Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-1
A sandy soil stratum is sandwiched b/n two impermeable layers of soil as shown in the figure
below. The difference in water levels in two observation wells at a horizontal distance of 60 m is
5 m. The discharge through the soil is found to be 0.169 x10-3 m3/sec. The depth of the soil
normal to the direction of flow is 2.95 m. What is the permeability of the sand stratum? The soil
is inclined at 100 to the horizontal.

Solution Length of soil b/n two observation wells, L=60/cos100=60.92 m.

Hydraulic gradient, i = Dh/L = 5m/60.92m = 0.082

From Darcy’s law, the discharge per unit length is, q = KiA
0.169 x10-3 m3/sec = K * 0.082 * (2.95 * 1)
K = 0.70 * 10-3m/sec = 0.70 mm/sec
EXAMPLE-2
A soil sample 10 cm in diameter is placed in a tube 1 m long. A constant supply of water is
allowed to flow into one end of the soil at A and the outflow at B is collected by a beaker as
shown below. The average amount of water collected is 1 cm3 for every 10 seconds. Determine
the (a) hydraulic gradient, (b) flow rate, (c) average velocity, (d) seepage velocity, if e = 0.6, and
(e) coefficient of permeability.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-3
The drainage pipe shown below became completely blocked during a storm by a plug of sand,
1.5 m long, followed by another plug of a mixture of clays, silts, and sands, 0.5 m long. When
the storm was over, the water level above ground was 1 m. The coefficient of permeability of the
sand is 2 times that of the mixture of clays, silts, and sands.
(a) Plot the variation of pressure head, elevation head, and total head over the length of the pipe.
(b) Find the hydraulic gradients in the sand and in the mixture of clays, silts and sands.
(c) Calculate the pore water pressure at
i) The middle of the sand plug
ii) The middle of the mixture of clays, silts, and sands.

EXAMPLE-4
The results of a constant-head permeability test for a fine sand sample having a diameter of 150
mm and a length of 300 mm are as follows:
• Constant head difference = 500 mm
• Time of collection of water = 5 min
• Volume of water collected = 350 cm3
• Temperature of water = 24oC
Find the hydraulic conductivity for the soil at 20oC.
Solution
Given that; V = 350 cm3 = 350 x 103 mm3, L = 300 mm, D=150mm, h = 500 mm, and
t = 5 x 60 = 300 sec, T= 24oC
A = (π/4)(150)2 = 17671.46 mm2
For constant-head permeability test,
(350 x103 ) x300
⇒ VL = 0.0396 mm / sec =3.96x10-3cm / sec
K= Aht = 17671.46 x 500 x 300

η 0  η 0
⇒ K 200 C =  T C  K T 0C where T C = 2.42 − 0.475 ln(T ) = 2.42 − 0.475 ln(24) = 0.91
η 0  η 200 C
 20 C 
η 0 
∴ K 200 C =  24 C  K 240 C = 0.91* 3.96 x10-3 cm / sec = 3.6 x10-3 cm / sec 2
η 0 
 20 C 
Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-5
A variable head permeability test was conducted on a soil sample of 4 cm diameter and 18 cm
long. During the test the head dropped from 1m to 0.4 m in 20 minutes. If the cross sectional area
of the burette is 1 cm2, determine K.

Solution:

aL h  πd 2 π * (4) 2
K = 2.303 log  1 , A = = = 12.57 cm 2
At  h2  4 4
1*18  100 
⇒ K = 2.303 × * log  
12.57 * 20 * 60  40 
⇒ K = 1.09 *10 −3 cm / sec = 1.09 *10 −5 m / sec

EXAMPLE-6
For the soil profile shown below, determine the equivalent permeability KV(eq) and KH(eq) in
cm/sec and the ratio KH(eq)/ KV(eq).

Solution

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-7
The soil layers shown below have a cross section of 100mm x 100mm each. The permeability of
each soil is: KA = 10-2 cm/sec; KB = 3 x10-3 cm/sec; KC = 4.9 x10-4 cm/sec. Find the rate of water
supply in cm3/hr.

