EXCAVATION & EMBANKMENT

Salient Features

‰ Note on setting of road alignment

‰ Soil identification & classification

‰ Limits of consistency for soil

‰ Density requirement of embankment and other subgrade materials including specifications to

be adopted for roads in B.C. soil and near the bank of river.

‰ Compaction by vibratory roller

The notes attached herewith are for information only.

The Rates of the DSR have no bearing on the notes
enclosed herewith.
In case of any dispute regarding interpretation of
item it’s specifications etc. the reference to original
specifications shall be made.

467
 NOTE ON SETTING OF ROAD ALIGNMENT

Important roads in the country have been aligned when the internal combustion engine was not on
the roads. Therefore many of the curves on the through routes do not have either transitions or
superelevations. In restricted locations especially at approaches to bridges where a costly skew
alignment was chosen, in order to enable a square crossing of the river and near built up areas
through which the road passes, very sharp curves are in existence. Unless these are improved by
provisions of curves of adequate radius, suitable transitions and superelevation, travel at the design
speed of the road will be hazardous. Insertion of transition where they do not exist will soothen the
abrupt change of direction specially when entering a sharp curve. It will enable the driver to decelrate
in order that he can negotiate the sharp curve that lies ahead. It will also provide the necessary
distance in which superelevation can be built in. So introduction of transitions even in curves not
upto the standards will be an advantage. It is essential that good visibility should be provided to the
driver and outside of curve planted with white washed guard stones so that he can have an idea of
the amount of turning he has to make. The above mentioned improvement is only a paliative. Real
improvement lies in increasing the radius of curvature. But such improvements will necessitates
acquisition of new land. Neverthless ordinarily it is possible to improve existing curve without acquiring
land when the land width of the road available at the site is fairly wide. In respect of hilly roads while
improving existing roads curves having radii corresponding to absolute minimum standards may
not be flattened unless it is necessary to realign the road for some other reasons.

Some important data regarding Traffic and Road Geometry is given below :

TRAFFIC COUNT

Equivalency factor of different vehicles.

a) Passenger car, tempo, auto 1.0

rickshaw or agriculture tractor.

b) Cycle, motor cycle or scooter 0.50

c) Truck bus or agricultural 3.0

tractor tawler unit.

d) Cycle Rickshaw 1.50

e) Horse drawn vehicle 4.0

f) Bullock Cart 8.0

468
CAPACITY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROADS
Capacity in P.C.U.
per day in both
directions.
Single lane with earth shoulders 1000
Single lane with hard shoulders of 1.0 mt. 2500
Two lanes 10000
Intermediate lane 5.50 mt. 5000

TERRAIN CLASSIFICATION Cross Slope

a) Plain 0 to 10%
b) Rolling 10 to 25%
c) Mountainous 25 to 60%
d) Steep Greater than 60%

DESIGN SPEEDS KMPH

Terrain Ruling Minimum
Plain 100 80
Rolling 80 65
Mountainous 50 40
Steep 40 30

CRITERION FOR MEASURING SIGHT DISTANCE

Driver’s Height of
eye object
height mts.
Safe stopping distance. 1.20 0.15
Intermediate Sight distance. 1.20 1.20
Overtaking sight distance. 1.20 1.20

469
SIGHT DISTANCE

V KMPH Safe Stopping Intermediate Safe Overtaking

Distance Sight Distance Sight Distance
mt mt. mt.

40 45 90 165
50 60 120 235
60 80 160 —-
65 90 180 340
80 120 290 470
100 180 360 640

CURVES

Curve length shall be atleast 150 mt. for a deflection angle of 5O and this should be increased by 30
mt. for each one degree decrease in deflection angle for deflection angles less than 1 O no curve is
required to be designed.

Reverse curves may be needed in difficult terrain. It should be ensured that there is sufficient length
between the two curves for introduction of requisite transition curves.

Curves in the same direction separated by short tangents known as broken back curves “should
be avoided as far as possible, in the interest of asthetics and safety and be replaced by a single
curve”. If this is not possible tangent length corresponding to 10 seconds travel time must at least
be ensured between 2 curves.

Compound curves may be used in difficult topography but only when it is impossible to fit in a single
circular curve. To ensure safe and smooth transition from one curve to the other, the radius of
flatter curve should not be disproportional to the radius of sharper curve. A ratio of 1.5:1 should be
considered as limiting value.

Minimum Radii of curves

Terrain Rolling mt. Absolute mt.

Plain 300 230

Rolling 230 115
Mountanious 80 50
Steep 50 30

While improving existing roads curves having radii corresponding to absolute minimum standard
may not be flattended unless it is necessary to realign the road for some other reasons.

470
The length of horizontal curve should he in any case not less than the vertical curve.

Radii of curves where transition curves are not required

Speed Plain and Mountanious

v in kmph. rolling.
mt. mt.

