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APJ ABDUL KALAM TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
THIRD SEMESTER M.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION, DECEMBER 2018
Branch: CIVIL ENGINEERING

Stream(s): Geotechnical Engineering

Course Code & Name: Critical State soil Mechanics

Answer any two full questions from each part

Limit answers to the required points.

Max. Marks: 60 Duration: 3 hours

PART A

1. Given a soil element with magnitude of stresses x = 40 kN/m2 ( tensile) and

y = 100 kN/m2 (compressive) and τ = 20 kN/m2. Determine
a. The major and minor stresses. (3)
b. The stresses on a plane inclined at 250 with the horizontal. (3)
c. The maximum shear stresses and the inclination of the plane on which it acts. (3)
2. The sides of the soil cube which lie with its sides parallel to the coordinate axes
are each 100mm. The soil cube is acted upon by a normal force of 15 kN
vertically and 20kN horizontally also a shear force of 5kN acts parallel to the
sides of the cube.

a. Plot the total stress Mohr’s circle and effective stress Mohr’s circle, if pore (5)
pressure of 10kPa acts over the soil element.
b. Determine the effective normal and shear stresses on a plane inclined at an (4)
angle of 300 with the vertical.
3. Data from an undrained loading test is given below

1(kPa) 100 150 200 235 245

U (kPa) 100 110 115 120 130

a. Plot the total and effective stress path on p:q axis and (4)
b. Plot the total and effective stress path on p’:q’ axis. (5)

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 PART B

4. a. Explain how Isotropic compression test is conducted on clays. (5)

b. Compare and contrast the behavior of clay in isotropic compression test and (4)
1D compression test.
5. The results of Oedometer test conducted on the sample is given

v(kPa) 20 80 350 1550

h(kPa) 15 45 150 750

Settlement (mm) 0 1.65 3.4 6.35

At the start of the test vertical pressure is 30 kPa ,pore pressure zero, specific
volume 2.67 and thickness of sample was 20mm
a. Plot the 1D compression graph. (3)
b. Calculate the λ, N0, к0. (3)

c. What is the specific volume at the end of the test. (3)

6. a. Explain coefficient of volume compressibility, Derive an equation for it. (3)
b. Compare and contrast the behavior of clay in isotropic compression test and (6)
1D compression test.

PART C
7. The value of soil constants for a clay are N= 3.25, λ = 0.2, Г = 3.16, M = 0.94. A
sample of clay is isotropically Normally compressed to p’ = 400kPa. Then it is
subjected to standard drained triaxial compression test. Calculate
a. p’, q’ (4)
b. υ and. (4)
c. Єν at failure. (4)
8. a. Explain elastic wall with neat sketches. (6)
b. What is strain hardening. (3)
c. Derive the equation of Hvorslev surface. (3)
9. a. Write a short note on Roscoe surface. (6)
b. Draw and explain the complete state boundry surface in q’:p’: υ space. (6)

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