CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G

Phases of Soil and Classification

PHASES OF SOIL (Basic Formulas) Relationship between Moist and dry unit weight

Void ratio e, ranges from zero to infinity

𝜸𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕 = (𝟏 + 𝒘)𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚
𝑽𝒗
𝒆= Buoyant/Submerged unit weight, 𝜸𝒔𝒖𝒃
𝑽𝒔

Porosity n 𝜸𝒔𝒖𝒃 = 𝜸𝒔𝒂𝒕 − 𝜸𝒘

𝑽𝒗 (𝑮𝒔 − 𝟏)𝜸𝒘
𝒏= (𝟏𝟎𝟎%) 𝜸𝒔𝒖𝒃 =
𝑽 𝟏+𝒆

Relationship between e & n Where the term

𝑮𝒔 −𝟏
is the critical hydraulic gradient ic
𝟏+𝒆

𝒏 𝒆 Air void ratio, ae

𝒆= 𝒏=
𝟏−𝒏 𝟏+𝒆
𝒂𝒆 = 𝒏(𝟏 − 𝑺)
Saturation S, ranges from 0% to 100%
Relative density of granular soils, Dr
𝑽𝒘
𝑺=
𝑽𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝒆
𝑫𝒓 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏
Water/Moisture content w/MC
𝟏 𝟏
−
𝑾𝒘 𝜸𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝜸𝒅
𝒘 = 𝑴𝑪 = (𝟏𝟎𝟎%) 𝑫𝒓 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟏 𝟏
𝑾𝒔 −𝜸
𝜸𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒙

Unit weight of soil, 𝜸

Relative compaction, Rc

𝑾 𝑾 𝒔 + 𝑾𝒘
𝜸= = 𝜸𝒅
𝑽 𝑽𝒔 + 𝑽𝒘 + 𝑽𝒂 𝑹𝒄 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝜸𝒅𝒎𝒂𝒙

General equation of unit weight of the soil in terms of the

properties Shrinkage ratio, SR

𝒎𝟐
(𝑮𝒔 + 𝑺𝒆)𝜸𝒘 𝑺𝑹 =
𝜸= 𝝆 𝒘 𝑽𝟐
𝟏+𝒆
Where S varies;
S = 0 for dry soil Shrinkage limit, SL
S = 100% for fully saturated soil
𝒎𝟏 − 𝒎𝟐 𝑽 𝟏 − 𝑽 𝟐
DERIVED EQUATIONS 𝑺𝑳 = ( − 𝝆𝒘 ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒎𝟐 𝒎𝟐
Moist unit weight 𝜸𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕
Relationship between Gs, SR and SL
(𝟏 + 𝒘)𝑮𝒔 𝜸𝒘
𝜸𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕 =
𝟏+𝒆 𝟏
𝑮𝒔 =
𝟏 𝑺𝑳
Dry unit weight 𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 −
𝑺𝑹 𝟏𝟎𝟎

𝑮𝒔 𝜸𝒘 Where:
𝜸𝒅𝒓𝒚 =
𝟏+𝒆
e = Void ratio
n =Porosity
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CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G
Phases of Soil and Classification

