Civil Engineering 2021 Paper I 50 marks Solve

Paper I — Q7

(a) The subsoil at a site consists of a 12·0 m thick homogeneous layer of dense sand having dry unit weight, γd = 17·2 kN/m³, GS…

(a)

The subsoil at a site consists of a 12·0 m thick homogeneous layer of dense sand having dry unit weight, γd = 17·2 kN/m³, GS = 2·7 and φ = 35°. The natural ground water level lies at 2·5 m below the ground surface. Assume that the soil is dry above the water table and unit weight of water, γw = 9·81 kN/m³. Determine the shear strength of the soil along a horizontal plane through the middle of the sand layer. 15 marks

(b)

A 2 m × 2 m square footing is placed at 1·8 m below the ground surface. The ground water table is at the ground level. The subsoil consists of a uniform deposit of soft, loose soil. The laboratory test results of the soil are as follows: Angle of internal friction, φ = 21°; Cohesion, C = 15 kPa; Unit weight of soil, γ = 16·5 kN/m³. Determine the allowable load that can be imposed on this square footing with a factor of safety of 3. 15 marks

Given: φ | Nc | Nq | Nγ 10 | 8·34 | 2·47 | 0·37 12 | 9·28 | 2·97 | 0·60 14 | 10·37 | 3·59 | 0·92 16 | 11·63 | 4·34 | 1·37 18 | 13·10 | 5·26 | 2·00 20 | 14·83 | 6·40 | 2·87 22 | 16·88 | 7·82 | 4·07 24 | 19·32 | 9·60 | 5·72

(c)

A simply supported steel beam of span 4 m carries a factored point load of 450 kN at its mid span. The beam is laterally supported. Check the adequacy of ISMB 400 section to carry this load. If it becomes unsafe, re-design it by providing extra cover plate to make it safe. Assume the section is plastic. Grade of steel is E 250. Use limit state method. 20 marks

Section properties of ISMB 400: A = 7840 mm² b_f = 140 mm t_f = 16 mm t_w = 8·9 mm Z_pz = 1176·18 × 10³ mm³ Z_ez = 1020 × 10³ mm³

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

एक स्थल पर अवमृदा घनी बालू की समांगी 12·0 m मोटी परत से बनी है जिसका शुष्क एकक भार, γd = 17·2 kN/m³, GS = 2·7 और φ = 35° है । प्राकृतिक भौम जल स्तर धरातल से 2·5 m नीचे है । मान लीजिए कि भौम जल तल से ऊपर मृदा शुष्क है और जल का एकक भार, γw = 9·81 kN/m³ है । बालू की परत के मध्य में क्षैतिज तल पर मृदा के अपरूपण सामर्थ्य का निर्धारण कीजिए । (15 अंक)

(b)

एक 2 m × 2 m की वर्गाकार पाद को धरातल से 1·8 m नीचे रखा गया है । भौम जल स्तर भूमि तल पर है । अवमृदा नरम, असंहत मृदा के एक एकसमान निक्षेप से बनी है । मृदा के प्रयोगशाला परीक्षण परिणाम निम्न प्रकार हैं : आंतरिक घर्षण कोण, φ = 21°; संसजन, C = 15 kPa; मृदा का एकक भार, γ = 16·5 kN/m³ । अनुज्ञेय भार का निर्धारण कीजिए जिसे सुरक्षा गुणक 3 के साथ वर्गाकार पाद पर रोपित किया जा सके । (15 अंक)

प्रदत्त :

φNcNqNγ
108·342·470·37
129·282·970·60
1410·373·590·92
1611·634·341·37
1813·105·262·00
2014·836·402·87
2216·887·824·07
2419·329·605·72
(c)

4 m विस्तृत की एक सुदृढ़ालम्बित इस्पात धरन अपनी विस्तृति के मध्य में 450 kN का गुणित बिन्दु भार वहन करती है । धरन पार्श्वतः आलम्बित है । इस भार को वहन करने के लिए ISMB 400 परिछेद की उपयुक्तता की जाँच कीजिए । यदि यह असुरक्षित होता है, तो इसे सुरक्षित बनाने के लिए अतिरिक्त आवरण प्लेट प्रदान करके इसका पुनः अभिकल्पन कीजिए । परिछेद को सुच्य मान लीजिए । इस्पात का ग्रेड E 250 है । सीमant अवस्था विधि का उपयोग कीजिए । (20 अंक)

