Description

Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines

Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels
Gravel
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels
Glatial till, very mixed grained
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Coarse sand
Fine sand
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Silty sands
Clayey sands
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity
Uniform inorganic silt
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity
Silty or sandy clay
Inorganic silts of high plasticity
Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Soft glacial clay
Stiff glacial clay
Organic clays of high plasticity
Soft slightly organic clay
Peat and other highly organic soils
soft very organic clay

REFERENCES

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Sw

Das, B., Advanced Soil Mechanics. Taylor & Francis, London & New York, 2008.
Hough, B., Basic soil engineering. Ronald Press Company, New York, 1969.
Terzaghi, K., Peck, R., and Mesri, G., Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Wiley,
Obrzud R. & Truty, A.THE HARDENING SOIL MODEL - A PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z So

USCS
GW
GP
GM
(GW-GP)
GC
(GC)

Void ratio [-]

Specific
min max
value
0.26 0.46
0.26 0.46
0.18 0.28
0.3 0.6
0.21 0.37

Reference
[1],
[1],
[1],
[2],
[1],

0.29
0.35
0.4
0.3
0.33
0.17
0.26
0.4
0.41
0.74
0.25
1.14
0.63

0.74
0.75
0.85
0.75
0.98
0.59
1.28
1.1
0.69
2.26
1.8
2.1
1.45

1.2 [4 cited in 5]

0.6 [4 cited in 5]

SW
(SW)
(SW)
SP
SM
SC
ML
(ML)
CL
OL
(CL-OL)
MH
CH

OH

1.06 3.34

(OH-OL)

Pt

(Pt)

0.25 [4 cited in 5]
[1], [2],
[2],
[2],
[1], [2],
[1], [2],
[1],
[1],
[3],
[1],
[1], [3],
[3],
[1],
[1],

[1], [3],
[4] cited in
1.9
[5]
[4 cited in 5]
3

[4] cited in
[5]

nts of soils, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

ndon & New York, 2008.
any, New York, 1969.
Engineering Practice. Wiley, New York, 1996.
PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z Soil.PC 100701 report, revised 31.01.2012

Description
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Sandy gravels - Loose
Sandy gravels - Dense
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Well-graded clean sand, gravelly sands - Compacted
Well-graded sand, angular grains - Loose
Well-graded sand, angular grains - Dense
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Poorly-garded clean sand - Compacted
Uniform sand, round grains - Loose
Uniform sand, round grains - Dense
Sand
Loose sand
Medium sand
Dense sand
Silty sands
Silty clays, sand-silt mix - Compacted
Silty sand - Loose
Silty sand - Dense
Clayey sands
Calyey sands, sandy-clay mix - compacted
Loamy sand, sandy clay Loam
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity
Inorganic silt - Loose
Inorganic silt - Dense
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity
Clays of low plasticity - compacted
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity
Inorganic silts of high plasticity
Clayey silts - compacted
Silts and clayey silts - compacted
Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Clays of high plasticity - compacted
Organic clays of high plasticity
Loam

Silt Loam
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam
Silty clay
Clay
Peat and other highly organic soils

REFERENCES

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Sw

JON W. KOLOSKI, SIGMUND D. SCHWARZ, and DONALD W. TUBBS, Geotechnical Pro
Carter, M. and Bentley, S. (1991). Correlations of soil properties. Penetech Press Pu
Meyerhof, G. (1956). Penetration tests and bearing capacity of cohesionless soils. J
Peck, R., Hanson,W., and Thornburn, T. (1974). Foundation Engineering Handbook.
Obrzud R. & Truty, A.THE HARDENING SOIL MODEL - A PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z So
Minnesota Department of Transportation, Pavement Design, 2007

USCS
GW
GP
(GW, GP)
(GW, GP)
GM
GC
SW
SW
(SW)
(SW)
SP
SP
(SP)
(SP)
SW, SP
(SW, SP)
(SW, SP)
(SW, SP)
SM
SM
SM
SM
SC
SC
SM, SC

Soil friction angle []

Specific Reference
min max
value
33
40
[1],[2],
32
44
[1],
35 [3 cited in
50 [3 cited in
30
40
[1],
28
35
[1],
33
43
[1],
38 [3 cited in
33 [3 cited in
45 [3 cited in
30
39
[1], [2],
37 [3 cited in
27 [3 cited in
34 [3 cited in
37
38
[7],
29
30
[5 cited in
30
36
[5 cited in
36
41
[5 cited in
32
35
[1],
34 [3 cited in
27
33
[3 cited in
30
34
[3 cited in
30
40
[1],
31 [3 cited in
31
34
[7],

ML

27

41

[1],

ML
ML
CL
CL
OL
MH
MH
ML
CH
CH
OH
ML, OL, MH,
OH

27
30
27

30
35
35

17

35

[3 cited
[3 cited
[1],
28 [3 cited
[1],
[1],
25 [3 cited
32 [3 cited
[1],
19 [3 cited
[1],

