Geotechnical Engineering

CE – Review
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
INSTRUCTION: Select the correct answer for each of the following Effective Stress Concept
questions. Mark only one answer for each item by shading the box Situation 4:
corresponding to the letter of your choice on the answer sheet provided. Given in figure SM 526 is a soil profile were ground water table
STRICTLY NO ERASURES ALLOWED. Use pencil no. 2 only. is 4 m below the ground surface.
14. Determine the effective stress (Kpa) at point B.
Fundamentals a. 70.56 c. 89.11
Situation 1: b. 63.80 d. 69.53
For a given Soil, the following are known. Gs = 2.74, moist unit
weight = 19 kN/m3 , and moisture content = 17%. 15. Determine the effective stress (Kpa) at point C.
1. Determine the dry unit weight (kN/m 3). a. 129.06 c. 112.45
a. 16.2 c. 18.8 b. 107.91 d. 118.77
b. 19.5 d. 20.1
2. Determine the buoyant unit weight (kN/m 3). 16. Determine how high (m) should the water table rise so that the
a. 10.3 c. 9.7 effective stress at C is 105 kpa.
b. 12.6 d. 11.9 a. 2.78 c. 2.29
3. Determine the void ratio. b. 1.56 d. 3.11
a. 0.562 c. 0.655
b. 0.370 d. 0.351 Capillary rise
4. Determine the porosity. Situation 5:
a. 0.36 c. 0.50 A dense silt layer has the following properties:
b. 0.40 d. 0.26 Void ratio, e = 0.40
5. Determine the degree of saturation (%). Effective diameter, d10 = 10𝜇𝑚
a. 65.89 c. 71.09 Capillary constant, C = 0.20 cm 2
b. 51.33 d. 86.67 Free ground water level is 8m below the ground surface.
6. Determine the weight of water in kN to be added per cubic
meter of soil for a 100% degree of saturation. 17. Determine the height of capillary rise in the silt. Capillary rise is
a. 1.12 c. 1.78 𝒄
given, 𝒉 = 𝒆𝒅
b. 1.29 d. 1.45 𝟏𝟎
7. Determine the weight of water in kN to be added per cubic a. 4.5 m c. 5.5 m
meter of soil for a 93% degree of saturation. b. 6.0 m d. 5.0 m
a. 1.21 c. 1.87
b. 1.92 d. 0.85 18. Determine the vertical effective stress (kpa) at 5 m depth.
Assume 𝛾𝑠 = 26.5 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 3 and that the soil above the capillary
Situation 2: action rise and ground surface is partially saturated at 50%.
A sand fill 2 m depth has relative density of 40% with a specific a. 122 c. 151
gravity of 2.65. Laboratory results shown that the void ratios at b. 134 d. 147
loosest and densest states are 0.90, and 0.47, respectively.
8. Determine the In-situ void ratio. 19. Determine the vertical effective stress (kpa) at 10 m depth.
a. 0.663 c. 0.559 Assume 𝛾𝑠 = 26.5 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 3 and that the soil above the capillary
b. 0.802 d. 0.728 action rise and ground surface is partially saturated at 50%.
9. Determine the void ratio at relative density of 60%. a. 173 c. 213
a. 0.850 c. 0.711 b. 194 d. 201
b. 0.642 d. 0.532
10. Determine the decreased in thickness (mm) of the fill if it is Flow of water in soil
compacted to relative density of 60%. ▪ Constant head
a. 79.32 c. 88.13 Situation 6:
b. 99.54 d. 101.45 See Figure SM 109
For a constant head laboratory permeability test on fine sand,
Situation 3: the following values are given:
The volume the soil measured before drying is 120 cm 3. The wet Length of specimen, L = 15 inches
weight of soil is 215 g and dried weight is 162 g. Gs = 2.55. Diameter of specimen, D = 3 inches
11. Determine the void ratio Head difference, h = 22 inches
a. 0.889 c. 0.689 Water collected in 2 minutes = 0.057 cu. in.
b. 0.791 d. 0.942 Void ratio, e = 0.37
12. Determine the degree of saturation (%).
a. 93.85 c. 97.62
b. 88.15 d. 79.56
13. Determine the dry unit weight at zero air voids (kN/m 3).
a. 13.64 c. 12.53
b. 15.28 d. 11.09

