MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila

CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City

Telephone Number: (02) 516-7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)

Review MODULE – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 2

𝛾𝑑 − 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐷𝑟 = [ ][ ]
SOIL COMPACTION 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑
It is the densification of soil by removal of air which requires mechanical energy. The
degree of compaction measured in terms of the dry unit weight. The moisture content at 1 1
which the maximum dry unit weight is attained is called the optimum moisture content. −
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑
𝐷𝑟 =
1 1
RELATIVE COMPACTION −
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
It is defined as the ratio of the in-place, dry density of a soil or aggregate to the test
maximum dry density of the same soil or aggregate when compacted by a specific test 𝑅𝑜
method. 𝑅=
𝛾𝑑 [1 − 𝐷𝑟(1 − 𝑅𝑂)]
𝑅= 𝑥100%
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑅𝑂 =
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
1. Specifications on a job required a fill using borrowed soil to be compacted at
96% of its standard Proctor maximum dry density. Tests indicate that the
𝛾𝑑 = in situ dry unit weight
maximum is 19.35 kN/m3 with 10% moisture content. The borrow material has a
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 = dry unit weight in its densest condition
void ratio of 0.52 and a solid specific gravity of 2.62. Find the minimum volume of
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 = dry unit weight in its loosest condition
borrow soil required to fill one cubic meter.

SOIL COMPACTION APPARATUS DESIGNATION OF GRANULAR SOILS

1. Standard Proctor Mold and Hammer DESIGNATION Dr (%)
2. Sand Cone Apparatus Very loose 0 - 15
3. Rubber Balloon Apparatus
Loose 15 - 50
Medium dense 50 - 70
SITUATION. Given the results of a Standard Proctor Test: Dense 70 - 85
Water content (%) Weight of moist soil in Proctor mold Very dense 85 - 100
(grams)
SITUATION. A soil sample weighing 255 kg is removed from a test pit. Water weighing 125
10 1874
kg will just fill the pit. A sample of the soil weighing 113.2 g is oven dried and its weight after
12 2002
oven drying is 98.7 g. Maximum attainable dry unit weight of soil is 18.58 kN/m3 and
14 2101
minimum attainable dry unit weight is 15.65 kN/m3. Specific gravity of soil is 2.65.
16 2162 8. Determine the wet unit weight (kN/m3).
18 2145
9. Determine the dry unit weight (kN/m3).
20 2042
10. Determine the relative density of the soil.
The volume of the mold for this test is 1/30 cubic feet (946,000 cubic millimeters)
2. Determine the maximum dry unit weight of the soil in kN/m3.
SITUATION. To determine the relative density of a soil sample the following data were
3. Determine the void ratio at optimum moisture content. Take Gs=2.85
obtained using a compaction mold having a mass of 5300 g and a volume of 950 cm3.
4. Determine the optimum moisture content in percent. Mass of mold filled with dry soil poured in loosely = 7000 g
Mass of mold filled with dry soil dynamically compacted = 7400 g
SITUATION. Following are the results of a field unit weight determination test performed on If the dry density of the soil in situ is 19.65 kN/m3 and a Gs = 2.65
the soil by means of the sand cone method: 11. Determine the maximum bulk unit weight (kN/m3).
Calibrated density of sand = 1570 kg/m3 12. Determine the minimum void ratio.
Calibrated mass of sand to fill the cone = 0.535 kg 13. Determine the maximum void ratio.
Mass of jar + cone + sand (before use) = 7.65 kg
14. Determine the relative density.
Mass of jar + cone + sand (after use) = 4.67 kg
Mass of moist soil from hole = 3.005 kg
Moisture content of moist soil = 11.2%
5. Determine the dry unit weight of compaction in the field in kN/m3. SUITABILITY NUMBER

