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CIVIL PE EXAM SAMPLE PROBLEMS

GEOTECHNICAL DEPTH

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problems

PROBLEM #1 A 4-inch diameter double-tube barrel is used to obtain rock core specimens from a natural rock formation. The 5-foot long core run yielded a total of 43 inches of specimens. The rock core recovery is most nearly: A) B) C) D) 55% 9% 72% 43%

PROBLEM #2 Samples of an organic soil deposit were obtained with the use of a split-spoon sampler. Laboratory classification testing yielded the following results: Percent Passing the No. 4 Sieve: Percent Passing the No. 40 Sieve: Percent Passing the No. 200 Sieve: Liquid Limit: Plastic Limit: 98% 96% 90% 64 44

The correct Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) symbol for this soil deposit is: A) B) C) D) GM OL ML OH

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problems

Problem #3 A geosynthetic will be utilized at a site with very soft fine-grained soils. Which geosynthetic will be most appropriate to provide a primary function of separation of fine-grained soils from coarse-grained soils? A) B) C) D) Geogrid Geotextile Geomembrane Geofoam

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problems

PROBLEM #4 A continuous footing has a width (B) of 4 feet and is embedded 2 feet into a clay material. The groundwater table is at the bottom of the footing. The clay material has the following properties: Moist soil unit weight (m): Saturated soil unit weight (sat): Cohesion (c): Angle of internal friction (): 115 pcf 120 pcf 500 psf 20 degrees

Assuming a Factor of Safety of 2.0 and utilizing the bearing capacity factors listed in the table above, the allowable bearing capacity of the footing is most nearly: A) B) C) D) 3,500 psf 9,400 psf 4,700 psf 5,500 psf
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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problems

PROBLEM #5 A site contains the stratigraphy presented below.

It has been determined that the vertical total and effective stresses at the middle of the clay layer are 855 psf and 387 psf, respectively. The water table is at the ground surface. If the water table is raised 10 feet above the existing ground surface, calculate the change in vertical effective stress at the center of the clay layer. A) B) C) D) 387 psf 855 psf 1,479 psf No change

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problems

PROBLEM #6 A 20-foot high retaining wall is to be constructed over soft clay materials and it has been determined (from external stability evaluations) that sliding will control the retaining wall design. The retaining wall weighs a total of 3,000 lb/ft. Based on the information presented in the diagram below, the minimum width (B) of the retaining wall that will provide a Factor of Safety of at least 1.5 is most nearly: A) B) C) D) 12 feet 12.5 feet 13 feet 13.5 feet

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CIVIL PE EXAM SAMPLE PROBLEMS

GEOTECHNICAL DEPTH SOLUTIONS

PREPARED BY CIVILPEEXAMS.COM

2011 CivilPEExams.com

Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

PROBLEM #1: SOLUTION Determine the rock core recovery. Given: 1) 4-inch diameter barrel 2) 5-foot long core run 3) 43 inches of recovery Solution: The rock core recovery is the percentage of rock specimens recovered during the run and is defined as follows:

% =

100%

The most important part of this problem is to remember to use units that are consistent. So, plugging into the above equation we have: % = 43 100% = 71.67%

12

Answer is C

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

PROBLEM #2: SOLUTION Determine the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) symbol. Given: Percent Passing the No. 4 Sieve: 98% Percent Passing the No. 200 Sieve: 90% Plastic Limit: 44 Solution: The No. 4 sieve separates sand from gravel. Therefore, since 98% passes the No. 4 sieve, we know that we have a soil sample with 2% gravel-sized fragments. Therefore, the gravel (G) symbol does not apply. So, answer A can be eliminated. Also, since the problem states that the soil sample is organic, then the letter O will be the first symbol in the classification. Therefore, we can also eliminate answer C. In order to determine the final answer, we will need the following graph: Percent Passing the No. 40 Sieve: Liquid Limit: 96% 64

Source: Naval and Facilities Design Manual 7.1 In order to determine the plasticity of the sample, we need to calculate the plasticity index (PI) as follows: = = 64 44 = 20 Now, we can plot the point of LL = 64 and PI = 20 on the above figure to determine the second letter of the classification. Since the dot falls on the right side of the A line as well as on the right side of the LL = 50 line, the sample can be classified as OH. Answer is D

