‘Table of Contents: Subject Index Problem #s Soil classification system, descriptions and terins 1-10 ‘Geotechnical exploration, analysis & Reports 11-20 Bearing capacity of soils 21-29 “Analysis of eccentric footings & footings with moments | 30-36 Soil settlement analysis 37-49 Phase relationship of soils 50-64 Earthwork quantities, operations & borrow calculations | 65-88 Required water for earthwork compaction 89-91 Critical height of unsupported vertical cut. 2 Earthwork volume calculations 93-100 [Barth Pressure calculations & diagrams 101-108, ‘Shallow foundations-geotechnical analysis 199-119 Shallow foundations-structural design 120-125 ‘Analysis of cantilever retaining wall 126-133 “Analysis of gravity wall 134-138 Equivalent fluid pressure of backfill soils 139-140 ‘Modified proctor test(maximum dry density of soils) | 141-150 Effective stress determination of soils 151-153 ‘Mohr’ circle(normal and shear stress of soils) 154-158, Permeability tests: constant head & falling head 159-162 Flexible pavement design 163-165 Deep foundations : bearing capacity & settlement 166-180, Elastic modulus of soils, 181-183 Ground Improvement methods 184186 Slope stabilit 187-188 Rock mechanics 189-190 [ Cantilever sheet piles 191-196 Liquefaction 197-198 ‘Loads on buried pipes 199 ‘Mat or Raft foundations 200-201Preface: ‘The best way to leam and confirm what you've studied in Soil mechanics and Foundation Engineering is to practice answering problems. The main objective of this publication isto aid tie Engineers taking the Professional Engineer (P.E.) exam and the California Geotechnical Engineer (G.E.) Exam. But, due to the large coverage of vatious topics, this publication will also prove invaluable to Instructors and students of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Design Classes. The instructors can get problem ideas and the students can pick up “experience”of geotechnical analysis and solving steps. ‘There are topics that ate covered more heavily like soil settlement, shallow and deep foundations, earthwork calculations and retaining walls due to its emphasis in the licensing exams. In addition, 1 have chosen to select real World Soil parameters, so that you get a feel of the various soils data. Because you undoubtedly have classical geotechnical textbooks in your personal library, I have not included any theory, charts and examples. It is outside the scope of solved problems book. However, since currently fps system is utilized in the USA, all the problems are in fps units with the exception of few permeability problems. Emphasis has beon placed in writing down units in all the equations. Took forward to hearing from you in how we can improve future editions for better exam preparation and self study use. I sincerely hope you excel in the geotechmical portion of any exams you take. ‘The author is available for consulting on geotechnical projects worldwide, To discuss, log to Liban A. AffiProblems 1 through 10 deal with Soil classification systems. descriptions and terms: 1) A soil with 55% passing the #200 sieve, LL = 48 and PI = 8 is described in the USCS system as? #2) ML cL ©) CL-ML ® CH 2) What is meant by Hydroconsolidation of soils? a) Water jetting of Sand b) Settlement of wet Clays, (8). Settlement of Sily/Saud mixtures without adéitiocal load )_ Settlement of cohesive soils due to rising water table 3) Refer to the AASHTO Soil classification system and compute the Group Index of a soil having 40% passing the #200 sieve, LL = 50 and P= 25% PP 5.0% b) 40 0) 3.0 . d) 20 : 4) Referring to the USDA soil classification system, « soil with 20% Clay, 80% Silt, and $5% Sand is: a) Clay b) SiltLoam AP Loam @) Sand Clay 5) Acolian Soil is deposited by a). Glacial deposits Ady: Ablown wind ©) ARiver 3 4) Volcanic process©) APlofa Soil sample is found from which the following relationship: