AL Anbar University Subject: Soil Mechanics

College of Engineering Examiner: Mr. Ahmed A.

Deprt.: Dams & Water Time: 3 hrs
Resources Engineering Date: Sun. 01/ 06/2008
Final Exam 2007 - 2008
Answer Five Questions Only
Q1. (20 Marks) A sand with a minimum void ratio of 0.45 and a maximum void ratio of 0.97 has a
relative density RD= 40 %. The average specific gravity of the minerals in the soil is 2.68.
a. Compute dry and sat for the sand in its present state with RD = 40%.
b. Under vibratory loading, the sand is densified to RD= 75%. How much will a 3m thick stratum of
this sand settle under this densification?

Q2. (20 Marks) Consider the reservoir, a portion of which is shown in the diagram below.
a. What is the rate of fluid seepage out of the reservoir, per unit length?
b. Compute the fluid pressure at a point X midway along the base of the retention structure.
c. What is the factor of safety against liquefaction in the critical region of the flow domain?
d. What depth of water in the reservoir would be necessary to cause liquefaction in the critical
region?

Q3. (20Marks) To raise the ground level for a roadway surface, a one-kilometer long embankment
whose cross-section is shown below will be constructed out of compacted fill. The relevant
construction codes require that the fill soil (Gs=2.68) be compacted to a minimum dry unit weight of
18 kN/m3.In the borrow pit, the loose soil has e=0.85, and =0.10.
a. How many m3 of moist soil will need to be brought to the embankment construction site from the
borrow site?
b. If the target moisture content at which the soil will be compacted is =0.13, how much water will
have to be added to each m3 of the fill soil?
c. At =0.13, what will be the estimated degree of saturation of the compacted fill?
d. Consider the embankment built on a soft, saturated, normally consolidated clay soil. The clay has
the following properties: Cs= 0.02; Cc= 0.48; e0= 0.90; Gs= 2.60; cv= 1.6m2/yr, Calculate the ultimate
consolidation settlements that will occur beneath the center of the embankment.
e. How long will it take for 90% of this consolidation settlement to occur? Tv90 = 0.848.
Q4. A- (10 Marks) A 6m vertical cut has been excavated from a dry cohesive loess soil deposit.
For the plane shown passing through the vertical cut face, estimate whether or not a shear failure
is likely.

B- (10 Marks) List the major differences in engineering properties (permeabilities, strength
behaviors, compressibilities, etc.) between clay soils and sands/gravels. Briefly, explain why these
differences exist based on fundamental physical differences between the soil types.

Q5. A- (10 Marks) Classify the following soil by the USCS classification system
ASTM Sieve No. #10 #40 #200 Liquid Plasticity
Percent (2.45mm) (0.42mm) (0.075mm) Limit index
finer 100 82 38 42 23
B- (10 Marks) The following results were obtained at failure in a series of drained triaxial tests
on fully saturated clay specimens originally 38mm diameter by 76mm long. Determine the values of
the shear strength parameters.
All round Pressure (kN/m2) 200 400 600
Axial Deformation (mm) 7.22 8.36 9.41
Axial Load (N) 480 895 1300
Volume Change (ml) 5.25 7.4 9.3

Q6. (20 Marks) A soil sample 10 cm in diameter is placed in a tube 1 m long. A constant supply of
water is allowed to flow into one end of the soil at A and the outflow at B is collected by a beaker as
shown in Figure below. The average amount of water collected is 1 cm3 for every 10 seconds.
Determine the (a) hydraulic gradient, (b) flow rate, (c) average velocity, (d) seepage velocity, if e =
0.6, and (e) the hydraulic conductivity.

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GOOD
LUCK