FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Module 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

2. A soil sample was determine in the laboratory to

have a liquid limit of 41% and plastic limit of
 Introduction to foundation engineering 21.1%.If the water content is 30%, determine the
 Review of geotechnical properties of soil following:
 Soil Composition o Plasticity index
 Atterberg Limits o Liquidity index
 Soil Classification o What is the characteristics of the soil?
a) Liquid
b) Plastic
c) Dense
d) Brittle solid
3. The grain size analysis for a soil is given as
 Understand the importance of foundation follows:
engineering in the field of civil engineering.
 Review the topics covered in geotechnical Sieve No. Dia. (mm) Passing
#44 4.75 94
properties of soil.
#10 2.00 63
 Understand the application of various equations
#20 0.850 21
and graphs.
#40 0.425 10
#60 0.250 7
#100 0.150 5
#200 0.075 3
Given that the soil is non plastic, classify the soil by
Soil mechanics and foundation engineering have using the Unified Soil Classification System.
rapidly develop. Intensive research and observation a) What is the value of the uniformly coefficient
in the field and the laboratory have refined and Cu .
improved the science of foundation design. This b) What is the value of the coefficient of gradation
module serves primarily as a review of the basic Cc .
geotechnical properties of soils. c) What is the value of the sorting coefficient So.
d) Classify the soil.

INTRODUCTION
1. In a natural state, a moist soil has a volume of
0.00935m3 and weighs 178 N. The oven dried The design of foundation of structures such as buildings,
weight of the soil is 154 N. If Gs=2.67, determine bridges and dams generally requires a knowledge of such
the following: factors as (a) the load that will be transmitted by the
a) Moisture Content superstructure to the foundation system, (b) the
b) Moist Unit Weight requirements of the local building code, (c) the behavior
c) Dry Unit Weight and stress-related deformability of soils that will support
d) Void Ratio the foundation system, and (d) the geological conditions
e) Porosity of the soil under consideration. To a foundation
f) Degree of Saturation

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FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
Module 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil
engineer, the last two factors are extremely important Void Ratio
because they concern soil mechanics.
The ratio of volume of voids to the volume of solids.
When determining which foundation is the most
𝑉
economical, the engineer must consider the 𝑒=
𝑉
superstructure load, the subsoil conditions, and the
desired tolerable settlement. Foundations of building
and bridges may be divided into two major categories;
If saturated, S=1
(1) shallow foundations (spread footing, wall footing,
mat foundation) and (2) deep foundations (pile and drift 𝑒=𝜔𝐺
shaft foundation).
Porosity

The ratio of volume of voids to the total volume.

SOIL COMPOSITION
𝑉
𝑛=
𝑉
From the weight-volume relationship
𝑒
𝑛=
1+𝑒
Degree of Saturation

The ratio of volume of water to volume of voids.

𝑉
𝑆=
𝑉
𝜔𝐺
𝑆=
𝑒
Moisture Content

The ratio of weight of water to the weight of solids

Where: in a given volume of soil.
Vs=volume of soil solids 𝑊
𝜔=
Vw=volume of water in the voids 𝑊

Va=volume of air in the voids

Vv=volume of voids Dry Unit Weight

Neglecting the weight of air. (Wa=0) The weight per unit volume of soil, excluding water.

W=Ww+Ws (total wt. os soil sample) 𝑊

𝛾 =
𝑉
Let Vs=1
If the volume of soil solids is one:
𝐺 𝛾
𝛾 =
1+𝑒

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FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
Module 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil
Moist Unit Weight ATTERBERG LIMIT TESTS
The weight of soil per unit volume.
𝑊
𝛾=
𝑉
But W=Ws+Ww

𝛾 = 𝛾 (1 + 𝜔)
Saturated Unit Weight of Soil
(𝐺 + 𝑒)𝛾
𝛾 =
1+𝑒
LIQUID LIMIT (LL): The moisture content, in percent,
at which the soil changes from a liquid to a plastic
Relative Density state.
1 1 PLASTIC LIMIT (PL): The moisture content, in
−
𝛾 𝛾 percent, at which the soil changes from a plastic to a
𝐷 =
1 1 semisolid state.
−
𝛾 𝛾
SHRINGKAGE LIMIT (SL): The moisture content, in
𝛾d = in situ dry unit weight (at a void ratio of e)
percent, at which the soil changes from a semisolid
𝛾d(max) = dry unit weight in the densest condition to solid state.
(at a void ratio of emin)
(𝑚 − 𝑚 ) (𝑉 − 𝑉 )
𝑆. 𝐿. = (100) − (𝜌 )(100)
𝛾d(min) = dry unit weight in the loosest condition 𝑚 𝑚
(at a void ratio of emax)
PLASTICITY INDEX (PI): The difference between the
𝑒 −𝑒
𝐷 = liquid limit and the plastic limit of a soil.
𝑒 −𝑒
𝑃. 𝐼. = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
Dr = relative density usually in percent or Density
index LIQUIDITY INDEX (PI): A ratio which signifies the
relative consistency of a cohesive soil in a natural
e = in situ void ratio of the soil state.
emax = void ratio of the soil in the loosest condition 𝜔 − 𝑃𝐿
𝐿. 𝐼. =
emin = void ratio of the soil in the densest condition 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
Characteristics of soil:

