VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE

SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur 603 203

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

QUESTION BANK

IV SEMESTER

CE6405SOIL MECHANICS

Regulation 2013

Academic Year 2016 17

Prepared by
Mr. M. MOGANRAJ, Assistant Professor/CIVIL

Mr. C. HANUSH PRAVEEN, Assistant Professor/CIVIL

Ms. M. SARANYA, Assistant Professor/CIVIL

 VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE
SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur 603 203
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

QUESTION BANK
(As per Anna University 2013 Regulation)

SUBJECT CODE/NAME: CE6405- SOIL MECHANICS

SEM/YEAR: IV/II

UNIT 1- SOIL CLASSIFICATION AND COMPACTION

Nature of soil phase relationships Soil description and classification for engineering purposes, their
significance Index properties of soils - BIS Classification system Soil compaction Theory,
comparison of laboratory and field compaction methods Factors influencing compaction behavior of
soils.
PART A
BT
Q.NO QUESTIONS LEVEL COMPETENCE

1. Define degree of saturation and shrinkage ratio BT-1 REMEMBER

2. What are the Atterberg limits? List its types. BT-1 REMEMBER

3. If the volume of voids is equal to the volume of solids in a given BT-1 REMEMBER
soil sample, Find Void ratio and porosity.
4. Define Porosity. BT-1 REMEMBER

5. Define compaction. BT-1 REMEMBER

6. Define plasticity index and flow index. BT-1 REMEMBER

7. Define plasticity index and flow index. BT-2 UNDERSTAND

8. Discuss about water content of a soil mass BT-2 UNDERSTAND
9. Differentiate between plasticity and consistency. BT-2 UNDERSTAND
10. What do understand from grain size distribution? BT-2 UNDERSTAND
11. A compacted sample of soil with a bulk unit weight of BT-3
19.62kN/m3 has a water content of 15 percent. Calculate its dry APPLY
density, degree of saturation and air content? Assume G = 2.65.
12. What is a zero air voids line? Draw a compaction curve and show BT-3
the zero air APPLY
voids line.
13. Using phase diagram, derive the relationship between void ratio BT-3
APPLY
and porosity.
14. Write any two engineering classification system of soil. BT-4 ANALYSE
15. Mention the classification of soil system BT-4 ANALYSE
16. Explain the term optimum moisture content of soil. BT-4 ANALYSE
17. Compose a relation for sat with G, w and e. BT-5 EVALUATE
18. A dry clay has a mass of 30g and volume of 15cc, What will be BT-5
the shrinkage EVALUATE
limit if the specific gravity of solids is 2.65
19. Draw the phase diagram for completely dry and fully saturated BT-6
CREATE
soil mass.
20. Two clay samples A and B have the following properties:
Atterberg limits Clay A Clay B
Liquid limit 44% 55%
Plastic limit 29% 35% BT-6 CREATE
Natural water content 30% 50%
Which of the clays A or B would experience larger settlement
under identical loads? Conclude with your comments.

PART B
1. Describe the procedure for determining water content and specific
BT 1 REMEMBER
gravity of a given soil in the laboratory by using a pycnometer.
2. By three phase soil system, show that the degree of saturation S
(as ratio) in terms of mass unit weight(), void ratio (e),specific
gravity of soil grains(G) and unit weight of water (w) is given by
the expression:
REMEMBER
BT 1

3. An earth embankment is compacted at a water content of 18% to a

bulk density of 1.92g/cm3. If the specific gravity of the sand is
BT 1 REMEMBER
2.7, find the void ratio and degree of saturation of the compacted
embankment.
4. Summarize with neat sketches of compaction methods. BT 2 UNDERSTAND
5. Discuss about the grain size distribution of soil by
i) sieve analysis. BT 2 UNDERSTAND
ii) sedimentation analysis
6. Sandy soil in a borrow pit has unit weight of solids as 25.8 kN/m3,
water content equal to11% and bulk unit weight equal to 16.4
kN/m3. How many cubic meter of compacted fill could be
BT -3 APPLY
constructed of 3500 m3 of sand excavated from the borrow pit, if
the required value of porosity in the compacted fill is 30%. Also
calculate the change in degree of saturation.
7. Explain the soil classification system. BT- 4
ANALYSE
8. Explain the factors affecting the compaction of soil. BT 4 ANALYSE
9. A laboratory compaction test on soil having G= 2.67 gave a
maximum dry unit weight of 17.8 KN/m3 and a water content of
15%. Determine the degree of saturation, air content and
BT- 5 EVALUATE
percentage air voids at the maximum dry unit weight. What would
be theoretical maximum dry unit weight corresponding to zero air
voids at the optimum water content?
10. The following data on consistency limits are available for two
soils A and B.

