A standard penetration test was conducted at 6 m depth and the blow counts measured for
the three 150 mm penetration are 11, 13, and 12 respectively. The SPT rig used an automatic
hammer that was released through a trip mechanism, with a hammer efficiency of 72%.
Assume an average unit weight of 18 𝒌𝑵⁄𝒎𝟑 for the soil, and assume that the water table is
well below this depth. Find the following at the depth of 6 m.
i. blow count corrected for hammer efficiency only
ii. blow count, corrected for overburden pressure and hammer efficiency
Describe the following types of retaining walls.
i. Gravity retaining walls
ii. Semi-gravity walls
iii. Cantilever retaining walls
iv. Counterfort retaining walls
vi. Gabions
Explain any five (5) of the following terms as related to Engineering Properties of Soils
i. Compaction of Soils
ii. Total Stress and Pore Water Pressure
iii. Consolidation Test
iv. Soil shear Strength
v. Permeability
vi. Compressibility
The test boring can be advanced in the field by several methods. Describe any three (3)
boring tools used for site investigation.
Briefly describe any 2 types of samplers that can be used for obtaining undisturbed samples
from bore holes
Differentiate between Undisturbed soil sample and Remolded soil Sample
Determine the adequacy of a thin-walled Shelby tube of 76.2 mm external diameter and 3.26
mm wall thickness.
Differentiate between Concentrically and Eccentrically loaded Footings.
Give 2 conditions (in details) for using combined footing
Discuss the procedures involve in using any two (2) major field tests for determining soil
strength.
Give the general procedure for the design of a foundation
pg. 1
For the raft foundation shown in figure below (dimensioned in mm), check the adequacy of
the foundation dimensions. Take 𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒍,𝒏𝒆𝒕 = 𝟏𝟔𝟓 𝒌𝑵⁄𝒎𝟐 . Column dimensions and Loads are
contained in Table
Table
Interior Columns Edge Columns Corner Columns
Columns Dimension, mm 𝟖𝟎𝟎 × 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝟔𝟎𝟎 × 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝟔𝟎𝟎 × 𝟓𝟎𝟎
Service Loads (kN) 2700 1800 900
∑ 𝑸𝒊 × 𝑿𝒓𝒊 ∑ 𝑸𝒊 × 𝒀𝒓𝒊
𝑿𝑹 = 𝒀𝑹 =
∑ 𝑸𝒊 ∑ 𝑸𝒊
𝑩𝑳𝟑 𝑳𝑩𝟑
𝑰𝑿 = 𝑰𝒀 =
𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐
Fig-Raft Foundation
For the retaining wall shown in Figure below,
i. Determine the force per unit length of the wall for Rankine’s active state.
ii. Find the location of the resultant.
iii. Draw the Pressure diagram.
Figure : Retaining wall
pg. 2