This is based on the grain size distribution of the backfill material that controls the rate of
SITUATION. The following data were obtained from a field density test on a compacted fill of
compaction. The suitability number gives an index for the quality of the backfill material.
sandy clay. Laboratory moisture density test on the fill material indicated a maximum dry
The smaller the SN, the more desirable the backfill material is.
density of 18.85 kN/m3 at optimum water content of 11%.
Weight of moist soil removed from test hole = 1038 g
Weight of soil after oven drying = 914 g 3 1 1
Volume of test hole from Rubber Balloon Apparatus = 478.55 cc 𝑆𝑁 = 1.7√ + +
6. Compute the field water content. (𝐷50 )2 (𝐷20 )2 (𝐷!0 )2
7. Compute the percent compaction of the fill.
SUITABILITY NUMBER RATING
0-10 Excellent
RELATIVE DENSITY/ DENSITY INDEX 10-20 Good
It is used to determine the in-situ denseness or looseness of a granular soil. 20-30 Fair
30-50 Poor
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒 >50 Unsuitable
𝐷𝑟 =
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑛
𝑒=
1−𝑛 15. Following are the details of the backfill material:
D10 = 0.36 mm
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 D20 = 0.52 mm
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 D50 = 1.42 mm
Find the suitability number.
𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 SOIL CLASSIFICATION
where:
𝑒 = in situ void ratio ORGANIZATION GRAIN SIZE (mm)
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 = void ratio of soil in its loosest state GRAVEL SAND SILT CLAY
𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 = void ratio of soil in its densest state MIT >2.0 2.0 - 0.06 0.06 – 0.002 <0.002
𝑛 = in situ porosity USDA >2.0 2.0 - 0.05 0.05 -0.002 <0.002
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 = porosity of soil in its loosest state AASHTO 76.2 – 2.0 2.0 - 0.075 0.075 -0.002 <0.002
𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 = porosity of soil in its densest state USCS 76.2 – 4.75 4.75 - 0.075 >0.075 (fines)
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
Telephone Number: (02) 516-7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)

Review MODULE – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 2

AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Grain Size:
Gravel: fraction passing through 75 mm and retained on the No. 10 (2 mm) US sieve.
Sand: fraction passing through No. 10 (2 mm) US sieve and retained on the No. 200
(0.075 mm) US sieve.

Plasticity:
Silty: PL ≤ 10 Clayey: PL ≥ 11

To classify a soil according to the table (Classification of highway subgrade materials),

the test data are applied from left to right. By process of elimination, the first group from
the left into which the test data will fit is the correct classification.

𝐺𝐼 = (𝐹200 – 35) [0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)] + 0.01(𝐹200 – 15) (𝑃𝐼 – 10)

Partial GI: Liquid Limit Plasticity Index

1. If the equation for GI yields a negative value, it is taken as 0.
2. The value of the GI is rounded off to the nearest whole number.
3. There is no upper limit for the GI.
4. The GI of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is always 0.
5. When calculating the GI for soils that belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7, use the partial
use index for PI.

16. The given data shows a sieve analysis of soil samples A, B, and C. Classify
soils A, B and C according to AASHTO.

Sieve No. Diameter SOIL SAMPLE

(mm) A B C
Percent Passing
10 2.00 54 96 72
40 0.42 22 81 58
200 0.074 5 32 38
Characteristics of -40 fractions
LL - 48 44
PL - 26 23
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS)
1. Coarse grained soils that are gravelly and sandy in nature with less than 50% passing
the No. 200 sieve. The group symbols start with a prefix of either G or S.

2. Fine-grained soils with 50% or more passing through the No. 200 sieve. The group
symbols start with a prefix of M, C, or O.

For proper classification according to this system, some or all the following information
must be known:

1. Percent of gravel – that is, the fraction passing the 76.2-mm sieve and retained on the
No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening).

2. Percent of sand – that is, the fraction passing the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening) and
retained on the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm opening).

3. Percent of silt and clay – that is, the fraction finer than the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm
opening).

4. Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc).

5. Liquid limit and plasticity index of the portion of soil passing the No. 40 sieve.

17. The results of the sieve analysis of soils A, B, and C is given next. It is required
to classify these soils according to USCS. Classify the soils according to USCS.

Sieve No. Diameter SOIL SAMPLE

(mm) A B C
Percent Passing
4 4.760 90 100 100
8 2.380 64 90 100
10 2.000 54 77 98
20 0.840 34 59 92
40 0.420 22 51 84
60 0.250 17 42 79
100 0.149 9 35 70
200 0.074 4 33 63
Characteristics of -40 fractions
LL - 46 47
PL - 29 24