28

32

[7],

22
23

17

32
33

31

Correlation between SPT-N value and

SPT N3

6]
6]

6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]
6]

in 6]
in 6]
in 6]

in 6]
in 6]
in 6]

[Blows/0.3 m - 1 ft]
<4
4-Oct
Oct-30
30 - 50
> 50

ML, OL, MH,

OH

25

32

[7],

ML, OL, CL,

MH, OH, CH

18

32

[7],

OL, CL, OH,

CH

18

32

[7],

18

28

[7],

10

[2],

CL, CH, OH,

OL
Pt

ents of soils, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

LD W. TUBBS, Geotechnical Properties of Geologic Materials, Engineering Geology in Washington, Volume 1, Wa
il properties. Penetech Press Publishers, London.
capacity of cohesionless soils. J Soils Mechanics and Foundation Division ASCE, 82(SM1).
dation Engineering Handbook. Wiley, London.
- A PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z Soil.PC 100701 report, revised 31.01.2012
Design, 2007

ween SPT-N value and friction angle and Relative density (Meyerhoff 1956)
Friction
Relative
angle
Soil packing
Density [%]
[]
Very loose
< 20
< 30
Loose
20 - 40
30 - 35
Compact
40 - 60
35 - 40
Dense
60 - 80
40 - 45
Very Dense
> 80
> 45

hington, Volume 1, Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Bulletin 78, 1989, Link

Description
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Silty sands
Silty sands - Saturated compacted
Silty sands - Compacted
Clayey sands
Clayey sands - Compacted
Clayey sands -Saturated compacted
Loamy sand, sandy clay Loam - compacted
Loamy sand, sandy clay Loam - saturated
Sand silt clay with slightly plastic fines - compacted
Sand silt clay with slightly plastic fines - saturated compacted
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity
Inorganic silts and clayey silts - compacted
Inorganic silts and clayey silts - saturated compacted
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity - compacted
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity - saturated compacted
Mixture if inorganic silt and clay - compacted
Mixture if inorganic silt and clay - saturated compacted
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity
Inorganic silts of high plasticity - compactd
Inorganic silts of high plasticity - saturated compacted
Inorganic silts of high plasticity
Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Inorganic clays of high plasticity - compacted
Inorganic clays of high plasticity - satrated compacted
Organic clays of high plasticity
Loam - Compacted
Loam - Saturated
Silt Loam - Compacted
Silt Loam - Saturated
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam - Compaced
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam - Saturated
Silty clay, clay - compacted
Silty clay, clay - saturated
Peat and other highly organic soils

REFERENCES

1. Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Swiss Road and T
2. Minnesota Department of Transportation, Pavement Design, 2007
3. NAVFAC Design Manual 7.2 - Foundations and Earth Structures,SN 0525-LP-300-7071, REVALIDAT

USCS
GW
GP
GM
GC
SW
SP
SM
SM
SM
SC
SC
SC
SM, SC
SM, SC
SM, SC
SM, SC
ML
ML
ML
CL
CL
CL
ML-CL
ML-CL
OL
MH
MH
MH
CH
CH
CH
OH
ML, OL, MH, OH
ML, OL, MH, OH
ML, OL, MH, OH
ML, OL, MH, OH
ML, OL, CL, MH, OH, CH
ML, OL, CL, MH, OH, CH
OL, CL, OH, CH
OL, CL, OH, CH
Pt

Cohesion [kPa]
Specific Reference
min max
value
0 [1],[2],[3],
0 [1],[2], [3],
0 [1],
20 [1],
0 [1],[2], [3],
0 [1],[2], [3],
22 [1],
50 [3],
20 [3],
5 [1],
74 [3],
11 [3],
50
75
[2],
10
20
[2],
50 [3],
14 [3],
7 [1],
67 [3],
9 [3],
4 [1],
86 [3],
13 [3],
65 [3],
22 [3],
5 [1],
10 [1],
72 [3],
20 [3],
25 [1],
103 [3],
11 [3],
10 [1],
60
90
[2],
10
20
[2],
60
90
[2],
10
20
[2],
60 105
[2],
10
20
[2],
90 105
[2],
10
20
[2],
-

ion of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

P-300-7071, REVALIDATED BY CHANGE 1 SEPTEMBER 1986

USCS

Description

GW
GP
GM
GC
SW
SP
SM
SC
ML
CL
OL
MH
CH
OH
Pt

Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines

Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Silty sands
Clayey sands
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity
Inorganic silts of high plasticity
Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Organic clays of high plasticity
Peat and other highly organic soils

REFERENCES

1. Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Sw

Soil unit weight, as referred to as Specific weight, is the weight per unit volume of soil. It

- Wet unit weight: Unit weight of the soil when the pore are fully or partially filled with w
- Dry unit weight: Unit weight of the soil the pores are filled only with air without any wat
Gamma_d = Gamma / (1 + w)
where
Gamma_d : dry unit weight
Gamma : unit weight
w: soil water content

Average
value
(kN/m3)
21 1
20.5
21.5
19.5
20.5
19.5
20.5
18.5

References

[1];
1 [1];
1 [1];
1.5 [1];
2 [1];
2 [1];
2.5 [1];
1.5 [1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];

s, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

nit volume of soil. It may refer to

artially filled with water.

air without any water.

