Tutorial on Soil Mechanics Chapter two.

Example 1.
One cubic metre of wet soil weighs 19.80 kN. If the specific gravity of soil particles is 2.70 and
water content is 11%, find the void ratio, dry density and degree of saturation.
Ans.. Degree of Saturation = 61.24%.

Example 2.
Determine the (i) Water content, (ii) Dry density, (iii) Bulk density, (iv) Void ratio and (v)
Degree of saturation from the following data :
Sample size 3.81 cm dia. × 7.62 cm ht.
Wet weight = 1.668 N
Oven-dry weight = 1.400 N
Specific gravity = 2.7 Ans. S = 76.56%.

Example 3.
A soil has bulk density of 20.1 kN/m3 and water content of 15%. Calculate the water content if
the soil partially dries to a density of 19.4 kN/m3 and the void ratio remains unchanged.
Ans. water content after partial drying = 10.86%.

Example 4.
The porosity of a soil sample is 35% and the specific gravity of its particles is 2.7. Calculate its
void ratio, dry density, saturated density and submerged density. Ans: Submerged unit weight=
10.83 kN/m3.

Example 5.
(i) A dry soil has a void ratio of 0.65 and its grain specific gravity is = 2.80. What is its unit
weight ?
(ii) Water is added to the sample so that its degree of saturation is 60% without any change in
void ratio. Determine the water content and unit weight.
(iii) The sample is next placed below water. Determine the true unit weight (not considering
buoyancy) if the degree of saturation is 95% and 100% respectively.

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Example 6.
A sample of saturated soil has a water content of 35%. The specific gravity of solids is 2.65.
Determine its void ratio, porosity, saturated unit weight and dry unit weight. Ans: Dry unit
weight= 13.44 kN/m3.

Example 7.
A saturated clay has a water content of 39.3% and a bulk specific gravity of 1.84. Determine the
void ratio and specific gravity of particles. Ans: Specific gravity of soil particles = 2.74; Void
ratio = 1.08.

Example 8.
The mass specific gravity of a fully saturated specimen of clay having a water content of 30.5%
is 1.96. On oven drying, the mass specific gravity drops to 1.60. Calculate the specific gravity of
clay. Ans: G = 3.123

Example 9.
A sample of clay taken from a natural stratum was found to be partially saturated and when
tested in the laboratory gave the following results. Compute the degree of saturation. Specific
gravity of soil particles = 2.6 ; wet weight of sample = 2.50 N; dry weight of sample = 210 N ;
and volume of sample = 150 cm3. Ans: Degree of saturation = 57.8%

Example 10.
A soil sample has a unit weight of 18.75 KN/m3 and a saturation of 50%. When its saturation is
increased to 80%, its unit weight raises to 19.875KN/m3. Determine the voids ratio e and the
specific gravity G of the soil sample. Ans. G= 2.7, e= 0.6

Example11
Determine the weight of water (in kN) that must be added to a cubic meter of soil to attain a 95%
degree of solution, if the dry unit weights is 17.5 kN/m3. Its moisture content is 4%, the specific
gravity of solids is 2.65 and the soil is entirely made up of a clean quartz sand. Ans: add 2.28 kN
water per m3.

Example12
A soil sample in its natural state has, when fully saturated , a water content of 32.5%. Determine
the void ratio, dry and total unit weights. Calculate the total weight of water required to saturate
a soil mass of volume 10 m . Assume Gs = 2.69 .

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Example13
For a saturated soil, show that

e 1+w
γ sat =( )( )
w
γ
1+ e w

Example14
For a moist soil sample, the following are given.
• Total volume: V=1.2 m3
• Total mass: M = 2350 kg
• Moisture content: w = 8.6%
• Specific gravity of soil solids: Gs = 2.71
Determine the following.
a. Moist density
b. Dry density
c. Void ratio
d. Porosity
e. Degree of saturation
f. Volume of water in the soil sample

Example15
The following data are given for a soil:
• Porosity: n = 0.4
• Specific gravity of the soil solids: Gs = 2.68
• Moisture content: w = 12%
Determine the mass of water to be added to 10 m3 of soil for full saturation.

Example16
A saturated soil has a dry unit weight of 22 kN/m3. Its moisture content is 23%.
Determine:
a. Saturated unit weight, γsat
b. Specific gravity, Gs
c. Void ratio, e

Example17
For a given sandy soil, emax = 0.75 and emin = 0.4. Let Gs = 2.68. In the field, the soil
is compacted to a moist density of 22kN/m3 at a moisture content of 12%. Determine the relative
density of compaction.

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Example18
One cubic metre of wet soil weighs 19.80 kN. If the specific gravity of soil particles is 2.70 and
water content is 11%, find the void ratio, dry density and degree of saturation.

Example 19
Determine the (i) Water content, (ii) Dry density, (iii) Bulk density, (iv) Void ratio and (v)
Degree of saturation from the following data

Example 20
A soil has bulk density of 20.1 kN/m3 and water content of 15%. Calculate the water content if
the soil partially dries to a density of 19.4 kN/m3 and the void ratio remains unchanged.

Example 21
The porosity of a soil sample is 35% and the specific gravity of its particles is 2.7. Calculate its
void ratio, dry density, saturated density and submerged density.

