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Nanyang Technological University Library

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION 2007-2008

CV6311 – Soil Behaviour and Engineering Properties

November 2007 Time Allowed: 3 hours

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises SIX (6) pages.

2. Answer ALL questions.

3. An Appendix of ONE (1) page is attached to the Question Paper.

4. All questions carry equal marks.

1. (a) A clay is compacted at the dry of optimum condition at a degree of

saturation around 70%. The clay contains a significant percentage of illite
minerals. The compacted clay has an effective cohesion c′ of 10 kPa, an
effective friction angle ′ of 30°, and a b angle of 20°. The matric suction
of the clay at the compacted condition is 80 kPa as measured using a
tensiometer.

(i) Illite has a similar atomic structure as montmorillonite, but illite is less
active than montmorillonite. Briefly explain the reason why illite is
less active than montmorillonite and the difference in their atomic
structures.

(ii) Briefly explain the difference in the stress state variables for
unsaturated and saturated soils and in their applications to shear
strength and volume change problems.

(iii) Calculate the reduction in shear strength if the clay is saturated from
its compacted condition under a constant net normal stress.

(15 marks)

(b) Briefly explain the meaning of time lag in piezometer measurements and
explain how the volume of piezometer and the coefficient of permeability of
the soil affect the time lag.
(5 marks)

Note: Question No.1 continues on page 2.

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CV6311

(c) The coefficient of permeability of a soil with respect to the water phase can
be calculated using the following equation and parameters:

kw = ks / [ 1 + a ((ua − uw) / ρw g)n ]

where:

kw = coefficient of permeability with respect to the water phase

ks = coefficient of permeability with respect to the water phase at
saturation
a = a constant
ua = pore-air pressure
uw = pore-water pressure
ρw = density of water
g = gravitational acceleration
n = a constant

Soil A has the following properties: ks = 10-3 m/s, a = 0.01, n = 2; while soil
-4
B has the following properties: ks = 5 × 10 m/s, a = 0.001, n = 2. Calculate
the matric suction beyond which the coefficient of permeability of the soil A
is lower than the coefficient of permeability of soil B.
(5 marks)

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CV6311

2. (a) Figure Q2 shows a site consisting of a 6 m thick homogeneous clay deposit

overlying an impermeable rock. A 2 m thick sand fill, which is large in
lateral extent, will be placed on top of the clay. The water level on the site
remains at the same elevation before and after the placement of the fill.
The total density of the sand fill is 2.0 Mg/m3 above and below water level.
In your calculation, you may treat the clay layer as one layer; subdivisions
are not required. The soil investigation carried out before the placement of
the sand fill indicated that the clay has an overconsolidation ratio OCR of 2,
a compression index Cc of 0.50, a recompression index Cr of 0.04 and a
coefficient of consolidation cv of 4 × 10-8 m2/s.

(i) Calculate the effective vertical stress at the centre of the clay layer
before the placement of the sand fill and at 2,083 days and
3,125 days after the placement of the sand fill. Briefly explain the
reason for the gradual changes in the effective vertical stress with
time after the placement of the sand fill. What are the factors
controlling the rate of changes in the effective vertical stress with time
after the placement of sand fill?

(ii) Calculate the consolidation settlement of the clay layer at 2,083 days
and 3,125 days after the placement of the sand fill. Briefly explain the
reason for the gradual changes in the consolidation settlement of the
clay layer with time after the placement of the sand fill.
(15 marks)

(b) Explain possible mechanisms that cause overconsolidation in soils.

(5 marks)

(c) Briefly explain why cv values obtained from the “Taylor’s square root of time
fitting method” are often slightly higher than cv values obtained from the
“Casagrande’s logarithm of time fitting method”.
(5 marks)

Water level

1m Water

Clay: Saturated density sat = 1.7 Mg/m3

6m Initial void ratio eo = 1.5

Impermeable Rock

Figure Q2

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CV6311

3. (a) The critical state line for a normally consolidated (NC) clay is established as:

qcs = 1.0pcs′
vcs = 2.2 − 0.2 ln p′cs

where q = σ 1 – σ 3, p′ = (σ′ 1 + 2σ′3)/3 and v is the specific volume.

(i) Calculate the effective friction angle of the clay.

(ii) An isotropically consolidated drained (CID) test was conducted on this

NC clay under an effective consolidation stress of 100 kPa. The
specific volume of the soil after consolidation is 1.6. Determine the
equation for the normal consolidation line (NCL), calculate the
deviator stress at failure obtained from this CID test, and sketch
schematically the effective stress path and the specific volume
change path for this CID test together with the CSL and the NCL on
both the q versus p′ plane and v versus lnp ′ plane.

(iii) If an isotropically consolidated undrained (CIU) test is to be conducted

on this NC clay under the same effective consolidation stress of
100 kPa, explain without calculation whether the deviator stress at
failure obtained from this CIU test would be higher or lower than that
obtained from the above CID test.
(20 marks)

(b) The critical state friction angle of a sand is 32°. From one drained test, a
peak friction angle of 40° is obtained. Estimate the maximum dilatancy
ratio dεv/dε1, obtained from this drained test. What is the dilatancy ratio at
the critical state?
(5 marks)

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CV6311

4. (a) A piezocone test was conducted at a reclaimed site. The test results are
shown in Figure Q4. The porous filter is right behind the cone tip. The
reclamation was carried out by placing sand fill on the seabed.

(i) Estimate the likely depth of fill used for land reclamation.

(ii) Estimate the depth of ground water table.

(iii) What is the likely soil type for the seabed soil from 15 to 20 m depth?
Comment on whether the soil is normally consolidated to moderately
consolidated or heavily consolidated.

(iv) Calculate the undrained shear strength of the soil at 20 m depth. The
readings of qc, fs, ud and Rf at this depth are 740 kPa, 10 kPa,
568 kPa and 1.1, respectively. The average unit weight of the fill and
soil above 20 m depth is 17 kN/m3. The unequal end area ratio is
0.75. The cone factor can be taken as 11.
(12 marks)

(b) Explain the likely reasons for the sudden reduction in ud at point A of
Figure Q4(c). If a K0 consolidated undrained compression (CK0UC) triaxial
test is conducted on the soil sample taken from point A with an effective
vertical consolidation stress comparable to the effective overburden stress
at point A, what will be the likely stress-strain and pore water pressure
behaviour? Explain your answer by plotting schematically the deviator
stress versus axial strain and pore water pressure versus axial strain
curves.
(7 marks)

(c) Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) and Field Vane Tests (FVT) are also
suggested to be used for this site. Discuss the suitability of the two tests
for both the sand fill and the seabed soil. What are the main soil
parameters that can be derived from SPT and FVT?
(6 marks)

Note: Question No. 4 continues on page 6.

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CV6311

Figure Q4: Piezocone test results

(a) Tip resistance;
(b) Shaft friction;
(c) Pore water pressure; and
(d) Friction ratio

END OF PAPER

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Appendix to CV6311

z
Z=
H

Consolidation ratio, Uz

Consolidation for any Location and Time Factor in a Doubly Drained Layer
(after Taylor, 1948)

Average Degree of Consolidation versus Time Factor

Uavg T