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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.1

IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February/March, 2011

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – II
(Civil Engineering)
Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
*****
1. (a) Under what conditions the geophysical methods are used in the soil exploration?
Explain the in detail about the Seismic Refraction Method discuss about its
limitations.
(b) A seismic survey was carried out for a large project to determine the nature of the

Determine the depths of the strata.

e r
substrata. The results of the survey are given in Fig. 1. in the form of a graph.

n k
R a
r s t
F i
Fig.1

2. A new canal is excavated to a depth of 5.5 m below ground level through a soil having c
= 14.3 kN/m2= , ij15 0, e = 0.8 and G = 2.80. The slope of the bank is 1:1. Calculate the
factor of safety with respect to the cohesion when the canal runs full. If it is suddenly and
completely emptied, what will be the factor of safety? The stability numbers are as
follows: Sn = 0.083 for 450 Slope and ij = 150; Sn = 0.11 for iju = 100 and Sn = 0.138 for
iju = 50. Use linear interpolation for the other values of iju.

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.1

3. A wall of 6 m height retains a non-cohesive backfill of dry unit weight 18 kN/m 3 and an
angle of internal friction of 30°. Use Rankine's theory and find the total active thrust per
meter length of the wall. Estimate the change in the total pressure in the following
circumstances (i) The top of the backfill carrying a uniformly distributed load of 6
kN/m2. (ii) The backfill under a submerged condition with the water table at an elevation
of 2 m below the top of the wall. Assume Gs.65, - 2 and the soil above the water table
being saturated.

4. Check the stability of a cantilever concrete retaining wall having a stem thickness of 0.4
m uniform throughout, 6.0 m height bed block thickness 0.8 m and a projection of 2.5 m
on the heel side and 1.5 m on the toe side. The unit weight of the wall material is 25

r
kN/m3. The soil has a unit weight of 18 kN/m3 and an angle of internal friction of 360.
Take in to account a uniform surcharge on the ground of 50 kN/m2. The ground level on
the toe side is 1.2 m high above the base of the wall.

k e
n
5. A rectangular footing (Fig. 2) is founded at a depth of 2 m below the ground surface in a
(c - ij) soil having the following properties: porosity n = 40%, G = 2.67, c = 15 kN/m2,

a
and ij = 30°. The water table is close to the ground surface. If the width of the footing is 3
m, what is the length required to carry a safe bearing pressure qa55 = kN/m
4 2
with a

37.2, Nq22.5,

t
= and NȖ =19.7.

s R
factor of safety = 3? Use Terzaghi's theory of general shear failure. For ij = 30°, Nc =

i r
F
Fig. 2

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.1

6. (a) Differentiate critically in principles in deriving the Engineering News formula and
Hiley’s formula for Pile load capacity.
(b) What are the bases on which the dynamic pile formulae are derived? Discuss critically
the limitations of dynamic pile formulas.
(c) A timber pile was driven by a drop hammer weighing 30 kN with a free fall of 1.2 m.
The average penetration of the last few blows was 5 mm. what is the capacity of the
pile according to Engineering News formula?

7. (a) Describe the procedure for the estimation of settlement of a pile group by considering
only the frictional resistance of the pile group.

e r
(b) A group of 9 piles with 3 piles in a row were driven into a soft clay extending from

k
ground level to a great depth. The diameter and the length of the piles were 30 cm and
10 m respectively. The unconfined compressive strength of the clay is 70 kPa. If the

n
piles were placed at 90 cm center to center, compute the allowable load on the pile

a
group on the basis of shear failure criteria for a factor of safety of 2.5.

s t
of the grip length?
R
8. (a) What is the grip length of the well? What are the considerations in the determination

(b) Discuss the IRC method for the design of Well foundations.

i r



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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.2

IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February/March, 2011

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – II
(Civil Engineering)
Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
*****
1. (a) State the objectives of the site exploration and explain the importance of the depth of
exploration for different structures.

