Engineering Geology

(EG)

Suraj Kumar Bhagat

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ton Duc Thang University,
Vietnam
surajenv@gmail.com
 Summary of course content
(The course includes the following main contents)
{updated}

Part 2: Introduction to
1. Lab tests (Chapter 3)
a) Direct shear test,
b) Triaxial tests,
c) Oedometer test
2. In-situ tests (Chapter 4)
a) Standard penetration test (SPT),
b) Cone penetration or cone penetrometer test (CPT),
c) Vane shear test
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 Soil and Rock
[Part 2 (Chapter 3)]
At the end of this lesson the student will be able to know
1. Basic behavior of Soil: Phase Diagram, Index properties of Soil
2. Grain sized distribution: sieve method and hydrometer
3. Atterberg Limit, Consistency of Clay
4. Basic concept of shear test, Lab tests (Practical), Problem
5. Basic Concept of triaxial tests, Lab tests (Practical), Problem
6. Basic Concept of oedometer tests, Lab tests (Practical), Problem

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 Basic Soil Behavior
Phase Diagram

Fig. Phase system a) partially saturated b) saturated c) dry

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 Basic Soil Behavior
1. Water Content

• In general, it can be written that w ≥ 0, since there can be no upper limit to

water content

2. Void ratio

• In general, e > 0, since a soil has to contain some voids but there cannot be an
upper limit to the void volume.

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 Basic Soil Behavior
3. Porosity

• The porosity cannot exceed 100%. Thus it can be 0 < n < 100
• V = Total Volume, Vv = Volume of void

4. Degree of saturation

• S varies between 0% to 100%

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 Basic Soil Behavior
5. Air content

• 1 – s is from the definition.

• s is degree of saturation

6. Percentage of air voids

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 Basic Soil Behavior
7. Bulk unit weight
• Total weight of soil mass, W per unit volume

8. Dry unit weight

• ϒd is used as a measure of the denseness of a soil.

• A high value of ϒd indicates that more solids are packed in a unit volume of
the soil and hence a more compact soil.

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 Basic Soil Behavior
9. Saturated unit weight

• It is bulk unit weight of a soil when it is completely saturated

10. Submerged unit weight

• When a soil mass is submerged below the ground water table:

• A buoyant force acts on the soil solids which is equal in magnitude to the weight of water
displaced by the solids.
• The net weight of solids is reduced
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 Basic Soil Behavior
11. Unit weight of solids

12. Specific gravity of solids (Gs)

• Gs is the ratio of the “weight of a given volume of solids” to “the weight of an
equivalent volume of water at 4 0C”

• The value of Gs for majority soil lies between 2.65 and 2.80

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 What kind of soil?

• it is confusing?
• SO, we need some quantification… some standard value and unit…

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 Index Properties of Soils

1. The tests carried out in order to classify a soil are termed as

classification tests

2. The numerical results obtained on the basis of such tests are

termed as index properties of soils

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 Grain Size Distribution (GSD)
1. Coarse grained soils is carried out by
• sieve analysis
2. Fine grained soils are analysed by
• the hydrometer or pipette method
3. Generally both mixed in the soil so need both test, first sieve
analysis in dry state and then hydrometer in wet state

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 Grain Size Distribution (GSD)
1. Coarse grained soils is carried out by
• sieve analysis
(Size from 80 mm to 75 µ)
• The fraction retained on 4.75 mm
sieve is called gravel fraction which is
subjected to coarse sieve analysis
• A set of sieves of size 80 mm, 20mm, 10mm,
And 4.75 mm is required for further fractioning
of gravel fraction
• Passing 4.75mm sieve is further subjected to fine sieve analysis and the set
of sieves consists of 2mm, 1mm, 600 µ, 425 µ, 212 µ, 150 µ, and 75 µ.
2. Fine grained soils are analysed by
• the hydrometer or pipette method

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 Grain Size Distribution (GSD)

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 Grain Size Distribution (GSD)
Hydrometer or pipette method
• Fine grain (< 75 µ) analysis is carried out by hydro method
• The effective depth (He) of the hydrometer
keeps on increasing as the particles settle
with time
• Hydrometer reading (RH)

• Can be obtained as:

• Where, h and VH are length and volume of the hydrometer bulb, Aj is

the area of cross-section of the jar, H1 is seen height.
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 Grain Size Distribution (GSD) curve

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 Consistency of Clay: Atterberg Limits
• Liquid state
• Plastic State
• Semi-solid state
• Solid state

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 Consistency of Clay

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 Problem 1
Q) An undisturbed sample of saturated clay has a volume of 16.5 cc and weighs
35.1 gm. On oven drying, the weight of the sample reduces to 29.5 gm.
Determine the void ratio, moisture content, dry density and the specific
gravity of solids.

