Civil Engineering 2024 Paper I 50 marks Solve

Paper I — Q7

(a) A canal is to be excavated through a soil with c = 20 kN/m², φ = 20°, e = 0·80 and G = 2·70. The side slope is 1 in 1. The…

(a)

A canal is to be excavated through a soil with c = 20 kN/m², φ = 20°, e = 0·80 and G = 2·70. The side slope is 1 in 1. The depth of the canal is to be 8 m. Determine the factor of safety with respect to cohesion when the canal runs full. What will be the factor of safety if the canal is rapidly emptied ? For β = 45°, the stability number for various φ values are as given above. 15 marks

(b)

The soil profile at a building site consists of dense sand up to 3 m depth, normally loaded soft clay from 3 m to 8 m depth and stiff impervious rock below 8 m depth. The ground water table is at 0·60 m depth below ground level. The sand has a density of 18·6 kN/m³ above water table and 19·2 kN/m³ below water table. For the clay, natural water content is 50%, liquid limit is 70% and specific gravity is 2·70. Calculate the probable ultimate settlement resulting from a uniformly distributed surface load of 50 kN/m² applied over an extensive area of the site. 15 marks

(c)

The flow of water in a canal varies from 425 l/s to 680 l/s. It is desired to discharge not less than 340 l/s of water and not more than 425 l/s over a 90° V-notch weir into one channel, while the remainder goes over a sharp-crested rectangular weir. Find the length of rectangular weir and maximum head on each weir. Take C_d = 0·58 for both weirs. 20 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

एक नहर को एक मृदा, जिसका c = 20 kN/m², φ = 20°, e = 0·80 एवं G = 2·70 है, में खोदा जाना है। पार्श्व ढाल 1 में 1 है। नहर की गहराई 8 m रखनी है। नहर के पूर्ण प्रवाहित होने पर संसजन के सापेक्ष में सुरक्षा गुणक ज्ञात कीजिए। यदि नहर तेजी से खाली की जाए, तो सुरक्षा गुणांक क्या होगा ? β = 45° के लिए, φ के विभिन्न मानों के लिए स्थायित्व अंक निम्नप्रकार हैं :

φ (डिग्री में) (in degrees) 5° 10° 15° 20° 25°

SN 0·14 0·12 0·10 0·08 0·06 15 marks

(b)

एक निर्माण स्थल पर मृदा परिछेदिका (प्रोफाइल) में सघन रेत 3 m गहराई तक, सामान्य भारित मृद् मृतिका 3 m से 8 m गहराई तक एवं 8 m से नीचे दृढ़-अप्रवेश्य चट्टान है। भौम जल स्तर धरातल से 0·6 m नीचे है। रेत का घनत्व जल स्तर के ऊपर 18·6 kN/m³ और जल स्तर के नीचे 19·2 kN/m³ है। मृतिका के लिए प्राकृतिक जलांश 50%, द्रव सीमा 70% और विशिष्ट घनत्व 2·70 है। स्थल के एक विस्तृत क्षेत्र पर लगाए गए 50 kN/m² के एकसमान वितरित सतही भार के कारण होने वाले संभावित चरम निपदन की गणना कीजिए। 15 marks

(c)

एक नहर में जल प्रवाह 425 l/s से 680 l/s तक परिवर्तित होता है। यह अपेक्षित है कि 90° के V-नोच वियर से एक वाहिका में छोड़े जाने वाले जल का विसर्जन 340 l/s से कम एवं 425 l/s से अधिक न हो, जबकि बचा हुआ जल एक तीक्ष्ण-शिखर-आयताकार वियर के ऊपर से जाता है। आयताकार वियर की लंबाई और प्रत्येक वियर के ऊपर अधिकतम दाबोच्चता ज्ञात कीजिए। दोनों वियर के लिए C_d = 0·58 लीजिए। 20 marks

Q7 of the 2024 UPSC Mains Civil Engineering Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2024 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.

(a) Table with two rows and six columns. The first row contains the header 'phi (in degrees)' followed by values: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. The second row contains the header 'SN' followed by values: 0.14, 0.12, 0.10, 0.08, 0.06.

What "Solve" is asking you to do

Choose the method, then carry it through to a final answer. Identifying what kind of problem this is and why that method applies is the first thing marked; a correct figure arrived at invisibly earns almost nothing.

Structure that answers it

Given data and what is required → method chosen, with the reason it applies → set-up (equation, circuit, free body, trial balance) → working, step by step → answer with units and any condition of validity

Where marks are lost

Doing the middle steps mentally and writing only the result. In mathematics papers, a further loss comes from giving a decimal where the exact value in surds or fractions was wanted, or from skipping the justification a part explicitly asks for.

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How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: Geotechnical Engineering Analysis. (a) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (b) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (c) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation Full marks: All steps shown with correct formulas, units, and final values with checks.

Key points expected

  • Compute saturated and submerged unit weights from G and e
  • Apply FOS formula for full canal using saturated weight
  • Apply FOS formula for rapid emptying using submerged weight
  • Substitute SN=0.08 for φ=20° and β=45° from table
  • Determine clay void ratio from water content and G
  • Calculate initial effective stress at mid-clay depth
  • Compute final effective stress including 50 kN/m² load
  • Apply one-dimensional consolidation settlement formula

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. (a) Factor of safety for full and rapidly emptied canal conditions. 15 marks

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

    Must cover

    • Compute saturated and submerged unit weights from G and e
    • Apply FOS formula for full canal using saturated weight
    • Apply FOS formula for rapid emptying using submerged weight
    • Substitute SN=0.08 for φ=20° and β=45° from table

    Loses marks

    • Using dry unit weight for full canal condition
    • Ignoring the change in effective stress for rapid emptying

    Earns more

    • Explicitly state the stability number formula used
    • Show calculation of γ_sat and γ_sub

    Extra mark

    • Sketch of canal cross-section with water levels
  2. (b) Probable ultimate settlement of the soft clay layer. 15 marks

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

    Must cover

    • Determine clay void ratio from water content and G
    • Calculate initial effective stress at mid-clay depth
    • Compute final effective stress including 50 kN/m² load
    • Apply one-dimensional consolidation settlement formula

    Loses marks

    • Ignoring the water table depth in stress calculation
    • Using total stress instead of effective stress

    Earns more

    • Correct calculation of submerged unit weight for sand
    • Explicit statement of compression index assumption

    Extra mark

    • Sketch of soil profile with water table and stresses
  3. (c) Length of rectangular weir and maximum head on each weir. 20 marks

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

    Must cover

    • Use V-notch formula to find head for 425 l/s flow
    • Calculate flow over rectangular weir for max canal flow
    • Solve for rectangular weir length using Cd=0.58
    • Determine maximum head on rectangular weir

    Loses marks

    • Using wrong discharge formula for V-notch weir
    • Ignoring the minimum flow constraint for V-notch

    Earns more

    • Correct conversion of flow rates to m³/s
    • Clear separation of V-notch and rectangular weir calculations

    Extra mark

    • Sketch of weir arrangement with flow directions

Model answer coming soon

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