GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
I. SOIL PROPERTIES
1. Void Ratio – is the ratio between the volumes of voids to the volume of solids of a soil
mass.
2. Porosity – is ratio between the volumes of voids to the total volume of soil mass.
3. Water Content – the ratio of weight of water to the weight of solid particles.
4. Degree of Saturation – the ratio of volume of water of the volume of voids.
5. Critical Hydraulic Gradient – is the hydraulic gradient that brings a soil mass to stativ
liquefaction (quick condition)
6. Relative Density of Granular Soils – the state of compactness of a natural granular soil.
II. ATTERBERG LIMITS
1. Consistency – is a term used to describe the degree of firmness.
2. Atterberg Limits / Consistency Limits – if the water content of a think soil-water mixture
reduced, the mixture passes from a liquid state to a plastic, then to a semi-solid state and
finally to a solid state. The water contents at which the soil changes from one state to the
other.
3. Plastic Limit – soils stops behaving as a plastic material
4. Liquid Limit – soil changes from liquid state to the plastic state.
5. Shrinkage Limit- small water content at which the oil is saturated or the maximum water
content at which a reduction of water content will not cause a decrease in the volume of
soil mass.
6. Shrinkage Ratio – the ratio of a given volume change express as a percentage of dry
volume, to the corresponding change in water content.
7. Shrinkage Index – the numerical difference between the plastic limit and the shrinkage
limit.
8. Volumetric Shrinkage – change in volume expressed as a percentage of the dry volume
when the water content is reduce from a given value of the shrinkage limit.
9. Toughness Index – a measure of shear strength of the soil at the plastic limit
10. Sensitivity – ratio of the undisturbed to the remolded strength at the same water content
11. Activity of Soil –
12. Fall Cone Method/Test – offers more accurate method of determining both liquid limit
and the plastic limit.
13. Cup Method – the device used in this method consists of a brass cup and hard rubber.
III. SOIL CLASSIFICATION
CRITEA FOR AASHTO SOIL CLASSIFICATION
1. Grain Size:
a. Gravel – fraction passing the 75mm sieve and retained on the No. 10 sieve (2mm
opening)
b. Sand – fraction passing the No. 10 sieve (2mm opening) and retained of the No.
200 sieve (0.075mm)
c. Silt and Clay – fraction passing the No. 200 sieve (0.075mm)
2. Plasticity:
a. Silty when the fine fraction of the soil has a plasticity index of 10 or less
b. Clayey when the fine fraction of the soil has a plasticity of 11 or more.
c. Cobbles and Bouldeness = size larger than 75mm
CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS UNDER AASHTO SYSTEM
1. Granular materials:
If 35% or less of the total soil sample passes on No. sieve (0.075mm opening)
2. Silt-Clay materials:
If more than 35% of the total soil sample passes on No. 200 sieve (0.075 mm opening)
GROUP INDEX – is used to evaluate the quality of soil as a highway subgrade material
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE (USCS)
1. Effective Size(D10)– this is the diameter in the particle size distribution curve
corresponding to 10% finer. It is used to measure the hydraulic conductivity and drainage
through the soil.
FOR USCS (FOR GRAPH)
Well graded soil – is a type of soil which has a uniformity coefficient greater than 4
for gravels and 6 for sands and a coefficient of gradation between 1 and 3 for gravel
and sand
Poorly graded soil – is a type soil on the particle size distribution curve in which most
of the soil grains are the same size.
Gap graded soil – is a type of soil that has a combination of two or more graded
fraction.
