Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

Soil Classification
Mid Term-2010-2011 1. What are the tests required for types of soil classification?
Ans.: Soil tests required for classification Grain size analysis a. Sieve analysis b. Hydrometer analysis Consistency tests a. Liquid limit test, b. Plastic limit test

2. What are the systems used of soil classification?

Ans : Systems of soil classification The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or The British Standard Institute (BSI) American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International System (IS) Unified soil Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)

3. Draw the plasticity chart soil classification. Ans.:

60
)

50
U -L

e in 0

40
Plasticity Index (%)
CL CI CH

= PI

( .9

LL

-8

-L

ine

PI

(L .73 =0

L-

) 20

Inorganic Clays of High Plasticity

30
Inorganic Clays of Medium Plasticity Inorganic Silts of High Compressibility and Organic Clays

20

Inorganic Clays of Low Plasticity

ML or OL

10
Cohesionless Soil CL - ML

MI or OI Inorganic Silts of Low Compressibility

MH or OH
Inorganic Silts of Medium Compressibility and Organic Silts

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Liquid Limit (%)

4. Name at least four contributors and at least two contributions corresponding each contributor in the field of Geotechnical Engineering? Ans.: Four contributions to geotechnical engineering are:
a) Foundations b) Retaining Structures c) Stability of Slopes d) Underground Structures a) Foundations contribution to the field of Geotechnical Engineering Bearing capacity of soil and Settlement of soil i.e. consolidation of soil. b) Retaining structures contribution to the field of Geotechnical Engineering Earth pressure of soil Earth pressure at rest Active earth pressure Passive earth pressure Permeability of soil Seepage of soil 1 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

5. What are the roles of soil classification system in geotechnical engineering?

Ans : The roles of soil classification system in geotechnical engineering
Classification and Index Properties (, , , G, n, LL, PL, SL etc)

Classification System ("Language")

Engineering Properties (Permeability, Compressibility, Shrinkage Swell, Shear Strength)

Engineering Purpose (Highways, Airfields, Foundaiton, Dams etc)

6. How will you determine whether a gravel or sandy soil is poor or well graded?
Ans.: Determination of granular or sandy soil whether it is poor or well graded The co-efficient of uniformity, The co-efficient of uniformity,
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% D60

% Finer by Mass

50% 40% D30 30% 20% D10 10% 0 10 1 Grain Size, D (mm) 0.1

Where , and are the diameters corresponding to percents finer than 60, 30, and 10% respectively. For, Gravel when well-graded, For, Sand when well-graded, Otherwise Gravel is poor graded. Otherwise Sand is poor graded.

7. What are the engineering uses of Atterbergs limits? Ans.

Atterberg Limits used for To describe the consistency of fine-grained soils To determines its state or consistency Four states are used to describe the soil consistency; solid, semi-solid, plastic and liquid 2 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 To defining or classifying a soil type or predicting soil performance when used a construction material.

8. With example define the dual symbol for USCS soil classification. Ans.:
Dual Symbol and Borderline Classification in USCS. Soils having between 50% and 12% passing the #200 sieve are classified as Borderline and have a symbol called dual symbol. The first part of the dual symbol indicates whether the coarse fraction is well graded or poorly graded. The second part describes the nature of the fines. For example, a soil classified as a SP-SM means that it is a poorly graded sand with between 5% and 12% silty fines. Similarly, a GW-GC is a well graded gravel with some clayey fines that plot above the Aline.

9. Define liquidity index and plasticity index? Ans.:

Plasticity Index The difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit of a soil is defined as the plasticity index, PI PI = LL PL. Liquidity Index The relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state can be defined by a ratio called the liquidity index, which is given by

Where,

Increasing Moisture

Solid

Semi-Solid

Plastic

Liquid

Volume

Shrinkage Limit

Plastic Limit

Liquid Limit

Drying

3 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

10.

How will you determine whether gravel or a sand is poor or well graded? Determination of granular or sandy soil whether it is poor or well graded The co-efficient of uniformity, The co-efficient of uniformity, Where , and 10% respectively. are the diameters corresponding to percents finer than 60, 30, and

For, Gravel when well-graded,

Otherwise Gravel is poor graded. For, Sand when well-graded,

Otherwise Sand is poor graded. 11. What are the types of soil tests, will you perform in the laboratory and field? What are the parameters, will you find from those above tests? Laboratory test Properties Grain size distribution Consistency Test Sieve analysis and hydrometer test Liquid limit Plastic limit Plasticity index Consolidation Standard proctor, Modified proctor Specific Gravity Corresponding Tests: 1. Unconfined Compression test 2. Direct Shear test 3. Tri-axial test

Compressibility Compaction Characteristics Unit Weight Shear Strength 1. Cohesive Soils 2. Non-cohesive soils 3. General Field test Properties Compaction control Shear Strength (Soft Clay) Relative Density (Granular Soil) Field density Permeability 4

Test Moisture Density relation In place density Vane shear test Penetration test Core Cutting Sand replacement Pumping test

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Soil Sampling and resistance of the soil Standard Penetration test to penetration of the sampler Split Barrel Sampling Bearing Capacity Corresponding Tests Pavement CBR, Plate Beating test Footing Plate Bearing test Piles Corresponding Tests Vertical Piles Load Test Batter Piles Lateral Load Test Symbols used in the unified soil classification system Soil Gravel Sand Silt Clay Organic soil Peat Gradation Well graded Poorly graded Low Plasticity High Plasticity Group Index The group index is a means of rating the value of a soil as a sub-grade material within its own group. It is a new factor used in the AASHTO soil classification system. It is not used in order to place a soil in a particular group that is done directly from the results of sieve analysis, the liquid limit and plasticity index. The higher the value of the group index, the poorer is the quality of the material. The group index is a function of the amount of material passing the # 200 sieve, the liquid limit and the plasticity index. Group Index ( Where, )[ ( ) ( )( )] Symbol G S M C O Pt Symbol W P L H

The value of Group Index should be reported to the nearest whole number but not a fraction, say 15.2 15 or 15.6 16. When the calculated Group Index is negative, shall be reported as 0 (zero). When PI = 0, then particle Group Index formula 5 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 ( )[ ( When LL = 0, then particle Group Index formula ( )[ ]

)]

The good qualities of a sub-grade material are related as inversely proportional to its Group index. For example, a Group Index the value of which is zero, generally indicates a excellent subgrade material. A Group Index the value of which is 20 indicates a Poor material.

Dual Symbol and Borderline Classification in USCS. Soils having between 50% and 12% passing the #200 sieve are classified as Borderline and have a symbol called dual symbol. The first part of the dual symbol indicates whether the coarse fraction is well graded or poorly graded. The second part describes the nature of the fines. For example, a soil classified as a SP-SM means that it is a poorly graded sand with between 5% and 12% silty fines. Similarly, a GW-GC is a well graded gravel with some clayey fines that plot above the Aline.

Coarse Grained Soils

Fine Grained Soils ML MH OH CL CH OL

Borderline Case

Gravel

GP SW SP

Gravel

GC SM SC

Borderline Case

GW

GM

Silt

Sand

Sand

Clay

12

45 50

55

100

Percent Passing the #200 Sieve

Dual Symbol for 5% to 12% finer particles Or GW GW GP GP GM GC GM GC SW SW SP SP SM SC SM SC

Dual Symbol for 45% to 55% finer particles Or GM GM GC GC ML MH CL CH 6 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque SM SM SC SC ML MH CL CH