UNIVERSITY /MAJOR TEST

2024

GEE2601

Geotechnical Engineering

Open book Examination

Welcome to the GEE2601 major test 4

Date: 14 November 2024

Time: 14h00 – 16h00
Hours: 2 hours

Examiner name: Mr M Makaleng

Internal moderator name: Mr LM Mohale
External moderator name: Ms M Maoyi

This paper consists of four pages including the cover pages.

Total marks: 50

Number of pages:
Instructions:

• Please note this is IRIS invigilated test. Your microphone and camera should be on for the
duration of the test.
• Your script must be saved with file named as student no, subject code (For Example:
72111985_GEE2601) and uploaded on MyExams https://cset.myexams.unisa.ac.za/ , under
assessment #4.

Additional student instructions

1. Students must upload their answer scripts in a single PDF file (answer scripts must not be
password protected or uploaded as “read only” files)
2. Incorrect file format and uncollated answer scripts will not be considered.
3. NO emailed scripts will be accepted.
4. Students are advised to preview submissions (answer scripts) to ensure legibility and that
the correct answer script file has been uploaded.
5. Incorrect answer scripts and/or submissions made on unofficial examinations platforms
(including the invigilator cell phone application) will not be marked and no opportunity will
be granted for resubmission. Only the last answer file uploaded within the stipulated
submission duration period will be marked.
6. Mark awarded for incomplete submission will be the student’s final mark. No opportunity for
resubmission will be granted.
7. Mark awarded for illegible scanned submission will be the student’s final mark. No
opportunity for resubmission will be granted.
8. Submissions will only be accepted from registered student accounts.
9. Students who have not utilised the proctoring tool will be deemed to have transgressed
Unisa’s examination rules and will have their marks withheld. If a student is found to have
been outside the proctoring tool for a total of 10 minutes during their examination session,
they will be considered to have violated Unisa’s examination rules and their marks will be
withheld. For examinations which use the IRIS invigilator system, IRIS must be recording
throughout the duration of the examination until the submission of the examinations scripts.

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10. Students have 48 hours from the date of their examination to upload their invigilator results
from IRIS. Failure to do so will result in students deemed not to have utilized the proctoring
tools.
11. Students suspected of dishonest conduct during the examinations will be subjected to
disciplinary processes. Students may not communicate with any other person or request
assistance from any other person during their examinations. Plagiarism is a violation of
academic integrity and students who plagiarise, copy from published work or Artificial
Intelligence Software (eg ChatGPT) or online sources (eg course material), will be in
violation of the Policy on Academic Integrity and the Student Disciplinary Code and may be
referred to a disciplinary hearing. Unisa has a zero tolerance for plagiarism and/or any
other forms of academic dishonesty.
12. Listening to audio (music) and making use of audio-to-text software is strictly prohibited
during your examination session unless such usage of the software is related to a student’s
assistive device which has been so declared. Failure to do so will be a transgression of
Unisa’s examination rules and the student's marks will be withheld.
13. Students are provided 30 minutes to submit their answer scripts after the official
examination time. Students who experience technical challenges should report the
challenges to the SCSC on 080 000 1870 or their College exam support centres (refer to
the Get help during the examinations by contacting the Student Communication Service
Centre [unisa.ac.za]) within 30 minutes. Queries received after 30 minutes of the official
assessment duration time will not be responded to. Submissions made after the official
assessment time will be rejected according to the examination regulations and will not be
marked. Only communication received from your myLife account will be considered.
14. Non-adherence to the processes for uploading assessment responses will not qualify the
student for any special concessions or future assessments.
15. Queries that are beyond Unisa’s control include the following: a. Personal network or
service provider issues
b. Load shedding/limited space on personal computer
c. Crashed computer
d. Non-functioning cameras or web cameras
e. Using work computers that block access to the myExams site (employer firewall
challenges)
f. Unlicensed software (eg license expires during exams)

Postgraduate students experiencing the above challenges are advised to apply for an
aegrotat and submit supporting evidence within ten days of the examination session.
Students will not be able to apply for an aegrotat for a third examination opportunity.
Postgraduate/undergraduate students experiencing the above challenges in their second
examination opportunity will have to reregister for the affected module.
16. Students suspected of dishonest conduct during the examinations will be subjected to
disciplinary processes. UNISA has a zero tolerance for plagiarism and/or any other forms
of academic dishonesty.
17. Students experiencing network or load shedding challenges are advised to apply together
with supporting evidence for an Aegrotat within 3 days of the examination session.

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QUESTION 1

1.1 For a sandy matrix of shale and quartzite soil, the XYZ laboratory found that the
maximum dry density was 1850 kg/m3. The relative compaction of the earth in
the field adjacent to Ruster Vaal cemetery was 93%. Considering that the
specific gravity (Gs) of sandy matrix soil is 2.7% and its hydraulic conductivity
is 0.04 cm/s at maximum dry unit weight conditions. Determine the sandy matrix
soil's hydraulic conductivity under field compaction conditions. (15)

1.2 The material test further gave you the results of a constant head permeability
test, the soil has the following parameters, length of sample is 300 mm, and the
cross-sectional area of the specimen is 110 cm2 . If the hydraulic conductivity k
= 0,02 cm/s and a flow rate of 140 cm3 /min must be maintained through the
soil, calculate the following
1.2.1 The head difference (h) across the specimen (2)
1.2.2 The discharge velocity (v) under the test conditions (3)
[20 marks]

QUESTION 2

Three samples (S1, S2 and S2) of a homogenous soil were obtained from an
undrained triaxial test. The samples are assumed to be “undisturbed”, therefore,
a series of
undrained triaxial tests were carried out on them. Table Q2 shows the measured
data.

Failure stresses at peak state (kPa)

S1 S2 S3
Cell pressure, 3 300 400 600
Deviator stress, d: 499 589 792

Table Q2: Undrained triaxial test.

Draw the failure envelope by way of Mohr-Coulomb plot, determine the soil
strength parameters C and . (Draw neatly and show all your calculations to earn
full marks).

[15 marks]

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QUESTION 3

A series of tests were conducted on three samples (B1, B2 and B3) of undrained
direct shear box test on normally consolidated clay. Table Q3 shows the
measured data.
The shear box dimensions were 80 x 80 mm.

Shear Stress (kPa)

Shear distance (mm)
B1 B2 B3
2 9,375 14,904 21,394
4 19,984 24,918 31,332
6 29,392 30,912 37,753
8 33,333 34,896 44,792
10 35,089 40,714 48,750
12 35,846 44,669 53,493
Normal Load (kg) 25.0 35.0 45.0

3.1. Draw the failure envelope and determine the soil strength parameters C and
. (Draw neatly and show all your calculations to earn full marks). (13)

3.2. If the soil is subjected to a normal stress of 100 kPa, determine the resulting
shear strength of the soil. (2)

[15 marks]

Total = 50 marks
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UNISA 2024

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