ISMB 400 के परिछेद के गुणधर्म : A = 7840 mm² b_f = 140 mm t_f = 16 mm t_w = 8·9 mm Z_pz = 1176·18 × 10³ mm³ Z_ez = 1020 × 10³ mm³

Q7 of the 2021 UPSC Mains Civil Engineering Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 Civil Engineering paper

The figure this question refers to, in words

The question paper is a scan and the diagram did not survive as text. This is the figure as read from the original page — every component, value and label — so the question can be worked from the text below.

(b) Table of bearing capacity factors with columns: phi, Nc, Nq, Ngamma. Rows: 10, 8.34, 2.47, 0.37; 12, 9.28, 2.97, 0.60; 14, 10.37, 3.59, 0.92; 16, 11.63, 4.34, 1.37; 18, 13.10, 5.26, 2.00; 20, 14.83, 6.40, 2.87; 22, 16.88, 7.82, 4.07; 24, 19.32, 9.60, 5.72.

(c) A graph plotting stress (vertical axis) against strain (horizontal axis). The vertical axis is labeled 'Stress' and shows horizontal dashed lines at values 0.80 fy, 0.85 fy, 0.90 fy, 0.95 fy, and fy. The horizontal axis is labeled 'Strain' and shows tick marks at 0.0001, 0.0003, 0.0007, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, and 0.0004. The graph displays two curves: an upper curve labeled 'fy' and a lower curve labeled 'fy/1.15'. Both curves start at the origin, rise linearly, and then curve to become horizontal. Dashed lines connect specific points on the curves to the axes. The text 'Es = 200000 N/mm2' is located in the lower right area of the graph. The caption below the graph reads 'Stress-strain curve for hot rolled steel'.

Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the expected length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.

(a) Shear strength of the sand at mid-depth (15 marks)

The mid-depth plane is at 6.0 m. The sand is cohesionless (c = 0), so τ_f = σ′ tan φ, where σ′ is the effective vertical stress.

Void ratio: γ_d = G_sγ_w/(1 + e), so 17.2 = 2.7 × 9.81/(1 + e), giving e = 0.540. γ_sat = (G_s + e)γ_w/(1 + e) = 3.24 × 9.81/1.54 = 20.64 kN/m³, so γ′ = 20.64 − 9.81 = 10.83 kN/m³.

Effective vertical stress at 6.0 m (dry above 2.5 m, submerged below): σ′ = 2.5 × 17.2 + 3.5 × 10.83 = 43.0 + 37.9 = 80.9 kPa. (Check: total stress = 43.0 + 3.5 × 20.64 = 115.2 kPa and u = 3.5 × 9.81 = 34.3 kPa, so σ′ = 80.9 kPa.)

τ_f = 80.9 × tan 35° = 80.9 × 0.700 = 56.7 kPa.

Using total stress would overstate the strength, because water carries no friction.

(b) Allowable load on the square footing (15 marks)

B = 2 m, D_f = 1.8 m, φ = 21°, C = 15 kPa, γ = 16.5 kN/m³. The water table is at ground level, so γ′ = 16.5 − 9.81 = 6.69 kN/m³ in both the surcharge and width terms.

The soil is soft and loose, so assume local shear failure (Terzaghi/IS 6403): c′ = (2/3) × 15 = 10 kPa and φ′ = tan⁻¹[(2/3) tan 21°] = 14.35°.

Interpolating between 14° and 16°: N_c = 10.59, N_q = 3.72, N_γ = 1.00.

For a square footing: q_u = 1.3c′N_c + γ′D_fN_q + 0.4γ′BN_γ = 1.3 × 10 × 10.59 + 6.69 × 1.8 × 3.72 + 0.4 × 6.69 × 2 × 1.00 = 137.7 + 44.8 + 5.4 = 187.9 kPa.

