SOIL REPORT

I. Introduction

1.1 General Introduction

Geotechnical Engineering is the study of the behavior of soils under the

influence of different load forces and the interaction of soil and water. Civil
Engineers study and use their knowledge geotechnical engineering to design
foundations and retaining walls, provide support for excavation, and to help in
route selection for roads and highways. Geotechnical Engineers engage in field
investigations and laboratory experimentation to determine the properties of the
soil at the site to provide insight into their projects. The data obtained is then
recorded and written in the form of a report. This report is called a “soil report”.
As part of our Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory, we are required to write our
own soil report with our own soil sample.

1.2 Purpose and Scope

In Civil Engineering practice, a soil report is, more often than not, required
to acquire a building permit. The report’s main purpose is to provide insight and
understanding of the soil and how it can affect the building to be constructed.
This is why soil reports are procured before the beginning of construction. The
conditions of the project site are also discussed in the soil report. Within the soil
report one can also find the geological history of the site and the surrounding
area. The most important scope of information in soil reports however, are the
bearing capacity of the soil, the shear strength of soil, and information about
settlement.
II. Site Conditions

2.1 Location
We took our soil sample at an area in La Trinidad, Benguet
 2.2 Description

The site where we took the soil from is not far from residential buildings. At
the top soil several rocks can be seen. Scattered within the area are trash but
only at a miniscule amount. Patches of weed and grass can also be seen within
the vicinity.

III. Field Exploration and Sampling

3.1 Drilling

In Civil Engineering practice, to perform an effective soil investigation, the

engineer must be familiar with the tools and procedures. Most soil investigations
are performed using drills of numerous types and sizes. But since we are still
students and having no access to drill rigs, we used only shovels to dig and
create a borehole into the ground.

3.2 Sampling

Sampling is done so that the characteristics of the soil can be evaluated.

There are a lot of sampling choices that can be done, depending on the intended
use of the soil sample. Laboratory measurements of engineering properties such
as strength, stiffness, compressibility or permeability can be strongly affected by
sample disturbance. Again, due to the lack of equipment and resources, we only
did sampling manually. After digging a bore hole, we took about 2 bags worth of
soil and wrapped it around plastic to preserve its properties. This soil is what we
will use for laboratory experimentation.
IV. Field and Laboratory Testing Details

4.1 Moisture Content Determination

We determined the moisture content of our soil sample by weighing a moist

sample, drying that moist sample right after weighing and then plugging the data
gathered into the working equation. The data we have gathered with three (3)
different trials are shown in the Table 4.1.1.
Table 4.1.1

Can No. Mass of dry soil Mass of water Moisture

(g) (g) Content (%)
A40 25.01 9.38 37.505
65 35.95 13.92 38.720
73 22.69 8.26 36.404
Average = 37.543%

mass of moist soil – mass of dry soil

Moisture content =
mass of dry soil

4.2 Specific Gravity

We determined the specific gravity of our soil sample by using a flask

(pycnometer) and filling it with water up until the mark. The data we have
gathered from the experiment are shown in the Table 4.2.1

Table 4.2.1

Mass (g)
Mass of flask + water filled to mark (g) 657.50
Mass of flask + soil + water filled to mark 711.33
Mass of dry soil 100
Mass of equal volume of water as the 37.94
soil solids
Gs (T °C), T= 25°C 2.165
Gs (20°C) 2.162

Gs(20°C)= 2.162
 mass of pycnometer with dry soil – mass of empty pycnometer
Specific gravity=
(mass of pycnometer with dry soil – mass of empty pycnometer) -
(mass of pycnometer with soil and water – mass of pycnometer filled
with water only)

4.3 Atterberg’s Limits

We determined the liquid limit and plastic limit of our sample by using
Atterberg’s machine. The table 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 shows the data we have gathered
from the experiment.
LIQUID LIMIT
Table 4.3.1

Liquid limit data 1 2 3

specimen no.
Can no. A-50 40 110
Mass of can (g) 24.67 24.09 24.86
Mass of can + moist soil (g) 51.78 46.91 50.38
Moisture content (%) 43.05 47.13 49.15
Number of blows, N 21 18 14

LIQUID LIMIT
49.5

49
Moisture content, %

48.5

48

47.5

47
10 100
Number of Blows, N

LL = 47.7 %
Flow Index = 9.184 %
 PLASTIC LIMIT
Table 4.3.2

Soil specimen no. 1 2 3

can no. A-19 A-79 130
mass of can (g) 24.57 24.20 24.34
mass of can + moist soil 39.81 30.72 26.19
(g)
Mass of can + dry soil (g) 35.36 28.75 25.63
Plastic Limit 42.56 43.30 43.41

PL = 43.09%
Plastic Index = LL - PL= 3.42%

4.4 Sieve Analysis

We performed a sieve analysis on our soil sample to determine the

particle size distribution of our soil sample. Table 4.4.1 shows the results we
have gathered from the sieve analysis done.
Table 4.4.1

#4 Coarse #10 Medium #40 Fine #200 SILT/CLAY

GRAVEL SAND SAND SAND
100

90

80

70
% Passing

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
10 1 0.1 0.01
Particle Diameter (mm)

*Well Graded Soil

 Cu= 10.51
Cc= 0.93
So= 2.63

4.5 Unconfined Compressive Strength Test

We determined the unconfined compressive strength of our soil sample by

using an unconfined compressive strength test apparatus. Table 4.5.1 shows the
data we have gathered.

