John Mark J.

Claveria

42163

BSCE-5

Enumeration:

Different layer of highway pavement :

 Sub-grade

 Sub-base

 Base course

 Wearing course

Natural soils can be classified as:

• Sand

• Loam

• Silt and

• Clay

The strength characteristics of soil depends on the following factors

• Type of soil

• Moisture content

• Dry density

• Internal structure of soil

Identification:

a) Liquid Limit. When a sample of soil-water changes from viscous to plastic stage, the moisture
content causing this change is called liquid limit.

b) Plastic Limit. The plastic limit shows the percentage of water at which the soil changes from
plastic to semi-solid state.

c) Shrinkage Limit. When water evaporates from soils it shrinks in volume up to a certain limit,
beyond which no decrease in volume takes place.

d) Plasticity Index. The numerical difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit.

e) Liquidity Index. The ratio, expressed as a percentage of the natural water content of a soil
minus its plastic limit to its plasticity index.

f) The California bearing ratio (CBR) is defined as the ratio of the force per unit area required to
penetrate a soil mass with a standard circular piston at the rate of 1.25 mm/minute to that
required for corresponding penetration of a standard material.

g) Grain size distribution. It is determined by sieve analysis for coarse grained particles in the soil
and by sedimentation analysis for soil fines.