Chapter 3 to Chapter 4

Soil and soil Test Survey

Soil- the most important material that influenced
mankind in his struggle for survival.
Soil may be defined as the accumulation of
unconsolidated sediments and deposits as a result of
the integration of rocks.
Rocks- natural aggregate of minerals connected by
strong bonding of attractive forces classified as
consolidated materials.
Types of rock (major classes):
•Igneous rock- result from the cooling and hardening
of molten rock called magma that has originated from
deep within the earth.
•Sedimentary rock- form from accumulated deposits
of soil particles or remains of certain organisms that
have harden by pressure or cemented by materials.
•Metamorphic rock.- rocks resulted from the
metamorphism due to changes in temperature,
pressure and plastic flow, changing the original
structure and mineral composition of the rock.
Categories of soil
•RESIDUAL SOIL
-residual soil or sedimentary soil is formed from the weathering of
rocks or accumulation of organic materials remained at the location of
their origin.
*weathering process
Mechanical weathering- refers to physical disintegration due
to effects of wind, rain, running water or tectonic forces (earth quake).
Chemical and solution weathering- decomposition of rock
due to chemical reactions that occur as a result of exposure to
atmosphere, temperature changes, reaction with water, or other
materials.
•TRANSPORTED SOIL
-those materials transported from their place of origin.
TYPES OF SOIL
Major categories of soil are gravel, sand, silt and clay.
Gravel and sand- universally known as coarse grain soil
Silt and clay- considered as fine grain soil
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL
•Soil does not posses a linear or unique stress strain relationship.
•Soil behavior depends on pressure, time, and environment.
•The soil at essentially every location is different.
•In nearly cases, the mass of soil involved is underground and
can not be seen in its entirely.
•Most soil are very sensitive to disturbance from sampling and
thus the behavior measured by lab test.
SOIL:
Gravel- consist of rock fragments more or less rounded by water action or
abrasion classified according to the following types;
Quartz- the hardest of common rock forming mineral.
Well rounded pebbles and boulders- those that undergone long period of wear
that become almost quartz.
Slightly worm gravel- is rough and angular including other materials or rocks
like granite, schist, basalt or limestone.
Fine sand- has particles that are more angular than the coarse and fine sand.
Coarse sand- is usually rounded like gravel with which it is found and generally
contains the same materials.
Silt sand- is similar to fine sand with the same mineral composition. It contains;
 Pumice
 Loess
 Materials foreign to the associated sand.
Clay- is plate like, scale like or rod like in shape as a result of chemical
weathering.
Colloidal clay- is finer clay particle that remains suspended in water and does
not settle under the force of gravity.
Composition of Soil

Engineers are interested to know the properties of soil

deposit specially, the strength and compressibility because they
are necessary in determining the bearing capacity and stability of
the foundation. Strength and compressibility of the soil is directly
related to:
Soil density weight per unit volume
Water content of the soil
Void ratio
Degree of saturation
Weight of the solid (Ws)+ weight of the water is equal to the total
weight (Wt) or
Ws +Ww=Wt
Similarly; for measurement of the mass;
Ms +Mw= total mass
Ms + Mw= Mt
Therefore, the total volume of the soil sample of the bulk includes
the solid and liquid air or gas. The volume of water and air is called
volume of voids, thus;
the total volume (Vt)= volume of solid + volume of voids.
Vt= Vs+ (Vw + Va)
Vt= Vs + Vv
 The relationship between the weight and volume of any materials will be;
 W = Vg Uw
 While mass and volume M = Vg Dw
 Where;
 W = weight of the material (solid, liquid or gas)
 V = Volume occupied by the material
 G= specific gravity of the material
 Uw = unit weight of water at temperature stated
 M= mass of the materials
 Dw = density of water
 The specific gravity of most commonly occurring the rock or soil materials is between
2.30 an 3.10.
 The specific gravity of soil solids lies within the range of 2.60 to 2.75.

 The Unit Weight of Soil could be express as:
Wet unit weight Uwet = Wt ( p/ft³, kNm³)
Vt
Dry unit weight Udry = Ws ( p/ft³, kN/m³)
Vt
For soil density:
Wet density Dwet = Mt (kg/m³, gm/cm³)
Vt
Dry density Ddry = Ms ( kg/m³, gm/cm)
Vt
1 gm/cm³ = 62.4 puonds per cubic ft.
The weight of one cm³of water = 980 dynes
The weight of one ft³ of water = 62.4 lbs.
Where:
w% = Water content in percentage
Ww = Weight of water
Ws = Weight of dry soil
Mw = Mass of water
Ms = Mass of solid

The relationship of water content and the weight of the soil volume should be:
Wt = Ws + Ww
Since: Ww = ( w%) Ws
100%
By substitution: Wt=Ws + ( W% ) Ws
100%
By factoring:
Wt = Ws ( 1+ W% )
100%
Ws = Wt
1 + w%
100%
Similarly:
Ms = Mt
1 + w%
100%
The weight of dry soil mass could be found easily with
these equations when the weight of the large soil mass sample
and the water content is known from a representative sample:

The Void ratio and porosity in relation with the solid

and void volume follows:
e = Volume of voids
Volume of solid
e = Vv
Vs
The Void Ratio is expressed in decimal number, and the
Porosity P is conventionally expressed in p0ercentasge. Thus:
 Submerged Soil
For under water condition, the soil is buoyed up by pressure of
the surrounding body of water.