Method 1:
Given : V(Total volume), W(Total weight), Wd(weight of dry sample), S(degree of
saturation)

Required: void ratio (e), water content (w), dry unit weight or dry density (ϒd),
Specific gravity (Gs)
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Method 1:
Problem 1 ϒsat= Gs + e * ϒw
Solution: 1+e
So, Gs = 1.13 e + 2.13 (1)
Weight of saturated sample, W = 35.1 gm
Again, ϒd = Gsϒw
Weight of dry sample, Wd = 29.5 gm 1+e
1.79 = Gs(1)
1+e
Weight of water evaporated, Ww = W – Wd Gs = 1.79e + 1.79 (2)
Ww = W – Wd = 5.6 gm
ϒsat= W/V (ϒsat / ϒt / ϒb / Bulk unit weight or From eqn (1) and (2)
saturated unit weight) e = 0.51
ϒsat= W/V = 35.1/16.5 = 2.13 gm/cc
ϒd = Wd/V (dry unit weight) From eqn (1) or (2)
ϒd = W d /V = 29.5/16.5 = 1.79 gm/cc Gs = 2.71
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 Problem 1
Method 1:
W (Water content) = Se
Gs
Se = [(1)(0.51)]/2.71
Gs
= 0.189 = 18.9%

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 Problem 1
Method 2: phase diagram Weight of wet sample, W = 35.1 gm
Weight of dry sample, Wd = 29.5 gm

Weight of water evaporated, Ww = W – Wd

Ww = W – Wd = 5.6 gm

Volume of water, Vw = Vv = 5.6 cc [assume: ϒw = 1

gm/cc ]
Total Volume, V = 16.5 cc
Volume of Solids, Vs = V – Vv = 10.9 cc

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 Problem 1
Method 2: phase diagram Unit wt. of solids, ϒs = Ws/Vs
= 2.7 gm/cc
Void ratio, e = Vv/Vs Specific gravity, Gs = ϒs / ϒw
= 0.51 = 2.7 / 1 = 2.7

Moisture content, w = Ww/Ws

= 0.189 = 18.9%

Dry density, ϒd = Ws/V

= 29.5/16.5 = 1.79 gm/cc

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 Problem 2
Q2) The bulk density and dry density of a partially saturated soil are
1.95 gm/cc and 1.8 gm/cc respectively. The specific gravity of solids is
2.68. Determine the void ratio, moisture content and degree of
saturation. • Now, WGs = S*e
Here, ϒd = 1.8 gm/cc, ϒb = 1.95 gm/cc • S = (WGs)/e = 0.456 = 45.6%
We have, ϒd = ϒb / (1+w)
So, 1.8 = 1.95 / (1+w)
w = 0.0833 = 8.33 %
Again we have, ϒd = Gsϒw
1+e
1.8 = (2.68*1)/(1+e) [assume: ϒw = 1 gm/cc ]
e = 0.49
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 Problem 3
Q3) The atterberg limits of given soil are, WL = 60%, Wp = 45%, Ws =
25%. The specific gravity of soil solids is 2.67. A sample of this soil at LL
(Liquide limit) has a volume of 20cc. What will be its final vlume if the
sample is brought to its SL (shrinkage limit)?
HOME WORK

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 Shear stress
• It is the component of stress coplanar with a material cross section.
• Denoted by τ (Greek: tau) • A shearing force is applied to the
top of the rectangle while the
bottom is held in place.
• The resulting shear stress, τ,
deforms the rectangle into
a parallelogram.
• The area involved would be the
top of the parallelogram.

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 Shear strength
• Shear strength is
• The strength of a material or component against the type of yield or structural failure
where the material or component fails in shear.

• A shear load is a force that tends to produce a sliding failure on a material along a
plane that is parallel to the direction of the force.

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 Shear strength of soil
Laboratory test for determination of shear strength parameters
• Direct shear test

• The soil specimen may be square or

circular in plan
• The size of specimen
• 51mm X 51mm X 25mm
• 102mm X 102mm X 25mm
• Shear force is applied by moving
one-half of the box relative to the
other
• The shear test can be either stress
controlled
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or strain controlled
 Shear strength of soil

Shear stress vs Shear displacement Change in height vs Shear displacement

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 Shear strength of soil
• Direct shear test