20. Determine the hydraulic conductivity (in/min) of the soil.

a. 0.00275 c. 0.00199
b. 0.00450 d. 0.00661

21. Determine the discharge velocity (in/min) through soil.

a. 0.00513 c. 0.00388
b. 0.00403 d. 0.00604

Engr. Louie A. Alcantara, CE, MP

 Geotechnical Engineering
CE – Review
22. Determine the seepage velocity (in/min)
a. 0.0149 c. 0.0155
b. 0.0224 d. 0.0190

Situation 7: CE Board Nov 2016

A permeable soil is underlain by an impervious layer. For the 29.. Which of the following most nearly gives the equivalent
permeable layer, k = 0.0052 cm/s, H = 4 m, and inclination with coefficient of permeability for flow in the horizontal direction?
respect to horizontal = 5. See Figure SM 022. a. 37.75 m/day c. 38.60 m/day
b. 35.42 m/day d. 36.47 m/day

30. Which of the following most nearly gives the hydraulic gradient?
a. 0.005 c. 0.004
b. 0.003 d. 0.006

31. Which of the following most nearly gives the rate flow from one
stream to another per meter width?
a. 7.70 m3/day c. 11.67 m3/day
b. 7.44 m /day
3 d. 12.08 m3/day
23. Determine the hydraulic gradient.
a. 0.0733 c. 0.0872 Situation 12:
b. 0.0559 d. 0.0651 See Figure SM 024
Water flows in and out in the system shown to maintain a
24. Determine the flow of water per meter width (m 3/hr). constant head h = 1000 mm. Cross-sectional area of soil A =
a. 0.045 c. 0.058 10,000 mm2. Elevation of the water surface at the outlet
b. 0.073 d. 0.065 container is 600 mm.
Hydraulic conductivities:
25. Determine the total amount of water percolated per day per K1 = 3 x 10-2 mm/s
meter width (m3). K2 = 4 x 10-2 mm/s
a. 1.39 c. 1.75 Lengths of soil:
b. 1.56 d. 1.08 H1 = 300 mm
H2 = 400 mm
▪ Falling head
Situation 8:
A falling head permeability test was run on a sample of D = 10
cm in diameter and L = 12 cm long. The head at the start of the
test was 92 cm. The coefficient of permeability of the soil was
found to be 6x10-6 cm/s. The diameter of the stand pipe was 1.5
cm. See figure SM 021.

32. Determine the equivalent coefficient of permeability (cm/s)

a. 3.5 x 10-5 cm/s c. 2.93x10-7 cm/s
b. 2.22x10-6 cm/s d. 1.54x10-6 cm/s

33. Determine the pore water pressure (kpa) at elevation 500 mm.
26. Determine the flow at the start of the test (cm 3/hr). a. 6.33 c. 7.52
a. 12.45 c. 14.89 b. 9.22 d. 8.01
b. 11.23 d. 13.01
34. Determine the head loss (mm) in elevation 200 mm.
27. Determine how much head (cm) was lost during the firs 30 a. 600 c. 650
minutes. b. 750 d. 500
a. 3.61 c. 86.72
b. 88.39 d. 5.28 Situation 13: CE Board May 2007/November 2008/ May 2009
A test is set-up as shown in the figure below. A cylindrical mold
28. Determine the flow after 30 minutes (cn 3/hr). 4” in diameter is filled with silt to a height H1 = 0.20 ft whose
a. 12.5 c. 11.2 coefficient of permeability is 6.10 x 10 -4 ft/min.
b. 11.8 d. 12.3
A second coaxial mold, place on the top of the silt inside the first
▪ Equivalent Permeability mold, has an inside diameter of 1.50” and height of H2 = 0.30 ft.
Situation 9: CE Board November 2010 Its thickness is negligible. The inside of this second mold is filled
An unconfined aquifer underlies a confined aquifer as shown in with the same silt, but the annular ring outside is filled with sand
figure. whose coefficient of permeability is 2.50 x 10-3 ft/min.