S.No. Index Soil A Soil B

1 Plastic limit 16% 19%
2 Liquid limit 30% 52%
3 Flow index 11 06
4 Natural water content 32% 40% BT- 6 CREATE
indicate which soil is
(i) Better foundation material on remoulding.
(ii) Better shear strength as function of water content.
(iii) Better shear strength at plastic limit.
(iv) More plastic
Classify the soil as per IS classification system. Do those soils
have organic matter?
11. A soil sample was collected in a sampling tube of internal
diameter 50mm. the length of the extracted sample is 313 g. Find BT 1 REMEMBER
porosity, void ratio, degree of saturation and dry density
12. The mass of wet soil when compacted in a mould was 19.55 kN.
The water content of the soil was 16%. If the volume of the mould
BT 2 UNDERSTAND
was 0.95 m3 restate the following dry unit weight, void ratio,
degree of saturation and percentage of air voids. Take G=2.62
13. soil sample has a porosity of 40 per cent. The specific gravity of
solids is
2.70. Solve
(i) voids ratio BT 3 APPLY
(ii) dry density and
(iii) unit weight if the soil is completely saturated.
14. A moist soil sample compacted in a mould of 1000cm3capacity
and weight 3.5 kg and weight 5.35 kg with the mould. A
representative sample of soil taken from it has an initial weight of
BT 4 ANALYSE
18.70 gm and oven dry weight of 16.91 gm. Identify (i) water
content (ii) wet density (iii) dry density (iv) void ratio and (v)
Degree of saturation of the sample
PART-C
1. Determine water content, dry unit weight, bulk unit weight, void
ratio & degree of saturation if the sample size is 38.1 mm diameter
BT-1 REMEMBER
& 76.2mm height. the net weight of the sample = 1.688N. After
oven drying is reduced to 1.4N consider specific gravity as 2.7
2. A field density test was conducted by core cuter method and the
following data were obtained. weight of the empty core cutter =
2280gm weight of soil and core cutter = 4950 gm. Inside diameter
of core cutter = 90mm.height of core cutter =180 mm. Weight of
BT-1 REMEMBER
wet soil sample for moisture content determination = 54.05gms.
Weight of oven dried soil sample = 51.12 gm. specific gravity of
soil grains =2.72. Determine dry density void ratio degree of
saturation.
3. A soil sample consisting of particles of size ranging from 0.6mm
to 0.01mm is put on the surface of still water tank. state the time
of settlement of the coarsest and finest particle of the sample BT-2 UNDERSTAND
through a depth of 1.2m. Assume specific gravity of soil particle
as 2.65 and viscosity of water as 0.01 poise.
4. A sample of sand above water table was found to have a natural
moisture content of 15% and an unit weight of 18.84
KN/m3 laboratory test on a dried sample. Indicates value of emax BT-2 UNDERSTAND
=0.85 and emin=0.5 in loosest and densest state respectively.
compute degree of saturation and relative density .Assume G=2.65
 UNIT II- SOIL WATER AND WATER FLOW
Soil water static pressure in water - Effective stress concepts in soils capillary stress Permeability
measurement in the laboratory and field pumping in pumping out tests factors influencing permeability
of soils Seepage introduction to flow nets Simple problems. (Sheet pile and weir).
PART A
BT
Q.NO QUESTIONS LEVEL COMPETENCE
1. List out the methods of drawing flow net. BT-1 Remember
2. List the methods of finding field-permeability BT-1 Remember

