Fifth International Young Geotechnical Engineering Conference - 5iYGEC13.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT GEOTECHNICAL

CHARACTERIZATION ON SOILS WITH OVERSIZE

QUELQUES CONSIDRATIONS POUR LA CARACTRISATION DES SOLS
COMPORTANT DES GROS LMENTS
Leonardo DORADOR
1
, Gaspar BESIO
2

1
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2
University of Chile, Santiago, Chile


ABSTRACT In determined civil and mining projects there are no chances to conduct a geotechnical
characterization on soils with oversize based on in situ and laboratory testing. In these cases it is required to
use charts and correlations to predicting some important geotechnical parameters of these soils. Based on
this, this article is focused in three topics. The first topic is the chart to estimate the minimum and maximum
void index in granular materials. Some previous charts are shown and a new chart and data is included. The
second topic discussed is an influence of the D
50
in the maximum void index. Laboratory testing results
shows that larger D
50
decrease the maximum void index independently of the uniformity coefficient C
U.
The
last topic discussed is the peak friction angle based on the Leps Chart. In this work, new large triaxial data is
included into this chart and some recommendations to use it appropriately are proposed.


1. Introduction

Soils with oversize or coarse granular soils are
used in many civil and mining projects around the
world. Although these materials are very important
in these projects, it is hard to be characterized due
to the large sizes of their particles. Additionally, in
conceptual and feasibility stages of any project, it
is important to have a rough idea of the materials
characteristics. However, the lack of charts and
correlations keep off a good geotechnical
characterization of these soils. In this work, some
correlations on soils with oversize are discussed.
Firstly, the existing charts of minimum and
maximum void index are discussed. These
parameters depend strongly on how well graded is
the particle size distribution or specifically in the
uniformity coefficient (C
U
)
Secondly, the influence of the D
50
in the
maximum void index is studied. Some data
collected show that the e
max
is lesser increasing
the average diameter of the material.
Finally, the shear strength, which is one of the
key parameters for design is discussed. There is a
chart by Leps (1970) which has been widely used
until these days. However, new data obtained from
the large triaxial equipment of IDIEM (Verdugo
2007), shows that the Leps chart could
overestimate the shear strength of soils with
oversize in some cases.


2. Minimum and maximum void index in soils
with oversize

It is well known the importance of obtaining the
e
max
and e
min
not only for providing the ranges of
material densities but also for estimating the
relative density parameter (RD%). However, it is
important to add that until date there is no enough
charts or correlations to obtain these parameters in
soils with oversize. The following correlations
proposed are intended to be used as a good
estimation in conceptual and feasibility studies but
not in higher detailed stages of any project
involving soils with oversize or coarse granular
soils.

2.1 Correlations to obtain e
min

Kezdi (1979) provided a good correlation between
the maximum density with the uniformity coefficient
(C
u
). In addition, Gesche (2002), De la Hoz (2007)
and Dorador (2010) collected more maximum
density data (using the standard ASTM D 4253
00) and a correlation that fix with Kezdi correlation
has been obtained.
This correlation (Figure 1) includes fluvial gravel
material (sub-rounded), crushed gravel (sub-
angular) and this is an alternative chart of what is
proposed by Biarez (1994). The Biarezs chart
agrees partially with the proposed chart. However,
the former remains constant after C
U
higher than
10, which is not agreeing with this proposed chart.
Thus, this correlation using the C
U
is a good
first approximation of the maximum packing of the
material analyzed. Of course, in order to get a
closer correlation we should consider other
parameters involved in the minimum void index
such as sphericity and angularity of particles,
maximum particle size (D
100
) and gradation
coefficient (D
30
).



Fifth International Young Geotechnical Engineering Conference - 5iYGEC13.



Figure 1. Correlation between e
min
and C
U

2.2 Correlations to obtain e
max

Certainly, this parameter tends to be more difficult
to be obtained by charts, etc. This is because the
minimum density by the standard ASTM-4254 is
more sensible to the particles shape (sphericity
and angularity), average size of the sample (D
50
)
and the expertise of the technician who conducts
the test.
In order to have a rough idea of the e
max
, one
alternative is to use the following chart (Figure 2)
which has been updated with data by Veiga Pinto
(1979) Cubrinovski, et al. (2002) and De la Hoz
(2007). This chart considers the lineal relationship
between the e
min
and e
max
.


Figure 2. Relationship between e
min
and e
max
,
De la Hoz (2007).
Thus, knowing the value of e
min
(for example,
using Figure 1) it is possible to use this chart to
obtain the e
max
(for example using Line 2 on Figure
2). Again, these charts are intended to be used as
a rough idea of the minimum and maximum
packing of granular materials.