100 2000 —-
80 1200 —-
65 800 —-
50 —- 500
40 —- 300

EXTRA WIDTH OF PAVEMENT ON HORIZONTAL CURVES

Radii of 21 to 41 to 61 to 101 to Above

Curve mt. 40 mt. 60 mt. 100 mt. 300 mt. 300 mt.

Extra
Width 1.50 1.20 0.90 0.60 Nil

The widening shall be effected by increasing the width at an approximately uniform rate along the
transition curve. In case of circular curve without transition curves, 2/3 widening shall be effected
on straight portion before start of the curve and remaining 1/3 on the curve.

Widening shall be equally on both sides of the carriageway, except on hill roads, it will be preferable
if the extra widening is done on only inside. Similarly the widening shall be provided only on inside
when the curve is plain circular and has no transition.

SUPER ELEVATION
V2
e = 225 R
Where -
e = Superelevation in mt./mt.
v = Speed in kmph.
R = Radius in mt.

471
Superelevation
< 7% in plain and Rolling
< 7% in snow bound area.
< 10% in hilly area not bound
by snow

Radii beyond which superelevation is not required

Design Speed Radii for 2.5% Camber.

40 280
50 450
65 750
80 1100
100 1800

The superelevation is to be attained gradually over the full length of the transition curve, so that the
designed superelevation is available at the starting point of the circular portion. If no transition curve
is provided 2/3 superelevation, shall be achieved in straight section before start of circular curve
and balance 1/3 on the curve.

The superelevation can be of 3 types

1) Revolving pavement about the centre line. (Only in respect of new road)

2) Revolving pavement about inner edge. (Specially for existing road)

3) Revolving pavement about outer edge. (Only in respect of new road)

The grade of superelevation shall not be steeper than 1: 150

To change gradually from the superelevation from curve to that of another the slope of the outer
edge of pavement with respect to the centre line should not be steeper than 1 in 150. So that
minimum length of transition should be at least 150 times the difference between the full
superelevation of 2 curves. Compounding 2 curves that differ in radius by more than 50% of the
smaller radius results in a sudden change of curvature which is noticeable if the transition is omitted.
A transition at least 30 mt. long should be inserted. Where 2 curves differ in radius by less than
50% and the proceeding methods of design results in transitions less than 30 mt. long they may be
omitted and such change in superelevation as may be required can be effected in the flatter curve.

472
 For circular curve without Chainage Increase or
Transition decrease from
level of inner
edge.

a) Starting point on straight line.

b) Outer edge in level with centre.

c) Outer edge in one plane with inner edge.

d) T.P.,Where 2/3 Superelevation is to be attained.

e) Where full superelevation is to be achieved.

For transition curve

a) Starting point on straight line.

b) Outer edge in level with centre at tangent point.

c) Outer edge in one plane.

d) Full superelevation.

SET BACK DISTANCE

m = R - (R-n) Cos ∅
∅ = S Radians.
2 (R-n)
m = Minimum set back distance to sight obstructions in mts
(measured from centre line of the road).
R = Radius at centre line of the road in mts.
n = Distance between the centre line of the road and the centre line of the
inside lane in mts.
S = Sight distance in mts.
The sight distance is measured along the middle of inner lane.

473
Minimum set back distance to sight obstruction from Road Centre line

Radii of Speed 100 80 65 40

Curves. Sight 180 120 90 45
Distance

360 13.00 7.00 4.00 3.00

230 18.00 9.00 7.00 3.00
115 18.00 14.00 11.00 4.00
80 18.00 14.00 11.00 7.00

When there is a cut slope on the inside of the horizontal curve the average height of sight line can
be used as an approximation for deciding the extent of clearance.

For the stopping sight distance which is the bare minimum requirement for the design, the average
height may be taken as 0.70 mt. cut slopes should be kept lower than this height, at the line
demarcating the set back distance envelope either by cutting back the slope or benching suitably.
In the case of intermediate or overtaking sight distance height of sight line above the ground should
be taken as 1.20 mt.

GRADES

Grade change should not be frequent. Desirably there should be no change in grade within a
distance of 150 mts.

A short valley curve with an otherwise continuous profile is undesirable, since this tends to distort
back grade lines i.e. two vertical curves in the same direction separated by a short tangent should
be avoided due to poor appearance and preferably replaced by a single long curve.

Terrain Ruling Limiting Exceptional

Gradient Gradient Gradient

Plain or rolling 1 in 30 1 in 20 1 in 15
Mountainous 1 in 20 1 In 16.7 1 in 14.3

Exceptional gradient in very difficult situations and for short lengths not exceeding 100 mt at a
stretch be provided.

In mountanious and steep terrain successive stretches of exceptional gradient must be separated
by a minimum length of 100 mt. having gentler gradient.

474
Grade compensation is not necessary when the gradients are flatter than 4%

Grade compensation = 30 + R
R

Subject to a maximum of 75/R where R is radius of curve.

