Important RGPV Question
CE-701 Geotechnical Engineering
VII Sem, CE
UNIT-I
Q.1 A partially saturated clay weighs 113.4 gm in its natural state and 93.4 gm in its dry state. If specific gravity is 2.65, find out the void ratio, porosity, degree of saturation, γwet,γd and γsat Size of the clay is 3.7 cm in dia. and 7.5 cm ht. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.2 Define the following terms.
i) Critical hydraulic gradient
ii) Quick sand condition. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.3 Explain in detail about three clay minerals. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.4 Write a short note on the pipette method. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.5 Establish the following relationship for soil parameters
e Sr = wG, where (RGPV Nov 2023)
e = void ratio,
w = water content,
Sr = degree of saturation,
G = sp. gravity of soil solid.
Q.6 A series of tests on a sample of clay gives following properties: (RGPV Nov 2023)
Liquid limit=60%
Plastic limit= 25%
Natural W.C. = 50%
D60 = 0.0050 mmD30 = 0.0026 mm
D10 = 0.0007 mm
Calculate the following:
i) Uniformity coefficient
ii) Coefficient of curvature
iii) Gradation of soil
iv) Plasticity index
v) IS soil classification as per plasticity chart
vi) Consistency of soil
Q.7 Explain the textural soil classification. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.8 What are various methods of determining sedimentation analysis of soils? Explain in brief. (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.9 A saturated soil sample has a volume of 25 cm³ at the liquid limit. If the soil has liquid limit and shrinkage limit of 46% and 24% respectively. Determine the minimum volume which can be attained by the soil specimen. Take G = 2.69. (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.10 What are the Atterberg limits of soils? Why are they important? (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.11 An undisturbed saturated specimen of clay has a volume of 21 cm³ and a mass of 32 gram on oven drying, the mass reduces to 19.0 grams. The volume of dry specimen as determined by displacement of mercury is 10.6 cm³. Determine Shrinkage limit, specific gravity, shrinkage ratio and volumetric shrinkage. (RGPV Nov 2022)
UNIT-II
Q.1 A soil profile consists of a surface layer of sand 3m thick (γ=16kN/m3), an intermediate clay layer 2m thick (γsat=19.25 kN/m³) and a bottom layer of gravel 4m thick (γsat=19 kN/m³). The water table is at the top of the clay layer. Determine the effective stress at various interfaces. There is a surcharge of 50 kN/m² on the ground surface. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.2 Explain Flow nets, their characteristics and uses. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.3 With the help of a sketch of a flow net, derive the formula to determine the quantity of seepage through an earth dam. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.4 A masonry dam has previous sand foundation. Determine the maximum permissible upward gradient, if a factor of safety of 4 is required against boiling? Data given, for sand, = 50% and sp. gravity Gs = 2.76 (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.5 Explain about flow nets. Write the characteristics of flow nets. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.6 What are the factors affecting the permeability of soil? (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.7 A flow net was drawn for estimating the seepage under the sheet piling. The number of flow channels ηf = 5 and number of equipotential drop ηd = 12 was estimated in the flow net. If the permeability of the sand is 5 ˟ 10-3 * cm/s and saturated unit weight of sand is 20kN /m3 , what is the discharge through sand strata? (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.8 Define Flow net diagram. What are the characteristics and geotechnical uses of flow nets? (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.9 What are the factors affecting coefficient of permeability? (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.10 What will be the ratio of average permeability in horizontal direction to that in the vertical direction for a soil deposit consisting of three horizontal layers, if the thickness and permeability of the second layer are twice of those of the first and those of the third layer twice those of second? (RGPV Nov 2022)
UNIT-III
Q.1 A rectangular area of 2m x 4m carries a uniformly distributed load 80 kN /sq.m at ground surface. Find the vertical pressure at 5m below the center and corner of the loaded area. Solve the problem by: (RGPV Dec 2024)
i) dividing the rectangle into four equivalent rectangles
ii) 2:1 method
Q.2 Explain standard proctor test to determine MDD and OMC of soil. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.3 What are various field compaction methods? (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.4 A strata has been shown in following figure. (RGPV Nov 2023)
For subsoil condition given in this figure, plot the total, neutral and effective stress distribution upto the bottom of the clay layer, when
i) Water table is 2m below the G.S. (take Sr = 50% above W.T.)