(b) A pressure meter test was carried out at a site at a depth of 7 m below the ground

r
surface. The water table level was at a depth of 1.5 m. The average unit weight of
saturated soil is 17.3 kN/m3. The corrected pressuremeter curve is given in Fig. 1

k e
and the depleted volume of the probe is Vc - 535 cm3. Determine the following.
(i) The coefficient of earth pressure for the at-rest condition

a n
(ii) The Menard pressuremeter modulus Em
(iii) The undrained shear strength cu. Assume that poh = pom in this case

s t R
i r
F Fig. 1

2. (a) Derive the equation for factor of safety of a finite slope by Bishop’s simplified
method of analysis.
(b) What will be the factor of safety of a 150 slope of infinite extent in a cohesion-less
soil whose angle of shearing resistance is 250?

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.2

3. A retaining wall of 6 m height having a smooth back retains a backfill made up of two
strata shown in Fig. 2. Construct the active earth pressure diagram and find the magnitude
and point of application of the resultant thrust. Assume the backfill above WT

e r Fig. 2

n k
4. A gravity retaining wall is shown in Fig. 3. Calculate the factor of safety with respect to
overturning and sliding, given the fallowing data:
Wall dimensions: H = 6 m, x1 = 0.6 m, x2 = 2 m, x3 = 2 m, x4 = 0.5 m, x5 = 0.75 m, x6 =
0.8 m, D = 1.5 m.

a
Soil properties: Ȗ1 = 16.5 kN/m3, ij1' = 320, Ȗ2 = 18 kN/m3, ij2' = 220, c2'= 40 kPa. Use

R
t
the Rankine active earth pressure in your calculations.

i r s
F
Fig. 3

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.2

5. A foundation 2.5 m square is installed 2 m below the surface of a uniform sandy gravel
having a density of 17.2 kN/m2 above the water table and a submerged density of 9.1
kN/m3. The effective strength parameters are c1 = 0 kN/m2 and φ1 = 300. Find the gross
ultimate bearing capacity for the conditions of water table well below the base (with
rupture zone above the water table) Water table rising to the level of the base of the
foundation and the water table raises to the ground level. Use Meyerhof theory. The
bearing capacity factors are, φ = 300, Nq = 18.4 and Nr = 15.7. Shape factors: Sq = Sr = 1+
B D
0.1 kp and dq =dr = 1 + 0.1 kp , where kp = tan2(45+φ/2).
L B
6. A soil deposit consists of 2 m of gravel overlaying an 8 m thick deposit of an over-
consolidated clay overlaying rigid permeable sandstone. The gravel has a unit weight of 22
kN/m3 when saturated and a unit weight of 18 kN/m3 when dry. The properties of the clay
are uniform throughout the layer and indicated below:
  Void Ratio
Specific Gravity
e
Gs
1.2
2.7

e r
k
Pre-consolidation pressure σ′pc 70 kPa
  Compression Index Cc 0.1
Recompression Index

a
Consolidation coefficient
Cr
cv
n 0.02
0.5 m2/year
Calculate the settlement under the centre of a square tank of side 5 m exerting an average

R
pressure of 175 kPa constructed on the ground surface after a long period of time and

t
estimate the time for 75% of this settlement to occur. Assume that initially the water table is

s
at the surface of the gravel but that after construction it is lowered to the surface of the clay.

i r
The clay should be divided into two equal sub-layers.

F
7. (a) Explain the function of pile foundation and show how the bearing capacity of the
foundation can be estimated.
(b) A group of 16 piles 25 m long and 450 mm in diameter is to be arranged in a square
form in a clay soil with an average unconfined strength of 36 kN/m2. Workout the
center to center spacing of the piles for a group efficiency factor of 1. Neglect bearing
at the tip of the piles

8. (a) Discuss the construction aspects of well foundation. What are the tilts and shift? What
are the remedial measures to control these?
(b) Design a well foundation 18 m deep, has the external and internal diameters of 7.5 m
and 6 m respectively. Taking the water level to be 1m below the top, determine the
thickness of the concrete seal required. Assume ıc = 2360 kN/m2 and Ȗc = 24 kN/m3.
Allowable perimeter shear stress = 660 kN/m2.