3. What are the different types of soil water? BT-1 Remember

4. Define capillary rise and surface tension BT-1 Remember

5. Define Capillarity and permeability. BT-1 Remember

6. Write down the methods available for determination of permeability BT-1

Remember
in the laboratory?
7. What is meant by total stress, neutral stress and effective stress and BT-2
Understand
give its relationship.
8. State the assumptions in construction of flow net. BT-2 Understand
9. What are the factors affecting permeability? BT-2 Understand
10. What is quicksand? How would you calculate the hydraulic gradient BT-2
required to Understand
create Quick sand conditions in a sample of sand?
11. Show that effective stress in soil mass is independent of variation in BT-3
Apply
water table above the ground surface
12. For a homogeneous earth dam 52m high and 2m freeboard, a flow BT-3
net was
constructed and following results were obtained:
Number of potential drops= 25; Apply
Number of flow channels =4
Calculate the discharge per metre length of the dam if the co-
efficient of permeability of the dam material is3 x 10-5m/sec.
13. Write down the uses of Flow net. BT-3 Apply
14. Differentiate seepage velocity from discharge velocity. BT-4 Analyze
15. State and explain Darcys law. BT-4 Analyze
16. What is meant by capillary rise in soil and how it affects the stress BT-4
Analyze
level in soils?
17. Say true or false and justify your answer: In fine-grained soils the BT-5
Evaluate
capillary rise is less compared to coarse grained soils.
18. The coefficient of permeability of soil is found to be 1 x 10-5 m/s at BT-5
a void ratio of 0.6. If the void ratio is 0.4 and the other factors Evaluate
remaining same, What will be its coefficient of permeability?
19. If k1, k2 and k3 are the permeabilitys of layers h1, h2 and h3 thick,
what is its equivalent permeability in the horizontal and vertical BT-6 Create
directions? Derive the formulae used.
20. Explain the terms: seepage pressure and flow net. BT-6 Create
PART B
1. Water table is 2m below ground surface. Above water table there is
capillary rise upto ground surface. Also draw total stress diagram up
to 10m. A stratified soil deposit is shown in Fig.1. Along with the
coefficient of permeability of the individual strata. Determine the
BT 1 Remember
ratio of KH and KV. Assuming an average hydraulic gradient of 0.3
in both horizontal and vertical seepage, Find (i) Discharge value and
discharge velocities in each layer for horizontal flow and (ii)
Hydraulic gradient and loss in head in each layer for vertical flow.
2. (i) The falling head permeability test was conducted on a soil
sample of 4cm diameter and 18cm length. The head fell from 1.0m
to 0.40m in 20 minutes. If the cross-sectional area of the stand pipe
was 1cm2, determine the coefficient of permeability.
(ii) Compute the total, effective and pore pressure at a depth of 20m BT 1 Remember
below the bottom of a lake 6 m deep. The bottom of lake consists of
soft clay with a thickness of more than 20m. The average water
content of the clay is 35% and specific gravity of the soil may be
assumed to be 2.65.
3. (i) Write a short note on quick sand conditions in soil. (4)
(ii) Find the value of the effective stress at 2m, 4m, 6m, 8m and 10m
is a soil mass having s =21 KN/m3. Water table is 2m below BT 1 Remember
ground surface. Above water table there is capillary rise up to
ground surface. Also draw total stress diagram up to 10.00 m. (12)
4. Describe in detail with neat sketches, the laboratory determination
of permeability using constant head method and falling head BT 2 Understand
method.
5. Describe in detail with neat sketches, the field determination of
BT 2 Understand
permeability
6. The water table in a deposit of sand 8m thick is at a depth of 3m
below the ground surface. Above the water table, the sand is
saturated with capillary water. The bulk density of sand is
BT -3 Apply
19.62kN/m3. Calculate the effective pressure at 1m, 3m and 8m
below the ground surface. Hence plot the variation of total pressure,
neutral pressure and effective pressure over the depth of 8m.
7. In a constant head permeameter test, the following observations BT- 3 Analyze
 were taken. Distance between piezometer tappings = 15cm,
difference of water levels in piezometers = 40cm,
diameter of the test sample = 5cm,
quantity of water collected = 500ml,
duration of the test = 900sec.
Determine the coefficient of permeability of the soil. If the dry mass
of the 15cm long sample is 486g and specific gravity of the solids is
2.65. Calculate seepage velocity of water during the test.
8. i. Explain briefly about the applications of flow net and (8) BT 4
Analyze
ii. Explain any four methods of obtaining flow nets. (8)
9. The sub soil strata at a site consist of fine sand 1.8m thick overlying
a stratum of clay1.6m thick. Under the clay stratum lies a deposit of
coarse sand extending to a considerable depth. The water table is
1.5m below the ground surface. Assuming the top fine sand to be
saturated by capillary water, calculate the effective pressures at
ground surface and at depths of 1.8m, 3.4 m and5.0m below the BT- 5 Evaluate
ground surface. Assume for fine sand G=2.65,e=0.8and for coarse
sand G=2.66, e=0.5.What will be the change in effective pressure at
depth 3.4m, if no capillary water is assumed to be present in the fine
sand and its bulk unit weight is assumed to be16.68kN/m3.The unit
weight of clay may be assumed as 19.32kN/m3.
10. What will be the ratio of average permeability in horizontal
direction to that in the vertical direction for a soil deposit consisting
of three horizontal layers, if the thickness and permeability of BT- 6 Create
second layer are twice of those of the first and those of the third
layer twice those of second? Derive the equation.
11. The water table in a deposit of sand 8m thick , is at a depth of 3m
below the ground surface. Above the water table, the sand is
saturated with capillary water. The bulk density of sand is 19.62 BT 1 Remember
kN/m3.Calculate the effective pressure at 1m, 3m, and 8m below the
ground surface and effective pressure over the depth of 8m.
12. In a constant head permeameter test, the following observation were
taken. Distance between piezometer tappings =15cm, Difference of
water levels in piezometers = 40cm.Diameter of the test sample =
5cm, Quantity of water collected =500ml, duration of the test = 900 BT 2 Understand
sec. Determine the coefficient of permeability of the soil. If the dry
mass of the 15cm long sample is 486g and specific gravity of the
solids is 2.65. Determine seepage velocity of water during the test.
13. Compute the total, effective and pore pressure at a depth of 20 m
below the bottom of a lake 6 m deep. The bottom of lake consists of
soft clay with a thickness of more than 20 m. The average water BT -3 Apply
content of the clay is 35% and specific gravity of the soil may be
assumed to be 2.65.
14. Calculate the effective stress at 2m, 4m, 6m, 8m and 10m is a soil
mass having s =21 KN/m3. Water table is 2m below ground
BT- 3 Apply
surface. Above water table there is capillary rise up to ground
surface. Also draw total stress diagram up to 10.00 m.
 PART C
1. Explain the theory of quick sand conditions in soil. BT -1 Remember

