SOIL

PROPERTIES

-Formation and
phases

1) Explain the concept of soil formation, CHAPTER 1

(C3, PLO1).
2) Explain the correlation of soil
parameter, (C3, PLO1) MISS SITI NOORAIIN MOHD RAZALI
3) Perform compaction test, (C1, PLO2)
 Soil Formation

– 3 groups of rock:
Igneus , Sedimentary and Metamorphic

– Mainly due to physical and chemical weathering of

rock

– Physical weathering causes reduction of size without

changes of the composition
* agent- erosion, freezing, unloading
– Chemical weathering causes reduction in size and altered the
composition of rock
*agent- hydration, carbonation, oxidation
Weathering process
– Frost action, temperature changes, rainfall, wind, ice,
abrasion and other physical phenomena disintegrate
rock into smaller pieces and at the end produce soil
particles.
– The type of soil that remains at the location of their
parent rocks are known as residual soil whereas
transported soil normally call transported soil.
– Transported soils can therefore be categorized with
regard to these agents as :
(a) Gravity deposits,
(b) Alluvial deposits – due to moving water,
(c) Glacial deposits,
(d) Wind deposits – also known as aeolian deposits
Non-clay minerals
– characterized by physical properties such as color hardness and
cleavage.
– Hardness is measured by scratching according to Moh’s relative
hardness scale
 Engineering Properties of
Soil

– Soil Conditions:
1) Dry Soil Void filled with AIR 2 phase Diagram

2) Saturated Soil Void filled with 2 phase Diagram

WATER

3) Partially Saturated Void filled with AIR 3 phase Diagram

and WATER
 3 PHASE SYSTEM 2 PHASE SYSTEM 2PHASE SYSTEM

A Soil Sample An Idealized Soil Sample

1

4
or
3

5
6

10
 12
11

13 14

16
15

17
18

19

20
21
 6
7
2 20 V = Vv +Vs
4
5
4 15
22

23
Ms + Mw

24
25

26
27

28
Find:
a) Moisture content
b) Dried density
c) Void ratio and porosity
d) Degree of saturation
 Soil Compaction

– In construction of highway embankments, earth dams

and many other engineering structures, loose soils
must be compacted to improve their strength by
increasing their unit weight
– Compaction - Densification of soil by removing air
voids using mechanical equipment
– The degree of compaction is measured in terms of its
dry unit weight
– 3 main objective:
(i) Reducing void ratio and permeability of soil
(ii) Developing shear strength and bearing capacity of soil
(iii) Reducing the potential of volume changes

– The effectiveness of compaction process depending on several

factors such as :
(i) Type of soil whether clay or sandy soil
(ii) Water content during the compaction process
(iii) Type of machinery used
(iv) Number of passes by roller compactor
 Compaction Effect

Air
Air

Water Water

Solids Solids

Loose soil Compacted soil

Volume change
Solid not change
Volume void change- reduce air
– As compaction increases, the following occurs:
oIncrease soil strength
oIncrease bearing capacity
oDecrease potential for settlement
oControl undesirable volume changes
oReduction in hydraulic conductivity
oReduce permeability
 Effect
29 of Water on Compaction

– In soils, compaction is a function of water content

– Water added to the soil during compaction acts as
a softening agent on the soil particles
– Consider 0% moisture - only compacts so little
– Add a little water - compacts better
– A little more water - a little better compaction
– Even more water – soil begins to flow
– What is better compaction?
– The dry unit weight (gd) increases as the moisture content
increases TO A POINT
– Beyond a certain moisture content, any increase in
moisture content tends to reduce the dry unit weight
 Relationship between Moisture
Content and Dry Density
Moisture Density Test Results

112.0

111.0

110.0
109.0
Dry Density (pcf)

108.0

107.0
Dry Density (pcf)

106.0
105.0

104.0

103.0

102.0
101.0

100.0
8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00
Moisture Content (%)

Calculated Curve Points

Moisture Content (%)

 Compaction Curve
Passing zero air- void:
No compaction without air

– Compaction curve plotted

gd vs. w
– The peak of the curve is
the Maximum Compaction
(gd max) at Optimum
Moisture Content (wopt )
g Gs g w
gd  or g d 
1
w (%) 1 e
100
Compaction - Lab Equipment

07/04/2020
 Procedure
1. Obtain 10 lbs of soil passing No. 4 sieve
2. Record the weight of the Proctor mold without the base and the
(collar) extension, the volume of which is 1/30 ft3.
3. Assemble the compaction apparatus.
4. Place the soil in the mold in 3 layers and compact using 25 well
distributed blows of the Proctor hammer.
5. Detach the collar without disturbing the soil inside the mold
6. Remove the base and determine the weight of the mold and
compacted soil.
7. Remove the compacted soil from the mold and take a sample (20-
30 grams) of soil and find the moisture content
8. Place the remainder of the molded soil into the pan, break it
down, and thoroughly remix it with the other soil, plus 100
additional grams of water.

07/04/2020
Compaction
34 - Procedure

4
5

07/04/2020
Q1) Find the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content

Volume (cm3) Mass of Wet Soil Moisture Content

(kg) (%)
943.3 1.76 12

943.3 1.86 14

943.3 1.92 16

943.3 1.95 18

943.3 1.93 20

943.3 1.9 22