The test set-up is a permeameter of constant head. Water is

placed in the mold and maintained at a level h = 1.25 ft above
the level of the outlet. If may be considered that the system
consist of a fictitious soil of thickness H = H1 + H2 and
coefficient of permeability Kf.

Engr. Louie A. Alcantara, CE, MP

 Geotechnical Engineering
CE – Review
41. Which of the following most nearly gives the transmissivity of
the aquifer?
a. 0.0622 m2/s c. 0.0626 m2/s
b. 0.0266 m2/s d. 0.0662 m2/s

42. Which of the following most nearly gives the drawdown in the
test well?
a. 2.75 m c. 2.85 m
b. 2.55 m d. 2.65 m

43. Which of the following most nearly gives the time of travel of
groundwater from the observation well at 30 m to the pumping
well if the porosity of the aquifer is 0.40?
a. 1.48 days c. 1.64 days
b. 1.56 days d. 1.80 days

▪ Flow Nets
Situation 16:
The section of a sheet pile is shown in figure SM 025. The
coefficient of permeability if the soil is k = 5 x 10 -3 m/s.
Difference in the head of the upstream and downstream sides is
5 m. Assume that each stream has an area of its water surface as
1 hectare.

35. Which of the following most nearly gives the total amount of
flow of water through the soil?
a. 2.36 x 10-4 ft3/min c. 2.55 x 10-4 ft3/min
b. 2.10 x 10-4 ft3/min d. 2.28 x 10-4 ft3/min

36. Which of the following most nearly gives the equivalent

coefficient of permeability of the system?
a. 1.01 x 10-3 ft/min c. 1.14 x 10-3 ft/min
b. 1.08 x 10-3 ft/min d. 1.05 x 10-3 ft/min

37. Which of the following most nearly gives the total amount of
flow percolated after 30 minutes?
a. 200.51 cm3 c. 216.59 cm3
b. 193.71 cm 3 d. 178.45 cm3
44. Determine the seepage (Lit/sec) into the downstream side per
▪ Permeability Test in the Field (Unconfined Aquifer) meter width of the sheet pile.
a. 13.0 c. 11.5
Situation 14: CE Board May 2008/November 2017 b. 12.5 d. 10.7
A 300 mm diameter test well penetrates 27 mm below the static
water table. Water is pumped at a rate of 69 liters per second for 45. Determine the difference in head (m) of water level after 2 days.
24 hours. The water levels at two observation wells 35 m and a. 3.907 c. 4.568
95 m from the test well were lowered by 1.10 m and 0.50 m, b. 3.745 d. 4.789
respectively.
Situation 17:
38. Which of the following most nearly gives the rate of flow in A masonry dam has a coefficient of permeability in the vertical
MLD? and horizontal directions of Kz = 4 m/day and Kx = 5 m/day,
a. 6.31 c. 5.96 respectively. Difference in head is 18 m and the distance
b. 5.02 d. 4.87 between the base of the dam and the downstream water surface
is 18m. Assume z = 35 m and width of dam = 40 m.
39. Which of the following most nearly gives the coefficient of See Figure SM 026.
permeability of the aquifer?
a. 60.27 m/day c. 62.76 m/day
b. 61.87 m/day d. 67.19 m/day

40. Which of the following most nearly gives the transmissivity of

the aquifer?
a. 1713.76 m2/day c. 1627.25 m2/day
b. 1579.04 m2/day d. 1984.02 m2/day

▪ Permeability Test in the Field (Confined Aquifer)

Situation 15:
A pumping test was carried out in a confined aquifer 15 m thick
overlain by an impermeable layer 30 m thick. Rate of pumping
was 0.12 m3/s; drawdowns in observation wells located at 15 m
and 30 m from the center of the pumping well were 1.60 m 1nd 46. Determine the seepage flow (m 3/day)
1.40 m, respectively, from the initial groundwater level. The a. 1590.09 c. 1205.71
diameter of the pumping well is 0.40 m. b. 1431.08 d. 1345.78
Engr. Louie A. Alcantara, CE, MP
 Geotechnical Engineering
CE – Review
47. Determine the uplift pressure (kpa) at A. COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL
a. 156.96 c. 186.39 ∙ Compression index:
b. 180.78 d. 176.58 𝑪𝒄 = 0.009(LL-10)