2. BT 1 Remember
Explain the falling head permeability test.
3. BT 2 Understand
Classify the various applications of flow net?
4. Calculate the ratio of average permeability in horizontal direction to
that in the vertical direction for a soil deposit consisting of three
horizontal layers, if the thickness and permeability of second layer BT-3 Apply
are twice of those of the first and those of the third layer twice those
of second?

UNIT 3-STRESS DISTRIBUTION AND SETTLEMENT

Stress distribution - soil media Boussinesq theory - Use of Newmarks influence chart Components of
settlement immediate and consolidation settlement Terzaghis one dimensional consolidation theory
computation of rate of settlement. - t and log t methods e-log p relationship - Factors influencing
compression behaviour of soils.
PART A
BT
Q.NO QUESTIONS LEVEL COMPETENCE
1. Define isobar. BT-1 Remember
2. Write the Westergaards equation for the vertical stress for a point load. BT-1 Remember
3. Define primary and secondary consolidation. BT-1 Remember
4. List out the component of settlement in soil. BT-1 Remember
5. Define the terms compression index and coefficient of compressibility. BT-1 Remember
6. Name the two theories explaining the stress distribution on soil? BT-1 Remember
7. Differentiate between coefficient of consolidation and degree of BT-2 Understand
consolidation.
8. Discuss about the assumptions made in Terzaghis one dimensional BT-2 Understand
consolidation theory?
9. When a soil mass is said to be homogenous? BT-2 Understand
10. What do you understand by the terms immediate settlement and BT-2 Understand
compression.
11. State the Apply of influence chart in soil? BT-3 Apply
12. A Consolidating stratum takes two years for 50% consolidation. Find BT-3 Apply
the time taken by the stratum for 90% consolidation and 100 %
 consolidation respectively for the same drainage condition.
13. What are the applications of Boussinessqs equation? BT-3 Apply
14. Compare Boussinessqs and Westerguard analysis for stress BT-4 Analyze
distribution.
15. Identify the limitations of Terzaghis analysis in one dimensional BT-4 Analyze
consolidation theory.
16. How is consolidation different from compaction? BT-4 Analyze
17. Compare and differentiate geostatic stress and pre-consolidation BT-5 Evaluate
pressure?
18. Where would you use the effective stress analysis and where the total BT-5 Evaluate
stress analysis?
19. Draw a consolidation curve for normally consolidated and over BT-6 Create
consolidated clay.
20. Draw the Newmarks chart BT-6 Create

