PROBLEMS

1. The water in a borehole was bailed to a depth of 11m below the ground level and
the recorded rise in the water level in the borehole are as follows:
h1 = 60cm in 24 hrs; h2 = 55cm in 24 hrs; and h3 = 50cm in 24 hrs.
2. A building is proposed in an area having thick deposit of silty clay. The heaviest
column in the building is likely to carry a load of 100t. Determine the minimum
depth of exploration required for foundation design.
3. In a borehole, a layer of fine sand was encountered at a depth of 8m from the
ground surface. A dense sand layer overlies the fine sand layer. The N value
recorded in the field was 23. Determine the correct N value for the layer at 8m
depth. The water table was found to be at a depth of 2m from surface.
4. In a geophysical exploration by resistivity method the following results were
obtained:
Spacing

of

electrodes,m
Resistivity
cm

4.5

7.5

675

1250

1720

1825

1800

1700

1550

Comment on the soil formation.

5. Two test plates are loaded at a site, one being 60cm X 60cm and the other 75cm
X 75cm. The smaller plate supports a load of 11450 kg at 12.5mm settlement and
the larger plate supports 15000 kg at the settlement. Determine the bearing
capacity of a footing 3m square for a maximum settlement of 12.5mm.

6. The following data were collected from a seismic refraction test in an area.
Determine the depth from the ground level at which there is a change in the
formation.
Distance

of

peg

from 10.0

15.0

20.0

30.0

400

500

600

25.0

33.0

50.0

225.0

250.0

275.0

geophone, m
Time
by

taken

the

first

wave front to 16.5

reach
geophone, ms

7. A load test conducted at the soil surface on a 30cm square plate provided the
following results:
Load, kg
Settlement,
mm

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1.25

2.50

3.75

5.00

7.50

15.00

Determine the following for a footing 3m X 3m with a factor of safety of 3.00:

a) Allowable bearing capacity if the deposit is deep and of sand
b) Allowing bearing capacity if the deposit is deep and of clay
c) Expected settlement of a 3m X 3m loaded with allowable bearing capacity as
obtained (b).
SOLUTIONS
1.

H1 = h12/ (h1-h2) = 602/ (60-55) = 7.20m

Similarly, H2 = 6.05m
H3 = 5.00m
Therefore, DW.T. (from H1 = 7.20) = 11.00 7.20 = 3.80m
DW.T. (from H2 = 6.05m) = 3.80m

DW.T. (from H3 = 5.00m) = 4.35m

Hence, the average depth to the water table is
DW.T. = (3.80+3.80+4.35) / 3 = 3.98m
2. Assume unit weight of silty clay to be 1.70 g/cc and the location of

water table

to be at the ground surface.

According to De Beers recommendation, at depth of exploration
pz 0.1peo.
At depth z, pe0 = (1.70-1.0), z = 0.7z t/m2
At depth z, pz = 100/z2NB = 47.7/z2 t/m2
Equating 47.7/z2 = 0.7z X 0.1, we get z = 8.8m.
3. The fine sand layer may be taken as saturated as it was below the water table.
Modified N = N = 15 + (Nobs - 15) = 19
Assuming saturated unit weight of dense sand as 2.10 g/cc,
Effective stress at 8m depth = 2(2.10) + 6(2.10-1.0) = 1.08 kg/cm2
Hence we get, Ncor = Nmod x 3.5 / (pe + 0.7) = 37.36 < 2N
Hence, corrected N = 37
4. The data are plotted in a graph with resistivity as ordinate and spacing of
electrode as abscissa. It may be noted that there is a continuous increase in
resistivity with depth upto 4.5m. Beyond this depth the resistivity decreases with
increase in depth.
Hence, at the depth of 4.5m there is a change in layer and this layer is weaker than
the top layer. It may also be that at a depth of 4.5m the soil present may be same
as that in surface layer but contains more moisture in the pores.
5. From the following equation we can get,
Q = A.q + P.s
Where, Q = total load on the plate
A = area of contact of the plate
P = perimeter of plate
q = bearing pressure under A

s = perimeter shear
11450 = (60x60)q + 2(60 + 60)S
and

15000 = (75x75)q + 2(75 + 75)S

solving the above equations we get,

q = 0.61 kg/cm2 and S = 38.56kg/cm.
Hence, Q for 3x3 m footing = 0.61 x (300 x 300) + 2(300 + 300) x 38.56
= 101172 kg.
6. From V1 = L1 / T1 = 10.0 /16.5 103 = 606.0 m / s

( L1 + L2 ) / T2 =
600.0 m / s
( L1 + L2 + L3 ) / T3 =
600.0 m / s
( L1 + L2 + L3 + L4 ) / T4 =
600.0 m / s
Plotting these on a graph and drawing a best fit straight line through them, the
velocity of surface layer is obtained as 603.0 m/s.

5
L
i
i =1
Again,=
1777 m / s 603.0m / s.
T
5
Hence, the wave which reached the geophone at L5 in time T5 did not travel
through surface layer entirely.
Similarly, V2 = 4000 m/s
From H1 = (T5 (L1 + L2 + L3 + L4 + L5) / V2) V1/2 = 37.68 m
7. The points are plotted and the point of definite break occurs at load
2000 / 302 = 2.22 kg/cm2
Hence, the ultimate bearing capacity of the plate is 2.22 kg/cm2.

(a) From

B prototype
q prototype = q plate
B plate

= 222t / m 2

Allowable bearing capacity = 222.0 / 3 = 74.0 t/m2.

(b) From

q prototype = q plate

Hence, the ultimate nearing capacity of 3m x 3m footing resting on clay is 2.22

kg/cm2 or 22.2 t/m2 and the allowable bearing capacity = 22.2 / 3 = 7.4 t/m2.
(c) Settlement of footing on clay = Splate (Bprototype / Bplate) = 17 mm.
Settlement of footing on sand = Splate [300(30 + 30) / 30(300 + 30)]2 = 5.9
mm.