Geotechnical Materials

19SC703 Course material - 1

Dr.K.B.Anand

Soil and Rock

Soil and rock are the principal

components of many construction
projects.

Knowledge of their properties,

characteristics, and behavior is
important to those associated with the
design or construction of projects.
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Dr.K.B.Anand
Soil and Rock

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Dr.K.B.Anand

Soil and Rock

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Dr.K.B.Anand
 SOIL LIMITS
Stages of Consistency

Moisture content decreasing

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Dr.K.B.Anand

Volumetric Measure
• Bank cubic metres (bcm)
• Loose cubic metres (lcm)
• Compacted cubic metres (ccm)

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Dr.K.B.Anand
 COMPACTION
Each soil has its particular
optimum moisture content
(OMC) at which a corresponding
maximum density can be
obtained for a given amount of
compactive input energy.
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Dr.K.B.Anand

COMPACTION
SPECIFICATIONS

Typically
specifications
give an
acceptable range
of water content,
OMC ± 2% for
example.
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Dr.K.B.Anand
 COMPACTION
SPECIFICATIONS

The specification
also sets a 126.4
minimum
density, 95% of
max. dry density
for a specific test
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Dr.K.B.Anand

Soil Weight-Volume
Relationships

Unit weight γ   total weight of soil  W

total soil volume V

Dry unit weightγ d  

weight of soil solids Ws

total soil volume V

Water content ω 

weight of water in soil Ww

weight of soil solids Ws
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Dr.K.B.Anand
 Soil Weight-Volume
Relationships

Dry unit weight is related to

unit weight by water content,
γ
γd 
1 ω
When you move soil the only thing
that stays constant is the weight of
the solid particles (Ws).
19SC703 Course material - 11
Dr.K.B.Anand

EXERCISE

The
excavated
material has a

• unit weight () of 1510 kg/cum

• water content () of 8%.
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand
 EXERCISE

The embankment
will be compacted to

• dry unit weight (d) of 1826 kg/cum

• water content () of 12%.

19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand

EXERCISE
The net section of the embankment is
86,400 cum. How many cubic metres
of excavation will be required to
construct the embankment ?

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand
 TIP

As material is moved from the

excavation

to the compacted fill

the only constant is the weight
of the solid particles (Ws).
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand

Solution Step 1

Weight of the solid particles which

make up the embankment (fill)
• dry unit weight (d) of 1826 kg/m3
• 86,400 cum embankment

86,400 cum 1826 kg/m 3    ( A)

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand
 Step 2

Use relationship d -  to
calculate the dry unit weight of
the excavated material.
• unit weight () of 1510 kg/m3
• water content () of 8%
1510
d = 1 + 0.08
 1398 kg/m3
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand

Step 3

Calculate the weight of the

solid particles which make up
the excavation (cum)

x cum 1398 kg/m 3 --- (B)

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand
 Step 4

The weights must be equal

therefore:
1826 kg/m 3
x = 86,400 cum  3
1398 kg/m

x = 1,12,852 cum
excavated material required
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand

Consistent volumetric measure

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡
𝑆𝑕𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝐵𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡

𝐿𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡

𝑆𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝐵𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡

𝐵𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡

𝑆𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 = − 1 × 100
𝐿𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand
 EXERCISE
Check the water requirements.
Will a water truck be needed
on the job or will it be
necessary to dry the material?

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand

Water ?
Water content () is

content ω 
weight of water in soil Ww

weight of soil solids Ws
 x d = weight of water/cum
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand
 Step 1
Water from Cut

1,12,852 cum 1398 kg/m 3  0.08

= 126,21,367 kg water
delivered with the borrow
material
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand

Step 2
Water needed at the Fill

86,400 cum 1826 kg/m 3  0.12

= 189,31,968 kg water
needed at the fill

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand
 Step 4
Water Deficiency

Needed at the fill 189,31,968 kg

Delivered from cut 126,21,367 kg
Water deficiency 63,10,601kg

19SC703 Course material -

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Step 5
Litres per cum

Water deficiency 63,10,601 lit

Volume of cut 1,12,852 cum
Need
55.9 l/cum of borrow

19SC703 Course material -

Dr.K.B.Anand
 Step 6
Litres per sq.m

If the embankment fill soil is in

15 cm (compacted lifts),

Water per sq.m = 55.9 x 0.15

= 8.4 litres
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand

Adding Water

Using sprinklers to add moisture to a

foundation fill.
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand
Reducing Moisture

Disking a heavy clay fill

to reduce moisture.
19SC703 Course material -
Dr.K.B.Anand