at a depth of 2m below the ground surface in a
(c-_) soil having a cohesion c = 30 kN/m2 and angle of shearing resistance _ = 35o.
The moist weight of soil above the water table is 17.25 kN/m2.
For _ = 35o, Nc = 57.8, Nq = 41.4 and N_ = 42.4
For _ = 25o, Nc = 25.1, Nq = 12.7 and N_ = 9.7
If the water table occupies any of the positions
(i) 1.25 m below Ground Level or
(ii) 1.25 m below the base level of the foundation,
What will be the net safe bearing pressure?
Assume _sat = 18.5 kN/m3, _ (above WT) = 17.5 kN/m3, Factor of Safety = 3
23. A footing rests at a depth of 1m has a size of 3m x 1.5m and it causes a pressure
increment of 200 kN/m2 at its base. The soil profile at the site consists of sand for the
top 3 m, which is underlined by a clay layer of 3m. Water table is at a depth of 2.5m
from the ground surface. The unit weight of sand layer above and below water table
are 16kN/m3 and 18 kN/m3 respectively. The unit weight of clay is 15 kN/m3. The
initial void ratio is 0.8 and compression index is 0.3. Determine the consolidation
settlement at the middle of the clay layer. Assume 2:1 pressure distribution and
consider the variation of pressure across the depth of the clay layer.
24. Compute the safe bearing capacity of a square footing 1.5 m x 1.5 m located at a
depth of 1 m below the ground level in a soil of average density 20 kN/m3. _ = 20,
Nc = 17.7, Nq = 7.4 and N_ = 5. Assume a suitable factor of safety and that the water
table is very deep. Also compute the reduction in safe bearing capacity of the footing
if the water table rises to the ground level.
25. A column carrying a load of 750 kN has to be supported by a square footing with its base at

1.5 m depth. What is the required size of the foundation which will provide a FOS of a 3
against shear failure? Assume C = 10 kN/m2, 0 = 300, yd = 18 N/m3. Water table at 1.5 m
depth. Use Terzaghi equation. For 0 = 300, Nc = 37.2; Ny = 19.7; Nq = 22.5.
26. Determine the depth at which a circular footing of 3 m diameter be found to provide a FOS
of 3.1. If it has to carry a safe load of 1600 kN. C = 10 kN/m2, y = 18 kW/3. Use Terzaghi
analysis.
27. Compute the safe bearing capacity of a square footing 1.5 m x 1.5 m located at the depth of 1
m below the G.L in a soil of average density 20 kN/m2 =200, Nc=17.7,Nq=7.4,Nr=5. Assume
a suitable FOS and that the water table in very deep. Also compute the reduction in S.B.C of
footing if the W.T rises to G.L.
28.

A circular footing resting on stiff clay is saturated with unconfined compression strength of
250KN/m2. The depth of foundation is 2 m. determine the diameter of footing if the column
load is 700kN. Assume a FOS as 2.5. The bulk unit weight of S is 20kN/m.

Unit 3 (FOOTINGS AND RAFTS)

1. What are the different types of raft foundations?
2. State the design requirement of a foundation?
3. Briefly explain about the structural design of spread footing
4. Briefly explain how proportioning and structural design of trapezoidal combined
footing is done with diagram
5. Derive the relation between the dimensions of trapezoidal combined footing and
Unequal column loads Q1 and Q2?
6 Explain the design procedure for isolated pad foundation carrying axial load.
7. Explain the sequence for combined footing
8. Explain the design of raft foundation by empirical method.
9. Write short notes a Mat foundation.

Unit 4 (PILES)
1. Explain the method of determining the load carrying capacity of a pile?
2. What are the cased cast in-situ concrete piles?
3. What are the uncased cast in-situ concrete piles?
4. What are different types of piles and their functions?
5. What is group capacity by different method?
6. What are the various factors influencing the selection of pile?
7. What are Types of piles and their functions? Explain
8. What are the selections of piles based on material? Explain

