CONFIDENTIAL

BFC 21702

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

ANSWER SCHEME - TEST I
SEMESTER II
SESSION 2014/2015
COURSE NAME

GEOTECHNICS I

COURSE CODE

BFC 21702

PROGRAMME

2 BFF

EXAMINATION DATE

MARCH 2015

DURATION

1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES

INSTRUCTION

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF TEN (10) PAGES

CONFIDENTIAL
1

BFC 21702

Q1

(a)

(i) Define the transported soil. List three major types of transported soils and described
how each is formed.
Answer: The transported soil are formed by the deposition of sediments that have
been transported from their places of origin by various agent.
(1 mark)
Types of transported soil
1. Glacial soils- formed by transportation and deposition of glaciers
2. Alluvial soils Transported by running water and deposited along stream
Any
3. Lacustrine soils fromed by deposition in quiet lakes
three
4. Marine soils formed by deposition in the seas
5. Aeolian soils formed by transported and deposited by wind
6. Colluvial soils formed by movement of soil by gravity
(3 marks)
(ii) The amount of moisture content in the fine grain soil will influence their
characteristic. Explain briefly the liquid state, plastic state, semisolid state and solid
state of the soil.
Answer:
Liquid state the soil able to flow as liquid
Plastic state the soil can be molded into any desired shape without rupture
Semisolid state- the soil cannot be molded without visible cracks appearing
Solid state the soil become solid and no further volume change occurs since all the
water in the soil has been removed.
(4 marks)

(b)

Sieve and hydrometer analysis have been performed on a soil sample from Kahang,
Kluang Johor. The results of this test are shown in Figure Q1.
(i)

Determine the percentage of gravel, sand, silt and clay of the soil sample according
to AASHTO classification system.
Answer:
From Figure Q1;
% gravel = 100 97 = 3%
% sand = 97 58 = 39%
% silt = 58 47 = 11%
% clay = 47 0 = 47%
(4 marks)

BFC 21702

(ii)

Estimate the effective size, the coefficient of uniformity and the coefficient of
gradation of the soil sample.
Answer:
Effective size, D10 = 0

(1 mark)

D30 = 0

(1 mark)

D60 = 0.09

(1 mark)

coefficient of uniformity, C u =
coefficient of gradation, Cc =

(iii)

D60 0.09
=
=0
D10
0

( D30 )2
D10 D60

( 0 )2
0 0.09

(1 mark)

=0

(1 mark)

From the Atterberg limit test, the liquid limit (LL) is 26% and plastic limit (PL) is
14%. If the sieve size of the sieve No. 10, No. 40 and No. 200 are 2.0 mm, 0.425
mm and 0.075 mm respectively, classify the soil according to AASHTO soil
classification system. Show your steps of classification in detail.
Answer:
From Figure Q1, % passing at No. 200 sieve = 76% more than 35%, so refer to
Silt-clay material table.
(2 marks)
Possibility of the groups are A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7.

(2 mark)

Given the LL = 26% and PL = 14%.

Base on the Atterberg limit and Table Q1, group A-6 is suitabale for the given
data.
(4 marks)

BFC 21702

Q2

(a)

Briefly explain with the aid of sketches what are three phase diagram and two phase
diagrams that normally used in determining weight volume relationship.
(6 marks)
Answer:Three phase diagram for partially saturated condition.
Two phase diagrams for saturated and dry conditons.

[3 x 2M = 6M]
(b)

Please derive that the moist unit weight of soil in the follwing form.
moist =

(Gs + e.Sr )
1+ e

(4 marks)

Answer:-

BFC 21702

(c)

The wet unit weight of a soil sample is 18.55 kN/m3. Its specific gravity of solids and
water content are 2.72 and 12.3%, respectively.
Determine the:
(i)

dry unit weight (kN/m3)

(5 marks)

Answer:-

BFC 21702

(ii)

void ratio, e
(5 marks)

Answer:-

BFC 21702

(iii)

degree of saturation.
(5 marks)

Answer:-

END OF QUESTION -

BFC 21702

TEST I
SEMESTER / SESSION : SEM II / 2014/2015
COURSE
: GEOTECHNICS I

CLAY

PROGRAMME : 2 BFF
COURSE CODE : BFC 21702

Coarse

Fine

SILT

SAND

GRAVEL

Figure Q1: Particle size distribution of Kahang, Kluang soil sample

Soil Classification

PI = LL - PL
Cu =
Cc =

D60
D10

( D30 )2
D 10 D 60

BFC 21702

TEST I
SEMESTER / SESSION : SEM II / 2014/2015
COURSE
: GEOTECHNICS I

PROGRAMME : 2 BFF
COURSE CODE : BFC 21702

TABLE Q1: AASHTO Soil Classification System

BFC 21702

TEST I
SEMESTER / SESSION : SEM II / 2014/2015
COURSE
: GEOTECHNICS I

PROGRAMME : 2 BFF
COURSE CODE : BFC 21702

TABLE Q2: Various forms of relationship for g, gd and gsat

10