Gujarat Technological UniversitySummer 2024 examination

GTU 3150615 Soil Mechanics Summer 2024 Question Paper & PDF

B.E. · Civil Engineering · Semester 5 · Subject code 3150615
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Total
70 marks
To pass
23 marks (33%)
Duration
2.5 Hours 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Questions
5 with internal choice
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10 of 25 questions on this paper were also asked in other years. 6 more are types of question GTU sets again with new data. Each is marked below with the years it appeared.See all 33 repeated 3150615 questions, most asked first

Q.1

14 Marks
(a)
3 marksAsked in 4 of 6 papers
Explain the concept of ‘Pressure Bulb’ in soils.

Also asked in Summer 2026 Q3a OR, Summer 2025 Q4a OR, Winter 2023 Q5b OR

(b)
4 marksAsked in 3 of 6 papers
Explain shear tests based on drainage condition.

Also asked in Winter 2023 Q3a OR, Summer 2023 Q5a

(c)
7 marks

A circular footing 1.5 m radius transmits a uniform pressure of 100 kN/m². Calculate vertical stress at point 3 m directly below its centre.

Q.2

14 Marks
(a)
3 marksAsked in 2 of 6 papers

What are the assumptions made in Terzaghi’s analysis of bearing capacity of a strip footing?

Also asked in Winter 2023 Q3a

(b)
4 marks
Write brief critical notes on the Engineering News formula.
(c)
7 marksSame type asked in 3 of 6 papers

A standard penetration test is conducted at a depth of 5 m in saturated fine sand having unit weight 20kN/m³. If observed N value is 25, then find the corrected N value.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q3c, Summer 2025 Q2c OR

(c)
7 marksSame type asked in 2 of 6 papers

Three specimens of clay having a small air void content were tested in the shear box. Shear loading was started immediately after the application of normal load and was completed in 10 minutes. The results obtained were as follows: Normal stress (kPa) 145 241 337 Shear stress at failure (kPa) 103 117 132 Find the apparent cohesion and angle of shearing resistance of the clay.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q1c

Q.3

14 Marks
(a)
3 marks
Write brief critical notes on unconfined compression test.
(b)
4 marks
Write a short note on Mohr-Coulomb strength theory.
(c)
7 marksSame type asked in 2 of 6 papers

Compute the area ratio of a thin-walled tube sampler having an external diameter of 100 mm and wall thickness of 2 mm. Do you recommend this sampler for obtaining undisturbed soil sample?

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q3c OR

(a)
3 marksAsked in 3 of 6 papers
What is the different application of geotextile, and geocell.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q1b, Summer 2025 Q5a OR

(b)
4 marksAsked in 4 of 6 papers
Write brief critical notes on standard penetration test.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q4a, Winter 2023 Q3c, Summer 2023 Q1b

(c)
7 marksSame type asked in 3 of 6 papers

A 6 meter deep cut is to be made in cohesive soil with a slope of 1:1. The soil has Cu = 30 kPa, φu = 10° & γ = 18 kN/m³. Find the factor of safety with respect to cohesion. Take stability number, Sn = 0.108.

Also asked in Summer 2026 Q4b OR, Summer 2025 Q4c OR

Q.4

14 Marks
(a)
3 marks
Write a short note on types of slope failure according to extent of slip surface.
(b)
4 marksAsked in 2 of 6 papers

Write a short note on Geophysical exploration using electrical resistivity method.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q4b OR

(c)
7 marks

Two identical specimens of a soil were tested in triaxial apparatus. First specimen failed at a deviator stress of 770 kN/m² when the cell pressure was 200 kN/m². While the second specimen failed at a deviator stress of 1400 kN/m² under a cell pressure of 400 kN/m². Determine the shear parameters of the soil.

(a)
3 marksAsked in 3 of 6 papers
Differentiate between general shear failure and local shear failure.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q5a, Winter 2023 Q2b

(b)
4 marksAsked in 3 of 6 papers
Explain in brief about any two types of geosynthetics.

Also asked in Winter 2023 Q3c OR, Summer 2023 Q5c OR

(c)
7 marksAsked in 2 of 6 papers

Determine the safe bearing capacity of a strip footing 1.5 m wide & 1.5 m depth, resting on a deep sand bed, consider, γ =18 kN/m³, and bearing capacity factors NC = 35.5, Nq = 23.2, Nγ = 22 corresponding to ϕ=38˚ and factor of safety = 3.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q4c OR

Q.5

14 Marks
(a)
3 marksAsked in 3 of 6 papers

Describe with a neat sketch how will you carry out the wash boring method of soil exploration.

Also asked in Summer 2026 Q2a, Winter 2025 Q4b

(b)
4 marks

Explain with figure about contact pressure & settlement distribution beneath rigid & flexible footing.

(c)
7 marksSame type asked in 2 of 6 papers

A concentrated load of 50 kN acts on the surface of a homogeneous soil mass of large extent. Find the stress intensity at a depth of 5m; (a) Directly under the load, and (b) At a horizontal distance of 5m. Use Boussinesq’s equation.

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q2c

(a)
3 marks

What are the basic assumptions in Boussinesq’s theory of stress distribution in soils?

(b)
4 marks
Write a short note on different types of shallow foundation.
(c)
7 marksSame type asked in 2 of 6 papers

A 30 cm diameter pile is driven into a homogeneous clay (C = 40 kPa, α = 0.7). If the embedded length is 10 m, estimate the safe load (FS = 2.5).

Also asked in Winter 2025 Q5c OR

More Soil Mechanics papers

Questions repeat across sessions. Working through two or three papers shows you which topics GTU asks most.

Summer 202670 marks · 5 questions
Winter 202570 marks · 5 questions
Summer 202570 marks · 5 questions
Winter 202470 marks · 5 questions

Other Semester 5 subjects

BE Civil

2150603
Environmental Engineering
2150608
Structural Analysis-II
3150610
Concrete Technology
3150611
Transportation Engineering

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About this paper

Official Gujarat Technological University (GTU) examination paper for Soil Mechanics (Summer 2024, B.E. · Civil Engineering, Sem 5). Features complete 70-mark regular & remedial examination pattern, official marking distribution across all 5 questions, and direct 1-click official PDF download.

Transcribed for student exam preparation from Gujarat Technological University official examination archives. Questions, syllabus guidelines, and curriculum marking schemes remain the intellectual property of Gujarat Technological University.

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