2.3 Methodology to obtain a precise value of
e
min
and e
max
for soils with oversizes (Coarse
Granular soils)

In some projects involving soils with oversize, it is
important to have accurate values of e
min
and e
max

and so, to obtain the relative density (for example
Rockfill dams and Waste rock Dumps in mining).
Additionally, there is no standard methodology
to obtain the minimum and maximum void index for
soils with oversizes. Thus, it is proposed the
following methodology to obtain the e
min
and e
max

(Figures 3 and 4).
First, to obtain the Macro gradation of the soil
with oversize. Second, to scale the Macro
gradation in three smaller gradations with
maximum particle size (for example 37.5 mm
(1.5), 9.5 mm (3/4) and 4.75 mm). Third, to
conduct minimum and maximum densities for each
scaled gradation. Fourth, to obtain potentials
regressions for each e
max
and e
min
regression as
e
max
= a D
100
-m
and e
max
= b D
100
-n
. Fifth, to
extrapolate the e
max
and e
min
to the desire D
100
.


Figure 3. Scaled gradations from Macro
Gradation. To obtain these scaled curves is
necessary to fix the minimum diameter of the
Macro gradation and translate the maximum
diameter of this gradation.


Figure 4. Potential regressions of e
min
and e
max

from scaled gradations


0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
1 10 100 1000
Kezdi, 1979
Al Hussaini, 1983
De la hoz (2007), Dorador
(2010) and Gesche (2002)
e
m
i
n

Uniformity coefficient [C
u
= D
60
/D
10
]
Upper limit
Average e
min
Lower limit
Biarez-Subrounded
Biarez-Subangular
Fifth International Young Geotechnical Engineering Conference - 5iYGEC13.

3. Influence of D
50
in the maximum void index
(e
max
) on soils with oversize

In general terms, the e
max
of granular materials
with gravels are obtained by the standard ASTM
D4254 (Methods A and B). It is clear that the e
max
decrease for higher C
U
, but seems to be that the
average size of the tested material tends to
produce lesser e
max
too. The following data is
considered in Figure 5. Gesche (2002),
considering two materials, one fluvial gravel (A1)
and one sub-angular gravel (M1). De la Hoz (2007)
considering two fluvial gravels (M2 and M3) and
one sub-angular gravel (P1). Dorador (2010)
considering one fluvial gravel (A2)


Figure 5. Influence of D
50
in e
max
Materials
with C
U
ranging from 1.8 to 29
In this graph it is possible to classify three
ranges of D
50
(0.5 to 2 mm, 2 to 7 mm and higher
of 7 mm). Thus, for a constant value of e
min
, the
e
max
is less for higher values of D
50
.
The probably explanation of this result can be
the following. When the minimum density test is
conducted, the larger particles that are being
poured into the mold seem to compress the
smaller particles, which are on top of the particles
pile. This produces a local compaction and
therefore a higher minimum density.


4. Leps chart Update

One alternative way for obtaining the shear
strength on coarse soils or rockfill is using the Leps
Chart (1970) which allows obtaining the secant
friction angle based on the confining pressure and
strength of the material. Leps made a collection
from the literature of 100 large triaxial tests in
rockfill materials, and he defined three bands that
fix the soil strength (Low, average and high
strength, Figure 6).
Most of these tests were conducted by Marsal
(1965 and 1967) using the first large triaxial device
in the world, which was used in studying the rockfill
materials of Infiernillo Dam. After Leps, this chart
has been updated by some authors such as
Indraratna et al. (1993) and Contreras (2011).
It is important to note that most of these tests
were carried out in samples with high confection
density, high particle strength and low to moderate
confining pressures, which facilitated the dilatancy
of most of the samples and therefore peak
strengths were obtained during the tests.


Figure 6. Leps charts (1970)
Nevertheless, typical requirements from mining
projects involve the use of large amount of soils
with oversize and waste rock materials, which
sometimes are found with low relative density and
low particle strength. Several large triaxial tests
have been carried out since 2007 to date (Bard et
al., 2007, Palma 2009 and Dorador 2010) using
the large triaxial device at Idiem Institute in Chile
(Verdugo 2007).
According to Figure 7, these large triaxial series
didnt undergo the steep fall in strength such as the
materials analyzed by Leps. The reason why is
because these entire tests had a contractive
behavior due to low relative density or low particle
strength (E.R material) and the peak strength was
never obtained.


