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Answer 4 Questions - Answers Can Be in Point Form.: Page 1 of 1 1

This document contains instructions for an Advanced Geotechnical Engineering examination at the University of Malta. It outlines 5 questions to be answered in point form related to: 1) How natural ground materials differ from construction materials and how this influences engineering behavior. 2) Expected stress paths from oedometer, undrained triaxial, and drained triaxial tests on normally consolidated clay and the associated pore pressure and volume changes. 3) Investigating sand behavior using a shear box test, obtaining effective stress parameters, and limitations of the test. 4) What consolidation means for ground engineering and how it could be relevant to a project. 5) How a report using computer simulations to design foundations and retaining

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Manuel Cassar
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34 views1 page

Answer 4 Questions - Answers Can Be in Point Form.: Page 1 of 1 1

This document contains instructions for an Advanced Geotechnical Engineering examination at the University of Malta. It outlines 5 questions to be answered in point form related to: 1) How natural ground materials differ from construction materials and how this influences engineering behavior. 2) Expected stress paths from oedometer, undrained triaxial, and drained triaxial tests on normally consolidated clay and the associated pore pressure and volume changes. 3) Investigating sand behavior using a shear box test, obtaining effective stress parameters, and limitations of the test. 4) What consolidation means for ground engineering and how it could be relevant to a project. 5) How a report using computer simulations to design foundations and retaining

Uploaded by

Manuel Cassar
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
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UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT


M. ENGINEERING
YEAR I
MAY/JUNE 2015 EXAMINATION SESSION
Unit Code: CVE5621

Unit Title: Advanced Geotechnical Engineering I

Date: Tuesday 30th June 2015

Reading Time: 10:00 10:05


Examination Time: 10:05 12:05
________________________________________________________________________

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS:
ANSWER 4 QUESTIONS ANSWERS CAN BE IN POINT FORM.
________________________________________________________________________
1.

Natural ground materials tend to exhibit behaviour that is more complex than typical materials used
in construction, like steel and concrete. Explain what makes these materials so different and how
these differences are likely to influence engineering behaviour.
(25 marks)

2.

Soil behaviour during an oedometer test, an undrained triaxial test and a drained triaxial test can all
be described with reference to the critical state framework. Sketch typical stress paths that you
would expect to observe of each of these tests, for a typical normally consolidated clay, and explain
what is happening to pore pressure or to specimen volume during the development of these stress
paths. In what type of terrain or geomorphology would you expect to encounter such behaviour?
(25 marks)

3.

Explain how you would investigate the behaviour of sand using a shear box test. Outline the
process required to obtain the effective stress parameters for the sand, and what would need to be
specified and decided upon prior to carrying out the test. Briefly indicate what the limitations of
such a test could be.
(25 marks)

4.

Explain what you understand by consolidation with respect to ground engineering. Briefly describe
where and how this could be relevant to a project you are working on, and how you would go about
investigating its importance or its relevance.
(25 marks)

5.

Considering your knowledge of ground engineering and of the methods and techniques available,
how would you assess a report in which foundations and retaining structures have been designed
using computer simulations? What would you look for in such a report?
(25 marks).

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