Minimum Length of vertical curves

Design Max. grade Min. length

Speed change not of vertical
km/ hour requiring curve
a vertical curve.

40 1.20 20
50 1.0 30
65 0.8 40
80 0.6 50
100 0.5 60

HAIR PIN BEND

Minimum design speed 20 kmph.

Minimum Roadway width at apex - 11.50 mts.
Minimum Radius of inner curve - 14.00 mts.
Minimum length of transition curve - 15.00 mts.

GRADE

Max - 1 in 40
Min - 1 in 200

Superelevation - 10%

Minimum intervening distance of 60 mt. should be provided between the successive bends to
enable the driver to Negotiate the alignment smoothly.

SETTING OUT OF CURVES / ALIGNMENT

Horizontal intersection points (HIP) and intermediate point of transit (POT) should be fixed on hubs
driven flush with the ground and suitably referenced so that they may be relocated readily.

475
All the curve points namely beginning of spiral transition curve (BS) Beginning of Circular curve BC,
end of Circular curve EC and end of spiral transition ES should be fixed. The final centre line of the
road should be suitably staked. Stakes should be fixed at 50 mt. interval in plain and rolling terrain
and 20 mt. interval in hilly terrain.

B. M. (Bench Mark)

For a series of levels along a line ‘M’ in length the total error should not exceed M x 12 mm per km.
subject to the maximum error of 5 mm per km.

EXPLANATION FOR

Note-1 :- Summit curves with convexity upwards are formed in any one of the cases as below.

Note-2 :- The change in grade N is algebric difference of grades.

Note-3 :- The minimum length of vertical curve for different speed is as follows.

476
 Design Speed Max. grade Min. length of
change not vertical curve.
requiring
a vertical curve.
40 1.20 20
50 1.0 30
65 0.8 40
80 0.6 50
100 0.5 60
Measurement of vertical sight distance at summit curves may be done from plotted profiles of the
highway by the method illustrated in sketch below. A transparent straight edge with parallel edges
1.2 m apart and a dotted line 0.15 m from the upper edge, as per the vertical scale of the profile, is
the tool employed for these measurements. The transparent strip is placed on the profile with the
lower edge at the station for which the available sight distance is desired and the strip revolved
about this point until the upper edge touches the profile. Stopping sight distance available is then
the distance between the first station and the point of intersection of the 0.15 mt. line with the
profile. Overtaking / intermediate sight distance, in similar manner, is the distance between the
initial station and the point where lower edge of the strip meets the profile. If overhead obstructions
to visibility like under bridges, etc. have also been marked on the profile, then the graphical method
explained above will unveil visibility deficiencies caused by these.

Availability of headlight sight distance along valley curves can also be checked in a similar way
except that the template for checking will be different as explained in Figure below. At the point
where the sight distance is to be checked, the lower edge of the tamplate is kept tangential to the

road surface, and the headlight distance is the distance between starting station and the point of
intersection between the road profile and light ray line (marked 1O upward from the headlight).

477
478
 SOIL IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION FOR GENERAL ENGINEERING PURPOSES
DIVISION SUB-DIVISION STANDARD WARES & SYMBOLS GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
AND SOILS GROUP DESCRIPTION LETTER HATCHING MAPPING STRENGTH STRENGTH PERMEABILITY DRY BULK
COLOUR IN NATURAL WHEN WET DENSITY
STATE & REMOULDED /CC(10/CUFT)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

COARSE GRAINED GRAVELLY SOILS(MORE WEL-GRADED GRAVELS OR GB RED MEDIUM SLIGHTLY SEMI-PERVIOUS 2.08.2.29
SOILS (MORE THAN THAN HALF OF THE GRAVEL SAND MIXTURES, TO HIGH PLASTIC TO PERVIOUS (130-140)
HALF OF THE TOTAL COARSE GRAINS WITH BINDER
MATERIAL IS LARGER THAN I.S.
LARGER THAN I.S. SIEVE 480 + )
SIEVE 8 -X-

WEL-GRADED GRAVEL OR GW RED NONE —- PERVIOUS 2.00-2.16

GRAVELS AND MIXTURES (125-135)
LITTLE OR NO FINES

479
CLAYEY GRAVELS POORLY G.C. YELLOW MEDIUM TO FINER FRACTION IMPERVIOUS 1.84-2.08
GRADED OR GRAVEL SAND HIGH MANIFESTS (115-130)
CLAY MIXTURES MEDIUM TO
HIGH PLASTICITY