Wsuh = Vs gs Uw – Vs gw Uw
= Vs Uw (gs - gw) (by factoring)
= Vs Uw (gs-1)
Since the unit weight is the total weight divided by the total Volume we
have.
Usub- soil = Wsub = Vs Uw (gs - 1)
V total Vs (1 +e)
Usub soil = gs – 1 Uw
1+ e
 For easy computation, the submerged weight is ½ the wet above the water
table, except the soil containing significant decomposed vegetation or organic
materials.
U Sub soil = ½ u wet soil (approximately)
For soil above the water table but 100% saturated we have
Usub soil = Usat soil – Uw
Usub soil = usat – 62.4 lbs /ft³
 For easy computation, the submerged weight is ½ the wet above the water
table, except the soil containing significant decomposed vegetation or organic
materials.
U Sub soil = ½ u wet soil (approximately)
For soil above the water table but 100% saturated we have
Usub soil = Usat soil – Uw
Usub soil = usat – 62.4 lbs /ft³
Relative Density
For granular soil, the sheer strength and resistance to come pression
are related to the density of the soil. Higher strength and resistance to
compression are developed by the soil when it is dense, or compact (low
density). In a dense condition the soil void ratio is low and on loose condition.
Relative density is expressed in percentage, thus:
 Dr % = e max –co= 100%
 E nax – e min
 Where
 e max – void ratio of the soil in its loosest
condition
 e min – void ratio of the soil in its densest
condition
 co – void ratio of the soil in its natural
conditioned or conditions
 Dr% = Dul Do × 100%
1 - 1
Do Dud

Where
Dul = Dry unit weight in its loosest condition
Dud = Dry unit weight in its loosest condition
Do = Dry unit weight in its natural condition or condition in
question.
 Chapter 4

 SOIL TEST AND SURVEY

 4-1 Test for Particle Size
 The Sieve Analysis is the process being used to determine the
particle sizes of gravel and fine aggregates.


 4-2 Test to Evaluate the Effect of Moisture
 The liquid limit Test
 The AASHTO designation T-89 on liquid been signifies the percentage of
moisture at which the sample changes by decreasing the water from
liquid to plastic state.
 The Plastic Limit Test
 AASHTO Designation T-90 signifies the percentage of moisture wherein
the sample changes with lowering wetness from plastic to semi-solid
condition.
 The Plastic Index Test

 AASHTO Designation T-91 is defined as the numerical difference
between its liquid limit and its plastic limit.

 The shrinkage Test
 Shrinkage test measures the changes in volume and weight that occur as
partly mixture of soil and water (except sieve No. 40).
 Hand Feel Test

 Experienced soil Engineer employ the “hand feel test to approximately
predict the plasticity index of the soil. The test may include:
Experienced soil Engineer employ the “hand feel test to approximately predict
the plasticity index of the soil. The test may include:

Thread toughness at moisture content approximating the plastic limit

The air- dried strength
Dilatancy

Sand Equivalent test

AASHTO Designation T-76 is for field determination of the presence of

undesirable quantities of clay-like materials in soil.

a
 4-3 Density Test of Soil

 The density of soil or weight per cubic foot varies with the peculiarities of the
soil itself, the moisture content , and the compacted device plus the method of
their use.
 The Main Variables in the Soil Proper are:

 Specific Gravity of the soil particles that may vary from 2.0 to 3.3 that is
normally between 2.5 and 2.8.
 Particle Size distribution of the soil
 Grain Shape of Soil Particles




 4-4 Laboratory Test for Soil Density
 Test for density may be divided into two
 Static test.
 Dynamic or impact test.
 Tamping foot or kneading compaction test.

 Static Test is determining the maximum density of soil
sample in the laboratory.

 Dynamic or Impact test. Samples of soils each containing a
designated percentage of water are compacted in layers
into molds of specified size.




 4-5 Field Density Test of Soil in Place
 Field density test is the results the means of
compacting the density with the laboratory results.
 Relative Compaction = Dry wt/ cu. ft sol in the roadway structure

 Dry wt/ cu. ft sol sample common moisture

 Content compacted in standard manner

 There are four factors that effect the accuracy of
measuring relative density , they are:
 Change in the soil itself .
The sampling methods.
The accuracy of laboratory testing for standard density
.The accuracy of testing of testing field density.

4-6 the strength Test

Soil test to determine the strength of soil is classified
into: Test for load carrying capacity rate, and amount
of consolidation in soils that support the foundation.
Test to measure the supporting power of distributed
soils as compacted under standard procedures.
 The HVEEN Stabilometer Method
 This method measures the horizontal pressure developed I
a short cylinder sampled loaded vertically on its end.
 Test for Expansion pressure After exudation test while sample
is still in the mold, it is tested for expansion pressure.
 Stabilometer Test After the expansion test the pressure is
enclosed in a flexible sleeve and placed inside the stabilometer.
 Where
 R = Resistance value
 Pv = vertical pressure (160 psi)
 D = turns displacement reading
 ( approx. from 2 to 5)
 Ph = horizontal pressure in psi at Pv of 160 psi
 Tri – Axial Design Method This method is used by
some agencies for compression tests (sec AASHTO
designation T- 234)
 Dynamic modules Re- compacted or undisturbed
samples are tested to determine the influence of
temperature , degree of saturation, density and age on
the dynamic response of pavement materials.
 Nuclear Devices Test Recently, Nuclear Devise for
determining in-place densities and moisture contents
are used. The gauge reading are casily converted to
density and prevent moisture using calibration curves
or microprocessors.
 4- 7 Soil Survey
 The preliminary soil investigation is an integral
part of highway reconnaissance and preliminary
location survey.
 Reference Seismic method
 The refraction method was developed for
exploration of underground conditions of roadway
cuts.
The End