Description
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels
Alluvial sand and gravel
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Very fine sand, very well sorted
Medium sand, very well sorted
Coarse sand, very well sorted
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Clean sands (good aquifers)
Uniform sand and gravel
Well graded sand and gravel without fines
Silty sands
Clayey sands
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity
Inorganic silts of high plasticity
Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Compacted silt
Compacted clay
Organic clays of high plasticity
Peat and other highly organic soils

Empirical relations for dtermine the soil permea

For Sands, the coefficient of permeability can be estimated from the Hazen's equation:

is the effevtive size in mm.

REFERENCES

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Sw

Carter, M. and Bentley, S. (1991). Correlations of soil properties. Penetech Press Pu
Leonards G. A. Ed. 1962, Foundation ENgineering. McGraw Hill Book Company
Dysli M. and Steiner W., 2011, Correlations in soil mechanics, PPUR
West, T.R., 1995. Geology applied to engineering. Prentice Hall, 560 pp.

The soil permeability is a measure indicating the capacity of the soil or rock to allow fluid
V=ki

Where v is the apparent fluid velocity through the medium i is the hydraulic gradient , an
K depends on the relative permeability of the medium for fluid constituent (often water)
K= (Gamma_w)*K/ (eta)

where Where Gamma_w is the unit weight of water Eta is the dynamic viscosity of water

The permeability coefficient can be determined in the laboratory using falling head perm

USCS
GW
GP
GM
(GM)
GC
SW
(SW)
(SW)
(SW)
SP
(SP-SW)
(SP-GP)
(GW-SW)
SM
SC
ML
CL
OL
MH
CH
(ML-MH)
(CL-CH)
OH
Pt

min (m/s)

max (m/s)

5.00E-04
5.00E-04
5.00E-08
4.00E-04
5.00E-09
1.00E-08

5.00E-02
5.00E-02
5.00E-06
4.00E-03
5.00E-06
1.00E-06

2.55E-05
1.00E-05
4.00E-03
4.00E-05
1.00E-08
5.50E-09
5.00E-09
5.00E-10
5.00E-09
1.00E-10
1.00E-10
7.00E-10

5.35E-04
1.00E-02
4.00E-01
4.00E-03
5.00E-06
5.50E-06
1.00E-06
5.00E-08
1.00E-07
5.00E-08
1.00E-07
7.00E-08
1.00E-09
1.00E-07

5.00E-10
-

Specific
value (m/s)

[1],
[1],
[1],
[2&3 in 4]
[1],
[1],
8.40E-05 [5] ,
2.23E-03 [5] ,
3.69E-01 [5] ,
[1], [2&3 in 4]
[5],
[2&3 in 4]
[2&3 in 4]
[1],
[1], [5]
[1],
[1],
[1],
[1],
[1],
[2&3 in 4]
[2&3 in 4]
[1],

the soil permeability coefficient

rom the Hazen's equation:

Reference

ts of soils, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

properties. Penetech Press Publishers, London.
Graw Hill Book Company
hanics, PPUR
tice Hall, 560 pp.

the soil or rock to allow fluids to pass through it. It is often represented by the permeability coefficient (k) throu

is the hydraulic gradient , and K is the coefficient of permeability (hydraulic conductivity) often expressed in m/

uid constituent (often water) and the dynamic viscosity of the fluid as follows.

e dynamic viscosity of water K is an absolute coefficient depending on the characteristics of the medium (m2)

atory using falling head permeability test, and constant head permeability test. On the field, the permeability ca

meability coefficient (k) through the Darcys equation:

ctivity) often expressed in m/s

eristics of the medium (m2)

the field, the permeability can be estimated using Lugeon test.