SILTY GRAVEL OR POORLY G.M. YELLOW NONE TO FINDER SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.92-2.16

GRADED GRAVEL SAND SLIGHT FRACTION TO IMPERVIOUS (120-135)
SILT MIXTURES NON PLASTIC

POORLY GRADED GRAVELS GD RED NONE — PERVIOUS 1.84-2.00

OR GRAVEL & MIXTURES (115-125)
LITTLE OR NO FINES

SANDY SOIL (MORE WELL GRADED SANDS OR SB RED MEDIUM MEDIUM SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.92-2.08
THAN HALF OF THE GRAVELLY SAND WITH PLASTICITY OR PERVIOUS (120-130)
COARSE GRAINS OR CLAY BINDER
SMALLER THAN IS
SIEVE 450 +
 RELATIVE SUITABILITY FOR GENERAL FOR FOUN
FIELD IDENTIFICATION TEST ENGINEERING PURPOSES DATIONS
FOR ROAD WAY
STANDARD WARES & SOILS VISUAL EXAMINATION DRY STRENGTH WET & MANIPULATED THREAD TEST DILATANCY EMBANKMENT BASE WEARING STRUCTURES
GROUP DESCRIPTION STRENGTH (FINE MATERIAL) TEST COURSE COURSE
(3) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19)
WEL-GRADED GRAVELS OR HARD PIT GRAVEL MEDIUM SLIGHTLY PLASTIC POSSIBLE TO QUICK TO VERY GOOD VERY GOOD VERY GOOD
GRAVELS AND MIXTURES, CONTAINING 1/3 SAND ROLL SLOW GOOD
WITH BINDER WITH CLAY BINDER
WEL-GRADED GRAVEL OR HARD, SMOOTH WELL NONE NOT APPLICABLE NOT POSSIBLE NOT VERY GOOD VERY GOOD VERY GOOD
GRAVELS AND MIXTURES ROUNDED GRAVEL, TO ROLL APPLICABLE GOOD
LITTLE OR NO FINES CONTAINING 1/3 SAND
CLAYEY GRAVELS POORLY MAXIMUM SIZE GRAVEL MEDIUM TO FINES MODERATELY POSSIBLE TO NOT FAIR POOR FAIR MODERATELY
GRADED OR GRAVEL SAND 60 MM (2 ½) PREDOM- HIGH TO HIGHLY PLASTIC ROLL THE THRE APPLICABLE IF FAIR TO
CLAY MIXTURES INANT SIZE 10 MM— AD GRITTY TO EXCESS MODERATELY
20 MM 3/8” – 3/4" TOUCH WHEN CLAY GOOD
APPRECIABLE PER- BROKEN DRY
CENTAGE OF CLAY
BINDER

480
SILTY GRAVEL OR POORLY GRAVEL ABOUT 70% NONE TO SLIGHT FINES PRACTICALLY THREAD LESS NOT FAIR FAIR FAIR MODERATELY
GRADED GRAVEL – SAND MAXIMUM SIZE 60MM NON PLASTIC THAN 6 MM APPLICABLE FAIR TO
SILT MIXTURES. (2 1/2” PREDOMINANT 1/4” DIAMETER MODERATELY
SIZE 20 MM-38MM NOT POSSIBLE GOOD
(3/4 “– 1 1/2)
MODERATELY SILTY
POORLY GRADED GRAVELS MAXIMUM SIZE 50 MM NONE NOT APPLICABLE NOT POSSIBLE NOT GOOD GOOD INSUIT- GOOD
OR GRAVEL & MIXTURES (2”) PREDOMINANT SIZE TO ROLL APPLICABLE ABLE
LITTLE OR NO FINES 12MM-25MM (1/2“-1”)
SMOOTH WELL ROUNDED
ABOUT 20% SAND
WELL GRADED SANDS OR ABOUT 20% GRAVEL 38 MEDIUM MODERATELY PLASTIC POSSIBLE TO QUICK TO VERY GOOD VERY FAIR GOOD
GRAVELLY SAND WITH CLAY MM (1 1/2“) MAXIMUM ROLL SLOPE GOOD
BINDER SIZE THE REMAINING
PARTS AND WITH CLAY
BINDER
 DIVISION SUB-DIVISION STANDARD WARES & SYMBOLS GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
AND SOILS GROUP DESCRIPTION LETTER HATCHING MAPPING STRENGTH STRENGTH PERMEABILITY DRY BULK
COLOUR IN NATURAL WHEN WET DENSITY
STATE & REMOULDED /CC(10/CUFT)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

WELL-GRADED SAND OR SW RED NONE NON PERVIOUS 1.76-2.08

GRAVELLY SAND LITTLE PLASTIC (110-130)
OR NO FINDS

CLAYEY SAND POORLY SG YELLOW SLIGHT TO MEDIUM TO IMPERVIOUS 1.68-2.00

GRADED OR SAND CLAY MEDIUM HIGH (105-125)
MIXTURES PLASTICITY

SILTY SAND OR POORLY SM YELLOW NONE TO FINES NON SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.60-2.00

GRADED SAND SILT SLIGHT PLASTIC TO PERVIOUS (100-125)

