MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila

CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City

Telephone Number: (02) 516-7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)
Review MODULE 21– Geotechnical Engineering 2
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
21.03 SOIL COMPACTION 1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥
It is the densification of soil by removal of air which requires mechanical energy.
The degree of compaction measured in terms of dry unit weight. The moisture 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
content at which the maximum dry unit weight is attained is called optimum 1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛
moisture content.
where:
1. An earth dam requires 1 million cubic meters of soil compacted to a void ratio e = in situ void ratio
of 0.80. In the vicinity of the proposed dam, three borrow pits were identified as emax = void ratio of soil in its loosest state
having suitable materials. The cost of purchasing the soil and the cost of emin = void ratio of soil in its densest state
excavation are the same for each borrow pit. The only cost difference is the n = in situ porosity
transportation cost. The table below provides the void ratio and transportation nmax = porosity of soil in its loosest state
cost for each borrow pit. Which borrow pit has the cheapest transportation cost? nmin = porosity of soil in its densest state

𝛾𝑑 − 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐷𝑟 = [ ][ ]
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑

1 1
−
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑
RELATIVE COMPACTION 𝐷𝑟 =
1 1
It is defined as the ratio of the in-place, dry density of a soil or aggregate to the −
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
test maximum dry density of the same soil or aggregate when compacted by a
specific test method. 𝑅𝑂
𝛾𝑑 𝑅𝐶 =
𝑅𝐶 = 𝑥100% 1 = 𝐷𝑟 (1 − 𝑅𝑂 )
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛
SOIL COMPACTION APPARATUS 𝑅𝑂 =
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
1. Standard Proctor Mold and Hammer
2. Sand Cone Apparatus γd = in situ dry unit weight
3. Rubber Balloon Apparatus γdmax = dry unit weight in its densest condition
γdmin = dry unit weight in its loosest condition
2. Given the results of a Standard Proctor Test:
DESIGNATION OF GRANULAR SOILS

The volume of the mold for this test is 1/30 cubic feet (946,000 cubic
millimeters)
a. Determine the maximum dry unit weight of the soil in kN/m3.
b. Determine the optimum moisture content in percent.
c. Determine the void ratio at optimum moisture content. Take GS = 2.70.
d. Determine the degree of saturation at optimum moisture content.
3. Following are the results of a field unit weight determination test performed on
the soil by means of the sand cone method:
Calibrated density of sand = 1570 kg/m3
Calibrated mass of sand to fill the cone = 0.545 kg
Mass of jar + cone + sand (before use) = 7.59 kg
Mass of jar + cone + sand (after use) = 4.78 kg
Mass of moist soil from hole = 3.007 kg
Moisture content of moist soil = 10.2%
Maximum dry unit weight in the laboratory compaction test = 19 kN/m 3
a. Determine the dry unit weight of compaction in the field in kN/m3
b. Determine the relative compaction in the field.
4. The following data were obtained from a field density test on a compacted fill
of sandy clay. Laboratory moisture density test on the fill material indicated a
maximum dry density of 18.85 kN/m3 at optimum water content of 11%.
Weight of moist soil removed from test hole = 1038 g
Weight of soil after oven drying = 914 g
Volume of test hole from Rubber Balloon Apparatus= 0.0169 cu. ft
What was the percent compaction of the fill?
RELATIVE DENSITY or DENSITY INDEX – is used to indicate the in situ
denseness or looseness of granular soil.
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑛
𝑒=
1−𝑛
1. A soil sample weighing 249 kg is removed from a test pit. Water weighing 124
kg will just fill the pit. A sample of the soil weighing 113.2 g is oven dried and its
weight after oven drying is 98.7 g. Maximum attainable dry unit weight of soil is
18.8 kN/m3 and minimum attainable dry unit weight is 15.75 kN/m3. Specific
gravity of the soil is 2.67.
a. Determine the wet unit weight (kN/m3).
b. Determine the dry unit weight (kN/m3).
c. Determine the relative density of soil.
2. In order to determine the relative density of a soil sample the following data
were obtained using a compaction mold having a mass of 5300 g and a volume
of 950 cm3.
Mass of mold filled with dry soil poured in loosely = 7000 g
Mass of mold filled with dry soil dynamically compacted = 7400 g
If the dry density of the soil in situ is 17.65 kN/m3 and a Gs = 2.70
a. Determine the maximum bulk unit weight kN/m3.
b. Determine the minimum void ratio.
c. Determine the maximum void ratio.
d. Determine the relative density.
3. The maximum dry unit weight of soil is 19 kN/m3 and the minimum dry unit
weight is 16 kN/m3.
a. Determine the relative compaction in the field if the relative density is 76%.
b. Determine the dry unit weight in the field.
SUITABILITY NUMBER – is based on the grain size distribution of the backfill
material that controls the rate of compaction. The suitability number gives an
index for the quality of the backfill material. The smaller the SN, the more desirable
the backfill material is.
3 1 1
𝑆𝑁 = 1.7√ + +
(𝐷50 )2 (𝐷20 )2 (𝐷10 )2
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
Telephone Number: (02) 516-7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)
Review MODULE 21– Geotechnical Engineering 2

2. The results of the sieve analysis of soils A, B, and C is given next. It is required
to classify these soils according to USCS. Classify the soils according to USCS.

4. Following are the details of the backfill material :

D10 = 0.46 mm
D20 = 0.57 mm
D50 = 1.52 mm
Find the suitability number.

SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO Classification System

Grain Size:
Gravel: fraction passing through 75 mm and retained on the No. 10 (2 mm) US
sieve.
Sand: fraction passing through No. 10 (2 mm) US sieve and retained on the No.
200 (0.075 mm) US sieve.
Plasticity:
Silty: PL ≤ 10 Clayey: PL ≥ 11

To classify a soil according to the table (Classification of highway subgrade

materials), the test data are applied from left to right. By process of elimination,
the first group from the left into which the test data will fit is the correct
classification.
𝑮𝑰 = (𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 – 𝟑𝟓) [𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎)]
+ 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 – 𝟏𝟓) (𝑷𝑰 – 𝟏𝟎)
Partial GI: Liquid Limit
Plasticity Index

1. If the equation for GI yields a negative value, it is taken as 0.

2. The value of the GI is rounded off to the nearest whole number.
3. There is no upper limit for the GI.
4. The GI of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is
always 0.
5. When calculating the GI for soils that belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7, use
the partial use index for PI.

1. The given data shows a sieve analysis of soil samples A, B, and C. Classify
soils A, B and C according to AASHTO.

Unified Soil Classification System

1. Coarse grained soils that are gravelly and sandy in nature with less than 50%
passing the No. 200 sieve. The group symbols start with a prefix of either G or S.
2. Fine-grained soils with 50% or more passing through the No. 200 sieve. The
group symbols start with a prefix of M, C, or O.
For proper classification according to this system, some or all of the following
information must be known:
1. Percent of gravel – that is, the fraction passing the 76.2-mm sieve and retained
on the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening).
2. Percent of sand – that is, the fraction passing the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm
opening) and retained on the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm opening).
3. Percent of silt and clay – that is, the fraction finer than the No. 200 sieve (0.075-
mm opening).
4. Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc).
5. Liquid limit and plasticity index of the portion of soil passing the No. 40 sieve.