Gs = Specific gravity of soil solids 20. Compute the dry unit weight in kN/m3.
S = Saturation A. 16.3 B. 12.4 C. 15.1 D. 11.4
w/MC = Water or moisture content 21. Compute the void ratio.
Vv = Volume of voids (Vwater + Vair) A. 0.964 B. 1.094 C. 0.758 D. 0.613
Vs = Volume of soil solids 22. Compute the porosity.
V = Volume of soil (Vv + Vs ) A. 0.522 B. 0.415 C. 0.748 D. 0.789
23. Compute the degree of saturation of the clay.
Situation 1 – The following data are given for specimen of soil: M A. 0.689 B. 0.605 C. 0.751 D. 0.881
= 221 g, Ms = 128 g, Gs = 2.7, S = 75%
1. Determine the total (cm3) volume of the soil. Situation 7 – A sample of soil is compacted into a 9.44(10) -4 m3
A. 171.4 B. 128 C. 196.2 D. 150 laboratory mold. The mass of the compacted soil is 1.91 kg and
2. Determine the porosity of the specimen. its moisture content is 14.5%. Using a specific gravity of solids
A. 72.3% B. 96.3% C. 12.5% D. 63.7% of 2.66.
24. Compute the degree of saturation.
Situation 2 – During a field density test, 1850 g of soil was A. 76% B. 82% C. 91% D. 92%
excavated from a hole having a volume of 900 cm3. The oven 25. Compute the density (kg/m3).
dried mass of the soil was 1630 g. A. 1925 B. 2020 C. 1634 D. 1745
3. Determine the moisture content. 26. Compute the unit weight (kN/m3).
A. 20.1% B. 16.3% C. 13.5% D. 22.4% A. 20.1 B. 19.8 C. 22.5 D. 18.4
4. Determine the dry unit density in g/cm3. 27. Compute the dry unit weight of this compacted soil in kN/m3.
A. 1.81 B. 2.03 C. 1.64 D. 2.11 A. 15.4 B. 16.4 C. 17.3 D. 11.3
5. Determine the void ratio.
A. 0.631 B. 0.732 C. 0.964 D. 0.496 Situation 8 – A saturated soil has a moisture content of 38% and
6. Determine the degree of saturation. a specific gravity of solids of 2.73.
A. 81.7% B. 73.7% C. 90.5% D. 74.1% 28. Compute the void ratio of this soil.
A. 1.04 B. 0.96 C. 0.42 D. 0.97
Situation 3 – A soil specimen has a moisture content of 21.4%, e = 29. Compute the porosity of this soil.
0.72 and Gs = 2.7. A. 0.63 B. 0.51 C. 0.15 D. 0.33
7. Determine the bulk density g/cm3. 30. Compute the unit weight (kN/m3) of this soil.
A. 2.11 B. 1.91 C. 2.33 D. 2.63 A. 15.6 B. 18.4 C. 11.5 D. 13.1
8. Determine the degree of saturation.
A. 80.1% B. 71.2% C. 92.5% D. 74.1% Situation 9 – A soil sample obtained from below the groundwater
9. Determine the new bulk density (g/cm3) if the specimen is table has a moisture content of 23.5% and a specific gravity of
compressed undrained until full saturation is obtained? solids of 2.72.
A. 3.2 B. 1.25 C. 2.08 D. 2.54 31. Compute its unit weight in kN/m3.
10. Determine the new void ratio if the specimen is compressed A. 19.2 B. 20.1 C. 16.4 D. 18.4
undrained until full saturation is obtained. 32. Compute the dry unit weight in kN/m3.
A. 0.741 B. 0.964 C. 0.578 D. 0.547 A. 15.1 B. 16.3 C. 11.2 D. 13.4
33. Compute its buoyant unit weight in kN/m3.
Situation 4 – The moisture content of a specimen of a clay is A. 9.7 B. 9.8 C. 10.3 D. 11.7
22.4%. The specific gravity of soil solids is 2.71. S = 50%. 34. Compute the void ratio.
11. Calculate the void ratio. A. 0.64 B. 0.72 C. 1.03 D. 1.64
A. 1.214 B. 1.021 C. 0.631 D. 0.964 35. Determine the porosity.
12. Calculate the dry density in g/cm3. A. 0.96 B. 0.39 C. 0.74 D. 0.42
A. 2.031 B. 1.224 C. 1.634 D. 1.974 36. Determine the degree of saturation.
13. Calculate the wet density in g/cm3. A. 0.75 B. 0.50 C. 1 D. 0.25
A. 0.224 B. 1.5 C. 1.631 D. 1.745
Situation 10 – A sample of clay was obtained from a point below
Situation 5 – A cube of moist soil weighs 330 lb and has a volume the ground water table. A moisture content test on this sample
of 3.0 ft3. Its moisture content is 27% and the specific gravity produced the following data:
of solids is 2.72. Mass of can = 10.88 g
14. Compute the void ratio. Mass of can + moist soil = 116.02 g
A. 0.960 B. 0.415 C. 0.641 D. 0.631 Mass of can + dry soil = 85.34 g
15. Compute the porosity. Gs = 2.65
A. 0.74 B. 0.49 C. 0.32 D. 0.24 37. Compute the moisture content.
16. Compute the degree of saturation. A. 52.1% B. 41.2% C. 62.3% D. 72.4%
A. 81.2% B. 79.7% C. 96.2% D. 75.1% 38. Compute the void ratio.
17. Compute the unit weight in lb/ft3. A. 0.96 B. 1.09 C. 0.72 D. 0.634
A. 110 B. 120 C. 160 D. 113 39. Compute the unit weight in kN/m3.
18. Compute the dry unit weight of this soil in lb/ft3. A. 11.7 B. 19.5 C. 17.5 D. 12.7
A. 93.3 B. 86.7 C. 75.8 D. 88.3 40. Compute the dry unit weight in kN/m3.
A. 12.4 B. 10.4 C. 9.63 D. 14.11
Situation 6 – An undisturbed block sample of clay weighs 101.4 kg 41. Compute the buoyant unit weight in kN/m3.
and has dimensions of 0.4 m by 0.4 m by 0.4 m. Its moisture A. 9.8 B. 8.4 C. 6.2 D. 7.7
content is 25%. Assuming reasonable value of the specific
gravity of solids. Situation 11 – An undisturbed cylindrical soil sample is 60 mm in
19. Compute the unit weight in kN/m3. diameter and 152 mm long. It has a mass of 816 g. After finding
A. 15.5 B. 16.3 C. 19.4 D. 20.4 the mass of the entire sample, a small portion was removed,