481
MIXTURES

POORLY GRADED SAND OR SP RED NONE —- PERVIOUS 1.60-1.92

GRAVELLY SAND, LITTLE (100-120)
OR NO FINES +

FINE GRAINED INORGANIC SILT & VERY FINE SAND ML GREEN NONE TO SLIGHT SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.52-1.92
INORGANIC SOILS SILT & CLAYS ROCK FLOUR SILTY TO SLIGHT PLASTIC TO IMPERVIOUS (95-120)
(MORE THAN HALF WITH LOW TO CLAYEY FIND SANDS WITH BUT NOT
THE TOTAL MEDIUM LOW PLASTICITY COHESIVE
MATERIAL IS COMPRESSIBILITY
SMALLER THAN
I.S.SIEVE-8-X)

GRAVELLY CLAYS SANDY, CL GREEN LOW TO LOW TO SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.36-1.76

CLAYS SILTY CLAYS, LEAN MEDIUM MEDIUM TO IMPERVIOUS (75-110)
CLAYS OF LOW PLASTICITY PLASTICITY
 RELATIVE SUITABILITY FOR GENERAL FOR FOUN
FIELD IDENTIFICATION TEST ENGINEERING PURPOSES DATIONS
FOR ROAD WAY
STANDARD WARES & SOILS VISUAL EXAMINATION DRY STRENGTH WET & MANIPULATED THREAD TEST DILATANCY EMBANKMENT BASE WEARING STRUCTURES
GROUP DESCRIPTION STRENGTH (FINE MATERIAL) TEST COURSE COURSE
(3) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19)

WEL-GRADED SAND OR ABOUT 20% GRAVEL NONE NOT APPLICABLE NOT POSSIBLE NOT GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD
GRAVELLY SAND LITTLE OR 38 MM (1 1/2 MAX. SIZE TO ROLL APPLICABLE
NO FINDS SAND WEL ROUNDED
AND HARD

CLAYEY SAND POORLY ABOUT 50-60% SAND MEDIUM TO FINES MODERATELY POSSIBLE TO NOT MODERATELY MODER- FAIR POOR TO
GRADED OR SAND CLAY WITH FAIR CLAY BINDER SLIGHT TO HIGHLY PLASTIC ROLL THE GRI- APPLICABLE FAIR TO FAIR ATELY MODERATELY
MIXTURES UP TO ABOUT 10% PEA TTY & COARSE FAIR TO FAIR
SIZE GRAVEL WHEN BROKEN DRY FAIR

SILTY SAND OR POORLY SAND VERY FINE LARGE NONE TO SLIGHT PRACTICALLY THREAD LESS NOT POOR POOR UNSUIT- POOR

482
GRADED SAND SILT PORTION OF SILT ABOUT NON PLASTIC THAN 6MM (1/4”) APPLICABLE ABLE
MIXTURES 10% GRAVEL 20 MM DIA NOT POSSIBLE
(3/4) SIZE TO ROLL

POORLY GRADED SAND OR SAND, POORLY GRADED NONE NOT APPLICABLE NOT POSSIBLE NOT POOR POOR UNSUIT- POOR
GRAVELLY SAND, LITTLE PREDOMINATLY COARSE TO ROLL APPLICABLE ABLE
OR NO FINES. + SLIGHTLY SILTY

SILT & VERY FINE SAND PREDOMINANTLY SILT NONE TO PRACTICALLY POSSIBLE TO ROLL QUICK TO POOR POOR UNSUIT- VERY POOR
ROCK FLOUR SILTY TO WITH TRACES OF SLIGHT NON PLASTIC THREAD 6 MM SLOW ABLE
CLAYEY FIND SANDS WITH CLAY & EXCESS OF (1/2“) WITH HIGH
LOW PLASTICITY FINE SANDS MOISTURE,
COARSE TEXTURE

GRAVELLY CLAYS SANDY, MORE THAN HALF SAND MEDIUM TO VERY PLASTIC POSSIBLE TO ROLL NIL TO FAIR POOR POOR TO VERY POOR
CLAYS SILTY CLAYS, LEAN & SILT REST ABOUT HIGH THREAD SLIGHTLY VERY TO FAIR
CLAYS BELOW PLASTICITY 30-40% GRITTY WHEN SLOW FAIR
BROKEN DRY
 DIVISION SUB-DIVISION STANDARD WARES & SYMBOLS GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
AND SOILS GROUP DESCRIPTION LETTER HATCHING MAPPING STRENGTH STRENGTH PERMEABILITY DRY BULK
COLOUR IN NATURAL WHEN WET DENSITY
STATE & REMOULDED /CC(10/CUFT)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

CLAYS OF MEDIUM CI GREEN MEDIUM MEDIUM IMPERVIOUS 1.28-1.60

PLASTICITY PLASTICITY (80-100)

INORGANIC SILT & VERY COMPRESSIBLE MH BLUE NONE TO SLIGHTLY SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.12-1.52
CLAYS WITH HIGH MIX ACCEOUS OR SLIGHT PLASTIC TO IMPERVIOUS (70-95)
COMPRESSIBILITY DIA TOMACEOUS FINE
SILTY, SOILS, SILTS