Solution:-

EXAMPLE-8
A pumping test has been carried out in an unconfined aquifer of thickness 15m and the following
measurements were recorded. Rate of pumping was 10.6×10-3 m3/s; drawdowns in observation
wells located at 15 m and 30 m from the center of the pumping well were 1.6 m and 1.4 m,
respectively, from the initial groundwater level. The initial groundwater level was located at 1.9
m below the ground level. Determine k.

EXAMPLE-9
A confined aquifer 8 m thick was penetrated by a tube well having a diameter of 20 cm. The
initial ground water level from the bottom of the aquifer is 14 m. After a steady state discharge
of 20 lit/sec the drawdown is 4 m and the radius of influence is 200 m , find K.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

Solution: for a confined aquifer,

q log( R / rw ) 20 ×10 −3 log(200 / 0.1)

K= = = 756.56 ×10 −6 m / sec
2.727T ( H − hw ) 2.727 × 8(14 − 10)
EXAMPLE-10
A well penetrates into an unconfined aquifer having a saturated depth of 100 meter. After a
steady state discharge of 250 liters per minute the drawdown is 12 meter. Estimate the discharge
if the drawdown becomes 18 meter. The distance from the well to a point where the drawdown
influences are negligible can be taken to be equal for both cases.
Solution:-
H=100m;
Case-1: drawdown = 12m or s1 = 12m q1 = 250 lit/min
Case-2: drawdown = 18m or s2 = 18m q2 = ?
We are told that the radius of influence, R, is the same in both cases.

2.303q log( R / rw ) Kπ ( H 2 − hw2 )

hence, from K = ⇒q=
π ( H 2 − hw2 ) 2.303 log( R / rw )

Case-1 hw1 = H-S1 = 100-12 =88m

Kπ (100 2 − 882 ) 2256 Kπ Kπ 250
∴ 250 = = or = ...........(a )
2.303 log( R / rw ) 2.303 log( R / rw ) 2.303 log( R / rw ) 2256

Case-2 hw2 = H-S2 = 100-18 =82m

Kπ (100 2 − 82 2 ) 3276 Kπ
∴ q2 = =
2.303 log( R / rw ) 2.303 log( R / rw )
substituting the value from equation (a)
250
q2 = 3276 × = 363 lit/min
2256

EXAMPLE-11
A well penetrating an aquifer which is underlain and overlain by impermeable layers was tested
with a uniform discharge of 1000 lit/min. The steady state drawdowns measured in two
observation wells which were at 1m and 10m radial distances from the center of the pumped well
were 13.4m and 4.2m, respectively. Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer if its
saturated thickness is 10m.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-12
For the sheet pile system shown below, calculate the flow rate in m3/day. The permeability of the
soil is 5 x 10-5 m/s and the sheet pile system is 50m long in the transverse direction. Also
determine the total head and the pore water pressure at the bottom tip of the sheet pile.

Solution:-
The flow net is sketched as shown below.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-13
A concrete dam retains 8 m of water, as shown in the figure below. Calculate the flow rate in
m3/day by constructing the flow net under the dam. The length of the dam is 100m and the
permeability of the soil stratum is 5 x 10-5 m/s. Also determine the total head and the pore water
pressure at the bottom tip of the sheet pile.

Solution:-
The flow net is sketched as shown below.

EXAMPLE-14
The flow net for a dam is shown below, the dam is half a kilometer in width (shore to shore) and
the permeability of the soil stratum is 3.5 x 10-4 cm/s. Calculate the total seepage loss under the
dam in liters per year. Also determine the total head and the pore water pressure points A and B.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

Solution

EXAMPLE-15
The section through a dam is shown below along with the flow net. Determine the quantity of
seepage under the dam and plot the distribution of uplift pressure on the base of the dam. The
coefficient of permeability of the foundation soil is 2.5 x 10-5 m/sec.

Solution:- The downstream water level is selected as datum.