a) LL+PL b) LL-Lt ©), U-LL vy ® L-PL 7) Overconsolidated or Preconsolidated soils are those that a) Areunder a static foundation load b), Are prone to primary settlements (c)) Have seen effective pressure higher than overburden stress ~~ @ Dono undergo any secondary settlements 8) A Coarse Sand with blow count, N=4 is called a) soft o f B10 bie 2°3 ( f a B aahiceal bate. 3 ) chro d) crusted yore wy 9) Asilty clay with cobesion, C=300 psf is called, a) soft b) loose Orit Tee SS ©), transitional 4 4) crusted 10) The driller’s notes for blow counts are 5, 6, and 8. The unadjusted field N is equal to: a) 8 b) 3 iy od 19Problems 11 through 18: Geotechnical Exploration, Analysis and Reno 11) A2” diameter and 4” high soil sample from Shelby Tube (ST) is subjected to qu. This qu is called a) Ultimate bearing capacity b) Ultimate bearing pressure @ Unconfined compressive strength i) Unconsolidated lateral test 12) Given @, C, Ne, Ng, Ny, B and D. The qu ycu obtain is called (a)? Ultimate bearing capacity / b) Ultimate bearing pressure | } Unconfined compressive strength | 6) Unconsolidated lateral test | 13) In structural design of square footings, qu = Pull/Afooting. This qu is called a) Ultimate bearing capacity } ©)? Ulimate bearing pressure ~~ | 2) Unconfined compressive strength j ) Unconsolidated downward pressure iecnanienceneeFor Problems 14 -18 use the following boring log: Structure Interface consultants Tol 6 2241808 Fax toe) zsone ine soliaroctire com Eg Ganais Svea Madison, wa sa7i8 Prejact PEand Getaen Problems Location: Manon Wacoain Fe No coon ‘sing Date: 45.8 ‘Sample Type: 88 Bering No Dailing Method: Hot Sem © AL Ceendinaton: ese 2576 ee ae laa eee wei] sl ay ae, ao oA E ota. mila la Wo | al | 1 ol | 4 | | | | | | | LI 4For larity use this table for depth and sample number calculation: Depth Range | Soil Profile Thickness “| Sample # 0-3 ft = = 3-6 ft 3 2 6-9 ft r 3 9-13 ft Zz 4 13-15 ft 2 5 14) The undrained shear strength Su of sample no 2 is: t 242000 \ 2) 7400 pst Ba tn a I (B) 3700 pst ge hs “alg ©) 1850 psf = d) Is not in the log report. > t2¢0 ost i 15) The total overburden stress at 9ft depth is close to: a)_ 795 psf J 81980 pst . c) 1540 psf d) 1870 psf 16) The effective overburden stress at 15 f depth is close to © 1040 pst Diet ©) 1565 psf dj) 1355 psf ofl) 5508 17) A preconsolidation pressure of 3100 psf was measured at a sample from 6 ft depth. The OCR ratio is: a) 10 gieo b) 17 OCR: mo J ©) 40 OD @) 5.0 v 1018) The Blow Count, N, showm is uncorrected. The corrected biow count at 6 ft depth is: a) 12 b) 18 o22 Gyn 19) What is an underconsolidated soil? 20) In the geotechnical lab, a sample from a tube measures 1,375” in diameter and has original length of 2.75" If after loading the sample in an unconfined compression machine, the sample measures 2.5” at 44 Tp Joad, the unconfined compressive strength of the sample is? Problems 21 through 23: Bearing Capacity of Granular Soils(C=0) A Brown Sand & Gravel with @ = 34°, 7: three types of foundations; 30 pef, and C = 0, is to support the following ‘Type I= A circular footing with radius (R.) = 14.0" and depth of embedment (D )= 4.0". ‘Type IT = A square footing with width (B )=3.0° and depth of embedment (D ) =3.5°. ‘Type I= A continuous footing with B= "and D= at Use F.S. = 3.0 and the following bearing capacity factors: Nc=52.6 , Nq=36.5 , Ny=37.0 (These factors will vary among researchers) 21) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type I foundation in Tons per sq. ft (TSF)? 22) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type II foundation in TSF? 23) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type III foundation in TSF?Problems 24 through 26: Bearing Capacity of Cohesive Soll =) A Dark brown clay with C = 800 psf, y= 122 pef, and = 0, isto Support the following three types of foundations Type T= A circular footing with radius (R )= 10.0" and depth of embedment (D)=35" Type I= A rectangle fosting with width (B 4.0", length (L) = 1.0" and D=3.5° ‘Type II = A continuous footing with B= 4,0" and D=3,5°, Use F.S. = 3.0, and the following bearing capacity factors: No=S5.7, Nq=1.0, and Ny=0.0 24) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type I foundation in TSF? 25) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type II foundation in TSE? 26) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type III foundation in TSF? Problems 27 through 29: Bearing Capacity of Mixed Soils( O-C Soils Gray sandy clay with silt trace gravel soil with © = 10°, C= 1000psf, and'y= 126 ef, is to support the following three types of foundations: TYPE I= A circular footing with R= 8 andD=3,5° TYPE Il = A rectangle footing with B=5.0°, L=1.0" and D = 4,0° ‘ TYPE IIT = A continuous footing with B =3.0° and D = 3.0° Use F: 3.0, and the following bearing eapacity facers: Now9.6, Nq=2.7, Ny= 1.2 27) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type I foundation in TSF? 28) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type Il foundation in TSF? 29) Compute the allowable bearing capacity of type III foundation in TSF?Problems 30 through 36 : Analysis of Eccentric Footings & Footings with Moments Use the following plan diagram to answer Problems 30-33. axis 4 Machine Footing with Eccentric P and Biaxial M n: P, B, L, or (A=BxL), Mx, Cx , Ix, My, Cy, and ly; 30) Compute the maximum soil pressure at corner 1 in terms of the above variables? 31) Compute the maximum soil pressure at corner 2 in the same manner? 32) Compute the maximum soil pressure at comer 3? 33) Compute the maximum soil pressure at comer 4?For problems 34 ~ 36 use the following Rectangular footing with a BxL Area. i" ast "TE N BxL footing with e, P, M1, and H Load 34) Given the following conditions, compute eccentricity “c"? Is it in the middle third? P= 500k, MI= 30 k-ft, b=4 fl, H=10 k, c= 3", I= 240 ind, Badft, and L= Sf £35) Given the same conditions, compute maximum soil pressures qmax ? 36) Given the same conditions, compute minimum soil pressures qmin & draw its diagram?primary Consolidation of Soils (Normally Consolidated, Single drainage Condition) Q=5K Y= 120 pet Gray mediiii i fine Clay, Cv = 0.08 f2/day, Bo=1.06, Ce = 0.30, YP = 126 pef 37) What is the primary settlement directly underneath the square pier pad at elev -13 ft ? 38) How long (days) will it take for 90% of the settlement to occur ?Double drainage) Q=1800%Kips tL A grain silo Diamoter= 24° Br esand are Gr yr= 133 pet 12 ft r water table Be Ra ay yT= 120 pet 20 fi Tinie pac w aed eae = 5 For the Soft clay use; Cv=0.12ft"2/day, Bo=1.08, And Co=0.26 39) What is the primary settlement directly underneath the grain silo? 40) How long (days) will it tke for 50% of the settlement to occur? 16tan a miro lly Consolidated. Thick Clay Laver) It is Proposed to place a Manufacturing building on the soil strata shown below. Ifthe thick clay deposit is subdivided into the 3 layers shown below. Elev 0" Ground Surface Brovin’Clay.(ayer1) Co=0.28 Bo = 1.28 A G=800 psf Y= 120 pf Elev DieBiown Clay layer) Co= 0.26 Bo= 1.26 AG=S500psf y= 124 pef Elev 9 Gray-mifelay-Gayer 3) Ce= 0.22 Eo= 1.22 AG=100psf YT = 128 pe Elev -15° Br Sand & Gravel 41) What is the Total Primary settlement that will occur for the above condition?Settlement due to lowering the Ground Water Table: 42) A hasty contractor starts pumping water near an existing structure. This foundation is founded on Sandy soils underlain by 6 ft of compressible Clay. The Eo of the Clay is 1.60. After dewatering for sometime(lowering the GWT), the pore water pressure decreases and this results in reduction of void ratio to 1.40, Compute the settlement in inches from lowering the Ground Water Table. Heave of Sojl due to a