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

PROBLEM #3: SOLUTION Which geosynthetic will be most appropriate to provide to provide a primary function of separation of fine-grained soils from coarse-grained soils? Given: A) B) C) D) Geogrid Geotextile Geomembrane Geofoam

Solution: Geogrids have relatively large apertures that will allow fine-grained soils to mitigate upwards to the coarse-grained soils during dynamic loading (i.e. traffic, compaction equipment, etc.). Therefore, geogrids are not appropriate. Geomembranes are used in landfill operations to prevent liquids and solids from migrating to the natural groundwater table. Thus, this material is not applicable. Geofoam is typically used as a light weight fill in order to reduce the contact stresses on compressible soils. So, this geosynthetic is not appropriate. Geotextiles have very, very small openings that generally only allow water to flow through for drainage purposes and their primary function is generally to provide separation of dissimilar materials. Answer is B

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

PROBLEM #4: SOLUTION The allowable bearing capacity of the footing is most nearly: Given: Moist soil unit weight (m): Saturated soil unit weight (sat): Cohesion (c): Angle of internal friction (): 115 pcf 120 pcf 500 psf 20 degrees

Solution: Since this is a continuous footing, Terzaghis bearing capacity equation can be used and no corrections for size, depth or inclination are required. The bearing capacity equation can be written as follows: 1 = + + 2 where, qult = c= = Df = B= Nc, Nq, N = ultimate bearing capacity (psf) 500 psf 115 pcf (above water) & 120 pcf (below water) footing embedment = 2 feet footing width = 4 feet Bearing capacity factors = 14.8, 6.4, & 5.4 (from above table for = 20 deg.)

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

Since the water table is at the bottom of the footing, a submerged unit weight should be used for the last term of the equation. The moist unit weight can be used for the soil above the water table. Therefore, the ultimate bearing capacity can be calculated as follows: = = 500 14.8 + 115 2 + 6.4 + = 9,494 The allowable bearing capacity can be calculated as follows: = Where, qall = qult = FS = Therefore, = = 9,494 2 = 4747 allowable bearing capacity ultimate bearing capacity = factor of safety = + 1 4 2 1 2 120 62.4 5.4

9,494 psf 2.0

Answer is C

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

PROBLEM #5: SOLUTION Determine the change in vertical effective stress by raising the water level 10 feet above the existing ground surface: Given:

Solution: The PE exam contains questions that are very simple in concept and the questions may provide data that is irrelevant to the question, thus confusing the test taker. This is one of those questions. If you understand soil mechanics and theory of stresses, by inspection, you should understand that there is no change in vertical effective stresses by raising the water level by any depth above the ground surface given that the water level is already at the ground surface. The proof of this is demonstrated as hereafter.

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

The following diagram presents the problem after the water table is raised.

Lets calculate the effective stress before raising the groundwater level. The vertical effective stress at the middle of the clay layer can be calculated as follows: = =2 = 7.5 130 62.4 + 3 115 + 2.5 100 = 855

= 468

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

Therefore, = 855 468 = 387

Now, the vertical effective stress at the middle of the clay layer after raising the water level is as follows: = = 10 = 17.5 Therefore, = 1,479 1,092 = 387 62.4 62.4 + 2 130 + 3 115 + 2.5 100 = 1,479

= 1,092

Thus, there is no change in the vertical effective stress by raising the groundwater table. This is a very important concept to understand. Answer is D

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

PROBLEM #6: SOLUTION Based on the information presented in the diagram below, the minimum width (B) of the retaining wall that will provide a Factor of Safety of at least 1.5 is most nearly: Given:

Solution: The following free body diagram applies to this problem:

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Civil PE Exam: Geotechnical Depth Sample Problem Solutions

10

The factor of safety against sliding can be written as follows: +

The only force inducing sliding is the active soil pressure. The soil resistance is provided by the clay layer. Rearranging the above equation and solving for B, we have:

= where, B Pa W FS C

= wall width = 0.5H2Ka = 0.5(110pcf)(20ft)2(0.238) = 5,236 lb/ft = weight of wall = 3,000 lbs/ft = 1.5 = 15 degrees (base friction angle of clay) = *c = 0.55*1,000 psf

Substituting the above values in the equation and solving for B we have 5,236

0.55 1,000 = 12.82 Answer is C

1.5 3,000

tan 15

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