Introduction to Soil Mechanics Spring 2011

Quiz 3a

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Problem 1
Refer to Figure 1. Find the flow rate in m3/sec/m length (at right angles to the cross section shown)
through the permeable soil layer. Given H = 6 m, H1 = 2.5 m, h = 2.8 m, L = 40 m, α = 10°, k = 0.05
cm/sec.

Figure 1.

Problem 2 (Hydraulic Gradient and Darcy's Law)

The constant head permeameter shown in Figure
2 contains three different soils as shown. Their
hydraulic conductivities are:
Soil 1 – k = 9 cm/s
Soil 2 – k = 6x10-2 cm/s
Soil 3 – k = 8x10-3 cm/s
The four piezometer tips are spaced at 100-mm
intervals, and the soil interfaces are exactly
aligned with peizometer tips B and C. The
total heads in piezometers A and D are 98.9 and
3.6 cm, respectively. Compute the total heads
in piezometers B and C.

Figure 2.
Introduction to Soil Mechanics Spring 2011

Quiz 3b

Problem 3
Given the flow net shown in Figure 3.
(a) Calculate the rate of seepage under the weir.
(b) Calculate the uplift force at the base of the weir per meter length (measured along the axis) of the
structure.
(c) For points A and B, which one has higher seepage velocity?

37 m

3m
A
9m

B
k = 10-3 cm/sec

Impervious layer

Figure 3.