9. Explain of a different types of deep foundation.

10. Explain the pile load test in detail.
11. Explain the negative skin friction on the piles.
12. Illustrate and explain the under reamed piles.
13. Illustrate and explain the bored piles.
14. A pile is driven with a single acting steam hammer of weight 15kN with a free
fall of 900mm. The final set, the average of the last three blows, is 27.5mm. Find the
safe load using the Engineering News formula.
15. A group of 16 piles of 50 cm diameter is arranged with a center to center spacing
of 1.0 m. The piles are 9m long and are embedded in soft clay with cohesion
30kN/m. Bearing resistance may be neglected for the piles. Adhesion factor is 0.6.
Determine the ultimate load capacity of the pile group.
16. A 300 mm diameter precast pile 12 m long was driven in sandy soil by double acting
hammer with weight 20 kN and having a height of 1 m. When 11 m of the pile was
driven into the soil, the average penetration for the last 5 blows was 5 mm/blow.
Determine the safe load of the pile using Hiley formula, when the driving in with short
dolly 600 mm long helmet and cushion 75 mm thick.
17. In a 16 pile group, the pile diameter is 0.4 m c/c spacing of piles in the square group is
1.5 m. If c = 50 kN/m2, whether the failure would occur of the pile. All piles are 12 m
long, m = 0.7. Determine the safe load on this group taking FOS as 3.
18. A reinforced concrete pile weighing 40 kN is driven by a drop hammer weighing 40 kN
and having an effective fall of 0.8m. The average set pet blow is 1.4 cm. The total
temporary elastic compression is 1.8 cm. Assuming the coefficient of restitution as 0.25
and a factor of safety 2. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity and allowable load for
the pile.
19. An end pile group has to be propotioned in a uniform pattern in a soft clay with equal spacing
in all direction assuming any value of C. determine the optimum value of spacing of piles in a
group. Take n=25, m=0.7 neglect the end bearing effect. Assume that each pile is circular in c/s.
20. A group of 9piles arranged in a square pattern diameter and length of each piles as 25cm,
10m respectively is used as a foundation in soft clay deposit. Taking the unconfined compression
strength of clay is 120 Kn/m2 and pile spacing as 100 cm c/c find the load capacity of group.
Assuming the bearing capacity factor Nc= 9 and m= 0.75 and FOS= 2.5
21. Design of friction pile group to carry a load of 3000kN including the weight of the pile cap at
a site where the soil is uniform clay to a depth of 20m, underlain by rock. Average unconfined
compression strength of the clay is 70Kn/m2. This clay may be assumed to be normal sensitivity
and normally loaded, with liquid limit 60% ans Fos = 3 . and also compute the settlement of the
group pile assuming the load to be transferred at 2/3 length of the pile.
Unit 5 (RETAINING WALLS)
1. Explain the active and passive states of earth pressure acting on a retaining wall.
2. Explain the Coulomb wedge theory with neat sketches
3. Explain the Rebhanns graphical method for active earth pressure calculation
4. Explain the Culmanns graphical method and the effect of line load

5. Explain the Rankines theory for various backfill condition to calculate active state
earth pressure.
6 .List the assumptions common to Rankine and Coulomb earth pressure theories..
7. Differentiate between active and passive earth pressure
8. State the procedure for Cullmans graphical construction
9. What are the assumptions made in Rankins theory?
10. What are the assumptions made in Coulombs theory?
11. Describe the Coulombs wedge theory?
12. A retainig wall 4m height as a smooth vertical backfill the backfill as a horizontal surface
with the top. There is a uniformly distributed surcharge load of 36Kn/m2 the unit weight of soil
is 18Kn/m3 ,angle of shearing resistance is 30 degree determine the magnitude and point of
application of active earth pressure per meter length of the wall.
13. For the above problem if the water table rises behind the wall to an elevation of 1.5m below
the top. Determine the total active earth pressure per m length of the wall and its point of
application. Take submerged unit weight of soil is 12Kn/m3
14. A counterfort reatining wall 8m height retains non cohesive soil. The voids ratio and the
angle of internal friction of the backfill is 0.8 and 28 degree in the loosest state. 0.45 and 36
degeree in the densest state. Compute the active and passive earth pressure and comment the
results. Take G=2.68 for both the cases.
15. A retaining wall 4m height supports a backfill with horizontal top. The backfill carries a
surcharge load of 20Kn/m2. If the wall is pushed towards the backfill. Compute the pressure on
the wall per meter length of the wall and its point of application take C = 20Kn/m2 unit weight
of soil is 20Kn/m3 angle of shearing resistance is 30 degree.