PART B
1. (i) Explain the assumptions made by Boussinesq in stress BT-1 Remember
distribution on soils. (6)
(ii) A line load of 100 kN/m run extends to a long distance.
Determine the intensity of vertical stress at a point 2m below the
surface, directly under the line load and at a distance 2 m
perpendicular to the line. Use Boussinesqs theory.(7)
2. A concentrated point load of 200 kN acts at the ground surface. Find BT-1 Remember
the intensity of vertical pressure at a depth of 10 m below the ground
surface and situated on the axis of the loading. What will be the
vertical pressure at a point at a depth of 5 m and at a radial distance
of 2 m from the axis of loading? Use Boussinesq analysis
3. In a laboratory consolidometer test on a 20 mm thick sample of BT-1 Remember
saturated clay taken from a site, 50% consolidation point was
reached in10 minutes. Estimate the time required for the clay layer of
5 m thickness at the site for 50% compression if there is drainage
only towards the top. What is the time required for the clay layer to
reach 50% consolidation if the layer has double drainage instead of
single drainage.
4. Discuss the spring analogy for primary consolidation. What are its BT-1 Remember
uses?
5. A concentrated point load of 200 kN acts at the ground surface. Find BT-2 Understand
the intensity of vertical pressure at a depth of 10 m below the ground
surface and situated on the axis of the loading. What will be the
vertical pressure at a point at a depth of 5 m and at a radial distance
of 2 m from the axis of loading? Use Boussinesq analysis

6. Explain with a neat sketch the Terzhaghis one dimensional BT-2 Understand
consolidation theory.
7. The load from a continuous footing of width 2 m, which may be BT-3 Apply
considered to be strip load of considerable length, is 200 kN/m2.
Determine the maximum principal stress at 1.5 m depth below the
footing, if the point lies
(i) directly below the centre of the footing, (4)
(ii) directly below the edge of the footing and (5)
(iii) 0.8 m away from the edge of the footing (4)
8. i)How will you determine pre-consolidation pressure?(6) BT-3 Apply
ii) How will you determine coefficient of compression index (CC) from
an odometer test? (7)
9. An undrained soil sample 30 cm thick got 50% consolidation in 20 BT-4 Analyze
minutes with drainage allowed at top and bottom in the laboratory. If
the clay layer from which the sample was obtained is 3 m thick in field
condition, estimate the time it will take to consolidate 50% with double
surface drainage and in both cases, consolidation pressure is uniform
10 A water tank is supported by a ring foundation having outer diameter of BT-5 Evaluate
10m and inner diameter of 7.5 m. The ring foundation transmits
uniform load intensity of 160 kN/m2. Compute the vertical stress
induced at depth of 4 m, below the centre of ring foundation, using
(i) Boussinesq analysis and
(ii) Westergaards analysis , taking = 0.
11 (i)A layer of soft clay is 6 m thick and lies under a newly constructed BT-6 Create
building. The weight of sand overlying the clay layer produces a
pressure of 2.6 kg/cm2 and the new construction increases the
pressureby1.0 kg/cm2. If the compression index is 0.5. Compute the
settlement. Water content is 40% and specific gravity of grains is 2.65.
(7)
(ii) Explain in detail the laboratory determination of co-efficient of
consolidation.(6)
12 A clay layer of 10 m thickness underlies a sand stratum of 10 m and BT-4 Analyzing
overlies a pervious layer. The sand layer carries a point load of 10
MN. Assume e = 0.7 and G = 2.72, L.L. = 60% and Cv = 25 x 10-4
cm2/sec. the water table is located 5 m above the top of the clay
layer. Find how long would the clay take to settle 4.7 cm.
13 In a consolidation test on a soil, the void ratio of the sample BT-4 Analyze
decreased from 1.25 to 1.10 when the pressure is increased from 200
kN/m2 to 400 kN/m2. Calculate the coefficient of consolidation if the
coefficient of permeability is 8 x 10-8 cm/sec
14 A concentrated load of 1000 kN acts vertically at the ground surface. BT-2 Understand
Determine the vertical stress at a point which is at
(i) a depth of 2.5 m and a horizontal distance of 4 m
(ii) at a depth of 5 m and a radial distance of 2.5 m
 PART C
1. i) Find intensity of vertical pressure at a point 3 m directly below 25 Remember
kN point load acting on a horizontal ground surface. What will be the
BT-1
vertical pressure at a point 2 m horizontally away from the axis of
loading and at same depth of 3 m? Use Boussinesqs equation (8)
ii) List the Boussinesqs theory assumptions and limitations (7)
2. i) List the different components of settlement? Explain their Create
occurrence with respect to the change in soil systems.(7)
ii) 20 mm thick undisturbed sample of saturated clay is tested in
laboratory with drainage allowed through top and bottom. Sample
BT-6
reaches 50% consolidation in 35 minutes. If clay layer from which
sample was obtained is 3 m thick and is free to drain through top and
bottom surfaces, calculate the time required for same degree of
consolidation in the field. What is the time required if the drainage in
the field is only through the top? (8)
3. There is a layer of soft clay 4 m thick under a newly constructed Analyze
building. The overburden pressure over the center of the clay layer is
300 kN/m2. Compute the settlement if there is an increase in pressure BT-4
due to construction of 100 kN/m2. Take Cc = 0.5, G= 2.7. The water
content of the deposit was found to be 50%
4. A rectangular foundation, 3 x 2.1 m is perfectly flexible and carries a Analyze
load of 300 kN/m2. Determine the vertical pressure at a depth of 5 m BT-4
below a point P at center and corner.
 UNIT 4- SHEAR STRENGTH