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 Shear strength of soil
• Triaxial shear test
• A soil specimen of 38 mm in diameter
and 76 mm long
• The specimen is subjected to
confining pressure by compression of
fluid/water
• To Cause shear failure in the specimen
one must apply axial stress through a
vertical loading ram, called deviator
stress
Triaxial test set-up
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 Shear strength of soil
• Type of Triaxial shear test / based on drainage condition
1. Consolidated-drained test (CD)
a) the sample is consolidated and sheared in compression slowly to allow pore
pressures built up by the shearing to dissipate.
b) The rate of axial deformation is kept constant, i.e., strain is controlled.
1. Consolidated-undrained test (CU)
a) In a 'consolidated undrained' test the sample is not allowed to drain.
1. Unconsolidated-undrained test (UU)
a) In an 'unconsolidated undrained' test the loads are applied quickly, and the
sample is not allowed to consolidate during the test.
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 Problem 4 Shear strength
Q4) The subsoil at a site consists of a 10m thick homogeneous
layer of dense sand having the following properties: ϒd = 16.2
kN/m3, Gs = 2.68, ɸ = 350. The natural ground water table lies
at 2 m below the ground surface. Assume that the soil is dry
above water table.
a) Determine the shear strength of the soil along a horizontal
plane through the middle of the sand layer.
b) If during mansoon, the water table rises to the ground
level, how will the shear strength along the same plane
change?
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 Problem 4 Shear strength
The horizontal plane under Gs + e
Now ϒsat = * ϒw
consideration of 5m below the 1+e
G.L. (ground level) 2.68 + 0.654
= *10
1+0.654
We have, ϒd = Gsϒw (from the = 20.2 kN/m3
1+e ϒ’(submerge)= ϒsat - ϒw
definition)
20.2-10=10.2 kN/m 3
or, 16.2 = (2.68)(10)/1+e
So, e (void ratio) = 0.654

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 Problem 4 Shear strength
a) The normal stress on the Shear strength of the soil at
given plane this plane 𝜏f= 𝐶 + 𝜎tanɸ
𝜎 = ϒd Z1 + ϒ’Z2 𝜏f = 0 + 63 tan350
[Z1 = depth lying above the W.T. 𝜏f = 44.1 kN/m2
ϒd = unit weight above the W.T.
at the middle (5m) of the sand
Z2 = depth lying below the W.T. layer
ϒ’ = unit weight below the W.T.]
= 16.2*2 + 10.2*3
= 63 kN/m2
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 Problem 4 Shear strength
b) In this case, the entire soil Shear strength of the soil at
mass submerge this plane 𝜏f= 𝐶 + 𝜎tanɸ
𝜎 = ϒ’Z2 𝜏f = 0 + 51 tan350
[Z = depth lying below the W.T. 𝜏f = 35.7 kN/m2
ϒ’ = unit weight below the W.T.]
at the middle (5m) of the sand
= 10.2*5 layer
= 51 kN/m2

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 Problem 5 Triaxial test
Q5) Three identical specimens of a partially saturated clay were subjected to an
UU triaxial test and the following results were obtained. Determine the shear
parameters (C and ɸ) of the soil.

Sample No. Cell pressure Deviator stress

(kg/cm2) (kg/cm2)
1 0.5 0.80
2 1.0 0.97
3 1.5 1.13

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 Problem 5 Shear strength
We know from the definition,
𝜎1 = 𝜎3tan2𝛼 + 2Ctan𝛼
Also, 𝛼 = 45 + ɸ/2 (i)
1st
In case of the sample
𝜎3 = 0.5 kg/cm2;
Deviator stress = 0.8 kg/cm2
From the basic concept we know,
𝜎1 = cell pressure + deviator stress
𝜎1 = 0.5 + 0.8 = 1.3 kg/cm3
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• Substituting the 𝜎1 in eqn. (i), we
get
1.3 = 0.5tan2𝛼 + 2Ctan𝛼 (ii)
Similarly, for the 2nd and 3rd
sample, the following eqn. are
obtained:
1.97 = tan2𝛼 + 2Ctan𝛼 (iii)
2.63 = 1.5tan2𝛼 + 2Ctan𝛼
(iv)
 Problem 5 Shear strength
Subtracting (ii) from (iii) we obtained: • For check:
0.67 = 0.5tan2𝛼 Substituting the values of c & ɸ in eqn. (iv)
(0.67/0.5) = tan2(45+ɸ/2) {from eqn. (i)}
So, ɸ = 8.40 We get,
Substituting for ɸ in eqn. (ii) LHS = (1.5)(1.34) + (2) (0.27) (1.157) = 2.63
(0.5) (1.34) + (2C)(1.157) = 1.3 So, LHS = RHS
C = 0.27 kg/cm2

Now check the eqn. (iv)

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 Problem 6 Shear strength
Q6) the shear strength parameters of a given soil are c = 0.26 kg/cm2
and ɸ = 210. Undrained triaxial tests are to be carried out on specimens
of this soil. Determine
a) Deviator stress at which failure will occur if the cell pressure be 2.5
kg/cm2.
b) the cell pressure during the test, if the sample fails when the
deviator stress reaches 1.68 kg/cm2.