Basement excavation: 43) For the construction of 20 story Hotel with a partial compensated foundation, it has to undergo a 20 ft excavation for the two basement levels. An Odometer tests of before and after excavation of the base clay shows E0 = 1.3 and Ef= 1.1. Compute the uward heave due this excavation? Heave of soil due to swelling clays in the active zone: 44) A restaurant foundation was built inside the active zone of swelling clays. On along week renovation, the sprinkler around the foundation is left running, From a subsequent investigation, it was found that the foundation soils went from having 2000 psf bearing pressure to 5000 psf corrected swelling pressure and the Eo = 1.7 ftom earlier study. Compute the Heave resulting from the swelling Clays, if the height of the clay is 5 f and Cs=0.1 Immediate Settlement of footings on Clayey Soils: 45) Compute the Immediate Settlement of a foundation with: q- 2500 psf, B= 5.0 ft, C= 1500 psf, lox 110.8, OCR = 1.3. Use Buu=400Su. Use Christian and Carrier's 1978 Method. Immediate Settlement of footings on Sandy Soils: 46) Calculate the Settlement of the following Footing, Using-the Schmertmann’s method. Given: C1C2C3 = 0.8, Iz = 0.7, H=5R, q = 4000 psf aad Ecd=1.0x10%6 psf. 18ener tnmeni Settlement of Overconsolidated Soils( Case where of < op): 47) You're asked to compute the Settlement of a foundation on Overconsolidated Soils with the following parameters:Cr =0.02, Eo= 1.1, H = 4.0 ft, ovo = 700 psf, Aov = 1000 psf, & ap = 2000 psf. Settlement of Overconsolidated Soils( Case where of > op): 48) You're asked to compute the Settlement of a foundation on Overconsolidated Soils with the following parameters:Cr =0.02, Ce = 0.2, Eo = 1.1, H=4.0 ft, ovo= 700 psf, Aev = 1500 psf, & op = 2000 psf. ‘Secondary Settlement Computation: 49) Compute the secondary consolidation if given this info: Ca = 0,03, H= 4ft, Ep = 0.85, from the 5* year after construction is complete to the 50 year. Phase relationship of Soils: Use this phase diagram to answer problems 50-58: Volume, £"3 Weight, Ib Air 00 ‘Water (12%) The total soil weight is 128 Ib, and the total volume is 1eu ft'50) The dry weight of the soil is close to: A)1143 Ib B) 115.3 1b ©) 116.7 Ib D) 117.7% 51) The weight of water is close to: A) 10.810 B)IL7 1b ©) 12.91 D) 13.7 Ib 52) The volume of soil in f1°3 is close to: A) 0.483, B) 0.583 C) 0.683 1D) 0.783 53) The volume of water in ft*3 is close to: ‘A) 0.220 B) 0.243 ©) 0317 D)0.517 54) The volume of air in ft°3 is close to: 40.0 3B) 0.097 ©) 0.125 D)0.173 20455) The void ratio, €, Is close to: ' i 3 j A044 1B) 0.46 ©) 0.53 D) 0.58 56) The porosity, n, is close to: A) 0.08 B) 0.12 0.22 D)032 457) The percent saturation of the sample is close to: A) 55% B) 65% C) 10% D) 75% '58) Ifthe Standard proctor of the sample shows @ maximum dry density of 118 pof, ‘the percent compaction of the soil is close to: A) 96.9% B) 97.4% ©) 98.2% D) 98.8% 459) A separate sample shows a degree of saturation equal to 1. The volume ‘of airin that sample is close to A) volume of water B) volume of soil ©) zer0 D)B minus A60) A Soil sample tested in-situ, has A SG=2.62, and e=0.75. The computed Dry Density or Dry Unit Weight is: A) 95 pef B) 104 pot ©) 114 pot D) 120 pet. 61) A Soil sample tested in-situ, has A SG=2.62, and e=0,75, The computed Saturated Unit Weight is: A) 114 pot B) 120 pef ©) 125 pet D) 132 pet, 62) Calculate the water content (%) of a soil sample taat has Gs= 2.67 and n= 0.35. The answer is: A) 20% B) 22% ©) 24% D) 26% ‘ 63) A sample with 100% Saturation has e= 0.8 and Gs = 2.65. The water content is close to A)25% B) 30% €)35% D) 40% 64) A Sandy soil has the following Void ratios: A2 (most dense condition) ¢ in-situ = 0.47(as tested in field condition) ‘e max = 0.62(most loose condition) The Relative Density of this Granular Soil is: ANS % B) 80% ©) 85% 1D) 90%