1.

The table below summarizes the results of an oedometer test on a soul sample
76 mm dia and 20 mm thick. (a) The initial moisture content is 53.3% and at the
end of the test is 40.4 % and the particle specific gravity is 2.65. Are these results
consistent? (b) Plot the e-p curve and determine the coefficients of
compressibility av and mv in the range 0 - 10 t/m2. (c) What is CC for the normally
consolidated part of the curve? (d) Plot the e-log p graph and find the maximum
consolidation pressure by Casagrandes method. (e) If the effective overburden
pressure p0 is 12.0 t/m2, what is the O.C.R.?
Pressure (t/m2) 0 2.5 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 30.0 50.0 80.0
Change in thickness 0 19.0 30.2 38.2 48.4 66.1 118.0 190.2 285.0
( x 0.01mm )

2. Make a plot of U versus T and see if Taylors 15 % offset for 90 %

consolidation is about correct. If you get 13 percent, that is about correct.

3. Using the consolidation test esults developed in Example 10.3, determine wether
the soil at point A in Figure 10.7 is normally consolidated or overconsolidated.
The proposed fill has not yet been placed.

4. The groundwater table at a certain site was at a depth of 10ft below the ground
surface, and the vertical effective stress at a point 30 ft below the ground surface.
Assuming the unit weight of the soil above and below the groundwater table are
equal, compute the new o z at this point.

5. A consolidation test has been performed on a sample obtained from a saturated

clay at a point 6.5 m below the ground surface. The groundwater table is at the
ground surface and the unit weight of the clay is 18.5 kN/m 3. The measured
preconsolidation stress was 260 kPa.

(a) Determine if the soil is normally consolidated or overconsolidated.

(b) Compute the overconsolidation margin and the overconsolidation ratio.
(c) Compute o C at depth of 12 m in the same soil.

6. In example 10.7 the total settlement due to the lowering of the groundwater table
was computed to be 4.6 in. It has been several years after the groundwater table
 was lowered and consolidation is complete. Now the upper 30 ft of the soil profile
is to be excavated to create underground parking for a mid- rise building. How
much will the base of the excavation heave due to removal of the soil? If the total
mass of the structure being constructed is 65 % of the mass of the soil removed,
what will be the net settlement or heave of the structure?

7. Consider and ideal clay with activity A = 0.5 and the plasticity index of 50 %. Its
preconsolidation stress is equal to 200 kPa. Its recompression index is zero.
Estimate OC, CC and OC for this clay and plot the strength envelope in o
space for this clay values of o = 0 to 1000 kPa.

8. Assuming the fill in Problem 4.3 is dumped very rapidly, what would be the value
of excess pore water pressure at the centre of the clay layer after period of three
years? The layer is open and the value of cv is 2.4 m2/year.

4.3 The following results were obtained from an oedometer test on a specimen of
saturated clay:

Pressure (kPa) 27 54 107 214 429 214 107 54

Void Ratio 1.243 1.217 1.144 1.068 0.994 1.001 1.012 1.024

A layer of this clay 8m thick lies below a 4m depth of sandm the water table
being at the surface. The saturated unit weight for both the soils is 19 kN/m 3. A 4-m
depth of fill of unit weight 21 kN/m3 is placed on the sand over an extensive area.
Determine the final settlement due to consolidation of the clay. If the fill were to be
removed some time after the completion of consolidation, what heave would eventually
take place due to swelling of the clay?

9. A half-closed clay layer is 8m thick and it can be assumed that cv = ch. Vertical
sand drains 300 mm in diameter, spaced at 3m centres in a square pattern, are
to be used to increase the rate of consolidation of the clay under the increased
vertical stress due to the construction of an embankment. Without sand drains,
the degree of consolidation at the time the embankment is due to come into use
has been calculated as 25%. What degree of consolidation would be reached
with the sand drains at the same time?
10. A half- closed layer (free draining at the upper boundary) is 10m thick and the
value of cv is 7.9 m2/year. The initial distribution of excess pore water pressure is
as follows:

TABLE H

Depth (m) 0 2 4 6 8 10
Pressure (kPa) 60 54 41 29 19 15

Obtain the values of excess pore water pressure after consolidation has been in
progress for 1 year.