Table 4.5.1

Soil sample 1 2 3
Height (mm) 144.78 152.4 152.40
Diameter (mm2) 68.58 68.58 63.50
81.28 76.20 71.12
73.66 76.20 76.20
Weight (g) 1080.02 1109.42 1056.26
volume (mm3) 16944.374 17633.42 591087.58
load dial (in/div) 1.92 1.92 1.92
deformation dial (in/div) 0.001 0.001 0.001
x 0.0254 0.0254 0.0254
z 100 100 100

UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

70

60

50
Stress, KN/m2

40
soil sample 1
30
soil sample 2

20 soil sample 3

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Strain
 Cu= 61.404/2 = 30.70 Kpa

4.6 Shear Strength Test

We determined the shear strength of our soil sample by using the shear
strength test apparatus. Table 4.6.1 shows the data we have gathered from
experimentation.

Table 4.6.1

Specimen Normal Dial Horizontal Normal Horizontal Shear

No. load (kg) reading displacement Stress shear stress
(0.002mm) (mm) (Kpa) force (N) (Kpa)
1 12.036 103 2.06 45.747 142.14 55.072
2 16.573 99.5 0.199 62.988 137.31 53.200
3 21.108 141 0.282 80.228 194.58 75.389

80
70
60
Shear stress, Kpa

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Horizontal displacement, mm
 80

70

60

Shear stres, Kpa 50

40

30

20

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Normal stress, Kpa

Angle of friction, φ= 26.57°

LABORATORY TEST RESULTS

Borehole Depth Moisture Liquid Plastic Plasticity Shrinkage

No. (m) Content Limit Limit Index, PI Limit
(%) (%) (%) (%)
1 3.00 37.54 47.7 43.41 3.42 12

Borehole Depth (m) Coefficient of Uniformity Sorting

No. curvature (Cc) coefficient Coefficient
(Cu) (So)
1 3.00 10.51 0.93 2.63

Borehole Depth (m) Specific Shear Strength Compressive

No. Gravity (Kpa) Strength (Kpa)
1 3.00 2.162 61.22 30.70
Borehole Depth (m) Cohesion Angle of Internal Shear Strength
No. (Kpa) friction φ (°) (Kpa)
1 3.00 19.04 26.57° 61.22
V. Soil Classification

In our geotechnical engineering laboratory, we have been tasked to classify

our soil sample, based on our data and by using 3 methods. The Unified Soil
Classification System or USCS, the United States Department of Agriculture or
USDA, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
or AASHTO.

UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS)

The soil was classified as SW-SC, well graded sand with clay.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)

The soil was classified as sand.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION

OFFICIALS (AASHTO)

The soil was classified under Group A-2-5.

BEARING CAPACITY ANALYSIS

UTILIZING THE BEARING CAPACITY EQUATION

The bearing capacity was calculated using the shear test parameters of
cohesion and angle of internal friction and the soil density of the
specimens extracted from the boreholes. The following well known
Terzaghi equation with correction terms suggested by Schultze can be
used to calculate the bearing capacity of rectangular
foundation of any sides ratio B:L

qult = (1+ 0.3 B/L) C Nc + γo D Nq + (1- 0.2 B/L) (γ1 B/2) Nγ

where:

γo - Unit weight of soil above foundation level in KN/m3.

γ1 - Unit weight of soil below foundation level in KN/m3.

C, Ø - Strength parameters of the soil below foundation level in KN/m2

and degrees respectively.
B - Width of foundation in (m).
L - Length of foundation in (m).

Nc, Nq, Nγ - Bearing capacity coefficients dependent on the angle of

internal friction of the soil below foundation level (dimensionless).

D - Depth of foundation (m).

Calculations for an assumed isolated footing :

Considering:
B = 1.5m
L = 3m
D = 3.0m
γo= 21.5 KN/m3
γ1 = 21.5 KN/m3
C = 19.04 KN/m2
Ø = 26.57

Based on the calculations, a bearing capacity of 100.909 KPa is given at a

depth of not less than 2.0m from the original ground assuming isolated
footings will be utilized.