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 Problem 7 Shear strength
Q7) A sample of dry coarse sand is tested in the lab triaxial apparatus in
the undrained condition. Under a cell pressure of 2 kg/cm2, the sample
failed when the deviator stress reached 4.38 kg/cm2.
a) Determine the shear parameters of the soil.
b) At what deviator stress will the soil fail if the cell pressure be
3kg/cm2?

<<<<HOME WORK>>>>

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 Problem 8 Triaxial test
Q8) The following are the results of a set of drained triaxial tests
performed on three identical specimens of 38 mm diameter and 76
mm height. Determine the shear parameter of the soil.
Sample No. Cell pressure Deviator Change in Axial
(kg/cm2) load at volume (cc) deformation
failure (kN) (mm)
1 50 0.0711 -0.9 5.1
2 100 0.0859 -1.3 7.0
3 150 0.0956 -1.6 9.1

<<<<HOME WORK>>>>
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 Fundamental of consolidation
• When a saturated compressible clay layer is subjected to a
stress increase, elastic settlement occurs immediately

And then

• Because the hydraulic conductivity of clay is significantly

smaller, the excess pore water pressure generated by loading
gradually dissipates over a long period

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 Fundamental of consolidation
• Consider a simple model that consists of a cylinder with a
spring at its centre

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 Fundamental of consolidation
• One dimensional lab consolidation test
Measure the
deformation Submerged into
Water

Consolidometer
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 Fundamental of consolidation
• One dimensional lab consolidation test

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 Fundamental of consolidation
• One dimensional lab consolidation test

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 Oedometer test of soil
• Measures a soil's consolidation properties

• By applying different loads to a soil sample and measuring the deformation response.

• To predict how a soil in the field will deform in response to a change in effective stress

• From the definition

a) Tv = 1.781 – 0.933 log (100 – U%) in case of more than 60%
consolidation case
b) Cv = (Tv Hdr2)/t ; Cv is coefficient of consolidation; Tv is the ration
of time at specific deformation, t = time in month
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 Problem 9
Q9) An area is underlain by a stratum of clay layer of thickness
6m. The layer is doubly drained and has the coefficient of
consolidation of 0.5 m2/month. How long would it take for
surcharge load to cause a settlement of 50 cm, if the same load
causes a final settlement (U = 100% degree of consolidation)
of 60 cm.

Tricks/Hints:
60 cm then U is 100%
1 cm then = (1/60) *100
50 cm10/11/2021
then = (50/60) *100 U for 50 cm = 50/60 = 0.8333 = 83.33%
 Problem 9
Since, U > 60%
So, from definition: -
Tv = 1.781 – 0.933 log (100 – U%)
= 1.781 – 0.933 log (100 – 83.33)
= 0.641
Cv = (Tv Hdr2)/t Doubly drain mean : drain from
the above as well as from the
2
t = [(0.641)(6/2) ]/Cv down so it need divide by 2

t = [(0.641)(6/2)2]/0.5
= 11.538 months
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 Problem 10
Q10) Two soil samples A and B, each 30 cm thick, were tested
in a consolidometer. The initial void ratios of A and B under a
pressure of 1 kg/cm2 are 0.6 and 0.65 respectively. They
decrease to 0.505 and 0.605 when the pressure is increase to
2kg/cm2. To reach a 50% degree of consolidation the time
taken by sample A is ¼ of that required by sample B. compute.
 mv for both the samples
 The ratio of coefficient of permeability of the two samples

<<<<Home work>>>>
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 Problem 11
Q11) An undisturbed sample of clay, 24mm thick, consolidated
50% in 20 min, when tested in the laboratory with drainage
allowed at top and bottom. The clay layer, from which the
sample was obtained, is 4m thick in the field. How much time
will it take to consolidate 50% with double drainage? If the clay
stratum has only single drainage, calculate the time to
consolidate 50%. Assume uniform distribution of consolidation
pressure.

<<<<Home work>>>>
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 Problem 12
Q12) the soil profile at a building site consists of dense sand up
to 2m depth, normally loaded soft clay from 2 m to 4 m depth
and stiff impervious rock below 4 m depth. The ground water
table is at 0.5 m depth below the ground level. The has a
density of 18.5 kN/m3 above the water table and 19 kN/m3
below it. For clay, natural water content is 50%, liquid limit is
65% and Gs = 2.65. Determine probable ultimate settlement
from uniformly distributed surface load over extensive area of
site resulting in vertical stress increament of 40 kN/m2 at the
middle of clay layer. Also determine time required for 90%
consolidation. Cv = 3 x 10-4 cm2/sec.
10/11/2021 <<<<Home work>>>>
 Thank you
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