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.3

IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February/March, 2011

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – II
(Civil Engineering)
Time : 3 hours Max. Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
*****
1. (a) Explain the procedure of Plate load test conducted in the field. Mention the
limitations and interpretation of these results with the actual foundation for
different soils.
(b) What are the major uses of boring program in soil exploration? Explain any one

r
method of boring and its suitability depending on the site conditions.

e
k
2. (a) Compute the factor of safety of an infinite slope in a cohesionless soil for a steady
seepage condition when the flow is parallel to the slope.

a n
(b) What will be the factors of safety with respect to average shearing strength, cohesion
and internal friction of a soil, for which the shear strength parameters obtained from
the laboratory tests are c' = 32 kN/m2 and ij1 = 18°; the expected parameters of

R
mobilized shearing resistance are c'm = 21 kN/m2 and ij' = 13° and the average

t
effective pressure on the failure plane is 110 kN/m2. For the same value of mobilized

s
shearing resistance determine the following:
i) . Factor of safety with respect to height;

r
i
ii). Factor of safety with respect to friction when that with respect to cohesion is
unity; and

F
iii). Factor of safety with respect to strength.

3. A vertical gravity retaining wall, 12 m high, is to retain a clayey soil for which cu = 25
kN/m2, iju = 15o and the bulk unit weight Ȗb = 19 kN/m3. The soil surface is horizontal
and level with the top of the wall. The water table is horizontal and level with the bottom
of the wall. Determine the magnitude and direction of the minimum force on the wall for
a trial wedge whose slip surface rises from the bottom of the wall at 70o to the horizontal.
Assume that the angle of wall friction is 10o and the wall adhesion is 15 kN/m2. Hint:
You need to consider the possibility of tension cracks.

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.3

4. Figure 1 shows a section of a cantilever wall with dimensions and forces acting thereon.
Check the stability of the wall with respect to (a) overturning, (b) sliding, and (c) bearing
capacity.

e r
n k
R a
r s t
F i Fig. 1

5. (a) How would you fix the depth of the foundation? Discuss the Rankine’s formula for
the minimum depth.
(b) Using Skemption theory, compute the ultimate bearing capacity of a square footing of
1.5 x 1.5 m, resting on the saturated clay at undrained condition at a depth of 1.5 m
from the ground level. Depth correction factor, dc = 1 + 0.2D/B, shape correction
factor, sc = 1 + 0.2 B/L, where D, B and L are the depth of foundation, width and
length of the footing respectively.

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.3

6. The following are the results of a load –settlement test carried out on a 30 cm X 30 cm
plate inside a pit 3.5 m x 3.5 m x 1.5 m in clay soil.
Load (kN) 4 10 15 20 25 30
Settlement -0.5 -1.2 -2.2 -3.8 -7.12 -
(mm) 16.45
Design a spread footing for a column 1m x 1 m in size carrying a vertical load of 1000 kN.
The allowable settlement is 25 mm.

7. A concrete pile of 45 cm diameter was driven into sand of loose to medium density to a
depth of 15m. The following properties are known:

e r
Average unit weight of soil along the length of the pile, Ȗ = 17.5 kN/m3 , average ij =
30°, average Ks = 1.0 and į= 0.750. Calculate (a) the ultimate bearing capacity of the
pile, and (b) the allowable load with Fs = 2.5. Assume the water table is at great depth.

k
Use Berezantsev's method. Nq for L/d = 33.3 ij = 300 is equal to 16.5

n
a
8. A cylindrical well is of 6 m external diameter and 3.6 m internal diameter, and is to be
sunk to a depth of 15 m below the scour level. It is subjected to a horizontal load of 600

R
t
kN at a height of 9 m above score level. Determine the allowable resisting force due to

s
the earth pressure using Terzaghi’s approach assuming that (a) the well rotates about a
point below the base and (b) the well rotates about the base. Soil properties: Ȗ1 = 9.9

i r
kN/m3, ij = 300 and factor of safety against passive resistance is 2.5.