ii) Water table is at ground surface
Q.5 A footing carries a uniformly distributed load of 250kN/m2 The footing size is rectangular 2.5m x 2.0m . Find the intensity of vertical pressure at a depth of 5.0 m below the center of the footing use equivalent point load method. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.6 Write the assumptions made in Boussinesq’s equation formulation for stress distribution in soil. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.7 Differentiate between standard proctor test and modified proctor’s test. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.8 Explain the following terms: (RGPV Nov 2023)
i) Zero air void line
ii) Quick condition
iii) Seepage pressure
Q.9 Explain the stress distribution in soils for concentrated load by Boussinesq’s equation. (RGPV Nov 2022)
UNIT-IV
Q.1 An oedometer test is performed on a 3 cm thick clay sample. After 5 minutes, 50% consolidation is reached. After how long a time would the same degree of consolidation is achieved in the field where the clay layer is 6 m thick? Assume the sample and the clay layers have the same drainage boundary conditions (double drainage). (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.2 Define over consolidated, under consolidated and normally consolidated clays. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.3 Define ‘preconsolidation pressure’. In what ways is its determination important in soil engineering practice? Describe a suitable procedure for determining the preconsolidation pressure. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.4 A clay stratum is 6 m thick. Under a external loading of a building how many days would be required by this clay stratum to attain 50% of its ultimate settlement. Assume both end drainage allowed in clay strata. The coefficient of consolidation of clay soil is 50×10-4 cm²/sec. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.5 Differentiate between: (RGPV Nov 2023)
i) Coefficient of consolidation and coefficient of compressibility
ii) Coefficient of compression and compression index
iii) Shear strength and shear stress
Q.6 Write the assumptions made in the theory of consolidation. (RGPV Nov 2023)
UNIT-V
Q.1 Describe the direct shear test. What are its merits and demerits compared to Triaxial test? (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.2 In a direct shear test on a specimen of clean dry sand, a normal stress of 180 kPa was applied and failure occurred at a shear stress of 100 kPa. Determine analytically the angle of shearing resistance, the principal stresses during failure and directions of the principal planes with respect to the direction of the plane of shearing. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.3 What are the methods of soil stabilization? Explain functions and applications of geo synthetic in detail. (RGPV Dec 2024)
Q.4 Describe the unconfined compression test. For which type of soil this test is suitable. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.5 Two undrained triaxial tests were conducted on soil specimen and they gave the following results: (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.6 Confining pressure Failure load
150 kN/m² 500 kN/m²
300 kN/m² 800 kN/m²
Determine the value of apparent cohesion and friction angle of the soil. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.7 Explain the phenomenon of “Liquefaction” is saturated fine sandy soil. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.8 Write the different type of soil stabilization. Discuss briefly about cement stabilization. (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.9 Explain following: (RGPV Nov 2023)
i) Function and application of Geosynthetics
ii) Grain size distribution of soil
Q.10 Explain ‘Direct Shear Test’. What are its limitations? (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.11 What are the assumptions in Coulomb’s theory? Compare Rankine’s theory and Coulomb’s theory of earth pressure. (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.12 What are the methods of soil stabilization? Explain functions and applications of Geo-synthetic in detail. (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.13 A 30 m high earth dam is to be built from a soil having an effective angle of internal friction of 30° and a cohesive strength of 20 kN/m². The compacted moist unit weight of the soil is 19 kN/m³ and the saturated unit weight is 20.5 kN/m³. Calculate the steepest angle at which the upstream slope of the dam may be inclined to the horizontal, for a factor of safety of 1.3. (RGPV Nov 2022)
EXTRA QUESTIONS
Q.1 Define the compaction. How it is different from consolidation? (RGPV Nov 2023)
Q.2 Write short notes on any four of the following:
i) Coefficient of curvature and coefficient of uniformity
ii) Vane shear test
iii) Critical void ratio
iv) Arching in soils
v) Stability of slope
vi) Tri-axial test (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.3 Differentiate between critical hydraulic gradient and exit gradient. (RGPV Nov 2022)
Q.4 Explain the method of ‘Swedish slip circle to test the stability of slope of C- soil. (RGPV Nov 2022)
— Best of Luck for Exam —