CLAYS OF HIGH CH BLUE HIGH HIGH IMPERVIOUS 1.20-1.68

483
PLASTICITY PLASTICITY (75-105)

SILT & CLAY WITH SILT, SILT & SILTY CLAYS OL BROWN NONE TO SLIGHT SEMI-PERVIOUS 1.28-1.60
HIGH ORGANIC ORGANIC OF LOW PLASTICITY SLIGHT PLASTICITY TO IMPERVIOUS (80-100)
CONTENTS

CLAYS, CLAYS TO MEDIUM OH BROWN MEDIUM SLIGHT TO IMPERVIOUS 1.04-1.60

ORGANIC TO HIGH PLASTICITY TO HIGH (65-100)
VERY COMPRESSIBLE HIGH PLASTICITY

PEAT PEAT PEAT & OTHER PI ORANGE LOW HIGH —— 1.04-1.28

HIGHLY ORGANIC SWAMP TO PLASTICITY (65-80)
SOILS MEDIUM
 RELATIVE SUITABILITY FOR GENERAL FOR FOUN
FIELD IDENTIFICATION TEST ENGINEERING PURPOSES DATIONS
FOR ROAD WAY
STANDARD WARES & SOILS VISUAL EXAMINATION DRY STRENGTH WET & MANIPULATED THREAD TEST DILATANCY EMBANKMENT BASE WEARING STRUCTURES
GROUP DESCRIPTION STRENGTH (FINE MATERIAL) TEST COURSE COURSE
(3) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19)
CLAYS OF MEDIUM FINE SAND 10-20% MEDIUM HIGHLY PLASTIC POSSIBLE TO ROLL —- POOR POOR UNSUIT- VERY POOR
PLASTICITY SLIGHTLY SILTY & TO HIGH THREAD SMOOTH ABLE
REST IS ALL CLAY FEEL WHEN
BROKEN DRY
VERY COMPRESSIBLE SILT,ELASTIC,SLIGHTLY NONE TO SLIGHTLY PLASTIC COURSE TEXT SLOW TO VERY POOR VERY UNSUIT- POOR
MIXACCEOUS OR CLAY & MODERATELY SLIGHT URED THREAD NIL POOR ABLE
DIATOMACEOUS FINE PLASTIC WITH HIGH
SILTY, SOILS, SILTS PERCENTAGE
OF MOISTURE
CLAYS OF HIGH CLAY, FAT, HIGH PERC- VERY HIGH VERY PLASTIC FINE TEXTURED NIL VERY POOR VERY UNSUIT- VERY POOR
PLASTICITY ENTAGE OF ULTRA THREAD HIGH POOR ABLE
CLAY SAND & SILT STRENGTH
MORE THAN 10-15% WHEN BROKEN
DRY
SILT & SILTY CLAYS OF SILT, ORGANICS, STRONG NONE TO SLIGHTLY PLASTIC POSSIBLE TO SLOW POOR UNSU- UNSUIT- VERY POOR
LOW PLASTICITY ODOUR OF DECAYED SLIGHT ROLL THREAD ITABLE ABLE

484
MATTER SLIGHTLY WEAK & COARSE
PLASTIC IN TEXTURE
CLAYS TO MEDIUM TO HIGH CLAY ORGANIC SLIGHTLY MEDIUM TO MODERATELY TO POSSIBLE TO NIL TO VERY POOR VERY UNSUIT- UNSUITABLE
PLASTICITY VERY ORGANIC ODOUR VERY HIGH PLASTIC ROLL THREAD VERY POOR ABLE
COMPRESSIBLE COARSE FINE TEXTURE GOOD
PEAT & OTHER HIGHLY VERY STRONG ORGANIC LOW TO FIBROUS & HIGHLY POSSIBLE TO NOT UNSUITABLE UNSU- UNSUIT- UNSUITABLE
ORGANIC SWAMP SOILS ODOUR, BLACK MEDIUM ORGANIC VERY ROLL ROUGH APPLICABLE ITABLE ABLE
INODOUR PLASTIC TEXTURE READ
WITH HIGH
MOISTURE