Overburden q = γ′D_f = 12.0 kPa, so net q_nu = 187.9 − 12.0 = 175.9 kPa. Net safe pressure q_ns = 175.9/3 = 58.6 kPa.

Allowable load = 58.6 × 2 × 2 = ≈ 234 kN. (If FS is applied to the gross q_u, the load is 187.9/3 × 4 ≈ 250 kN.)

(c) Adequacy of ISMB 400 and redesign (20 marks)

M_u = PL/4 = 450 × 4/4 = 450 kN·m. V_u = 225 kN.

The section is plastic and fully laterally supported, so M_d = Z_pf_y/γ_m0 = 1,176.18 × 10³ × 250/1.10 = 267.3 kN·m. The limit 1.2Z_ef_y/γ_m0 = 278.2 kN·m does not govern. Shear is low (V_d = 467 kN > V_u, and 0.6V_d = 280 kN > 225 kN).

Since 267.3 < 450 kN·m, the section is unsafe.

Cover plates. Required Z_p = 450 × 10⁶ × 1.10/250 = 1,980 × 10³ mm³. The plates must add 1,980 − 1,176 = 804 × 10³ mm³.

For plates 140 mm wide and thickness t on both flanges, ΔZ_p = 2 × 140t × (200 + t/2) = 140t(400 + t) = 804 × 10³, so t² + 400t − 5,742 = 0 and t = 13.9 mm.

Provide two plates of 140 mm × 14 mm, one on each flange, connected by welds. Then ΔZ_p = 140 × 14 × 414 = 811 × 10³ and Z_p = 1,987 × 10³ mm³, so M_d = 1,987 × 10³ × 250/1.10 = 451.7 kN·m > 450 kN·m. This is also within 1.2Z_ef_y/γ_m0 (Z_e ≈ 1.74 × 10⁶ mm³ gives about 475 kN·m). Safe.

How this answer will be evaluated

Framework: null

What earns full marks: All parts solved with correct methodology, clear steps, and proper units.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. (a) Shear strength of soil at mid-depth of the sand layer. 15 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Calculate effective vertical stress at 6.0 m depth
    • Distinguish dry and submerged unit weights
    • Apply Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion
    • State assumption of zero cohesion for dense sand

    Loses marks

    • Using total stress instead of effective stress
    • Ignoring the water table depth
    • Assuming non-zero cohesion for dense sand

    Earns more

    • Correct calculation of submerged unit weight
    • Clear identification of water table depth
    • Explicit statement of effective stress components

    Extra mark

    • Sketch of soil profile with water table
    • Reference to specific geotechnical code
  2. (b) Allowable load on the square footing with FS = 3. 15 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Recognise soft loose soil as local shear failure: c' = 2C/3 = 10 kPa and phi' = atan(2/3 tan 21 deg) = 14.35 deg; interpolate Nc, Nq, Ngamma at phi'
    • Apply Terzaghi's bearing capacity equation
    • Adjust for water table at ground level
    • Divide ultimate capacity by factor of safety

    Loses marks

    • Using dry unit weight for submerged soil
    • Failing to interpolate bearing capacity factors
    • Omitting the factor of safety division

    Earns more

    • Correct interpolation of Nc, Nq, Nγ values
    • Proper use of submerged unit weight
    • Clear separation of ultimate and allowable load

    Extra mark

    • Reference to IS 6403 code
    • Sketch of footing with water table
  3. (c) Adequacy check of ISMB 400 and redesign if unsafe. 20 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Calculate maximum bending moment at mid-span
    • Determine design bending strength of ISMB 400
    • Compare moment capacity with applied moment
    • Design cover plate if section is inadequate

    Loses marks

    • Using elastic section modulus instead of plastic
    • Ignoring the lateral support condition
    • Failing to check the adequacy before redesign

    Earns more

    • Correct calculation of plastic section modulus
    • Proper application of limit state method
    • Accurate determination of required additional area

    Extra mark

    • Sketch of beam with loading and support
    • Reference to IS 800 code
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