Shear strength of cohesive and cohesionless soils Mohr Coulomb failure theory Measurement of shear
strength, direct shear Triaxial compression, UCC and Vane shear tests Pore pressure parameters
cyclic mobility Liquefaction.
PART A
BT
Q.NO QUESTIONS LEVEL COMPETENCE
1. What are the various methods of determination of shear strength in BT-1 Remember
the laboratory?
2. Write down the coulombs expression for shear strength BT-1 Remember
3. List out the advantages of direct shear test. BT-1 Remember
4. What are the different types of shear test based on drainage BT-1 Remember
conditions?
5. Define Cohesion and stress path BT-1 Remember
6. Write down the Mohrs-Coulomb failure envelope equation. BT-1 Remember
7. What is the effect of pore pressure on shear strength of soil? BT-2 Understand
8. What is shear strength of soil? BT-2 Understand
9. How will you find the shear strength of cohesionless soil? BT-2 Understand
10. What is angle of internal friction? BT-2 Understand
11. When is vane shear test adopted? BT-3 Apply
12. Explain about the Apply of direct shear test. BT-3 Apply
13. Discuss about the Apply of UCC of clay soil? BT-3 Apply
14. Why triaxial shear test is considered better than direct shear test? BT-4 Analyze
15. Explain the effect of pore pressure on shear strength of soil? BT-4 Analyze
16. Explain the shear strength parameters? BT-4 Analyze
17. Explain the MohrCoulomb failure theory. BT-5 Evaluate
18. Evaluate the angle made by failure plane with major principle plane BT-5 Evaluate
using Mohrs circle and strength envelope
19. Sketch the failure envelope for drained triaxial test. BT-6 Create
20. Sketch the Mohrs circle for total and effective stresses for undrained BT-6 Create
triaxial test.
 PART B

1. Explain with neat sketches the procedure of conducting direct shear BT-1 Remember
test. Give its advantages over other methods of finding shear strength
of soil
2. (i)Write a brief critical note on unconfined compression test BT-1 Remember
(ii)What are the advantages and disadvantages of triaxial
compression test.
3. Write down a step by step procedure for determination of cohesion of BT-1 Remember
a given clayey soil by conducting unconfined compression test.

