UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS

“ESPE”

DEPARTAMENTO DE CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y CONSTRUCCION

MECANICA DE SUELOS I

NRC:3374

TAREA N°1-2P

Nombre: Páez Chingal Jennifer Fernanda.

Ing. Hugo Bonifaz
4.1 Results from liquid and plastic limit tests conducted on a soil are given below.
Liquid limit tests:

Plastic limit tests: PL _ 13.4%

a. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit.

b. What is the plasticity index of the soil?

𝐿𝐿 = −16,5 ∗ ln(25) + 82,165

𝑳𝑳 = 𝟐𝟗, 𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟓 ≈ 𝟐𝟗

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
𝑃𝐼 = 29 − 13,4

𝑷𝑰 = 𝟏𝟓, 𝟔𝟓
4.2 Determine the liquidity index of the soil in Problem 4.1 if win situ _ 32%
𝑤𝑖𝑛 − 𝑃𝐿
𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
32 − 13,4
𝐿𝐼 =
29 − 13,4

𝑳𝑰 = 𝟏, 𝟏𝟗𝟐

4.3 Results from liquid and plastic limit tests conducted on a soil are given below.

Liquid limit tests:

Plastic limit tests: PL _ 19.1%

a. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit.

 b. What is the plasticity index of the soil?

𝐿𝐿 = −13,47 ∗ ln(25) + 66,951

𝑳𝑳 = 𝟐𝟑, 𝟓𝟗𝟐 ≈ 𝟐𝟑, 𝟓𝟗

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
𝑃𝐼 = 23,59 − 19,1

𝑷𝑰 = 𝟒, 𝟒𝟗

4.4 Determine the liquidity index of the soil in Problem 4.3 if win situ _ 21%
𝑤𝑖𝑛 − 𝑃𝐿
𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
21 − 19,1
𝐿𝐼 =
23,59 − 19,1

𝑳𝑰 = 𝟎, 𝟒𝟐𝟑

4.5 A saturated soil used to determine the shrinkage limit has initial volumen 𝑉𝑖 = 20,2𝑐𝑚3, final
volume 𝑉𝑓 = 14,3𝑐𝑚3 , mass of wet soil 𝑀1 = 34𝑔, and mass of dry soil 𝑀2 = 24𝑔. Determine the
shrinkage limit and the shrinkage ratio.

𝑴𝟏 − 𝑴𝟐 𝑽𝒊 − 𝑽𝒇
𝑺𝑳 = ( ) (𝟏𝟎𝟎) − ( ) (𝝆𝒘 )(𝟏𝟎𝟎)
𝑴𝟐 𝑴𝟐

34 − 24 20,2 − 14,3
𝑆𝐿 = ( ) (100) − ( ) (1)(100)
24 24

125 295 205

𝑆𝐿 = − = = 𝟏𝟕, 𝟎𝟖𝟑%
3 12 12
 𝑀2
𝑆𝑅 =
𝑉𝑓 ∗ 𝜌𝑤

24
𝑆𝑅 =
14,3 ∗ 1

240
𝑆𝑅 = = 𝟏, 𝟔𝟕𝟖 ≈ 𝟏, 𝟔𝟖
143

4.6 Repeat Problem 4.5 with the following data: 𝑉𝑖 = 16,2𝑐𝑚3 ; 𝑉𝑓 = 10,8𝑐𝑚3 ; 𝑀1 = 44,6𝑔, and
mass of dry soil, 𝑀2 = 32,8𝑔.

𝑴𝟏 − 𝑴𝟐 𝑽𝒊 − 𝑽𝒇
𝑺𝑳 = ( ) (𝟏𝟎𝟎) − ( ) (𝝆𝒘 )(𝟏𝟎𝟎)
𝑴𝟐 𝑴𝟐

44,6 − 32,8 16,2 − 10,8

𝑆𝐿 = ( ) (100) − ( ) (1)(100)
32,8 32,8

1475 675 800

𝑆𝐿 = − = = 𝟏𝟗, 𝟓𝟏%
41 41 41

𝑀2
𝑆𝑅 =
𝑉𝑓 ∗ 𝜌𝑤

32,8
𝑆𝑅 =
10,8 ∗ 1

82
𝑆𝑅 = = 𝟑, 𝟎𝟑𝟕
27
4.C.1 The properties of seven different clayey soils are shown below (Skempton and Northey, 1952).
Investigate the relationship between the strength and plasticity characteristics by performing the
following tasks:

a) Estimate the plasticity index for each soil using Skempton’s definition of activity [Eq. (4.26)].