Description
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels
Gravel
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels
Glatial till, very mixed grained
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Coarse sand
Fine sand
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines
Silty sands
Clayey sands
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity
Uniform inorganic silt
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity
Silty or sandy clay
Inorganic silts of high plasticity
Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Soft glacial clay
Stiff glacial clay
Organic clays of high plasticity
Soft slightly organic clay
Peat and other highly organic soils
soft very organic clay

REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Sw

Das, B., Advanced Soil Mechanics. Taylor & Francis, London & New York, 2008.
Hough, B., Basic soil engineering. Ronald Press Company, New York, 1969.
Terzaghi, K., Peck, R., and Mesri, G., Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Wiley,
Obrzud R. & Truty, A.THE HARDENING SOIL MODEL - A PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z So

Soil porosity (n) is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the soil:
n = (V_v) / V

Where V_v is the volume of the voids (empty or filled with fluid), and V is the total volum

Porosity is usually used in parallel with soil void ratio (e) , which is defined as the ratio of

e = n /(1-n) and n = e / (1+e)

The soil prosoity depends on the consistence and packing of the soil. It is directly affacte

USCS
GW
GP
GM
(GW-GP)
GC
(GC)
SW
(SW)
(SW)
SP
SM
SC
ML
(ML)
CL
OL
(CL-OL)
MH
CH
OH
(OH-OL)
Pt
(Pt)

Porosity [-]
Specific Reference
min max
value
0.21 0.32
[1],
0.21 0.32
[1],
0.15 0.22
[1],
0.23 0.38
[2],
0.17 0.27
[1],
0.2 [4 cited in 5]
0.22 0.42
[1], [2],
0.26 0.43
[2],
0.29 0.46
[2],
0.23 0.43
[1], [2],
0.25 0.49
[1], [2],
0.15 0.37
[1],
0.21 0.56
[1],
0.29 0.52
[3],
0.29 0.41
[1],
0.42 0.68
[1], [3],
0.2 0.64
[3],
0.53 0.68
[1],
0.39 0.59
[1],
0.55 [4 cited in 5]
0.38 [4 cited in 5]
0.5 0.75
[1], [3],
0.66 [4] cited in [5]
[4 cited in 5]
0.75 [4] cited in [5]

ts of soils, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers

ndon & New York, 2008.
any, New York, 1969.
Engineering Practice. Wiley, New York, 1996.
PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z Soil.PC 100701 report, revised 31.01.2012

al volume of the soil:

uid), and V is the total volume of the soil.

hich is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solidsl. The posoity and the void ratio are int

f the soil. It is directly affacted by compaction.

the void ratio are inter-related as follows:

Typical values of Young's modulus for granular material (MPa) (based on Obrzud
USCS
GW, SW
SP
GM , SM

Description
Gravels/Sand well-graded
Sand, uniform
Sand/Gravel silty

Loose
30-80
10-30
7-12

Medium
80-160
30-50
12-20

Typical values of Young's modulus for cohessive material (MPa) (based on Obrzu
USCS

Description

ML
ML, CL
CL
CH
OL
OH

Silts with slight plasticity

Silts with low plasticity
Clays with low-medium plasticity
Clays with high plasticity
Organic silts
Organic clays

Very soft to
soft
2.5 - 8
1.5 - 6
0.5 - 5
0.35 - 4
-

Medium
10-15
6-10
5-8
4-7
0.5 -5
0.5 -4

REFERENCES

1. Obrzud R. & Truty, A.THE HARDENING SOIL MODEL - A PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z So

2. Kezdi, A. (1974). Handbook of Soil Mechanics. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
3. Prat, M., Bisch, E., Millard, A., Mestat, P., and Cabot, G. (1995). La modelisation des

Soil Young's modulus (E), commonly reffred to as soil elastic modulus, is an elastic soil pa
It is defined as the ratio of the stress along an axis over the strain along that axis in the
The elastic modulus is often used for estimation of soil settement and elastic deformatio

Soil elastic modulus can be estimated from laboratory or in-situ tests or based on correla
In laboratory, it can be determined from triaxial test or indirectly from oedometer test.
On field, it can be estimated from Standard penetration test, Cone penetration test , pre

Typical values of soil Young's molulus for differe

In general, the soil stiffness and elastic modulus depends on the consistensy and packin

MPa) (based on Obrzud & Truty 2012 complied from Kezdi 1974 and Prat et al. 1995)
Dense
160-320
50-80
20-30

MPa) (based on Obrzud & Truty 2012 compiled from Kezdi 1974 and Prat et al. 1995)
Stiff to very
stiff
15 -40
10-30
8-30
7-20
-

Hard
40
30
30
20
-

- 80
-60
- 70
- 32

TICAL GUIDEBOOK Z Soil.PC 100701 report, revised 31.01.2012

5). La modelisation des ouvrages. Hermes, Paris.

ulus, is an elastic soil parameter and a measure of soil stiffness.

along that axis in the range of elastic soil behaviour.
and elastic deformation analysis.

ests or based on correlation with other soil properties.

rom oedometer test.
e penetration test , pressuremeter or indirectly from dilatometer test.

us for different soils according to USCS

consistensy and packing (density) of the soil. Typical values of soil Young's modulus are given below as guideline

ven below as guideline.