GATE CE 2021 Set 1 — Question 54
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Geotechnical Engineering → Consolidation → NC & OC Clays
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Question
The soil profile at a construction site is shown in the figure (not to scale). Ground water table (GWT) is at 5 m below the ground level at present. An old well data shows that the ground water table was as low as 10 m below the ground level in the past. Take unit weight of water, .
The overconsolidation ratio (OCR) (round off to two decimal places) at the mid-point of the clay layer is __________.
Correct answer
1.18 to 1.26
Solution
1.Identify the mid-point of the clay layer: The clay layer starts at 15 m depth and is 8 m thick. The mid-point is at a depth of from the ground level.
2.Calculate the present effective stress () at 19 m depth:
- Present GWT is at 5 m depth.
- From 0 to 5 m (Sand above GWT):
- From 5 to 15 m (Sand below GWT):
- From 15 to 19 m (Clay below GWT):
- Total present effective stress
- Past GWT was at 10 m depth.
- From 0 to 10 m (Sand above GWT):
- From 10 to 15 m (Sand below GWT):
- From 15 to 19 m (Clay below GWT):
- Total maximum past effective stress
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