Scribd
Upload
127 views2 pages

Hw10 - Soil Strength

1) The document provides homework problems on soil mechanics topics including soil strength. 2) Key aspects of soil strength that students are asked to summarize include the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, undrained shear strength of cohesive soils, shear strength of unsaturated soils, and typical soil shear strength values used in foundation design. 3) The homework problems require students to calculate soil stresses, principal stresses, shear strength, and failure planes using Mohr's circle and the Coulomb failure criterion for various soil conditions.

Uploaded by

shosha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
127 views2 pages

Hw10 - Soil Strength

1) The document provides homework problems on soil mechanics topics including soil strength. 2) Key aspects of soil strength that students are asked to summarize include the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, undrained shear strength of cohesive soils, shear strength of unsaturated soils, and typical soil shear strength values used in foundation design. 3) The homework problems require students to calculate soil stresses, principal stresses, shear strength, and failure planes using Mohr's circle and the Coulomb failure criterion for various soil conditions.

Uploaded by

shosha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Dr.

Francisco Grajales I sem 2020

SOIL MECHANICS
HOMEWORK # 10
TOPICS: SOIL STRENGTH

Important Note: The homework must be solved by hand, unless specifically indicated.

PART I: RESEARCH

Question 1 (10 pts)


Read the attached paper by Briaud (2001). Write a summary on Soil Modulus. Make sure you
mention the main soil parameters that influence soil modulus. Also, present details on what are
common values of soil modulus. In order to solve this question, you will need to perform extra
research. Make sure to cite all the references that you use during your research process.

Question 2 (15 pts)


Write a summary on soil strength. Your summary should cover key aspects such as: (1) the Mohr-
Coulomb failure criterion, (2) undrained shear strength of cohesive soils, (3) shear strength of
unsaturated soils and (3) reasonable values of soil shear strength for foundation design.

PART II: PROBLEMS (75 pts)

Problem 1
A soil deposit is made of clay with unit weight of 20 kN/m3. The ground water level is at the
ground surface. Calculate the shear strength on a horizontal plane at a depth of 10m, if c = 5 kPa
and φ = 30º.

Problem 2
The sample on the figure is made of sand:
a) Find the stresses on the plane shown
b) If the friction angle is 40°, has the sample failed?
c) On that plane does the maximum shear stress exist?
Dr. Francisco Grajales I sem 2020

Problem 3
A series of triaxial compression tests were performed on three identical soil specimens. Find the
soil´s cohesion and the angle of internal friction.

Specimen Minor principal Major principal


Number stress (lb/in2) stress (lb/in2)
1 5 23
2 10 38.5
3 15 53.6

Problem 4
Given an element with stresses as indicated in the figure, find:
a) The major and minor principal stresses and the planes on which they act
b) The stresses on a plane inclined at 30° from the horizontal
c) The maximum shear stress and the inclination of the plane on which it acts.

Problem 5
Two triaxial tests are performed on a clay. At failure, the results are:

Find:
The total and effective principal stresses at failure
a) Write Coulomb´s law in the general case
b) Draw the Mohr Circle at failure in the shear vs normal stress axes
c) Draw the failure envelope and find the strength parameters
d) What is the shear strength of the clay for a normal effective stress of 100 kPa?
e) What is the angle of the plane of failure with the vertical for Test 1?

You might also like