𝑷𝑰
𝑨=
(% 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒚 − 𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 , 𝒃𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕)

𝑷𝑰 = 𝑨 ∗ (%𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒚 − 𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 , 𝒃𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕)

1. BEAUHARNOIS
𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

𝑃𝐼
0,52 = ⇒ 0,52 ∗ 79 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟒𝟏, 𝟎𝟖
79

2. DETROIT I
𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

𝑃𝐼
0,36 = ⇒ 0,36 ∗ 36 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟏𝟐, 𝟗𝟔
36

3. HORTEN
𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

𝑃𝐼
0,42 = ⇒ 0,42 ∗ 40 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟏𝟔, 𝟖
40

4. GOSPORT
𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)
 𝑃𝐼
0,89 = ⇒ 0,89 ∗ 55 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟒𝟖, 𝟗𝟓
55

5. MEXICO CITY
𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

𝑃𝐼
4,5 = ⇒ 4,5 ∗ 90 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟒𝟎𝟓
90

6. SHELLHAVEN

𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

𝑃𝐼
1,33 = ⇒ 1,33 ∗ 41 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟓𝟒, 𝟓𝟑
41

7. ST. THURIBE
𝑃𝐼
𝐴=
(%𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 − 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 , 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

𝑃𝐼
0,33 = ⇒ 0,33 ∗ 36 = 𝑃𝐼 ⇒ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝟏𝟏, 𝟖𝟖
36
b) Estimate the probable mineral composition of the clay soils based on PI and A (use Table 4.2).

1) BEAUHARNOIS
𝐴 = 0,52 𝑃𝐼 = 41,08 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝐼𝐿𝐿𝐼𝑇𝐸

2)DETROIT I
𝐴 = 0,36 𝑃𝐼 = 12,96 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝐾𝐴𝑂𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐼𝑇𝐸

3)HORTEN
𝐴 = 0,42 𝑃𝐼 = 16,80 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝐾𝐴𝑂𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐼𝑇𝐸

4)GOSPORT
𝐴 = 0,89 𝑃𝐼 = 48,95 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝐼𝐿𝐿𝐼𝑇𝐸

5)MEXICO CITY
𝐴 = 4,5 𝑃𝐼 = 405 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝑀𝑂𝑁𝑇𝑀𝑂𝑅𝐼𝐿𝐿𝑂𝑁𝐼𝑇𝐸

6)SHELLHAVEN
𝐴 = 1,33 𝑃𝐼 = 54,53 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝐼𝐿𝐿𝐼𝑇𝐸

7)ST. THURIBE
𝐴 = 0,33 𝑃𝐼 = 11,68 ⇒ 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑅𝐴𝐿 𝐾𝐴𝑂𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐼𝑇𝐴

c) Sensitivity (St) refers to the loss of strength when the soil is remolded or disturbed. It is defined as
the ratio of the undisturbed strength (tf -undisturbed) to the remolded strength (tf -remolded) at the
same moisture content [Eq. (12.38)]. From the given data, estimate tf -remolded for the clay soils.