ΔH=5-1=4m Nf = 4.7 Nd = 15
Nf 4.7
q = K∆H = 2.5 × 10 −5 * 4 * = 3.1×10 −5 m 3 / sec (per meter)
Nd 15
∆H 4
= = 0.266 . m ≅ 0.27 m
N d 15

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

To get the uplift pressure at the bottom of the dam, the pore water pressure is calculated at the
points of intersection of the equipotential lines with the base of the dam (points A, B,…H on the
figure).

The calculations are shown in the table below.

Pressure
Elevation Total head, h Pore water
head, u/γw
Point head, z n (m) pressure, u
(m)
(m) = n(ΔH/Nd) (KN/m2)
= h-z
A -1.8 1 0.27 2.07 20.3
B -1.8 2 0.53 2.33 22.9
C -1.8 3 0.8 2.6 25.5
D -2.1 4 1.07 3.17 31.1
E -2.4 5 1.33 3.73 36.6
F -2.4 6 1.6 4 39.2
G -2.4 7 1.87 4.27 41.9
H -2.4 7.5 2 4.4 43.2

The distribution of the pore water pressure under the dam is plotted as shown below.

The total uplift force on the dam is the area of the pore water pressure distribution diagram.
Area = (average value of u) × (width of the dam)
= 32.6 KPa ×14m = 456.4 KN per meter

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-16
For the sheet pile system shown below, calculate the flow rate per unit width if the permeability
of the soil is 2 x 10-5 m/s. Also determine the total head and the pore water pressure at points A
to G at the front and back of the sheet pile. Points D, E and F are at 8m, 6.9m and 5.7m from the
impervious layer respectively.

Solution:- ΔH=2.5m Nf = 4.7 Nd = 12

Nf 4.7
q = K∆H = 2.5 × 10 −5 * 2.5 * = 2.45 ×10 −5 m 3 / sec (per meter)
Nd 12

∆H 2.5
= = 0.208m
Nd 12

The pore water pressure is calculated as shown in the table below. Note that the downstream
water level is taken as the datum.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

Front of the wall

Pore
Pressure
Elevation Total head, water
head,
Point head, z n h (m) pressure,
u/γw (m)
(m) = n(ΔH/Nd) u
= h-z
(KN/m2)
A ----- 0 0 0 0
B 0 0 0 0 0
C -4 0 0 4 39.24
D -5.5 1 0.21 5.71 56.02
E -6.6 2 0.42 7.02 68.87
F -7.8 3 0.63 8.43 82.70
G -8.7 5 1.04 9.74 95.55

Back of the wall

Pressure
Elevation Total head, Pore water
head, u/γw
Point head, z n h (m) pressure, u
(m)
(m) = n(ΔH/Nd) (KN/m2)
= h-z
A 2.5 12 2.5 0 0
B 0 11 2.3 2.3 22.56
C -4 9.5 2 6 58.86
D -5.5 8.8 1.8 7.3 71.61
E -6.6 8.3 1.7 8.3 81.42
F -7.8 7.6 1.6 9.4 92.21
G -8.7 6 1.3 10 98.10

The distribution diagram of the pore water pressure on the wall is shown below.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-17
A section of a homogeneous earth dam is shown below. Calculate the seepage per meter length,
through the body of the dam. The coefficient of permeability of the dam material is 8x10-5 m/sec.

EXAMPLE-18
An earth dam made of a homogeneous material has the following data;
Coefficient of permeability of dam material = 5x10-4 cm/sec.
Elevation of top of the dam = 200m
Elevation of bottom of the dam = 178m
Elevation of highest flood level of the reservoir = 197.5m
Width of the top of the dam = 4.5m
Upstream slope = 3:1
Downstream slope = 2:1
Determine the phreatic line and Calculate the discharge passing through the dam.
Solution

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-19
For the dam section of example 18, draw the seepage line if a horizontal filter of length 25m is
provided inward from the downstream toe of the dam.

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

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Soil Mechanics-I Examples on Chapter-3

EXAMPLE-20

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