∆𝒆
48. Determine the uplift force (kN) acting in the dam. Assume that 𝑪𝒄 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝑷
𝒇 −𝒍𝒐𝒈𝑷𝒐
the uplift pressure under the dam varies uniformly.
a. 133,450 c. 164,808
∙ SOIL SETTLEMENT:
b. 145,771 d. 123,606
a. Immediate settlement
PILES
1−𝜇 2
∎𝑃𝐼𝐿𝐸 𝐶𝐴𝑃𝐴𝐶𝐼𝑇𝑌 ∆ Hi = pB 𝐼𝐹
𝐸
a. Ultimate Bearing Capacity: Where:
Fb = C𝑁𝑐 𝐴𝑇𝐼𝑃 P= net pressure applied
B= Width or diameter of the foundation
𝜇= Poisson’s ratio
b. Ultimate Frictional Capacity: 𝐸=Modulus of elasticity of soil
Ff = αcPL 𝐼𝐹 = Influence factor
c. Ultimate Capacity
Fult = 𝐹𝑏 + 𝐹𝐹 b. Primary Consolidation Settlement
b. 1 Normally Cinsilidated Soil
Where: 𝐻𝐶𝑐 𝑃
∆Hp = log ( 𝑓 )
1+𝑒0 𝑃𝑜
c = cohesion of soil
b. 2 Overconsilidated Soil
α = Friction/ adhesion factor
when 𝑃𝑓 < 𝑃𝑐 :
P = Perimeter of the pile
𝐻𝐶 𝑃
L = Length of the Pile ∆Hp = 1+𝑒𝑠 log (𝑃𝑓 )
0 𝑜
𝐴𝑇𝑖𝑝 = Area of the pile at the tip
𝑁𝑐 = Bearing capacity factor when 𝑃𝑓 < 𝑃𝑐 :
𝐻𝐶 𝑃 𝐻𝐶 𝑃
∆Hp = 1+𝑒𝑠 log (𝑃𝑐 )+ 1+𝑒𝑐 log ( 𝑃𝑓 )
Situation 20: 0 𝑜 0 𝑜

The soil stratification is shown in figure HKQA 0.21. Where:

Use FS= 2.5. H= Thickness of the consilidating clay
𝐶𝑐 = Compression Index
𝐶𝑠 = Swell Index
𝑒𝑜 = Initial void ratio
𝑃𝑜 = Initial vertival effective soil stress
𝑃𝑓 = Final vertical effective soil stress
𝑃𝑐 = Preconsolidation pressure

c. Secondary Consolidation Settlement

𝐻𝐶 𝑡
∆Hs = 1+𝑒α log (𝑡2 )
𝑝 1

Where:
H= Thickness of the consolidating clay
𝐶α = Secondary Compression Index
49. Calculate the capacity of pile due to skin fruction only. 𝑒p = Void ratio at the end of primary consolidation
a. 431.28 kN c. 619.93 kN
𝑡1 = Time for completion of primary settlement
b. 727.78 kN d. 545.61 kN
𝑡2= Time after completion of primary settlement
50. Calculate the end bearing capacity of the pile.
a. 57.34 kN c. 86.01 kN
Situation 22:
b. 91.50 kN d. 63.22 kN
The soil is acted upon by a unifromly distributed lload of 60 kPa
51. Calculate the design capacity of the concrete pile.
at the ground surface. See figure GEOD 23.0.
a. 176.10 kN c. 195.45 kN
b. 282.39 kN d. 316.40 KN

Analysis of Pile Groups

- Load Capacity of Pile Groups
Situation 21:
The pile shown in the figure consists of 12 piles, each 0.30 m in
diameter, arranged in a 3x4 matrix at a spacing of 1.20 m. the
piles penetrate a soft clay ( c= 20 kPa ); medium dense clay (c=
56 kPa) Use 𝛼= 1 for soft and medium dense clay and 𝛼= 0.50
for stiff clay. 𝑁𝑐 = 9.