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CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G
Phases of Soil and Classification

and a moisture content test was performed on it. The results trucks has an e = 0.71. How many truckloads will you need, if
of this test on the subsample were: each truck carries 10 m3?
Mass of can = 22.01 g A. 82000 B. 47300 C. 40100 D. 56000
Mass of can + moist soil = 124.97 g
Mass of can + dry soil = 112.72 g Situation 15 – Given below are tabulated results in the field
Gs = 2.70 compaction test.
42. Compute the water content.
A. 13.5% B. 16.3% C. 19.3% D. 20.1% Unit weight determination:
43. Compute the unit weight of the soil in kN/m3. Test no. 1 2 3 4 5
A. 19.4 B. 18.6 C. 20.1 D. 17.3
Wt. of
44. Compute the dry unit weight of the soil in kN/m3.
A. 15.1 B. 13.9 C. 16.4 D. 14.7 mold +
5.9 6.2 6.3 6.1 6.0
45. Compute the void ratio of the soil. compacte
A. 0.614 B. 1.031 C. 0.847 D. 0.964 d soil (kg)
46. Compute the degree of saturation of the soil. Wt. of
A. 89.3% B. 42.3% C. 60.7% D. 59.4% 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2
mold (kg)
Volume of 0.0009 0.0009 0.0009 0.0009 0.0009
Situation 12 – A soil sample has a unit weight of 105.7 pcf and a mold (m3) 4 4 4 4 4
saturation of 50%. When its saturation is increased to 75%, its
unit weight raises to 112.7 pcf.
47. Determine the void ratio. Water content determination:
A. 0.814 B. 0.631 C. 1.412 D. 0.984 Test no. 1 2 3 4 5
48. Determine the specific gravity. Wt. of
A. 2.74 B. 2.58 C. 2.41 D. 2.67 container + 42.4 42.1 40.3 52.7 56.2
wet soil (g)
49. A cohesive soil sample was taken from an SPT and returned to Wt. of
the laboratory in a glass jar. It was found to weigh 140.5 g . The container + 40.9 39.9 37.1 47.0 48.8
sample was then placed in a container of V = 500 cm3 and 423
cm3 of water were added to fill the container. From these data, dry soil (g)
what was the unit weight of the soil in kN/m3? Wt. of
A. 18.1 B. 17.9 C. 16.5 D. 14.7 container 14.5 14.6 13.7 12.9 14.0
(g)
Situation 13 – The moist unit weight of a soil is 16.5 kN/m3. Given
that the w = 15% and Gs = 2.70 58. Determine the maximum dry unit weight in kN/m3.
50. Find the dry unit weight in kN/m3. A. 16.79 C. 19.6
A. 14.3 B. 15.2 C. 16.7 D. 11.7 B. 16.99 D. 15.50
51. Find the porosity. 59. Determine the optimum water content.
A. 32% B. 46% C. 49% D. 51% A. 11.3% C. 5.36%
52. Find the degree of saturation. B. 7.52% D. 4.77%
A. 50% B. 48% C. 76% D. 81% 60. Determine the degree of saturation at the optimum moisture
53. Find the mass of the water in kg/m3 that must be added to
reach full saturation. content if the specific gravity of soil is 2.70.
A. 2165 B. 2943 C. 2364 D. 2340 A. 35.16% C. 23.04%
B. 86.92% D. 20.42%
Situation 14 – A soil sample has a unit weight of 105.7 pcf and a
water content of 50%. When its saturation is increased to
75%, its unit weight raises to 112.7 pcf. USCS (Unified Soil Classification System)
