1.

Starting with number 1, numerically list the sequence of steps in the foundation
design process for a building:
4 Study damage of building in project area
6 Perform laboratory tests on soil samples to determine engineering properties
5 Write the foundation report
1 Collect and analyze the geologic/geotechnical literature for the project area
2 Go to the project site to observe the soils
3 Drill the exploratory borings and obtain soil samples
2. What two analysis must be performed in the design of building foundation?
Settlement and Bearing Capacity
3. Where would find information on the engineering properties on the plainfield soil
unit in cook county, Illinois?
The information can be found from the results of laboratory test and field test.
4. List five Engineering properties of the plainfield soil unit 6 inches below the ground
in ground surface in cook/county, Illinois?
Cohesion

It is the internal molecular attraction which resists the rupture or shear of a material.
Cohesion is derived in the fine grained soils from the water films which bind together the
individual particles in the soil mass. Cohesion is the property of the fine grained soil with
particle size below 0.002 mm. cohesion of a soil decreases as the moisture content
increases. Cohesion is greater in well compacted clays and it is independent of the external
load applied.

Angle Of Internal Friction

The resistance in sliding of grain particles of a soil mass depends upon the angle of internal
friction. It is usually considered that the value of the angle of internal friction is almost
independent of the normal pressure but varies with the degree of packing of the particles,
i.e. with the density. The soils subjected to the higher normal stresses will have lower
moisture contents and higher bulk densities at failure than those subjected to lower normal
stresses and the angle of internal friction may thus change. The true angle of internal
friction of clay is seldom zero and may be as much as 260. The angle of internal friction fro
granular soils may vary in between 280 to 500.

Capillarity

It is the ability of soil to transmit moisture in all directions regardless of any gravitational
force. Water rises up through soil pores due to capillary attraction. The maximum
theoretical height of capillary rise depends upon the pressure which tends to force the water
into the soil, and this force increases as the size of the soil particles decreases. The capillary
rise in a soil when wet may equal as much as 4 to 5 times the height of capillary rise in the
same soil when dry.

Coarse gravel has no capillary rise; coarse sand has up to 30 cm; fine sand and soils have
capillary rise up to 1.2 m but dry sand have very little capillarity.

Clays may have capillary rise up to 0.9 to 1.2 m but pure clays have very low value.

Permeability

Permeability of a soil is the rate at which water flows through it under action of hydraulic
gradient. The passage of moisture through the inter-spaces or pores of the soil is called
percolation. Soils having porous enough for percolation to occur are termed pervious
or permeable, while those which do not permit the passage of water are termed
impervious or impermeable. The rate of flow is directly proportional to the head of
water.

Permeability is a property of soil mass and not of individual particles. The permeability of
cohesive soil is, in general, very small. Knowledge of permeability is required not only for
seepage, drainage and ground water problems but also for the rate of settlement of
structures on saturated soils.

Elasticity

A soil is said to be elastic when it suffers a reduction in volume (or is changed shape &
bulk) while the load is applied, but recovers its initial volume immediately when the load
is removed. The most important characteristic of the elastic behavior of soil is that no
 matter how many repetitions of load are applied to it, provided that the stress set up in the
soil do not exceed the yield stress, the soil does not become permanently deformed. This
elastic behavior is characteristic of peat.

Compressibility

Gravels, sands & silts are incompressible, i.e. if a moist mass of those materials is subjected
to compression; they suffer no significant volume change. Clays are compressible, i.e. if a
moist mass of clay is subjected to compression, moisture & air may be expelled, resulting
in a reduction in volume which is not immediately recovered when the compression load
is withdrawn. The decrease in volume per unit increase of pressure is defined as the
compressibility of soil, and a measure of the rate at which consolidation proceeds is given
by the co-efficient of consolidation of the soil. Compressibility of sand & silt varies with
density & compressibility of clay varies directly with water content & inversely with
cohesive strength.

5. What are the definition of friction and cohesion shear strength? Be complete in your
answer:
Friction: The resistance in sliding of grain particles of a soil mass depends upon the angle
of internal friction. It is usually considered that the value of the angle of internal friction is
almost independent of the normal pressure but varies with the degree of packing of the
particles, i.e. with the density. The soils subjected to the higher normal stresses will have
lower moisture contents and higher bulk densities at failure than those subjected to lower
normal stresses and the angle of internal friction may thus change. The true angle of internal
friction of clay is seldom zero and may be as much as 260. The angle of internal friction fro
granular soils may vary in between 280 to 500.