Figure 7. Contractive behavior of Rockfills
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
D50 - 0.5 a 2 mm
D50 - 2 a 7 mm
D50 - higher than 7 mm
e
m
i
n

e
max
30
35
40
45
50
55
0.1 1 10 100 1000
S
e
c
a
n
t

f
r
i
c
t
i
o
n

a
n
g
l
e

(

)

Normal pressure s
n
[kg/cm
2
]
E.R - RD=80% Dorador (2010)
R.L RD=60% Dorador (2010)
Bard (2007) leached Waste
Leps (1970) Cachuma 3" Quartz
Palma M-1 (2009)
Average rockfill
Leps (1970)

Fifth International Young Geotechnical Engineering Conference - 5iYGEC13.

Thus, it is very important to knowing the state of
the coarse soil in the field. For example, the Leps
chart could be used for estimating the shear
strength of rockfills dams, where the construction
material is typically well compacted.
However, the Leps chart is not recommended
to be used in waste rock dumps, Dump leached
material or coarse soils from mining which are
placed in the field by dumping. This is because
these materials are going to behave contractively,
not reaching peak strength (due to low in situ
density of the material) and so, not having the
steep fall in strength proposed by the chart.

4. Conclusions

This article intends to show some considerations
that should be included when conducting a
geotechnical characterization on soils with oversize
(coarse granular soils).
The minimum and maximum void index on
coarse soils was studied and the correlation
between e
min
and C
U
was discussed. Here, it is
proposed to improving this correlation on soils with
C
U
higher than 100 and so, to corroborate if the
soil density increases after high values of C
U
.
The influence of D
50
in the e
max
was studied. It
was found that higher D
50
implies lesser e
max
(or
higher minimum density), maybe associated to that
larger particles tend to produce a better
arrangement with smaller particles when the
material is poured into the mold.
Finally, the Leps chart for rockfill strength was
discussed. Based on new large triaxial device from
IDIEM Institute, several soils with oversize were
tested and they didnt reach the peak secant
friction angle and therefore, they didnt follow the
steep fall in strength proposed by Leps. These new
tests were conducted with low confection density
or low particle strength, which resulted in a
contractive behavior on the tests and therefore its
didnt reach the peak strength. Thus, Leps chart
should overestimate the strength for low density
materials or coarse soils with low particle strength.

5. References

Al-Hussaini, m. (1983). Effect of particle size and
strain conditions on the strength of crushed
basalt. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 20(4):
706-717.
Bard, E., Campaa, J.,Aanabaln, M., Apablaza,
R. (2007). Comportamiento de lastre rom
sometido a altas presiones. Libro de
resmenes, VI Congreso Chileno de Geotecnia,
Valparaso Chile.
Biarez, J. and Hicher, P-Y (1994), Elementary
Mechnics of Soil Behaviour. Saturated
Remoulded Soils. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam.
Cubrinovski, M. and Ishihara, K. (2002). Maximum
and minimum void ratio characteristics of
sands. Soils and Foundations, 42 (6): 65-78.
De la Hoz, K. (2007). Estimacin de los
parmetros de resistencia al corte en suelos
granulares gruesos, Tesis de Ingeniero Civil y
Magister. FCFM. Universidad de Chile.
Santiago, Chile.
Dorador, L. (2010). Anlisis experimental de las
metodologas de curvas homotticas y corte en
la evaluacin de propiedades geotcnicas de
suelos gruesos. Tesis de Ingeniero Civil y
Magister. FCFM Universidad de Chile,
Santiago, Chile.
Gesche, R. (2002). Metodologa de evaluacin de
parmetros de resistencia al corte de suelos
granulares gruesos. Tesis de Ingeniero Civil,
FCFM. Universidad de Chile. Santiago, Chile.
Kezdi, A. (1979). Soil physics. Amsterdam:
Elsevier.
Leps, T. (1970). Review of Shearing strength of
rockfill. Journal of the Soil Mechanics and
Foundations Division, 96(4): 1159-1170.
Marsal R.J, et al. (1965). Research on the
Behavior of the Granular Material and Rockfill
Samples. Comision Federal de Electricidad,
Mexico.
Marsal R.J (1967). Large Scale Testing of Rockfill
Materials, ASCE Journal of the Soil Mechanics
and Foundation Division, Vol, 93, No SM2.
USA.
Palma C. (2009). Caracterizacin geotcnica de
materiales de lastre en botaderos de gran
altura mediante ensayos triaxiales y
odomtricos de gran tamao. III Conferencia
Sudamericana de Ingenieros Geotcnicos,
Crdoba, Argentina.
Verdugo, R., Peters G. and Bejarano I. (2007).
Evaluacin de parmetros geomecnicos de
suelos gruesos. VI Congreso Chileno de
Geotecnia, Valparaso, Chile.