4. A sample of dry sand was subjected to a triaxial test, with a confining BT-1 Remember
pressure of 250 kN/m2. The angle of hearing resistance was found to
be 360. At what value of the major principal stress, the sample is
likely to fail?
5. A saturated specimen of cohesionless and was tested in triaxial BT-2 Understand
compression and the sample failed at a deviator stress of 482 kN/m2
when the cell pressure was 100 kN/m2 under the drained conditions.
Find the effective angle of shearing resistance of sand. What would
be the deviator stress and the major principal stress at failure for
another identical specimen of sand, if it is tested under cell pressure
of 200 kN/m2. Use either Mohrs circle method or analytical method

6. A particular soil failed under a major principal stress of 300 kN/m2 BT-2 Understand
with a corresponding minor principal stress of 100 kN/m2. If for the
same soil, the minor principal stress had been 200 kN/m2. What the
major principal stress would have been if (i) = 300and (ii) =00.

7. What is Mohrs strength theory for soils? Sketch typical strength BT-2 Understand
envelopes for a clean sand.
8. A Cylindrical specimen of dry sand was tested in a triaxial test. BT-3 Apply
Failure occurred under a cell pressure of 1.2 kg/cm2and at a deviator
stress of 4.0 kg/cm2. Find
(i) Angle of shearing resistance of the soil.
(ii) Normal and shear stresses on the failure plane.
(iii) The angle made by the plane with the minor principal plane.
(iv) The maximum shear stress on any plane in the specimen at the
instant of failure.

9. The following data were obtained in a direct sheartest. Normal BT-3 Apply
pressure 20 kN/m2, Tangential pressure =16 kN/m2, Angle of internal
friction = 200, Cohesion = 8 kN/m2. Represent the data.
 (i)By Mohrs circle and compute the principal stresses and the
direction of principal planes. (8)
(ii)Compare the merits and demerits of triaxial compression test. (8)
10 A vane, 10 cm long and 8cm in diameter, was pressed into soft clay BT-4 Analyze
at the bottom of a borehole. Torque was applied and gradually
increased to 45 N-m when failure took place. Subsequently, the vane
rotated rapidly so as to completely remould the soil. There moulded
soil was sheared at a torque of 18 N-m. Analyse the cohesion of the
clay in the natural and remoulded states and also the value of the
sensitivity.
11. Derive a relationship between the principal stresses at failure using BT-4 Analyze
Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.
12. On a failure plane in a cohesionless soil sample, the normal and shear BT-4 Analyze
stresses are found as 10 kN/m2 and 4 kN/m2. Determine the resultant
stress on the plane of failure, the angle of shearing resistance and the
inclination of failure plane to the major principal plane.
13. Two identical soil specimens were tested in a triaxial apparatus. First BT-5 Evaluate
specimen failed at a deviator stress of 770 kN/m2 when the cell
pressure was 2000 kN/m2. Second specimen failed at a deviator stress
of 1370 kN/m2 under a cell pressure of 400 kN/m2. Determine the
value of c and analytically. If the same soil is tested in a direct
shear apparatus with a normal stress of 600 kN/m2, estimate the shear
stress at failure.
14. Obtain the relationship between the principal stresses in triaxial BT-6 Create
compression test using Mohr-Coulomb failure theory
PART C
1. Explain the triaxial shear tests based on drainage and their BT-2 Understand
applicability
2. i) What is the shear strength in terms of effective stress on a plane BT-3 Apply
within a saturated soil mass at a point where the total normal stress is
295 kN/m2 and the pore water pressure is 120 kN/m2? The effective
stress parameters for the soil are c = 12 kN/m2 and = 300
ii) write the advantages , disadvantages and limitations of direct shear
test
3. An embankment is constructed of soil, with c = 50 kN/m2 and = BT-5 Evaluate
200 and unit weight 16 kN/m3. Determine the pore water pressure,
effective stress, shear strength of the soil at the base of embankment
 just after the fill has been raised form 3m to 6 m. Take pore pressure
coefficients A and B as 0.5 and 0.8, respectively, and the lateral
pressure as on-half of the vertical pressure.
4. What is Mohrs circle? Discuss its important characteristics. BT-6 Create