Cohetion: It is the internal molecular attraction which resists the rupture or shear of a
material. Cohesion is derived in the fine grained soils from the water films which bind
together the individual particles in the soil mass. Cohesion is the property of the fine
grained soil with particle size below 0.002 mm. cohesion of a soil decreases as the moisture
content increases. Cohesion is greater in well compacted clays and it is independent of the
external load applied.
6. Cant the porosity of a beach sand ever be greater than 100?
(a) No
(b) Porosity (n) is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume. So, if
n>100%, the soil is full of voids and there are no soil particle in there. And it is impossible,
because voids is a part of soil.
7. The following parameters were obtained on a soil sample from road fill in Kuwait:
Dry unit weight ( ): . /
Water content (w): 15.8 %
Assume Gs: 2.67
Determine the following parameters, show calculations:
(a) Void ratio

2 4 2.67 62.43 B

= 1= 1 = 0.4162
5
117.7 B

(b) Porosity
0.4162
= = = 0.2938
1 + 1 + 0.4162
(c) Degree of saturation
15.8
2 ( 100 )(2.67)
= = = 1.013
(0.4162)
(d) Total unit weight
15.8
(1 + )2 4 (1 + ( 100 )) 2.67 (62.43 B )
= = = 136.297 B
1+ 1 + 0.4162
(e) If the standard proctor maximum dry unit weight for the soil is 125.7 lb/ft3. What is
the percent of compaction?

5 =
(%)
1+
100

136.297 B

125.7 B =
(%)
1+
100
 %
125.7 + (125.7 ) = 136.297
B B 100 B

1.257 (%) = 136.297 125.7 = 10.5977
B B B B

10.5977
B
% = = 8.4309

1.257 B

= 8.4309 %
(f) What construction requirements must be done for the soil to meet the minimum
required percent compaction of 95% standard proctor if the optimum water content is
6.25%?

136.297
B
5 = = 128.2802 B > 117.7 B
6.25
1+
100

Because the value of dry unit weight with the optimum water content 6.25% is bigger than
dry unit weight on soil sample, so construction requirements must be done for the soil to
meet the minimum required percent compaction of 95% standard proctor if the optimum
water content is 6.25% is: compact the soil and dry the soil.
8. Given Sample A and B

Parameter Sample A Sample B

#4 100% 85%
#40 100% 13%
#200 77% 9%
D60 0.062 mm 1.6 mm
D30 0.034 mm 0.55 mm
D10 0.021 mm 0.17 mm
Liquid limit 32% 28%
Plastic limit 15% 19%
(a) Sample A
Classify the soil based on USCS:
Plasticity Index (PI)= Liquid limit Plastic limit = 32% 15% = 17%. For the
PI=17%>7%. The group symbol for the sample A is CL. Steps for the classification based
on USCS is displayed with this figure:
USCS description of soil:
%sand=77%
%gravel= 100-77=23%
%sand>%gravel. Because of %gravel = 23% which is > 15% gravel. The description of soil is
sandy lean clay with gravel.
AASHTO classification of soil:
The group symbol for the sample A is A-6. Steps for the classification based on AASHTO is
displayed with this figure:
(b) Sample B
Classify the soil based on USCS:
Plasticity Index (PI)= Liquid limit Plastic limit = 24% 19% = 5%. Percent sands of
sample B is 9 %, sands with the percent sands between 5-12% fines require deal symbol :
SW-SM, SW-SC, SP-SM, SP-SC. And if the PI is between 4 and 7 use dual symbol GC-
GM or SC-SM. So the classification of soil based on USCS for sample B is SC-SM.
USCS description of soil:
%gravel= 100-85=15%
Because of %gravel = 15% which is 15% gravel. The description of soil is silty clayey sand
with gravel.

AASHTO classification of soil:

The group symbol for the sample A is A-1-a. Steps for the classification based on AASHTO
is displayed with this figure:
9. (a) Atterberg limit test on clay soils are always performed wet to dry? Yes
(b) What is the reason for your answer on 9A? Because the atterberg limit test are a
basic measure of the critical water contents of a fine-grained soil: its shrinkage
limit, plastic limit, and liquid limit. So, the soil must be performed wet to dry, to
determine the plastic limit to liquid limit.
10. Name one three layer non expansive clay mineral:
Kaolinite

Chlorite

Illite