L.I. < 0 – brittle solid

L.I. < 1 – plastic

L.I. > 1 – liquid

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FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
Module 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
1. American Association of State Highways and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) – mainly used for
the classification of highway subgrades but not in
foundation construction.
Moisture Content - ratio of weight of water to the
weight of solids in a given volume of soil.
Dry Unit Weight - the weight per unit volume of soil,
excluding water.
Moist Unit Weight - the weight of soil per unit
volume.

2. Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) – Liquid Limit (LL) – the moisture content, in percent,
originally proposed by A. Casagrande and is used at which the soil changes from a liquid to a plastic
practically in all geotechnical works. state.

Plastic Limit (PL) - the moisture content, in percent,

Particle Size Distribution Curve
1. Effective Size (D10) – diameter in the particle size
distribution curve corresponding to 10% finer.
2. Uniformity Coefficient (Cu)
at which the soil changes from a plastic to a semisolid
state.
Shrinkage Limit (SL) - the moisture content, in
percent, at which the soil changes from a semisolid
to solid state.

𝐷 Plasticity Index (PI) - the difference between the

Cu = liquid limit and the plastic limit of a soil.
𝐷
3. Coefficient of Gradation or Curvature (Cc) Liquidity Index (PI) - ratio which signifies the relative
consistency of a cohesive soil in a natural state.
(𝐷 )
Cu = American Association of State Highways and
𝐷 𝐷
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) – mainly used for
4. Sorting Coefficient the classification of highway subgrades but not in
foundation construction.
𝐷
𝑆 = Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) – originally
𝐷25
proposed by A. Casagrande and is used practically in
AASHTO Group Index (G.I.) all geotechnical works.

𝐺. 𝐼. = (𝐹 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)]

+ 0.01(𝐹 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)

1. The field weight of soil sample is 1900 kg/m3 and the

unit eight of the soil particle is 2660 kg/m 3.

Void Ratio - ratio of volume of voids to the volume
of solids.
Porosity - ratio of volume of voids to the total
volume.
Degree of Saturation - ratio of volume of water to
volume of voids.
a) Compute the dry unit weight if the moisture
content is 11.5%.
b) Compute the void ratio.
c) Compute the degree of saturation.
2. A soil has a liquid limit of 61 and a plastic limit of 30. A
moisture content test performed on an undisturbed
sample of this soil yielded the following results:

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FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
Module 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil
Mass of soil + can before placing in oven – 96.2 g
Mass of soil + can after removal oven – 71.9 g
Mass of can – 20.8 g
d) Compute the plasticity index.
e) Compute the moisture content.
f) Compute the liquidity index.

3. The following data for soils A and B are as follo ws:

Sieve Size Dia. Soil A Soil B
% finer % finer1
No. 4 4.760 99 23
No. 10 2.000 96 19
No. 40 0.420 89 8
No. 100 0.149 79 5
No. 200 0.074 70 4
Liquid Limit 49 -
Plastic Limit 24 -
From the Grain Size Curve, the following were also obtained.
D10 - 0.50 mm
D30 0.023 5.50 mm

D60 0.032 27.50 mm

Classify the soils according to Unified Classification
System. Use the attached table to classify the soils.

a) What is the classification of soil A?

b) What is the classification of soil B
c) What is the coefficient of uniformity Cu of soil B?

 Das, Braja M., Principles of Foundation

Engineering, Sixth Edition. (2007) Nelson, a
division of Thomson Canada Limited, United
States.
 Das, Braja M., Principles of Geotechnical
Engineering, Seventh Edition. (2010)
Cengage Learning, 200 First Stamford Place,
Suite 400, Stamford, CT 06902, USA.

Prepared by:

ENGR. CATHERINE S. BARTOLOME

Faculty
College of Engineering and Architecture

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