Soil Consistency Consistency is a term which is frequently used to describe the condition of a soil. There are four states of consistency for fine-grained soils (Table 1.1). The Liquid Limit is the water content at which the soil passes through to the liquid state from the the plastic state. The Plastic Limit is the lowest water content at which the soil begins to crumble when rolled out into thin threads. The Plasticity Index is measure of the range of water content over which the soil remains in the plastic state, The Shrinkage Limit is unique in that it denotes a particular consistency and also a relatively abrupt change in the soil - water volume relation ship. Liquid Limit, LL Plastic Plasticity Index PI = LL - PL Plastic Limit, PL Semisolid Shrinkage Index SI = PL- SL Shrinkage Limit, SL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS Problem 1.1.The results of particle size analyses and, where appropriate, limit tests on samples of four soils are given in following table. Classify each soil according to the Unified Classification System Percentage ‘Smaller Particle size | Soil A Soil B SoilC | Soil D 63mm 20mm —100_ _ 6.3 mm 94 [100 2mm 8 98 600 mm Zee ees 100 212mm 3B 67 95 100 6mm {2 + 37 3 99. 0.020 mm 2 46 88 0.006 mm I 25 71 0.002 mm 4 13 58 Liquid Limit ‘Non-Plastic 32 78 Plastic Limit 24 31Solution 1.1: 1007), 80 70 (% 60 40 10 cot 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01 oa 1 10 Grain Size (meg Soil A and B: These soils consist of more than 50% coarse material and these coarse materials have sand size more than 50%, So the primary letter of these soils is S. For determination of the secondary letters, Cy and C, must be calculated. The coefficient of curvature: | Co Deo* Dio The coefficient of uniformity, C Deo .=— Dio The C, and Cy are obtained as 1.2 and 8.3 respectively by using these expressions for soil A. The unified soil classification group of soil A is SW.There is no need to calculate the C, and C, for Soil B. Because, Soil B consists of more than 12% fine material and it is a non-plastic material. So the unified soil classification group of Soil B is SM. Soil C and D: LLe=32% PLo=24% Pic = Llc - PL =8% LLp=78 % PLp=31% Plp= LLp- PLp = 47% Soil D and Soil C consist of more than 50% fine grained material. LL values and PI calculated values are used and the classes of these soils are determined from the plasticity chart. So, the unified soil class group of Soil D is CH and that of Soil C is ML. Problem 1.2. A soil has a bulk density of 1.91g/cm> and a water content of 9.5 %. The value of G, is 2.70, Calculate the void ratio and degree of saturation of the soil. What would be the values of density and the water content, if the soil were fully saturated, at the same void ratio. Solution 1.2: p=1.91g/em3 w= 9.5% G,= 2.70 e=? S,=? wa mass of water _ mw e volume of void _ Vv mass of solid ms volume of solid Vs assume Vega] =lem3= VytV3+Vair Moat P=. = Meotal =1.91g Motal = Mw * Ms we— => 0.095 * m= my 1.91 =mg+ 0.095 * m, > m=1.744g my =0.166