8 I.S. SIEVE 8 CORRESPONDS TO B.S. SIEVE 200 & ASTM SIEVE 200 I.S. SIEVE 8 HAS MESH SIZE OF ABOUT THE SMALLEST PARTICLE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE.
+ I.S. SIEVE 480 CORRESPONDS TO BE SIEVE 3/16 IN AND ASTM SIEVE 4.
* FINE SANDS WHICH WOULD NORMALLY FALL IN THIS SUB-GROUP (SP) ARE A TYPE OF WIND BLOWN FINE SAND OR MORE OR LESS UNIFORM SIZE WITH PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC QUITE.
DIFFERENT FROM SOILS INCLUDES IN THIS SUB-GROUP AS FINE SANDS ARE NOT WIDELY DISTRIBUTED IN INDIA THE PROVISION OF A SEPARATE SUB-GROUP HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED
NECESSARY.
NOTE : SYMBOLS GIVEN IN THE ABOVE CLASSIFICATION DIFFER FROM THOSE USED IN UK & USA IN SOME RESPECTS. THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN PREFIX & SUFFIX HAS NOT BEEN
EMPHASIZED, THE SYMBOLIC ‘C’ IS USED.
TO INDICATE A CLAY & NOT CLAYEY BINDER AS IN THE REVISED GASAGRANDE SOIL CLASSIFICATION. THE GC & SC GROUPS OF SOILS CONTAINED IN THE REVISED GASAGRANDE,
CLASSIFICATION HAVE BEEN RENAMED AS GB & SB RESPECTIVELY IN THE CLASSIFICATION GC & SC GROUP OF THE GASAGRANDE CLASSIFICATION REPRESENT GRAVELLY CLAY
MIXTURES & SAND CLAY MIXTURES RESPECTIVELY IN THE INDIAN STANDARD CLASSIFICATION.
 LIMITS OF CONSISTENCY FOR SOIL

(a) Liquid limit (L.L.) It is the minimum moisture content at which soil will flow under its own
weight. As obtained from the standard test it is defined as the moisture content at which 25
taps in the liquid limit device will just close a groove in a sample of soil.

(b) Plastic limit (P.L.) is defined as the minimum content at which the soil can be rolled into a
thread 3.2 mm in diameter without break.

(c) Shrinkage limit (S.L.) it is the moisture content at which further loss of moisture does not
cause a decrease in the volume of the soil.

Note - These consistency limits are expressed as percentage moisture content reckoned on the
dry weight of the soil.

(d) Plasticity lndex (P.I.) A measure of the range of moisture content over which a soil is
plastic is the Plasticity Index, which is the difference between Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit
i.e. P.I. = L.L. - P.L.

Note - Cohesionless soils have no plastic stage, and the liquid and plastic limit may said to coincide
i.e. plasticity Index is zero.

(e) Relative consistency = L.L.- Water content

L.L.- P.L.

It is analogous to relative density of sandy soils and gives an idea of the compressive
strength of the soil.

(f) Liquidity Index = Water Content- P.L.

L.L.- P.L.

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DENSITY REQUIREMENT OF EMBANKMENT
AND OTHER SUBGRADE MATERIALS :-

Sr.No. Type of Work Laboratory dry density when tested

as per I.S.2720 (Part VIl)

1. Embankment upto 3 mt. height Not less than 1.44 gm/cc.

2. Embankment exceeding mt. height Not less than 1.52 gm/cc.
or embankment of any height subject
to long periods of inundation
3. Subgrade and earthen shoulders verge Not less than 1.65 gm/cc.

Roads in B.C. Soil and roads near the bank of river.

Specifications to be adopted
1) Height of embankment.
a) If the ground water table is high < 1.0 mt.
b) It the ground water table is low
for V.R. and O.D.R. = 0.60 mt.
.......”....... M. D. R. = 0.80 mt.
.......”....... S.H. way = 1.00 mt.
2) Max. Dry Density (Proctor) for soil < 1.44 gm/cc.
for the top 0.50 mt. layer < 1.63 gm/cc.
3) Moisture content in soil = OMC + 2% to 4%
at the time of compaction
4) Slope of embankment 1 vertical in 2 horizontal
In water logged conditions 1 vertical in 3 horizontal
5) Distance between toe of embankment and inner edge of borrow pit < 5.0 mt.
6) If height of embankment > 3.0 mt. get the design of embankment done from MERI.
7) Murum blanketing for total width
Thickness 30 cm.
CBR < 5%
If Hard murum is not available provide mixture of sand ( < 60%) and locally available murum.
8) Thickness of pavement - As per CBR design method
- for stage construction provide usual thickness.
9) Camber - For carriageway 3% & for shoulders 4%
10) Surface drainage - As per site condition, Hydraulic gradient of drain 1:300
If less due to site constraints, provide stone pitching to drains.
Provide stone pitching to drains in water logged areas.

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11) Wearing coat — Minimum premix carpet shall be provided after 1 monsoon season is
over.

12) Shoulder Drains - To improve sub surface drainage wherever necessary at 45O to the
centre line of road at 15 mt. c/c. Depth of lateral drains should be
minimum to the bottom level of subbase.

CONTROL TESTS ON BARROW MATERIALS :-

Sr.No. TEST Minimum desirable Frequency.

