NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Hazratbal Srinagar, J&K

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ASSIGNMENT - #2

NAME :- ABHISHEK KUMAR

ENROLL :- 2020BCIV136
COURSE: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING-I
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: DR MAJID HUSSAIN SIR
 a. A soil has a void ratio of 0.70, a degree of saturation 50%, and Gs = 2.7. Find the water content
Q1). and dry density. By how much can the water content be increased without changing Ƴd.

b. maximum and minimum void ratios for sand are 0.78 and 0.42 respectively. The field density
test performed on the same soil has given the following results: = 1.75 gm/cm3 , w = 8 %, and
assume Gs = 2.65. Compute relative density.

Soln:-
a) Void ratio (e) = 0.70
Degree of Saturation (S) = 0.50
Specific Gravity (Gs) = 2.70
We know that , Se=w Gs
𝑠𝑒 0⋅50×0.70
W= = = 0.1296
𝐺𝑠 2⋅70
Therefore , water content , w = 12.96%
𝐺𝑆 +𝑆𝑒 2.7+0.50×0.7
ii) Bulk Density , 𝛾𝑡 = 𝛾𝑤 = × 9.81= 17.6 kN/m3
1+ⅇ 1+0.7
𝛾𝑡 17.6
iii) Dry Density , 𝛾𝑑 = = = 15.58 kN/m3
1+𝑤 1+0.1296
ⅇ 0.7
iv) Porosity , n= = = 0.4118 = 41.18%
1+ⅇ 1+0.7
In order to have 𝛾𝑑 = constant
We know that , Se=w Gs
Taking , S = 100 % ( maximum possible degree of saturation is 100% for Wmax )
100
Therefore , × ⅇ = Wmax × Gs
100
ⅇ 0.7
Wmax = = = 0.2593 = 25.93%
𝐺𝑠 2.7
Therefore , Increase in water content = ( 25.93 – 12.96 )% = 12.97
Therefore , water content may be increased by 12.97% without changing 𝛾𝑑
value
 a. A soil has a void ratio of 0.70, a degree of saturation 50%, and Gs = 2.7. Find the water content
Q1). and dry density. By how much can the water content be increased without changing Ƴd.

b. maximum and minimum void ratios for sand are 0.78 and 0.42 respectively. The field density
test performed on the same soil has given the following results: = 1.75 gm/cm3 , w = 8 %, and
assume Gs = 2.65. Compute relative density.

Soln:-
b)
Given ,
emax.= 0.78 , emin.=0.42
w = 8% = 0.08 , Gs = 2.65 & 𝜌 = 1.75 gm/cm3
We know that ,
𝑤𝑠 + 𝑠ⅇ
𝜌𝑤 = 1.75
1+ⅇ
2.65 + 0.08 × 2.65
× 1 = 1.75
1+ⅇ
2.65 + 0.212 = 1.75 + 1.75e
e = 0.63
we know that ,
Dr= emax – e / emax - emin
0.78−0.63
Dr = × 100
0.78−0.42
0.15
= x 100
0.36
Dr = 41.66%
Soil is medium dense
Q2). a). A fully saturated clay sample has the air content of 30%. Its shrinkage limit is 12%. Assuming
Gs = 2.72, determine the Degree of Shrinkage (Shrinkage Ratio), Sr.

b). A soil sample has a shrinkage limit of 6%; specific gravity of the soil gains is 2.6. What is the
porosity of soil at the shrinkage limit?

Soln:-
a) Given,
Air content = 30%
Gs= 2.72
Degree of Saturation (Sr) =
WSL = W1 – (V1 – V2) 𝜌𝑤 /Ms
𝑣1 −𝑣2
𝑣2
Sr = × 100
𝑤1 −𝜔2

W1 – W2 = (V1 – V2) 𝜌𝑤 /Ms

𝑀𝑆 1
Sr = ×
𝑣2 𝜌𝑤
𝜌𝑑 𝑣2 𝑣𝑆
Sr = × 100 = 𝐺𝑀 × 100, 𝑤𝑆 = − 𝜌𝑤
𝜌𝑤 𝑀𝑆 𝐺𝜌𝑤 𝑣𝑆
𝑣2 𝜌𝑤 1
𝑤𝑆 = −
𝑀𝑆 𝐺
𝜌𝑑 100 1
Sr = * 100 𝑤𝑆 = −
𝜌𝑤 𝑠𝑟 𝐺
100/Sr = 8.09

b) Given ,
S.L = 6% = 0.06 , Gs= 2.6
We know that ,
Se=w Gs
1*e = 0.06*2.6 , e = 0.156
We know that ,
ⅇ 0.156
Porosity , n= = = 0.135 = 13.5 %
1+ⅇ 1+0.156
Q3). Following are the results from liquid and plastic limit tests for soil:
Plastic Limit = 25 %
Liquid Limit Test:
a. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit and flow index.
b. What are the plasticity index and toughness index of the soil?
c. Determine the liquidity index, if the in-situ water content is 18%.