52. Which of the following most nearly gives the capacity of the pile
group based on single pile failure mode?
a. 10,190.58 kN c. 8,761.32 kN
c. 7,598.53 kN d. 6,408.38 kN
53. Which of the following most nearly gives the capacity of the pile 55. Compute the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary
group based on block failure mode? consolidation if the soil is normally consolidated.
a. 9,408.71 kN c. 12,599.05 kN a. 75.8 c. 48.3
c. 13,567.28 kN d. 15,636.15 kN b. 96.7 d. 151.7
54. Which of the following most nearly gives the minimum center to 56. Compute the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary
center spacing of piles achieve 100% efficiency? consolidation pressure of clay is 230 kPa.
a. 0.78 m c. 1.08 m Use 𝑐𝑠 =𝑐𝑐 /5.
b. 0.61 m d. 0.86 m a. 30.3 mm c. 15.2 mm
Engr. Louie A. Alcantara, CE, MP
 Geotechnical Engineering
CE – Review
b. 17.1 mm d. 41.5 mm b. 4.34 m d. 1.97 m
57. Compute the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary
consolidation if the preconsolidation pressure of clay is 200 kPa. 64. Determine the settlement beneath footing A.
Use 𝑐𝑠 =𝑐𝑐 /5. a. 46.65 mm c. 35.04 mm
a. 70.7 mm c. 60.8 mm b. 68.27 mm d. 57.52 mm
b. 35.4 mm d. 21.5 mm
Situation 26:
Situation 23: A group of friction piles is shown in figure SM 501. The total load
A soil formation is composed of 5 m thick clay and 5 m thick clay on the pile less the soil displaced by the footing is Q= 1800 kN.
and 5 m thick sand being the sand above the clay. The ground The clay is f= 14 m thick and the silt is d= 2 m thick. Ground
water table (GWT) is located at 2 m below the ground surface. water table is located d= 2 m below the clay surface. Use a= 0.5
Assume E= 6900 kPa, 𝐼𝐹 = 0.79 and 𝜇= 0.2. m, b= 3 m, c= 2 m and L= 9 m.

58. A rigid column footing 1.2 m in diameter is constructed. The

load on the footings is 170 kN. Determine the immediate
settlement.
a. 24.6 mm c. 16.1 mm
b. 19.8 mm d. 27.0 mm
59. Calculate the primary compression index.
a. 0.623 c. 0.590
b. 0.371 d. 0.222
60. Calculate the primary consolidation settlement of the normally
consolidated clay layer if there is a surcharge of 40 kPa acting
on the ground surface. (Neglect footing’s load)
a. 179.8 mm c. 89.9 mm
b. 201.5 mm d. 100.7 mm
61. Calculate the secondary settlement of the clay layer 5 years after
the completion of the primary consolidation settlement. Time
for completion of primary settlement is 2 years. Use 𝑐𝛼 = 0.02.
a. 34.9 mm c. 17.6 mm
b. 14.5 mm d. 25.8 mm

Situation 25: 65. Calculate the effective pressure (kPa) at the midheight of the
Two footings rest in layer of sand 2.7 m thick. The bottom of the consolidation clay layer.
footings are 0.9 m below the ground surface. Beneath the clay a. 159.03 kPa c. 147.61 kPa
layer is hard pan. The water table is at a depth of 1.8 m below b. 142.95 kPa d. 164.80 kPa
the ground surface. 66. Calculate the compression index of the clay.
a. 0.2755 c. 0.2877
b. 0.2967 d. 2315
67. Calculate the approximate settlement of the foundation.
a. 125.07 mm c. 283.18 mm
b. 129.22 mm d. 138.29 mm