UNIT 5- SLOPE STABILITY

Slope failure mechanisms Types - infinite slopes finite slopes Total stress analysis for saturated clay
Fellenius method - Friction circle method Use of stability number - slope protection measures.
PART A
BT
Q.NO QUESTIONS LEVEL COMPETENCE
1. Name the different types of slope failure? BT-1 Remember
2. 1. Describe the main cause of slope failure BT-1 Remember
3. Define finite slope. BT-1 Remember
4. Define factor of safety and critical depth. BT-1 Remember
5. 2. What is a slide? BT-1 Remember
6. State the basic types of failure occurring in finite slopes BT-1 Remember
7. Distinguish between method of slices and method of friction. BT-2 Understand
8. Compare stability number and Taylors stability number. BT-2 Understand
9. When and where the circular failure surface is mobilized? Why? BT-2 Understand
10. Explain the different types of FOS used in stability of slopes BT-2 Understand
11. Sketch any one of the slope protection measures neatly. BT-3 Apply
12. Write the expression for FOS of an infinite slope in case of
BT-3 Apply
cohesionless soil.
13. Illustrate critical surface of failure. BT-3 Apply
14. Differentiate between finite slope and infinite slope. BT-4 Analyze
15. Classify the slope protection measures. BT-4 Analyze
16. Analyze briefly about translational slides. BT-4 Analyze
17. Show how does tension crack influence stability analysis? BT-5 Evaluate
18. Evaluate the maximum depth of soil having undrained cohesion is BT-5 Evaluate
50kN/m2. Unit weight of soil is 19 kN/m3. Stability number is 0.20
19. Write the maximum depth of soil having undrained cohesion is 50 BT-6 Create
kN/m2. Unit weight of soil is 19 kN/m3. Stability number is 0.20
20. Write the different modes of failure of finite and infinite slopes. BT-6 Create
PART B
1. Describe in detail the various methods to protect slopes from failure. BT-1 Remember
2. Explain the Swedish slip circle method in detail BT-1 Remember
3. (i) Brief Taylors stability number .(6)
BT-1 Remember
(ii) State the use of Taylors charts and its applicability. (7)
4. A slope of very large extent of soil with properties c= 0 and = 320 is
likely to be subjected to seepage parallel to the slope with water level at
the surface. Determine the maximum angle of slope for a FOS is 1.5 BT-1 Remember
treating it as an infinite slope. For this angle of slope what will be the
FOS if the water level were to come down well below the surface? The
saturated unit weight of the soil is 20 kN/m3.
5. Compare and contrast Swedish circle and friction circle method. BT-2 Understand
o
6. (i) An infinitely long slope having an inclination of 26 in an area
underlined by firm cohesive soil (G = 2.72 and e = 0.50). There is a
thin , weak layer of soil 6m below and parallel to the slope surface
C = 25 kN/m2, =16o. Compute the FOS when the slope is dry.
(7) BT-2 Understand

(ii) If the ground water flow could occur parallel to the slope on
ground surface, what FOS would result- Solve.
(6)

7. Outline the FOS of a finite slope possessing both cohesion and BT-2 Understand
friction(c - ) by method of slices.
8. Write in detail about types of slope failure. BT-3 Apply
9. BT-3 Apply
Illustrate the technique used to improve the stability of slopes.
10. Demonstrate in detail with neat sketches the Bishops method of BT-3 Apply
stability analysis.
11. An embankment of 10m high is inclined at 350 to the horizontal. A
stability analysis by method of slices gives the following forces: Total
normal forces = 900 kN; total tangential force = 420 kN; total neutral BT-4 Analyze
force= 200 kN. If the length of the failure arc is 23 m, examine the FOS
with respect to shear strength. The soil has c= 20kN/m2 and = 150
12. Analyse the stability of soil using friction circle method. BT-4 Analyze
13. A canal is to be excavated to a depth of 6m below ground level through
a soil having the following characteristics c = 15kN/m2, =20, e =
0.9and G = 2.67.The slope of the banks is 1in1.Determine the factor of BT-5 Evaluate
safety with respect to cohesion when the canal runs full. Evaluate the
factor of safety if the canal is rapidly emptied completely?
14. Write about the analysis of infinite slopes. BT-6 Create

PART C
1. Describe in detail about method of slices. BT-1 Remember
2. Briefly explain about the method of analysis of finite slopes. BT-2 Understand
3. Explain in general about Fellenius method BT-4 Analyze
4. A cut 9m deep is to be made in clay with a unit weight of 18kN/m3
and cohesion of 27 kN/m2. A hard Stratum exists at a depth of 18 m
below the ground surface. Determine from Taylors charts if a 300 BT-4 Analyze
slope is Safe. If a factor of safety of 1.50 is desired, examine the safe
angle of slope?