Soln:-
a)
Given ,
P.L = 25%
Flow curve
L.L = it is the water content corresponding to 25 no. of blows
Flow Curve
y = -7.691ln(x) + 80.835 62
61

60

58
58
water content(%)

56

54
54
53

52
51
y = -7.691ln(x) + 80.835
as x = 25 50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
we get , y=56 No. of Blows

so , L.L is 56%
Flow index :- it is the slope of the flow curve
IF = -7.691
Q3). Following are the results from liquid and plastic limit tests for soil:
Plastic Limit = 25 %
Liquid Limit Test:
a. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit and flow index.
b. What are the plasticity index and toughness index of the soil?
c. Determine the liquidity index, if the in-situ water content is 18%.

Soln:-
b) P.I = L.L – P.L
= 56 – 25 = 31 %
IT = P.I / IF
IT = 31/7.691 , IT = 4.03

c)
Given ,
WN = 18%
𝑤𝑁 −𝑤𝑝
IL = = (18-25)/31
𝐼𝑃
IL = -0.225
Region is semi-solid
Q4).

Soln:-
y = -0.8557x2 - 10.717x + 115.85
for , D60
putting y = 60 in the above equation we get ,
D60 = 3.963 , D30 = 5.55 , D10 = 6.506
𝐷60 3.963
Cu = = = 0.609
𝐷10 6.506
𝐷302
Cc = = 1.194
𝐷10 ∗ 𝐷60
( poor grade )
GSD
120

100
100
93.9

82.5

80
% Passing

58.4 y = -0.8557x2 - 10.717x + 115.85

60

39.76
40

20
10.84
5.7

4.75 0.212 0.075

0
Sieve Size
 A natural soil was collected from Lal Chowk region. The Atterberg limits of the soil were obtained to
Q5). be as follows: LL =51%, PL =20% and SL=14%. The grain size distribution indicated presence of Gravel
= 1%, Sand =15%, Silt = 52% and Percentage Fines =84%. Evaluate the following for the soil

a. Classify the soil type

b. Evaluate the consistency of soil at natural water content = 22%
c. Determine its in-situ void ratio for in-situ bulk density of 1.67 g/cm3
d. Comment on the type of swelling mineral present in the soil.
e. Also comment on the expansiveness of the soil
Soln:- Given ,
L.L = 51% , P.L = 20% , S.L = 14%
Gravel = 1% , Sand = 15% , Silt = 52%
% fines = 84%
a)
A = 0.73 ( L.L – 20) = 0.73 ( 51 - 20 ) = 22.63
P.I = L.L – P.L = 51 - 20 = 31%
P.I > A L.L > 50%
Soil is CH - Highly Compressible Clay

b) WN = 22%
Ic = (L.L – WN) / ( L.L – P.I) = (51 – 22) / ( 51-20) = 0.93
Consistency or fineness of the soil is stiff
Soil is in its plastic state

c) Given ,
S.L = 14% , Se = wGs
e = 0.14Gs (S=1)
Gs = e / 0.14
WN = 22%
Se = wGs = 0.22 Gs
𝑒 +0.22×𝑒
𝐺𝑠 +𝑆ⅇ 0.14 0.14
𝜌𝑤 = 1.67 = 1.67
1+ⅇ 1+ⅇ
0.9862e = 0.2338
e = 0.237
 A natural soil was collected from Lal Chowk region. The Atterberg limits of the soil were obtained to
Q5). be as follows: LL =51%, PL =20% and SL=14%. The grain size distribution indicated presence of Gravel
= 1%, Sand =15%, Silt = 52% and Percentage Fines =84%. Evaluate the following for the soil

a. Classify the soil type

b. Evaluate the consistency of soil at natural water content = 22%
c. Determine its in-situ void ratio for in-situ bulk density of 1.67 g/cm3
d. Comment on the type of swelling mineral present in the soil.
e. Also comment on the expansiveness of the soil