𝑻𝒇 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓
𝑺𝒕 =
𝑻𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒐

1) BEAUHARNOIS

𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜

18 18
14 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 1,285 ≈ 𝟏, 𝟑 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 14
2) DETROIT I
𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜

17 17
2,5 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 𝟔, 𝟖𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 2,5

3) HORTEN
𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜

41 41
17 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 𝟐, 𝟒𝟏 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 17

4) GOSPORT

𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜

29 29
2,2 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 𝟏𝟑, 𝟏𝟖 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 2,2

5) MEXICO CITY

𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜

46 46
5,3 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 8,67 ≈ 𝟖, 𝟕 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 5,3

6) SHELLHAVEN
𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜
 36 36
7,6 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 4,736 ≈ 𝟒, 𝟕𝟒 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 7,6

7) ST. THURIBE

𝑇𝑓 sin 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑆𝑡 =
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜

38 38
150 = ⇒ 𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 = ≈ 0,253 ≈ 𝟎, 𝟐𝟓 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝑇𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑜 150

d) Plot the variations of undisturbed and remolded shear strengths with the activity, A, and explain
the observed behavior.

Variations
50
45
Shear strength (kN/m^2)

40
35
30
25
SIN REMOVER
20
15 REMOVIDO
10
5
0
0,1 1 10
Activity A
Por la gráfica realizada, concluimos que la resistencia (cizallamiento) de la arcilla, tiene su origen en
componentes de la cohesión y resistencia a la fricción. Decimos que, cuanta mas actividad la arcilla
presente mayor es la contribución de cohesión y resistencia (cizallamiento).

4.C.2 The liquidity index, LI, defined by Eq. (4.24), can indicate probable engineering behavior
expending on the natural or current state of water content. For example, the material behavior can vary
from a brittle soild (LI _ 1) to viscous fluid (LI _ 1), with an intermediate plastic state (0 _ LI _ 1). From
the plasticity characteristics and ranges of moisture contents listed in the following table:

𝒘 − 𝑷𝑳
𝑳𝑰 = 𝑬𝑪. 𝟒. 𝟐𝟒
𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳

a. Determine the range of liquidity index for each soil over the range of water content.
𝑤−𝑃𝐿
1) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿

59 − 26 33 67 − 26 41
𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟏, 𝟒𝟑 𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟏, 𝟕𝟖
49 − 26 23 49 − 26 23

𝑤−𝑃𝐿
2) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿

29 − 21 8 36 − 21 15
𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟓 𝐿𝐼 = = = 0,9375 ≈ 𝟎, 𝟗𝟓
37 − 21 16 37 − 21 16

𝑤−𝑃𝐿
3) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿

51 − 26 25 56 − 26 30
𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟕𝟏 𝐿𝐼 = = = 0,857 ≈ 𝟎, 𝟖𝟔
61 − 26 35 61 − 26 35

𝑤−𝑃𝐿
4) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿
 61 − 24 37 70 − 24 23
𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟏, 𝟎𝟖 𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟏, 𝟑𝟓
58 − 24 34 58 − 24 17

𝑤−𝑃𝐿
5) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿

441 − 192 249 600 − 192 408

𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟕𝟖 𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟏, 𝟐𝟖
511 − 192 319 511 − 192 319

𝑤−𝑃𝐿
6) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿

98 − 49 49 111 − 49 62
𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟓𝟗 𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟕𝟓
132 − 49 83 132 − 49 83

𝑤−𝑃𝐿
7) 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿

51 − 31 10 65 − 31 17
𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟑𝟒 𝐿𝐼 = = = 𝟎, 𝟓𝟖
89 − 31 29 89 − 31 29

b. Comment on the probable engineering behavior of each soil as the water content changes (refer to
Figure 4.1).
 > 𝟏 ⇒ 𝑭𝑳𝑼𝑰𝑫𝑶 𝑽𝑰𝑺𝑪𝑶𝑺𝑶 ; < 𝟏 ⇒ 𝑫Ú𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑳

SOIL CONTENIDO LL PL MINIMO MAXIMO COMPORTAMIENTO

NATURAL (%) (%)
DE AGUA
1 59-67 49 26 1,43 1,78 FLUIDO VISCOSO
2 29-36 37 21 0,5 0,95 DÚCTIL
3 51-56 61 26 0,71 0,86 DÚCTIL
4 61-70 58 24 1,08 1,35 FLUIDO VISCOSO
5 441-600 511 192 0,78 1,28 FLUIDO VISCOSO
6 98-111 132 49 0,59 0,75 DÚCTIL
7 51-65 89 31 0,34 0,58 DÚCTIL