ECV308.

Soil Mechanics II
Tutorial Questions

1. While constructing an embankment upto a certain height, the major and minor stresses
2 2
at point in the foundation increased to 9 kg/ cm and 3 kg/cm , respectively. If the
2 o
foundation material has cohesion of 0.5 kg/cm and the angle of internal friction of 20 ,
will the above condition cause failure at the point?

2 2
2. Fig 1 shows a soil element on which normal stresses of 10 kg/cm and 2 kg/cm act on
the horizontal and vertical planes respectively. In addition to these normal stresses shear
2
stress of 3 kg/cm acts, as shown. Draw the Mohr stress circle and (b) determine the
magnitudes of principal stresses and orientation of principal planes.

2
10 kg/ cm
2
3 kg/ cm

2 2
2 kg/ cm 2 kg/ cm

2
3 kg/ cm
2
10 kg/ cm

3. Define the term dilatancy

4. State the different methods of determining the shear strength of soils
5. Explain with a neat sketch Mohr’s strength envelop
6. Briefly discuss effects of drainage conditions on the shear strength parameters of clay
soil
7. Describe methods of soil stabilization. What types of soils, these can be used?

8. Define the following terms

  Disturbed soil sample
 Undisturbed soil sample
 Peak strength
 Residual strength
 Unconfined compression test
9. How would you determine the location of monitoring boreholes in case of a solid waste
management facility?
10. What details are generally required for a soil testing report?
11. Illustrate by an example how stability of downstream earthen slope may be determined
12. A vertical cut was made in moist sand, which was standing stable. After a heavy rain
storm, the cut failed. Explain the causes of such failure
13. Using neat sketches show how seepage through an earthen dam may be controlled.
14. Compute the safe height of an embankment rising at an angle of 55o to the horizontal
and to be made with a clayey soil having unit weight of 20 kN/ m 3, φ=17o and cohesion c
= 25 kN/m2. Factor of safety may be considered as 2.5. Make use of Taylor’s stability
chart.
15. Calculate the factor of safety in an infinite slope at a point 5 m below the surface. The
slope angle with the horizontal is 20o and the effective shear parameters for the given
soil: c = 0.1kg/cm2 and φ= 30o; unit weight of the moist soil is 1.9 gm/cc.

16. What are geotextiles? Describe ways in which geotextiles may be applied in a road
project.