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Ce416 Notes-2002 Sm-Rev A
Ce416 Notes-2002 Sm-Rev A
1.1 Introduction
Particle Shape:
Roundness vs Angularity
Sphericity
Higher angularity tends to give higher strength for gravels and sands.
Modulus: Not certain
Important for gravels and sands - well graded material gives higher
strength and higher modulus
For some sands D10 can be related to Permeability, but D10 relates
poorly to K for silts and clays
Vv
Void ratio, e =
Vs
Vv
Porosity, n(%) = x100%
Vt
Vw
Degree of saturation, S(%) = x100%
Vv
Mw
Water content, (%) = x100%
Ms
Vw
Volumetric water content, (%) = x100%
V
Mt
Density, =
Vt
Ms
Dry density, dry =
Vt
Ms
Specific gravity of solids, G s =
water Vs
s 1 + Se / Gs
d = B =
1+ e 1+ e
B = d (1+w) Se = wG s
e n
n= e=
1+ e 1 n
Void Ratio:
Moisture content:
Given that Gs is typically between 2.6 to 2.8, all other phase relations
depend on w and e.
Generally, water content or void ratio alone may not tell much
about soil properties when comparing two soils.
Liquid limit (LL) the water content, in percent, at which the soil
changes from a liquid to a plastic state
Plastic limit (PL) the water content, in percent, at which the soil
changes from a plastic to a semisolid state
Plasticity index (PI) the difference between the liquid limit and
plastic limit of a soil, PI = LL PL
Clay minerals
Kaolinite, Illite, Montmorillonite (Smectite)
- negatively charged, large surface areas
Non-clay minerals
- e.g. finely ground quartz, feldspar or mica of "clay" size
Exchangeable ions
- Li+<Na+<H+<K+<NH4+<<Mg++<Ca++<<Al+++
Water content itself does not tell the whole story about two soils
Engineering behaviour expressed by relative position of water content
Developed in 1856
h
Unit flow, q = K
L
Where: K = hydraulic conductivity
h =difference in piezometric or total head
L = length along the drainage path
Reservoir
elevation = 168
mASL
A
B
The total stress is carried partially by the pore water and partially
by the soil solids, the effective stress, , is defined as the total
stress, t, minus the pore water pressure, u, ' = t u
'c
Overconsolidation ratio, OCR =
' z
1. set a datum
2. evaluate distribution of total head with depth
3. subtract elevation head from total head to yield pressure head
4. calculate distribution with depth of vertical total stress
subtract pore pressure (=pressure head x w) from total stress
2m
B=19 kN/m3
8m
Sandy Gravel
2m
B=21.5 kN/m3