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PE Civil Exam 40- Geotechnical Questions & Answers (pdf Format)

For Depth Exam (Evening Session) Set #1

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PE Civil Depth Exam (Evening Session): This practice exam contains

40-Geotechnical questions and answers each set from all Geotechnical
& Soil Foundation Engineering area.

Table Contents: Page

1. Subsurface Exploration and Sampling -3 Q&A 3

2. Engineering Properties of Soils and Materials-5 Q&A 6

3. Soil Mechanics Analysis -5 Q&A 9

4. Earthquake Engineering -2 Q&A 14

5. Earth Structures -4 Q&A 15

6. Shallow Foundations -6 Q&A 19

7. Earth Retaining Structures -6 Q&A 25

8. Deep Foundations -4 Q&A 31

9. Other Topics- 5 Q&A 35

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Civil Depth (Evening) Questions -Geotechnical Sample Set # 1

I. Subsurface Exploration and Sampling

3. PROBLEM (General rock characterization)

During a field exploration, the core barrel was advanced 180 CM during the coring. The
length of the core recovered in Fig. What was the recovery ratio and Rock quality?

a. .80 Good
b. .48 Poor
c. .98 Excellent
d. .58 Fair

3. Solution:

R.Q.D=(30+15+18+38)/180= 0.56, Fair

Correct Solution is (d)

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II. Engineering Properties of Soils and Materials

8. PROBLEM (Shear strength properties)

A drained triaxial test has performed for normally consolidated clay with following data.
Chamber confining pressure, h=108 KN/m2
Vertical deviator pressure v=158 KN/m2
Pore water pressure, U=50 KN/m2

Find the angle of internal friction,

a. 350
b. 260
c. 250
d. 220

8. Solution:

v=158 KN/m2
h=108 KN/m2

Pore water Pressure, U=50 KN/m2, will be deducted at drained condition

1= h+v
3= h
1= 1-U=108+158-U= 266.00-50=216.00 KN/m2

3= h-U=108.00-50=58.0 KN/m2

Sin= (1- 3)/2 / (1+ 3)/2

=Sin-1{(216-58)/2 / (216+58)/2}=35.210

Correct Solution is (a)

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V. Earth Structures

18. PROBLEM (Dam)

The concrete dam 25 m long shown in Figure is embedded 1 m into the ground surface and has a
sheet pile wall 5 m deep at its heel. The headwater is 7 m deep and the tail water is at ground
-4
surface. The permeability of the soil is k= 20 x 10 cm/sec both vertically and horizontally.

What is the Pore Water pressure at A; A is 2m above the impervious layer?

a 15780.00 kg/m2
b 10960.00 kg/m2
c 12800.00 kg/m2
d 12450.00 kg/m2

18. Solution:
k= 20 x 10-4 cm/sec=2 x 10-5m/sec,
Dam headwater height, h=7m,
Impervious layer to Dam bottom height, H=10m
No. of flow channel, Nf =4,
No. of potential drop, Nd=13,
Impervious layer to A height, Z=2m

Pressure head per net=h/Nd=7/13= 0.54/net

Pressure Head at A, Ph=h+H-( No. of potential drop at A x Pressure head per net)-Z
=7+10-(7.5x.54)-2= 10.96 m

Pore Water pressure at A, UA=Ph x w =10.96m x 1000 kg/m3

=10960.00 kg/m2

Correct Solution is (b)

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VI. Shallow Foundations

22. PROBLEM (Bearing Capacity)

Determine the Effective Area of circular footing with eccentric load shown in Figure where,
Soil Unit Weight, = 118 lb/ft3, Footing Radius of circle, R=5 & e=0.5.
.

a 54.50 ft2
b 65.50 ft2
c 78.50 ft2
d 63.50 ft2

22. Solution:
Where, e=0.50 and R=5
Therefore,
Area of ADC, S= R2/2-[e{(R2-e2)+R2Sin-1(e/R)}]
S=3.14 x 52/2-[0.50{(52-0.52)+52Sin-1(0.5/5)}]
S=3.14 x 52/2-[0.50{(24.75+143.48)}=32.77 ft2
Effective Area, A=2S=32.77 x 2= 65.54 ft2

Correct Solution is (b)

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IX. Other Topics

40. PROBLEM (Earthquake loads)

A building has to be design earthquake consideration having own weight 6120 kip including
the height of building, H=57 ft. Determine the base shear of the building for earthquake.
Where,
Soil Type, S=1.2
Building Type, Ct= =0.075 For R.C. Space Frame
I=1, Occupancy Normal
Z=0.2, Zone, 2B= Medium hazard
Rw=10, Moment resisting R.C. Space Frame

a 265.00 Kip
b 354.00 Kip
c 138.00 Kip
d 288.00 Kip

40. Solution:

Wx=6120 kip
T=CtH3/4=1.55 sec
Dynamic response, C =1.25S/(T2/3)=1.12
Base Shear, V=(ZIC/Rw)Wx
Base Shear, V=(0.2 x 1.0 x 1.12 / 10 ) x 6120=136.77 Kip

Correct Solution is (c)

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