NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Chapter 2
PROBLEMS
1. The results of a constant-head permeability test in a fine sand are as follows: area of the soil
specimen, 1802 ; length of the specimen, 320 mm; constant head maintained, 460 mm;
flow of water through the specimen, 200 ml in 5 min. determine the coefficient of
permeability.
2. The fine sand described in problem 1 was tested in a falling-head permeameter, and the
results are as follows: area of the specimen, 902 ; length of the specimen, 320 mm; area of
the standpipe, 52 ; head difference at the beginning of the test, 1000 mm. calculate the
head difference after 300s from the start of the test (use the result of Probe. 1)
3. A silty sand specimen was subjected to a capillary permeability test. The results are as
follows (refer to figure 1.10 for notations):
2 , 2

,
2
4
6
8
12
14
16
18

40
80 = 48.75
1
120
160
Change from 1 2 at = 10
370
545 = 362.6
720 2
900

Given a soil porosity of 0.5 and = 0.9, calculate the value of .

4. A single for of sheet pile structure is shown in figure P1.
(a) Draw the flow net.
(b) Calculate the rate of seepage.
(c) Calculate the factor of safety against piping using Terzaghis method [equation (2.179)]
and then Harzas method.

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Figure P-1
5. For the single row of sheet piles shown in figure P2, calculate the hydraulic heads in the
permeable layer using the numerical method shown in section 2.2.8. From these results, draw
the equipotential lines. Use = = 2.
6. A dam section is shown in figure 3. Given = 9 105 / = 1 105 /,
draw a flow net and calculate the rate of seepage.

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Figure P-2

7. For the dam section shown in figure P2, given = = = 5 105 /, calculate the
hydraulic heads in the permeable soil layer. Use = = 2 and the numerical method
given in section 2.2.8.
8. A dam section is shown in figure 3. Using Lanes method, calculate the weighted creep ratio.
Is the dam safe against piping?

Figure P-4
9. Refer to figure 3. Assume (1) that the sheet pile at the end of the upstream apron is not there,
(2) that an impervious rock layer is located at a depth of 37 ft from the ground surface, and
(3) that = 0.02 /.
(a) Draw a flow net.

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

(b) Calculate the seepage under the dam.

(c) Given, for the soil, = 2.65 = 0.5, calculate the factor of safety by Harzas
method.
10. For the sheet pile structure shown in figure 4.
= 2.5
1 = 5
2 = 5

1 = 3
2 = 1

1 = 4 103 /
2 = 2 103 /

(a) Draw a flow net for seepage in the permeable layer.

(b) Calculate the seepage.
(c) Find the exit gradient.

11. For the structure shown in figure P4, use the numerical method (section 2.2.8) for
determination of hydraulic heads in the permeable layer. Using these values, draw the
equipotential lines and then complete the flow net by drawing the flow lines. Calculate the
seepage under the structure and also the exit gradient.
=3
1 = 4
2 = 4

1 = 4
2 = 1

1 = 6 104 /
2 = 1.5 104 /

12. Redo Prob. 10 with the following

= 12

1 = 12

1 = 18

2 = 3

2 = 24

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

1
=6
105 /
2
=2
105 /

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Figure P-4
13. An earth dam section is shown in figure 5. Determine the rate of seepage through the earth
dam using (a) Dupuits method, (b) Schaffernaks method, and (c) L. Casagrandes method.
Assume that = 105 /.
14. Repeat Prob. 13 assuming that = 6 105 / and = 1 105 /
15. For the earth dam section shown in figure 5, determine the rate of seepage through the dam
using Pavlovskys solution. Assume that = 4 105 /
16. For the earth dam section shown in figure 5, determine the rate of seepage by using
Pavlovskys solution. Assume that = 4.6 105 / and = 1.15 105 /.

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Figure P-5

17. An earth dam section is shown in figure P6.

(a) Using A. Casagrandes procedure, draw the phreatic line to scale. Assume that = =
0.8 106 /.

Figure P-6

(b) Using the results of part (a), draw the flow net and calculate the rate of seepage.
18. Solve problem 17 assuming that = 3.2 106 /.
19. Solve problem 17 for the dam section shown in figure P7.

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Figure P-7

20. An earth dam section is shown in figure P8. Draw the flow net and calculate the seepage.
21. Solve problem 20 assuming that 1 = 2 106 / and2 = 21 .

Figure P-8

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

NPTEL- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering

Dept. of Civil Engg. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur