USE OF LIQUID LIMIT AND DRY DENSITY TEST METHOD FOR

COLLAPSIBLE SOIL IDENTIFICATION

Realizado por: Jonathan hoyos. ID 7112

Mehdi Khalili Noutash 1, Masoud Hajialilue Bonab2 & Mehrad Khalili Noutash3.
1
Tavanab Consulting Engineering Co., Iran
2
Tabriz University, Iran
3
Tabriz, Iran

RESUMEN: Uno de los peligros geotécnicos más reconocidos que causa pérdidas dramáticas de vida y daños
graves a diferentes estructuras son los suelos colapsables debajo de los cimientos de las estructuras. Este
problema se vuelve más crítico cuando el agua se filtra o se induce a la estructura del suelo porque los suelos
colapsables son metaestables y tienen una estructura abierta. El canal principal de Khoda Afarin es un canal de
transporte importante que se encuentra y está en construcción en Moghan y la región de Khoda Afarin.
Provincias de Azerbaiyán Oriental y Ardabil en IRÁN. La presencia de suelos colapsables en alguna porción
del lecho de este canal ha traído al punto de vista la necesidad del estudio y tratamiento de este problema.

ABSTRACT: One of the most recognized geotechnical hazard which causes dramatic life lost and serious
damages to different structures, are the collapsible soils under the foundation of structures. This problem
becomes more critical when water is seeped or induced to the soil structure because collapsible soils are
metastable and they have an open structure Khoda Afarin main canal is a major conveyance canal which is
located and is under construction in Moghan and Khoda Afarin region pass throw East Azerbaijan and Ardabil
provinces in IRAN. Presence of collapsible soils in some portion of this canal bed has brought the necessity of
study and treatment of this problem to the point of view.

1.0 INTRODUCTION • High porosity

• Geologically new and recently modified
A collapsible soil is defined as a soil that tends to sediments
grow its volume decreases rapidly when wet (Day, • High sensitivity
2001). • Low cohesion between particles
Collapsible bottom sediments share typical features Ground collapse is a major threat in some parts of
Most collapsible soils are: Iran.
Collapsible soils are metastable. particulate matter
• Loose cement deposits Angular particles compacted on the dry side of the
• Fairly dry optimal can it forms structures that can be further
• Open structure densified. of the classic folding soil is a natural
• High porosity material, the combination of particle type and
• Low dry density sedimentation mechanism generates foldability.
 Fooks and Best (1969) proposed the following
2.0 FORMATION OF COLLAPSIBLE SOIL collapse index:

Soils arise from a combination of weathering, rock

displacement, and sedimentation. It is the nature of
one or more of these processes that leads to
disintegration. In this context, the term weathering Previously Feda (1966)had proposed the following
should include in situ changes after deposition. index :

In many cases, this is the key to maintaining or

creating metastable structures. The cyclical process
should therefore be viewed as a true cyclical
weathering that occurs as deposition occurs. In which (m) is the natural moisture, sr is the degree
of saturation, pl is the plastic limit and PI is the
2.1 Foldable requirements plasticity index The absolute collapse index (i ) also
can be used to predict collapse, it being:
A collapse trigger is usually defined as an increase
in load or wetting, or a combination of both.
Increased stress, or more specifically stress, is
typically caused by sediment build-up over time,
but similar to stress increases caused by 2.3 Relationship between soil properties and
construction activities, dynamic stresses from collapse potential
events such as earthquakes provides an obvious
trigger mechanism. . Wetness usually refers to an Several empirical methods have been proposed for
increase in saturation, often going from partially the relationship between soil physical properties
saturated to fully saturated. and susceptibility to collapse, but the most
commonly used methods are:
2.2 Collapse creteria
• Relationship between density and proportion of
A collapse criterion is proposed that depends on the fine-grained particles (#200 Saive pass) Figure
void fraction (el) at the liquid boundary and the No. (1).
plastic limit ep and the natural void fraction eo. • The empirical relationship between dry weight
According to Audric and Bouquier (1976), collapse and liquid limit for metastable and stable soils
can occur if the natural porosity (eo) is higher than is shown in Figure (2).
the critical porosity (ec), which depends on el and
ep. They cited Denisov and Feda's criteria as fairly
good estimates of the likelihood of collapse.

3.0 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MAJOR
KHODA AFARIN CHANNELS
A geological survey of the Khoda Afarin Main
Channel involved the drilling of 136 rotary drill
holes and the drilling of 211 manual test pits. The
maximum depth of the borehole was 46 meters and
the minimum depth was 10 meters. For laboratory
testing, undisturbed and disturbed soil samples
were taken during excavation and excavation.
3.1 Particle size analysis
Particle size analysis was performed according to
ASTM D421 and ASTM D422. According to the
USCS, soils are classified as CL, ML, MH, CH, SC,
GC-GM, GP, SW-SM, SM, and SP-SM, but
generally 37% of soils are coarse-grained and 63%
% was fine grain. granular. Figure #(3) shows the
soil classification distribution and Figure #(4)
shows the soil gradient.
3.2 Atterberg limit test
To determine the yield point, the plastic limit. The
Atterberg limit test for plasticity index was
performed on all soil samples according to ASTM.
The test results show that from the liquid point of
view, the bottom of the channel bed has different
characteristics such as: B. No liquid limit up to 62%
of liquid limit and up to 46% in terms of plasticity
index of NP.

3.3 On-site tightness test

Reconnaissance survey of the canal. A density test

was conducted on site and the test results show a
minimum density of 1.32 g/cm for the channel soil.
Maximum density is 2.35 g/cm3

4.0 CONCLUSION

Collapsible soils are considered problem soils.

Especially in large projects involving waterways,
these types of soils should be identified before
starting construction of the project to avoid damage
and hazards.

There are various ways to stabilize these types of

soils, but the most common and economical method
is pre-tamping. This stabilization method requires
considerable engineering control. In this research
paper, the authors discuss the collapsible soil of the
Koda-Afarin trunk canal and the preramming
method was recommended and applied for land
improvement and development.

5.0 REFERENCES

Noutash, Mehdi Khalili; Bonab, Masoud

Hajialilue; and Noutash, Mehrad Khalili, "Use of
Liquid Limit and Dry Density Test Method for
Collapsible Soil Identification" (2013).
International Conference on Case Histories in
Geotechnical Engineering. 34 Tomado de:
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icchge/7icchge/sessio
n02/34