CE 424: SOIL MECHANICS 1

PROBLEM 1: WEIGHT-VOLUME RELATIONSHIP

Using the gathered data from a laboratory test, determine a) Void ratio, b) Specific gravity of
solids, and c) Saturated unit weight.

GIVEN:

Moist Unit Weight (kN/m3) S (%)

Condition A 16.64 50
Condition B 17.73 75

FORMULAS:
Se = wGS YSaturated = [(GS + e)YW]/(1 + e)
Y(1 + e) = (1 + w)GSYW

SOLUTION:
Y(1+e) = (1+w)GSYW
Se = wGS
Y(1+e) = (GS+Se)YW

16.64(1 + e) = (GS + 0.5e)9.81

16.64 + 16.64e = 9.81GS + 4.905e
11.735e - 9.81GS =-16.64 ------- equation 1

17.73(1 + e) = (GS + 0.75e)9.81

17.73 + 17.73e = 9.81GS + 7.358e
10.373e - 9.81GS =-17.73 ------- equation 2

Solving equation 1 and 2 simultaneously,

a) e = 0.80
b) GS = 2.654

16.64(1 + e) = (GS + 0.5e)9.81

16.64 + 16.64e = 9.81GS + 4.905e
11.735e - 9.81GS =-16.64 ------- equation 1

c) YSaturated = [(2.654 + 0.80)9.81]/(1 + 0.80)

YSaturated =18.824 kN/m3

a) e = 0.80
b) GS = 2.654
c) YSaturated =18.824 kN/m3

ENFORCE: Empowerment through Notes and Formulas Organized to Revitalize Civil Engineers
ACES Academics Committee ’17 – ‘18
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CE 424: SOIL MECHANICS 1

PROBLEM 2: SOIL COMPACTION

Following are the results of a field density determination test on the soil with the sand cone
method:
Calibrated dry density of Ottawa sand 98.01 lbs. /ft3
Calibrated mass of Ottawa sans to fill the cone 1.20 lbs.
Mass of jar + cone + sand (before use) 16.73 lbs.
Mass of jar + cone + sand (after use) 10.54 lbs.
Mass of moist soil from hole 6.63 lbs.
Moisture content of moist soil 10.20%

a) Determine the volume of the excavated soil.

b) Determine the moist density of the compacted soil.
c) Determine the dry density of the compacted soil.

GIVEN:
Psand = 98.01 lbs. /ft3 Wf = 10.54 lbs.
Wsand in cone = 1.20 lbs. Wexcavated = 6.63 lbs.
Wi = 16.73 lbs. w = 10.20 %
1 pound = 16 ounces

FORMULAS:
Wi − Wf − Wsand in cone γfield
Vexcavated soil = γd =
1+ω
ρsand
W
γ=
V

SOLUTION:
a) Volume of excavated soil
16.73 − 10.54 − 1.20
Vexcavated soil =
98.01
Vexcavated soil = 0.0509 ft3

b) Moist density
6.63
𝛾=
0.0509
𝐥𝐛
𝛄 = 𝟏𝟑𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟓 𝐟𝐭𝟑

c) Dry density
130.255
γd =
1 + 0.102
𝐥𝐛
𝛄𝐝 = 𝟏𝟏𝟖. 𝟏𝟗𝟖 𝐟𝐭𝟑

ENFORCE: Empowerment through Notes and Formulas Organized to Revitalize Civil Engineers
ACES Academics Committee ’17 – ‘18
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CE 424: SOIL MECHANICS 1

PROBLEM 3: SOIL COMPACTION

Your company has won a contract to provide and compact the fill material for an earth levee,
with the dimensions shown below. The levee fill is a silty soil to at least 95% of maximum Standard
Proctor of γd = 106 pcf at an OMC of 18 %. Your borrow pit has a silty clay with an in-situ moist density
of 11.2 pcf at 18 %, and a GS = 2.68. When the soil is excavated and loaded on to your trucks, the void
ratio of the material is 1.47. your trucks can haul 1 yd 3 of material per trip. Note: 1 yd3 = 27 ft3

a) Determine the volume of fill required for the levee.

b) Determine the volume required from the borrow pit.
c) Determine the required number of truckloads.

FIGURE:

GIVEN:
for fill: γd = 106 pcf
ωopt = 18%
for borrow γo = 112.1 pcf
Gs = 2.68
truckload e = 1.47
V = 15 yd3 (haul)

SOLUTION:
a) Volume of fill
1 1 1yd3
Vfill = {[ (20)(40)(450)ft 3 ] + [(20)(20)(450)ft 3 ] + [ (20)(60)(450)ft 3 ]} ×
2 2 27ft 3
Vfill =23333.333 yd3

ENFORCE: Empowerment through Notes and Formulas Organized to Revitalize Civil Engineers
ACES Academics Committee ’17 – ‘18
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CE 424: SOIL MECHANICS 1

b) Volume of Borrow
lb Ws Notes:
0.95 (106 3 ) =
ft 6.3 × 105 ft 3 Formula for dry unit weight following the
Ws = 6.344 × 107 lb
specified relative compaction.
γ 112.1
γd = =
1 + ω 1 + 0.18
γd = 95 pcf

Ws lb 6.344 × 107 lb
γd = ; 95 =
V ft 3 Vborrow
𝐕𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 = 𝟐𝟒𝟕𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝐲𝐝𝟑

c) Number of truckloads
2.68(62.4) 𝑙𝑏
𝛾𝑑 = = 67.705 3
1 + 1.47 𝑓𝑡

WS 6.344 × 107
γd borrow = ; 67.705 = ; Vborrow = 937006.130 ft 3
V Vborrow

1 𝑦𝑑 3 1 truckload
n = 937006.130 ft 3 × ×
27 𝑓𝑡 3 15 yd3
n = 2313.595 truckloads ; 𝐧 ≈ 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟒 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬

ENFORCE: Empowerment through Notes and Formulas Organized to Revitalize Civil Engineers
ACES Academics Committee ’17 – ‘18
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