Conventional Question

Practice Program (CQPP)

Classroom Practice Set

Soil

Office Address
DELHI: F-126, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi - 110 016
Ph: 011-41013406, Mobile: 8130909220, 9711853908
Web: www.iesmaster.org | E-mail: info@iesmaster.org
 Conventional Question
Practice Program (CQPP)
Classroom Practice Set
2 CE Conventional Question Practice Book Classroom Practice Set

1. A soil sample is taken from a small test hole in a soil borrow pit. The volume of the
test hole is determined to be 0.028 m3. The wet mass of the soil is 56 kg and the dry
mass is 49 kg. The specific gravity of soil solids is 2.72. Determine wet and dry density,
wet and dry unit weight, water content, void ratio, and degree of saturation.

2. A sample of soil is compacted into a 9.44 × 10–4 m3 laboratory mold. The mass of the
compacted soil is 1.91 kg and its moisture content is 14.5%. Using a specific gravity
of solids of 2.66, compute the degree of saturation, density (kg/m3) and unit weight
(kN/m3) of this compacted soil.

3. A saturated soil has a moisture content of 38.0% and a specific gravity of solids of
2.73. Compute the void ratio, porosity and unit weight (kN/m3) of this soil.

4. A sample of clay was coated with paraffin wax and its mass, including the mass of
wax, was found to be 697.5 gm. The sample was immersed in water and the volume
of the water displaced was found to be 355 ml. The mass of the sample without wax

R
was 690.0 gm, and the water content of the representative specimen was 18%.
Determine the bulk density, dry density, void ratio and the degree of saturation. The

E
specific gravity of the solids was 2.70 and that of the wax was 0.89.

5. There are two borrow areas A and B which have soils with void ratios of 0.80. and 0.70,
T
respectively. The inplace water content is 20%, and 15%, respectively. The fill at the
end of construction will have a total volume of 10,000 m3, bulk density of 2 Mg/m3 and
S
a placement water content of 22%. Determine the volume of the soil required to be
excavated from both areas. G = 2.65.
A

If the cost of excavation of soil and transportation is Rs. 200/- per 100 m3 for area A
and Rs. 220/- per 100 m3 for area B, which of the borrow area is more economical?
M

6. A soil has a liquid limit of 61 and a plastic limit of 30. A moisture content test performed
on an undisturbed sample of this soil yielded the following results:
Mass of soil + can before placing in oven 96.2 g
Mass of soil + can after removal from oven 71.9 g
S

Mass of can 20.8 g

Compute the following
IE

(a) The plasticity index

(b) The moisture context
(c) The liquidity index
(d) Consistency index

7. Dry soil (Gs = 2.71) is mixed with 16% by weight of water and compacted to produce
a cylindrical sample of 38 mm diameter and 76 mm long with 6% air content. Calculate
the mass of the mixed soil that will be required and its void ratio.

8. A soil specimen has a moisture content of 21.4%, void ratio of 0.72, and Gs = 2.7.
Determine:
(a) bulk density and degree of saturation
(b) the new bulk density and void ratio if the specimen is compressed undrained
until full saturation is obtained.
 Conventional Question
Practice Program (CQPP)
Classroom Practice Set
Soil CE Conventional Question Practice Book 3

9. A sample of sand in its natural state has a relative density of 65 percent. The dry unit
weight of the sample at its densest and loosest states are respectively 18.0 and 14 kN/
m3. Assuming the specific gravity of the solids as 2.64, determine (i) its dry density (ii)
wet density when full saturated and (iii) submerged density.

10. A clay sample, originally 2.50 cm thick and at initial void ratio of 1.120 was subjected
to a compressive load. After the clay sample was completely consolidated, the thickness
of it was measured to be 2.426 cm. Compute the final void ratio.

11. In a specific gravity test the following data were obtained at the room temperature of
40°C.
Mass of pycnometer + Water = 720.36 g
Mass of pycnometer + Solid + Water = 750.46 g
Mass of solids = 47.50 g

R
Determine the specific gravity of the solids at 27°C. Assume specific gravity of water
at 40°C, GT = 0.985.

E
12. A sample of clay has a water content of 40 percent at full saturation. Its shrinkage limit
is 15 percent. Assuming G = 2.70, determine its shrinkage ratio.
T
13. A sample of clay soil has a liquid limit of 62%, and its plasticity index is 32 percent.
(i) What is the state of consistency of the soil if the soil in its natural state has a
S
water content of 34 percent.
(ii) Calculate the shrinkage limit of the void ratio of the sample at the shrinkage limit
A

is 0.7.0.
Assume G = 2.70
M

14. The liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil fraction passing through 425  sieves are
28% and 22% respectively. Classify the soil, as per Indian Standard Soil Classification
System.
S

15. Total wt. of soil = 10 kg

Wt retained on 4.75 mm sieve = 6 kg
IE

Wt. passing 75µ sieve = 2 kg

For the finer fraction of soil we have the following data:
wL = liquid limit = 45%
w P = plastic limit = 20%
Cu = 8, Cc = 2
Classify the soil as per Indian standard classification system.

16. The following test results were obtained on a soil sample:

Percentage passing 4.75 mm IS sieve = 98.5%
Percentage passing 75 µm IS sieve = 42.0%
Coefficient of uniformity = 6.7

IES MASTER Publication

 Conventional Question
Practice Program (CQPP)
Classroom Practice Set
4 CE Conventional Question Practice Book Classroom Practice Set

Coefficient of curvature = 1.2

Plastic index = 2.2
Classify the soil by a suitable classification system.

17. A sample of gravel with sand has 74% fine to coarse subangular gravel, 24% coarse
angular sand, and 2% fines. The maximum size of particles in the soil is 74mm. The
coefficient of curvature (Cc) is 2.7, and the coefficient of uni-formity (Cu) is 12.6. Classify
this soil according to the IS classification system.

18. The sieve analysis of a soil gave the following results:

%passing 75µ sieve = 8; % retained on 4.75 mm sieve = 35
Coefficient of curvature = 2.5; Unifromity coefficient = 7
The fine fraction gave the following results:

R
Plasticity index = 3; Liquid limit = 15
Classify the soil according to ISC system.

E
19. A laboratory compaction test on soil having specific gravity equal to 2.68 gave a
maximum dry density of 1.82 g/cm3 and a water content of 17 per cent. Determine the
T
degree of saturation, air content and percentage air voids at the maximum dry density.
What would be theoretical maximum dry density corresponding to zero air voids at the
S
optimum water content?

20. Compaction of an embankment is carried out in 400 mm thick layers. The rammer used
A

for compaction has a foot area of 0.1m2 and the energy imparted in every drop of
hammer is 350 N-m, then find the number of passes required to develop compactive
energy equivalent to Indian standard heavy compaction test.
M
S
IE