54. Determine the void ratio.
A. 0.53 B. 0.74 C. 0.80 D. 0.92 Effective Size (D10)
55. Determine the specific gravity. This is the diameter in the particle size distribution curve
A. 2.74 B. 2.12 C. 2,65 D. 2.98 corresponding to 10% finer. It is used to measure hydraulic
conductivity and drainage through the soil.
56. Determine the weight of water (kN) that must be added to a
cubic meter of soil to attain a 95% degree of saturation if the Coefficient of uniformity, Cu
dry unit weight is 17.5 kN/m3, its moisture is 4%, the specific
gravity of solids is 2.65 and the soil is entirely made up of a
clean quartz sand. 𝑫𝟔𝟎
𝑪𝒖 =
A. 4.25 B. 3.36 C. 2.28 D. 6.41 𝑫𝟏𝟎
57. You have been hired as the Project Engineer for a development
company in South Florida to build 610 housing units Coefficient of gradation/curvature, Cc
surrounding four lakes. Since the original ground is low, you
will use the limestone excavated from the lake to fill the land
to build roads and housing pads. Your estimated fill 𝑫𝟐𝟑𝟎
requirements are 700,000 m3, with a dry density equivalent to 𝑪𝒄 =
𝑫𝟔𝟎 × 𝑫𝟏𝟎
a voids ratio e = 0.46. The “in-situ” limestone extracted from
the lakes has e = 0.39, whereas the limestone dumped into the
Sorting coefficient, So

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CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G
Phases of Soil and Classification

A. 98% B. 2% C. 0% D. 10%

𝑫𝟕𝟓
𝑺𝒐 = √
𝑫𝟐𝟓

Suitability number, SN

𝟑 𝟏 𝟏
𝑺𝑵 = 𝟏. 𝟕√ + +
𝑫𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝑫𝟐𝟐𝟎 𝑫𝟐𝟏𝟎

Particle diameter in mm

Boulders Cobbles Gravel Sand Silt &

Clay
300-1000 76.2-300 4.75-76.2 0.075- < 0.075
4.75

Situation 17 – Consider the figure below and answer the

following. Soil B’s Atterberg’s Limits are LL = 49% and PL =
45%

AASHTO (American Association of State

Highway & Transportation Officials) 65. Determine the percentage of clay of soil B
A. 90 B. 50 C. 4 D. 16
Particle diameter in mm 66. Determine the coefficient of uniformity of soil B.
A. 90 B. 50 C. 4 D. 16
67. Classify soil B using USCS.
Boulders Gravel Sand Silt Clay A. SW B. SP C. SM D. SC
76.2-1000 2-76.2 0.075-2 0.002- < 0.002
0.075 Situation 18 – The data below shows a sieve analysis of soil
samples A, B, C.
68. Compute the value of uniformity coefficient of soil sample B.
Situation 16 – Consider the figure shown below. A. 14 B. 6.42 C. 1.02 D. 17
61. Determine the percentage of gravel of soil A. 69. Classify what type of soil is sample C using AASHTO method.
A. 98% B. 2% C. 0% D. 10% A. A – 7 – 6(13) C. A – 7 – 5(13)
62. Determine the percentage of sand of soil A. B. A – 7 – 6(12) D. A – 7 – 5(12)
A. 98% B. 2% C. 0% D. 10% 70. Classify type of soil A using AASHTO method.
63. Determine the percentage of clay of soil A. A. A – 2 – 5(1) C. A – 2 – 6(0)
A. 98% B. 2% C. 0% D. 10% B. A – 2 – 5(0) D. A – 2 – 6(1)
64. Determine the percentage of clay of soil A.