Example 22
1. A dry soil has a void ratio of 0.65 and its grain specific gravity is = 2.80. What is its unit
weight ?
2. Water is added to the sample so that its degree of saturation is 60% without any change
in void ratio. Determine the water content and unit weight.
3. The sample is next placed below water. Determine the true unit weight (not considering
buoyancy) if the degree of saturation is 95% and 100% respectively.

Example 23
A sample of saturated soil has a water content of 35%. The specific gravity of solids is 2.65.
Determine its void ratio, porosity, saturated unit weight and dry unit weight.

Example 24
A saturated clay has a water content of 39.3% and a bulk specific gravity of 1.84. Determine the
void ratio and specific gravity of particles.

Example 25
The mass specific gravity of a fully saturated specimen of clay having a water content of 30.5%
is 1.96. On oven drying, the mass specific gravity drops to 1.60. Calculate the specific gravity of
clay.

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Example 26
A sample of clay taken from a natural stratum was found to be partially saturated and when
tested in the laboratory gave the following results. Compute the degree of saturation. Specific
gravity of soil particles = 2.6; wet weight of sample = 2.50 N; dry weight of sample = 210 N ;
and volume of sample = 150 cm3.

Example 27
A contractor has compacted the base course for a new road and found that the mean value of the
test samples shows w = 14.6%, Gs=2.81 and γ=18.2kN/m3. The specifications required that
e<0.80. Has the contractor compiled with the specifications?

Example 28

EXAMPLE 29

Example 30

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Example 31

Plot the grain size distribution cureve. Compute coefficient of curvature and coefficient of
uniformity.

Example 32
Five different particle sizes are mixed in a proportions shown below and water is added to make
the volume of soil suspension exactly equal to 1000cc.

Particle size 0.060 0.020 0.010 0.005 0.001

mm
Weight g 5 15 20 4 6
The particles have a specific gravity of 2.65 and temperature of the soil suspension was 25o C. ƞ
= 8.95 millipose. γw= 1.0 g/cc.
The soil suspension was thoroughly shaken and sedimentation allowed.

a) What is the largest particle size present at a depth of 10 cm after 8 minutes of the start
of sedimentation?
b) What is the specific gravity of the soil suspension at a depth of 10 cm after 8 minutes of
the start of sedimentation?
c) How long after the start of sedimentation will all particles have settled down below a
depth of 10 cm?

Example 33
In a specific gravity test with pyknometer, the following observed readings are available:
Weight of the empty pyknometer = 7.50 N
Weight of pyknometer + dry soil = 17.30 N
Weight of pyknometer + dry soil + water filling the remaining volume = 22.45 N
Weight of pyknometer + water = 16.30 N
Determine the specific gravity of the soil solids, ignoring the effect of temperature.

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Example 34
The dry unit weight of a sand sample in the loosest state is 13.34 kN/m3 and in the densest state,
it is 21.19 kN/m3. Determine the density index of this sand when it has a porosity of 33%.
Assume the grain specific gravity as 2.68.

Example 35
A soil has a plastic limit of 25% and a plasticity index of 30. If the natural water content of the
soil is 34%, what is the liquidity index and what is the consistency index ? How do you describe
the consistency ?

Example 36
The following index properties were determined for two soils A and B.

Index property A B
Liquid limit 65 35
Plastic limit 25 20
Water content 35 25
Sp. Gravity of solids 2.70 2.65
Degree of saturation 100 100
Which of the two soils

I. Contains more clay particles?

II. Has greater bulk density?
III. Has greater dry density ?
IV. Has grater void ratio ?

Example 37
In a earthen dam under construction the bulk unit weight is 16.5 kN/m3 at water content of 11%.
If the water content is to be raised to 15%, compute the quanity of water required to be added per
cubic meter of soil? Assume no change in the void ratio.

Example 38
The dry unit weight of a sand sample in the loosest state is 13.34 kN/m3 and in the densest state,
it is 21.19 kN/m3. Determine the density index of this sand when it has a porosity of 33%.
Assume the grain specific gravity as 2.68.

Example 38
The results of a particle size analysis are shown in table below. The total mass was 469 g.
Plot the particle size distribution curve and determine the following

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I. Percentage of gravel, coarse sand, medium sand, fine sand and silt-clayfraction in the
soil as per IS: 1498-1970
II. Coefficient of uniformity,
III. Coefficient of curvature
IV. Effective size
V. Soil description.
Sieve size(mm) Mass retained (g) Sieve size(mm) Mass retained (g)
63 0 4.75 50
37.5 26 2.36 137
19 28 1.18 46
13.2 18 0.6 31
9.5 20 0.212 34
6.7 49 0.075 30

Example 39
Liquid limit tests on a given sample of clay were carried out. The data obtained are as given
below
Test no. 1 2 3 4
Water content % 70 64 47 44
Number blows, N 5 8 30 45
Draw the flow curve on semi-log graph paper and determine the liquid limit and flow index of
the soil.

Example 40
Determine the times (t) required for particles of diameters 0.2 , 0.02 , 0.0 1 an d 0.005 mm to fall
a depth of 10 cm from the surface in water . Given: µ= 8.15 x 10-3 poises, G = 2.65. (Note : 1
poise = 10-3 gm-sec/cm2.

Example 40
Mechanical analysis on four different samples designated a s A, B, C and D were carried out in a
soil laboratory. The results of tests are given below. Hydrometer analysis was carried out on
sample D. The soil is non-plastic.
Sample D: liquid limit = 42, plastic limit = 24, plasticity index =18
Classify the soils per the Unified Soil Classification System.

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