Soln:-
d)
Activity of soil = P.I / (% of clay fraction )
= (L.L – P.I)/ 32
= 0.96875
A<1
Soil is least active . So, swelling mineral is Kaolinite
e)
because soil is least active swelling mineral present is Kaolinite which is least active
A<1
So during swelling volume change will be very less . so soil is less expensive as it has
less water retaintation capacity , so change in volume will be very less .
Q6). Classify the following soils using the unified classification system (Give the group
symbols and group names. Please specify, if additional information is required for
classification):

Soln:-
a) Coarse content = 100%
fine content = 0%
soil is purely sand which particle size vary from 0.075-4.75mm
S
b) Coarse content = 100%
fine content = 0%
soil is sand in which size of particle vary from 0.075 – 4.75 mm .
S
c) Coarse content = 100%
fine content = 0%
soil is sand in which size of particle vary from 0.075 – 4.75 mm
S
d) Coarse content = 100%
all particles are size of 0.075-4.75mm .
S
e) Coarse content = 40%
fine content = 60%
L.L = 35 , P.L = 20
Soil is fine grained soil
A = 0.73 ( L.L – 20 )
Q6). Classify the following soils using the unified classification system (Give the group
symbols and group names. Please specify, if additional information is required for
classification):

Soln:-
A = 0.73 ( 35-20) = 0.73(15) = 10.95
P.I = L.L -P.L = 35 -20 = 15
L.L < 50%
Soil is CL
f) G = 70%
S = 10%
Fine content = 20%
Soil is non – plastic it means soil does not have any clay
content is fine content . So, soil is Silty . so, Soil is GM
7). Classify the following soils using the unified classification system (Give the group
symbols and group names):

Soln”:-
a) G = 20% , S = 28%
Fine content = 52%
L.L = 30% , P.I = 8%
A = 0.73 ( L.L – 20 ) = ( 0.73 ) ( 10) = 7.3
A < P.I CL
b) G = 21% , S = 34 %
Fine content = 45 %
L.L = 26% , P.I = 4%
A = 0.73 (L.L – 20)
= 0.73*6 = 4.38
A > P.I SM
c) G = 9 % , S = 11%
Fine content = 80%
L.L = 60% , P.I = 32%
A = 0.73( L.L – 20) = 0.78 * 40 = 29.2
P.I > A & L.L > 50% CH
7). Classify the following soils using the unified classification system (Give the group
symbols and group names):

Soln”:-
d) 𝐺 = 5% & 𝑆 = 20%
𝐹𝑖𝑛ⅇ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡ⅇ𝑛𝑡 = 75%
𝐿. 𝐿 = 41% & 𝑃. 𝐼 = 12%
𝐴 = 0.73 ( 𝐿. 𝐿 – 20) = 15.53
ML
e) G = 18 % & S = 41%
Fine content = 41%
L.L = 24% , P.I = 2% & A = 2.92
A > P.I
SM
f)
G= 70 & S = 10% Fine content = 20%
Non – plastic
It mean soil doesn’t have any clay content soil is silty
So, GM
8).Repeat Q6 and classify the soils using AASHTO classification
system?

Name Constituent material

(A)
A–2–7 ( silty or clayely sand )
Grade – Excellent to good
(B)
A–2–6 ( Silty or clayey gravel sand)
Grade – Excellent to Good
(C)
A–2–7 ( Silty or clayey gravel sand )
Grade – Excellent to Good
(D)
A–3 ( Fine Sand )
Grade – Excellent to good
(E)
A–6 ( Clayey soil )
Grade :- Poor
(F)
A–1–b ( Stone fragments gravel and sand )
( Excellent to Good )
Q9). Discuss the characteristic engineering behaviour of soils containing
Kaolinite, Illite and Montmorillonite. Explain with respect to crystal
structure of the minerals?

Soln:-
Kaolinite :- ( 1:1 Mineral)
In kaolinite layers are connected by strong hydrogen
boding , showing less swelling and shrinkage
Thickness varies from 50mm – 200mm
e.g :- China clay

Illite :- { 2:1(OH)}
Thickness is nearly 30nm
Intermediate swelling and shrinkage
Two unit are connected by ionic bond
e.g :- Laterite soil
THANK YOU