CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Virac, Catanduanes
MODULE IN CE 12 – GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING (SOIL MECHANICS)
CHAPTER 4 – ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF THE SOIL
PERMEABILITY IN SOIL
PERMEABILITY
IMPORTANCE OF PERMEABILITY
FACTORS AFFECTING PERMEABILITY
BERNOULLI’S EQUATION
HYDRAULIC GRADIENT IN THE FIELD
DARCY’S LAW
LABORATORY DETERMINATION OF PERMEABILITY
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
A confined aquifer has a source of recharge as shown in the figure. The hydraulic
conductivity of the aquifer is 40 m/day and its porosity is 0.25. The piezometric
head in the two wells 1200 m apart is 65m and 60m respectively from a common
data. The average thickness of the aquifer is 25 m and the average width is 4 km.
1. Compute the rate of flow through the aquifer in m3/day
2. Determine the hydraulic gradient
3. Compute the seepage velocity
4. Compute the time of travel from the head of the aquifer to a point 3.3 km
downstream in days.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
SAMPLE PROBLEM 6
EQUIVALENT HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN
STRATIFIED SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
PERMEABILITY TEST IN THE FIELD BY PUMPING
WELLS
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Problem 1
Problem 2
Problem 3
Problem 4
A pumping test was made in a sand layer extending to a depth of 15 m. The initial ground water
table is located 2 m below the ground surface. Observation wells were sighted at distances 3 m
and 7.5 m from the pumping well. Using a discharge of 0.4 cm3/hr, a steady level is attained at
the pumping well. The measured drawdown at the two observation wells are 1.5 m and 0.35 m
respectively.
a. Find the hydraulic head at the first observation well.
b. Find the hydraulic head at the second observation well
c. Compute the coefficient of permeability of the soil
d. What is the rate of flow in cm3/day?
e. Compute the transmissibility of the aquifer in sq.m/day
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Virac, Catanduanes
MODULE IN CE 12 – GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING (SOIL MECHANICS)
CHAPTER 4 – ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF THE SOIL
SEEPAGE IN SOIL
SEEPAGE
FLOW NETS
RATE OF SEEPAGE
UPLIFT PRESSURE
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Problem 1
Calculate the seepage flow underneath the concrete dam in m3/day with
coefficient of permeability along the horizontal direction, kx = 0.005 m/sec and
along the vertical direction kz = 0.002 m/sec and the head difference between the
upstream and downstream level of 10 meters, considering,
a. Isotropic condition
b. Anisotropic condition
Problem 2
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Virac, Catanduanes
MODULE IN CE 12 – GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING (SOIL MECHANICS)
CHAPTER 5 – SOIL COMPRESSIBILITY
SOIL COMPRESSIBILITY
FACTORS AFFECTING SOIL COMPRESSIBILITY
FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
CAUSES OF FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
Foundation settlement occurs when the soil beneath a structure cannot adequately
support its weight. This can lead to structural damage if not properly addressed.
Common causes include:
1. Soil Consolidation
• Primary Consolidation: Compression of saturated soils due to the weight of the
structure.
• Secondary Consolidation: Slow deformation of soil under a constant load over
time.
2. Changes in Moisture Content
• Drying of Soil: Clay soils shrink when they lose moisture, causing the
foundation to settle.
• Saturation of Soil: Increased water can reduce soil bearing capacity or lead to
soil washout.
3. Poor Soil Compaction
• Insufficient compaction during construction can result in voids that compress
under load.
4. Erosion
• Water flow, such as from poor drainage or leaking pipes, can wash away
supporting soil.
5. Soil Type and Composition
• Expansive soils (e.g., clay) shrink and swell with moisture changes.
• Loose or poorly graded sands may settle under the weight of a structure.
6. Uneven Loads
• Unequal weight distribution from the structure can lead to differential settlement.
7. Soil Organic Content
• Decomposition of organic materials in soil reduces its volume, causing
settlement.
8. Excavation Nearby
• Construction or natural processes near a structure can disturb the foundation soil.
9. Vibrations
• Nearby construction or heavy traffic can disturb the soil, causing it to compact.
10. Tree Roots
• Trees near a foundation can extract water from the soil, leading to localized
drying and settlement.
11. Changes in Groundwater Levels
• Rising or falling water tables can impact soil stability.
PREVENTING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH
FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
TYPES OF FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
STAGES OF CONOSLIDATION
TOTAL SETTLEMENT ON FOUNDATION
ELASTIC SETTLEMENT
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Problem 1
Given the soil deposit shown in the figure, the groundwater table is located at a depth d
= 1 m below the initial ground surface. A 6 m thick clay layer underlies the 4 m thick
sand layer. The moist sand above the groundwater table has a unit weight (γ) of 19.5
kN/m3. Below the groundwater table the sand has a saturated unit weight (γsat) of 20.0
kN/m3. The results of laboratory tests on a sample of the clay from the middle of the
layer give a specific gravity of solids (Gs) equal to 2.65, a natural moisture content (w)
of 60%, and a liquid limit (LL) of 75%. Estimate the primary consolidation settlement
of the clay if the ground level is raised by the addition of a 2 m thick fill of sand with a
moist unit weight (γ) of 19.0 kN/m3.
Problem 2
Approximate the secondary settlement expected after a 25-year period from the effects
of secondary compression in a clay layer 10-ft thick where the primary compression
settlement is calculated to be 2 in. and will require a period of about 12 years for
completion. The compression index for the clay is 0.28, and initial void ratio is 1.15.
1
Assume Cs = Cc .
5
Problem 3
A normally consolidated clay has a layer thickness of 4 meters and a void ratio of
0.80.
Initial stress at the mid-height of clay before construction of the foundation is
100 kPa.
Final stress at the mid-height of clay after construction of the foundation is 180
kPa.
Swell Index = 0.06
Compression Index = 0.30
Determine the consolidation settlement if the preconsolidation pressure of the soil is
150kPa.
CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Virac, Catanduanes
MODULE IN CE 12 – GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING (SOIL MECHANICS)
CHAPTER 6 – LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
INTRODUCTION
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
TYPES OF LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
AT-REST EARTH PRESSURE
ACTIVE EARTH PRESSURE
ACTIVE FORCE
PASSIVE EARTH PRESSURE
PASSIVE FORCE
ADDITIONAL EARTH PRESSURE PARAMETERS
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
SOLUTION
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Problem 1
A retaining wall 6 meters high is supporting a horizontal backfill having a dry unit weight of
1600 kg/m3. The cohesionless soil has an angle of friction of 32o and void ratio of 0.68.
Compute for the Rankine active force on the wall if water logging occurs at a depth of 3.5
meters from the ground surface and the corresponding location of the resultant active force
from the bottom of the wall.
Problem 2
