1. In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 9350 cc and weighs 18 kg.

The
oven-dried weight of the soil is 15.54 kg. Use G = 2.67. Determine the void ratio in
percent.

SOLUTION

𝑊
𝛾𝑚 =
𝑉
18000
𝛾𝑚 =
9350
𝛾𝑚 = 1.925𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚/𝑐𝑐

𝐺 (1 + 𝑤)𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑚 =
1+ⅇ

𝑊𝑤
𝑀𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑤 =
𝑊𝑠

𝑊 − 𝑊𝑠
𝑀𝐶 =
𝑊𝑠

18 − 15.54
𝑀𝐶 =
15.54
𝑀𝐶 = 0.1583 = 15.83%

2.67(1 + 0.1583)(9.81)
1.925 =
1+ⅇ
ⅇ = 0.6066 = 60.66%

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1
 2. The mass of the saturated soil is 520 grams. The dry mass, after oven-drying os 405
grams. Assuming G = 2.7, calculate the effective unit weight of the soil mass, in
kN/m3?

SOLUTION

𝑊𝑤
𝑀𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑤 =
𝑊𝑠
𝑊 − 𝑊𝑠
𝑀𝐶 =
𝑊𝑠
520 − 405
𝑀𝐶 =
405
𝑀𝐶 = 28.4%

𝑆ⅇ = 𝐺𝑤
1(ⅇ) = 2.7(0.284)
ⅇ = 0.7667

(𝐺 − 1)𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑏 =
1+ⅇ
(2.7 − 1)(9.81)
𝛾𝑏 =
1 + 0.7667
𝛾𝑏 = 9.44 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

3. A soil sample was compacted. The result of the standard procter test shows that at
100% compaction, the soil weighs 131.1 pcf with optimum moisture content of 14%.
What is the maximum dry unit weight of the soil (at zero air voids) in pcf? G = 2.67

SOLUTION

At zero air voids, 𝑉𝑣 = 𝑉𝑤 (𝑆 = 1)

𝑆ⅇ = 𝐺𝑤
(1)ⅇ = 2.67(0.14)
ⅇ = 0.3738

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS
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2
 𝐺𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
1+ⅇ
2.67(9.81)
𝛾𝑑 =
1 + 0.3738
𝛾𝑑 = 121.28 𝑝𝑐𝑓

4. A compacted clay weighing 1.62 kg weighs 0.88 kg when immersed (suspended) in

water. Determine the bulk specific gravity of the clay.

SOLUTION

𝑊ⅇ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟. =
𝑊ⅇ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟 − 𝑊ⅇ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑡ⅇ𝑟
1.62
𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟. =
1.62 − 0.88
𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟 = 2.19

5. Given the following data:

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

TEST NO. 1 2
Weight of Wet 21.23 g 21.58 g
Soil +
Container
Weight of Dry 19.95 g 20.05 g
Soil +
Container
Weight of 12.03 g 12.85 g
Container

a. What is the Plastic Limit of Soil?

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
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 SOLUTION

𝑊𝑤 Weight of Wet Soil + Container − Weight of Dry Soil + Container

𝑤1 = =
𝑊𝑠 Weight of Dry Soil + Container − Weight of Container
21.23 − 19.95
𝑤1 =
19.95 − 12.03
𝑤1 = 0.1616 = 16.16%

𝑊𝑤 Weight of Wet Soil + Container − Weight of Dry Soil + Container

𝑤2 = =
𝑊𝑠 Weight of Dry Soil + Container − Weight of Container
21.58 − 20.05
𝑤2 =
20.05 − 12.85
𝑤2 = 0.2125 = 21.25%

𝑤1 + 𝑤2 16.16 + 21.25
𝑤= =
2 2

𝒘 = 18.705 %

THIS MODULE IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC. ANY FORM OF REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION,
UPLOADING, OR POSTING ONLINE IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS
STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
4