GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

The top 500 mm of a site consists of clayey sand with a void ratio of
0.90 and a water content of 20%. The specific gravity of the soil grains
is 2.68. Determine the moist unit weight of the soil. When the ground is
compacted at the same water content, there is a 45 mm reduction in
the thickness of this layer. Determine the new void ratio.

45 mm

Clayey Sand
Clayey Sand
500 mm e = 0.90 455 mm
ω = 20% ω = 20%
Gs = 2.68 Gs = 2.68
 Total Volume = V = V a + Vw + Vs
Wa Air Va

Vv Total Weight = W = Ww + Ws
Ww Water Vw V

W
Assume a 1 mm2 cross-section.
Ws Solid Vs

Therefore the total volume is 500 mm3.

V = Va + Vw + Vs = 500 mm3

Void Ratio = e = = Vv = eVs

Vv = Va + Vw
 V = Vv + Vs = eVs + Vs = (e + 1)Vs
Wa Air Va

Vv 500 mm3 = (0.90 + 1)Vs

Ww Water Vw V

W
Vs = 263.16 mm3
Ws Solid Vs

Vv = 0.90Vs = 0.90 x 263.16 mm3

= 236.84 mm3
Weight of Soil = Ws = VsGsγw
= 263.16 x 10-9m3 x 2.68 x 9.81 kN/m3 = 6.92 x 10-6 kN

Moisture Content = ω = = Ww = ωWs

 Ww = 20% x 6.92 x 10-6 kN
Wa Air Va
= 1.38 x 10-6 kN
Vv
Ww Water Vw V
W = Ws + Ww = 8.3 x 10-6 kN
W

Ws Solid Vs Moist Unit Weight of the Soil = γ

γ = = = 16.6 kN/m3
Void Ratio after Compaction = = = 0.73
THANK YOU