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.4

IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February/March, 2011
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – II
(Civil Engineering)
Time : 3 hours Max. Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
*****
1. (a) Explain the procedure of Pressure meter test conducted in the field and draw the
typical pressure volume curve and explain how you can compute the pressuremeter
modulus, Em form the test results?
(b) Compute the area ratio of the sampling tube given the outside diameter = 10 mm and

r
inside diameter = 94 mm. In what types of soil can this tube be used for sampling?

e
k
2. (a) Derive the expression for the factor of safety of an infinite slope in cohesive soils.
;ďͿThe following particulars are given for an earth dam of height 11.7 m. The slope

a
Determine the factor of safety FS.
n
is submerged and the slope angle ȕ = 45°. Ȗb = 6.5 kN/m3. c' = 25 kN/m3, ij' = 20°.

t R
3. Fig. 1. gives a retaining wall with a vertical back face and a sloping backfill. All the
other data are given in the figure. Determine the magnitude and point of application of

s
resultant active thrust by the Culmann’s method.

i r
F
Fig. 1

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.4

4. For the cantilever retaining wall shown in Fig. 2, let the fallowing data be given:
Wall dimensions: H = 6.5 m, x1 = 0.50 m, x2 = 1.2 m, x3 = 1.35 m, x4 = 2.1 m, x5 = 1.0 m,
D = 2.0 m, Į = 150.
Soil properties: Ȗ1 = 19.5 kN/m3, ij1' = 360, Ȗ2 = 17.0 kN/m3, ij2' = 100, c2'= 50 kPa.
Calculate the factor of safety with respect to overturning, sliding and bearing capacity.

e r
n k
R a
r s t Fig.2.

F i
5. (a) Write a brief note on types of failures in shallow foundations
(b) A strip footing (Fig. 3) of width 3 m is founded at a depth of 2 m below the ground
surface in a (c - ij) soil having a cohesion c = 30 kN/m2 and angle of shearing
resistance, ij = 35°. The water table is at a depth of 5 m below ground level. The
moist weight of soil above the water table is 17.25 kN/m3. Determine (a) the ultimate
bearing capacity of the soil, (b) the net bearing capacity, and (c) the net safe bearing
pressure and the load/m for a factor of safety of 3. Use the general shear failure
theory of Terzaghi. For ij = 35°, Nc7=85, Nq 4=1.4, and NȖ = 42.4.

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Code No. M0121 /R07 Set No.4

e r
Fig. 3.

n k
R a
6. (a) Differentiate between total settlement and differential settlement. What are the

t
harmful effects of differential settlements on structures? What are the possible

s
remedial measures?

r
(b) A rectangular footing 3 m x 1.5 m exerts a pressure of 80 kN/m2 on a cohesive soil (Es

i
= 5.1 X 104 kN/m2, µ = 0.50). determine the immediate settlement at the center

F
assuming the footing is (a) flexible (b) rigid. For flexible Influence factors for L/B = 2
are 1.53 at center and 0.77 at corner. For rigid 0.8.

7. (a) Write down the advantages and disadvantages of cast in-situ piles.
(b) A 16-pile group has to be arranged in the form of a square in soft clay with uniform
spacing. Neglecting end bearing determine the optimum value of the spacing of the
piles in terms of the pile diameter, assuming a shear mobilization factor of 0.60.

8. (a) Explain an open caisson(well foundation) with a neat sketch showing all the
component parts. What are the merits and demerits of the well foundation?
(b) Discuss about the Terzaghi method of design of well foundation.


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