68. A layer of soft clay having initial void ratio of 1.5 is 10 m thick.
Under a cpmpressive load applied above it, the void ratio
decreased by one-half. Evaluate the reduction in the thickness
of the clay layer.
a. 3.0 m c. 3.5 m
b. 2.5 m d. 2.0 m
Stability of Earth Retaining Structures
Situation 3:
A vertical retaining wall 3 m high supports a horizontal backfill
on level on the top of the wall. The water table is located 2 m
62. Compute the stress increase at the center of clay layer assuming below the ground surface. The unit weight of the soil above the
that the pressure beneath the footing is spread at an angle of 2 water table is 15.72 KN/m 3 and its angle of friction is 30°. The
vertical to 1 horizontal. saturated unit weight of the soil below the water table is 18.86
KN/m3 has an angle of friction of 26° and a cohesion of 10
a. 18.17 kPa c. 25.51 kPa
KN/m2.
b. 41.32 kPa d. 33.09 kPa
63. Determine the size of the footing B so that the settlement in the 69. Which of the following most nearly gives the passive force per
clay layer is the same beneath footings A and B. Footing A is 1.5 unit length of the wall using Rankine’s Passive Force Theory?
m square. a. 237.14 KN c. 231.00 KN
a. 2.52 m c. 3.24 m b. 242.82 KN d. 223.34 KN

Engr. Louie A. Alcantara, CE, MP

 Geotechnical Engineering
CE – Review
a. 265.98 KN c. 294.75 KN
70. Which of the following most nearly gives the location of the b. 249.29 KN d. 323.41 KN
passive force from the bottom of the wall.
a. 0.98 m c. 0.81 m
b. 0.88 m d. 0.95 m

71. Which of the following most nearly gives the moment at the
bottom of the wall?
a. 221.51 KN.m c. 225.86 KN.m
b. 218.96 KN.m d. 213.60 KN.m

Tensile Crack
Situation 4:
A retaining wall has a vertical back and is 8 m high. The soil is
sandy loam of density 1.75 Mg/m 3. It shows cohesion of 13
KN/m2 and an angle of friction of 20°. The upper surface of the
fill is horizontal. Neglect any effect of wall friction.

72. Determine the critical depth of the wall.

a. 2.16 m c. 3.81 m
b. 2.67 m d. 3.10 m

73. Determine the total thrust on the wall.

a. 133.68 KN/m c. 126.92 KN/m
b. 155.09 KN/m d. 143.40 KN/m

74. Determine the resultant thrust on the wall if drains are locked
and water builds up behind the wall until the water table is 3 m
above the bottom of the wall. Saturated Density of soil is 2
Mg/m2.
a. 188.56 KN c. 191.08 KN
b. 171.36 KN d. 167.32 KN

Cantilever Sheet pile walls

Situation 5:
Sheet piling is to function as a cantilever retaining wall 1.50 m
high. The soil weighs 17.28 KN/m 3 and its angle of friction is 32°.
The backfill has a horizontal surface. Use Rankine’s theory.

75. Which of the following most nearly gives the required depth of
penetration of the bulkhead?
a. 0.91 m c. 1.25 m
b. 1.04 m d. 1.16 m

76. Which of the following most nearly gives the total active force
on the wall?
a. 15.41 KN c. 18.77 KN
b. 20.06 KN d. 17.11 KN

77. Which of the following most nearly gives the reaction at the
bottom of the wall?
a. 28.53 KN c. 23.88 KN
b. 25.17 KN d. 26.83 KN

Anchored Cantilever Sheet pile walls

Situation 6:
An anchored sheet pile 10.50 m high is to retain 7.30 m deep of
soil. The soil has an angle of friction of 31° with a unit weight of
17 KN/m3. The sheet pile is anchored at a depth of 1.20 m below
the ground surface with center to center spacing of 3 m.

78. Which of the following most nearly gives the total active force
on the sheet pile per meter width?
a. 364.76 KN/m c. 281.16 KN/m
b. 299.97 KN/m d. 332.42 KN/m

79. Which of the following most nearly gives the percentage of the
total passive resistance utilized by the wall?
a. 86.12% c. 94.50%
b. 72.84% d. 77.71%

80. Which of the following most nearly gives the tension in the
anchor?
Engr. Louie A. Alcantara, CE, MP