Geotechnical Engineering

PROBLEM SET 1

Situation 1. For a moist soil, the following are given: Volume: 1.1m3, weight = 20.04 kN, water content =
8.6% and Gs = 2.63.

1. Determine the porosity.

a. 0.54 b. 0.35 c. 1.54 d. 0.61
2. Determine the degree of saturation.
a. 0.42 b. 0.65 c. 0.15 d. 0.37
3. Determine the volume occupied by air.
a. 1.44 b. 0.147 c. 0.186 d. 0.223

4. Calculate the porosity of a soil sample that has a bulk density of 1.35 g/cm3. Assume the particle
density is 2.65 g/cm3.
a. 49% c. 51%
b. 96% d. 67%

Situation 2. A sample of soft saturated clay has a volume of 100 cu.cm and weighs 175 g. The oven dry
weight is 120 g.

5. Compute the void ratio

a. 1.27 b. 1.33 c. 1.22 d. 1.14
6. Determine the specific gravity of the clay.

a. 2.66 b. 2.11 c. 2.49 d. 2.90

Situation 3. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of .0089 cm3. The dry unit weight of the
sample is .014 g. Water is carefully added to the container so as not to disturb the condition of the sand.
When the water is filled, the combined weight of soil plus water is .0174 g.

7. Determine the void ratio of the soil in the container

a. 0.38 b. 0.62 c. 0.42 d. 0.65

8. Determine the dry unit weight of the soil sample.

a. 15.44 kN/m3 c. 18.56 kN/m3

b. 16.78 kN/m3 d. 17.21 kN/m3

9. Determine the saturated unit weight of the soil sample.

a. 15.44 kN/m3 c. 19.20 kN/m3

b. 16.78 kN/m3 d. 17.21 kN/m3

Situation 4. In a core-cutter test of a steel cylinder having a mass of 1472 g. an internal diameter of 102
mm and a length of 125 mm was rammed into an in-situ soil mass. After removing and trimming the
ends flat, its mass was found to be 3482 g. The moisture content of the soil was later found to be 16.4%
and the sp.gr. of the soil is 2.70.

10. Determine the bulk density of the soil.

a. 1.64 g/cc c. 1.69 g/cc

b. 1.97 g/cc d. 1.75 g/cc

11. Determine the dry density of the soil sample.

a. 1.64 g/cc c. 1.69 g/cc

b. 1.97 g/cc d. 1.75 g/cc

Situation 5.

Size (mm) Percent Finer Size (mm) Percent Finer

0.425 100 0.0062 60
0.033 90 0.0035 50
0.018 80 0.0018 40
0.01 70 0.001 35
12. Using USDA system, determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt and clay

a. 0%, 6%, 52%, 42% c. 0%, 8%, 50%, 42%

b. 0%, 10%, 40%, 50% d. 0%, 9%, 43%, 48%

13. Using AASHTO system, determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt and clay

a. 0%, 6%, 52%, 42% c. 0%, 8%, 50%, 42%

b. 0%, 10%, 40%, 50% d. 0%, 9%, 43%, 48%

Situation 6. Given the particle size distribution of the soil: Gravel =20%, Sand = 8%, Silt = 48%, Clay = 24%

14. Compute the modified percentage of sand using USDA method

a. 11% c. 10%

b. 12 % d. 9%

15. Compute the modified percentage of silt using USDA method

a. 59% c. 58%

b. 60 % d. 61%
 16. Compute the modified percentage of clay using USDA method

a. 30% c. 29%

b. 31 % d. 28%

Situation 7. A soil sample has a natural water content of 22.5% and it is known to have a specific gravity
of 2.6. In order to determine the moist density of soil, a portion of soil weighing 224g is put in a 500 cm 3
container. It is filled 382 cm3 of water to fill the container.

17. Compute the void ratio of the soil.

a. 0.82 c. 0.68

b. 0.89 d. 1.04

18. Compute the porosity of the soil.

a. 45.05% c. 47.09%

b. 40.48% d. 50.98%

19. Compute the degree of saturation of soil.

a. 71.43% c. 65.73%

b. 86.03% d. 56.25%

20. Soil is classified as coarse grained soil if more than _______ percent retained on a No. 200 sieve.

a. 40 c. 60

b. 50 d. 70