1. Gradation/Sand content 1 or 2 test per 8000 Cum

2. Plasticity Index -do-
3. Standard Proctor test -do-
4. Deleterious constituents As required.
5. Natural Moisture content 1 test per 250 m3 of soil

Compaction by Vibratory Roller

In the vibratory compaction high densities are achieved.

a) As internal friction of the particles gets reduced to minimum and very favourable conditions
are created for compaction, the particles do not offer any resistance to compaction when in
vibrations.

b) Vibratory compaction in the soil mass is partly static due to weight of the roller and partly
dynamic due to pressure waves.

c) In the case of static compaction, it is more of packing of particles in the material the top
layers having more compaction than the bottom layers. The upper crust gets partially crushed
which in the presence of water gives the look of closed compact surface whereas at lower
depth, there are still considerable voids.

conceptual structure of compacted material

using static roller in upper surface close
textured high voids in lower depths.

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d) In the case of vibratory roller due to decrease in friction of particles when subjected to
vibration smaller particles tend to fill the voids and then with the load of roller. Th- materials
get compacted. A compacted mass is therefore produced in this case where voids are
reduced uniformly. Such mass gives a material of truly high load bearing capacity and is
more stable under high stresses imposed by traffic

Conceptual structure of compacted material,

using vibratory roller uniform closing of voids
in the material.

In the case of vibratory compaction these are numerous points of contact in the compacted mass
which increase the angle of internal friction considerably. Even though the density of two types of
vibration static & vibratory may be the same due to widely different structural arrangement of par-
ticles the strength of materials compacted with vibratory rollers is relatively higher than that of static
compaction. Thus in addition to the density a parameter of stability and strength, the mode of
compaction plays an important role in determining the strength of a material.

Capacity of rollers, output etc.

Application Roller Capacity Thickness of layer
Type of Roller weight considered for capacity
Ton. Cum. Mts.
Rock fill
Self propelled 10 700 0.75
vibratory roller (Drum module
weight - 5 Ton)
Self propelled 15 1300 1.50
vibratory roller (Drum module
weight - 10 Ton)
Sand/Gravel
Self propelled 6 600 0.50
vibratory roller
Self propelled 15 1200 1.00
vibratory roller
vibratory tandem roller 10 500 0.50
Static three wheel roller 10 200 0.20
Pneumatic tyred roller 17 200 0.20
(self propelled)

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1. 2. 3. 4.

Clay/Soil
Self propelled vibratory 11 300 0.30
roller (pads) (Drum module
weight - 7 Ton)
Self propelled vibratory 15 450 0.40
roller (pads) (Drum module
weight - 10 Ton)
Pneumatic tyred 17 150 0.20
(self propelled)
Asphalt surfacing
Vibratory tandem roller 2 20 0.05
Vibratory tandem roller 7 40 0.05
Vibratory tandem roller 10 65 0.05
Static three wheel roller 10 30 0.05
Pneumatic tyred roller 17 30 0.05

Most Favourable Frequencies and Amplitudes

for compaction of different materials

Sr. No. Nature of soil / Frequency Amplitude Thickness of

Material compaction
Cpm. mm. mm.

1) Rock 1800-2500 1.2 - 1.5 750

2) Sand / Gravel 1800-2000 0.8 - 1.2 500
3) Sandy clay / clayey 1600-2000 0.8 - 1.20 600
gravel
4) Clay 2000-2500 0.8 - 1.0 400
5) Asphalt – surfacing 2500-3500 0.4 - 0.6 50-75

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Effect of

a) Number of passes on compaction :

In well graded soil relative compaction of about 95% of proctor density can be achieved with 12 - 14
passes, of static roller having weight of 10.00 mt. of vibratory roller having weight of 8.5 mt. The
same degree of compaction can be attained with only 4-5 passes.

b) Roller speed on density :

The roller speed of both in static & dynamic compaction has considerable influence on the com-
paction of the soil. There is an optimum speed of roller which give soils the highest density. In the
case of vibratory rollers the most favourable speed is between 3.0 to 6.0 km. per hour.

c) Variable Amplitude :

Variable amplitude, in roller are very helpful for the bitumen surfacing layers and as finishing passes
in thick layers of soil / gravel. Variable amplitudes can be obtained with divided eccentric load. Dual
amplitudes have proved very effective on medium & large size vibratory roller for soil & asphalt
layer compaction.

TEST FOR COMPACTION CONTROL

Sr. Test Minimum Desirable

No. frequency

1. Moisture content 2 ... 3 tests per 250 Cum.

just before compaction. of loose soil.

2. Dry Density of compact layers Generally one test
per 1000 m2 compacted
area for the body of the
embankment, to be
increased to one test
per 500 ... 1000m2 of
compacted area for top
subgrade layers i.e.top
500 mm portion
of embankment.
The mean value of 5 tests
shall be considered when
there is a control on borrow
material. If there is any
doubt about control over
borrow material or method
on compaction.

mean value of 10 tests to be considered. The acceptance of

result shall be subject to the condition that mean dry density
equals or exceeds the specified density. Standard deviation
for set of results is below 0.08 gm/cc.

490