MIDTERMS The largest diameter of the soil particles still in

PART 1 suspension at time, t, can be determined by

GRAIN-SIZE DISTRIBUTION Stoke’s law:

The grain-size distribution is required to properly

classify a soil.
D=
√ 18 η L
(G S − 1)γω T√
The sieve and hydrometer techniques may be
Mechanical analysis combined for a soil having both coarse-grained
o determination of the size range of particles and fine- grained constituents.
present in a soil expressed as a percentage of
the total dry weight SIZE LIMITS OF SOILS

Two types of soil grains which are:

1. coarse-grained soil
o for soil particle sizes larger than 0.075mm
2. fine-grained soil
o for soil particle sizes larger than 0.075mm

Two methods to find the grain-size distribution

of soil Consistency of soils - the texture and fineness of a
1. sieve analysis soil and is often directly related to the strength to
o for coarse-grained soil which is described as: soft, medium stiff (medium
2. hydrometer analysis/sedimentation analysis firm), stiff (firm or hard)
o for fine-grained soil
ATTERBERG LIMITS
If the soil is gradually dried, it will behave like a
SIEVE ANALYSIS
plastic, semisolid, or solid material depending on
o consists of shaking the soil sample through a
its moisture content.
set of sieves that have progressively smaller
The limits that separate these states are known as
openings
Atterberg Limits which refer to the following three
o used to determine the type of soil namely:
limits:
well-graded soil, poorly- graded soil and gap- liquid limit (LL)
graded soil o the percent moisture content at which the soil
three parameters that can be determined from
changes from a semiliquid to a plastic state
the grain-size distribution curves of coarse-
plastic limit (PL)
grained soil
o the percent moisture content at which the soil
changes from a plastic to a semisolid state
a) effective size, D 10
b) uniformity coefficient, C u shrinkage limit (SL)
D60 o the percent moisture content at which the soil
C u= changes from a semisolid to solid state
D10 plasticity index (PI)
c) coefficient of gradation, C z or coefficient of o the difference between the liquid limit and the
curvature, C c plastic limit of a soil
D 30 PI = LL – PL
2

C u= liquidity index (LI)

D 60 × D10 o the relative consistency of a cohesive soil in
where D 10, D 30, D 60 are diameters the natural state defined in a ratio which is
corresponding to 10%, 30% and 60% given by the equation
passing/finer respectively. w − PL
LI =
HYDROMETER/SEDIMENTATION ¿ − PL
ANALYSIS
o based on the principle of sedimentation of soil SOIL CLASSIFICATIONS
particles in water Textural classification/USDA
It is based on the particle-size distribution of the Coefficient of permeability
percent of sand, silt, and clay-size fractions o depends not only on the properties of soil but
present in a given soil; the textural classification also on the properties of water
system is developed by the U.S. Department of Absolute permeability
Agriculture. o independent of the properties of water
o depends only on the characteristics of soil
o only depends on the geometry of the pore-
channel system
Relative permeability
o ratio of effective permeability of a particular
fluid to its absolute permeability
Henry Darcy (1803-1858) – hydraulic engineer,
his law is a foundation stone for several fields of
study

Darcy’s Law
o demonstrated that laminar flow conditions in
a saturated soil, the rate of flow or the
discharge per unit time is proportional to the
hydraulic gradient
classification by engineering behavior q=vAv=kiq=kiA
It is based on the engineering behavior of soil and
takes into consideration the particle-size validity of Darcy’s Law – when flow is laminar
distribution and the plasticity (i.e., liquid limit and
plasticity index). Bernouli’s Equation
o total energy = elevation energy + pressure
PART 2 energy + velocity energy
PERMEABILITY o total head = elevation head + pressure head +
o property of a soil which permits the flow of velocity head
2
water V p
o defined as the property of a porous material H=z + +
2 g ρg
which permits the passage pr seepage of water o total head of water in soil engineering
through its interconnecting voids problems is equal to the sum of the elevation
o gravel – highly permeability head and the pressure head
stiff clay – least permeable
Factors affecting permeability
Importance to engineering problems particle size
1. calculation of uplift pressure under hydraulic structure of soil mass
structure and their safety against piping shape of particles
2. ground water flow towards wells and drainage void ratio
of soil properties of water
3. calculation of seepage through the body of degree of saturation
earth dams and stability of slopes absorbed water
4. determination of rate of settlement of a impurities in water
saturated compressible soil layer Constant head of permeability test
o quantity of water that flows under a given
Flow of water through soil may be either laminar hydraulic gradient through a soil sample of
flow or turbulent flow. known length and cross-sectional area in a
Laminar flow given time
o each fluid particle travel along a definite path o water is allowed to flow through the
which never crosses the path of any other cylindrical sample of soil under a constant
particle head
Turbulent flow QL
o paths are irregular and twisting, crossing at k=
random Aℎt
K = coefficient of permeability
Q = total quantity of water Soil permeability classes
t = time o permeability is commonly measured in terms
L = length of the coarse soil of the rate if water flow through the soil in a
given period of time
variable head permeability test
o relatively for less permeable soils
o water flows through the sample from a
standpipe attached to the top of the cylinder
o the head of water (h) changes with time as
flow occurs through the soil. at different times
the head of water is recorded
2.30 aL ℎ1
k= log 10
At ℎ2
t = time
L = length of the fine soil
A = cross section area of the soil
a = cross section area of tube
K = coefficient of permeability

By indirect method:
Allen Hazen’s Formula
2
k =c D 10
Loudon’s Formula
log 10 ( k S2 ) =a+bn

Kozeny Carman Equation

g ρw e
3
k= 2
( C s μ ) T 1+ e
Consolidation Test Data
k =C v γ w mv
constant:
a = 1.365
b = 5.15
c = value b/w 100 & 150

T = tortuosity
S = surface area

PERMEABILITY IN STRATIFIED SOILS

Flow parallel to the plans of stratification
q=kiA
q=k x iH =( k 1 H 1 + k 2 H 2 +… +k n H n ) i
k 1 H 1+ k 2 H 2 +… + k n H n
q=
H
Flow normal to the plans of stratification
H
k y=
H1 H2 Hn
+ + …+
k1 k2 kn