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CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G
Phases of Soil and Classification

Situation 19 – A soil gradation curve shown in figure. LL = 46%

and PL = 35% were obtained for F40 material of the specimen.

71. Classify the soil by USCS.

A. SC B. SM C. OH D. ML
72. Classify the soil by AASHTO.
A. A – 2 – 7 B. A – 2 – 4 C. A – 2 – 6 D. A – 2 – 5
73. Determine the group index of the soil.
A. 2 B. 1 C. 0 D. 3

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CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G
Phases of Soil and Classification

Major Divisions Group Typical Name Classification Criteria

Symbols
C
Well-graded gravels and u = (D60/D10) > 4

Borderline Classification requiring

ned on No. 4
GW gravel-sand mixtures, little C
c = (D30)2/(D10×D60) Between 1 and 3
or no fines
Gravels 50% or more

Poorly-graded gravels and No meeting both criteria for GW

th fines

GP gravel-sand mixtures, little

use of dual symbols

onwiretai

or no fines

[GW, GP, SW, SP]

[GM, GC, SM, SC]
Classification on basis of percentage of fines
More than 50% retained on No. 200 sieve

Silty gravels, gravel-sand- Atterberg limits plot above “A” line Atterberg limits
GM
avels

silt mixtures or Plasticity index less than 4 Plotting in

fracti

Clayey gravels, gravel- Atterberg limits plot above “A” line hatched area are
of coarseGr

sand- clay mixtures or Plasticity index greater than 7 borderline

Coarse-Grained Soils

GC classifications
requiring use of
dual symbols
C
Well-graded sands and u = (D60/D10) > 6

More than 12% pass No. 200 sieve

san4ds

C
SW gravel-sands, little or no c = ( 30))2/( 10×D60) Betweenn 1 an 3
CleanNo.

fines
Sands more than 50%

Poorly-graded sands and No meeting both criteria for SW

Less than 5% pass No. 200
fraction passes

SP gravelly sands, little or no 12% pass No. 200 sieve

fines
Silty sands, sand-silt Atterberg limits plot above “A” line Atterberg limits
SM
Sands with fines

mixtures or Plasticity index less than 4 Plotting in

Clayey sands, sand-clay Atterberg limits plot above “A” line hatched area are
coarse

mixtures or Plasticity index greater than 7 borderline

SC classifications
of

requiring use of
dual symbols
Inorganic silts, very fine
Silts and Clays Liquid Limit

ML sands, rock flour, silty or

clayey fine sands
50% or less

Inorganic clays of low to

50% or more passes No. 200 sieve

medium plasticity, gravelly

CL Clays, sandy clays, silty
clays, lean clays
Fine-Grained Soils

Organic silts and organic

OL
silty clays of low plasticity
Inorganic silts, micaceous
Silts and Clays Liquid Limit
greater than 50% or less

MH or diatomaceous fine
sands or silts, elastic silts
Inorganic clays of high
CH plasticity, fat clays

Organic clays of medium to

OH high plasticity

Highly Organic Peat, muck, and other Visual - Manual identification, See ASTM Designation D2488
Soils PT highly organic soils

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CE-IC 422 COMPREHENSIVE COURSE 2 GEOTECHNICAL ENG’G
Phases of Soil and Classification

Granular materials
General Classification
(35% or less of total sample passing No.200 sieve)
A-1 A-2
Group Classification
A-1-a A-1-b A-3 A-2-4 A -2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7
Sieve Analysis
(Percentage Passing)
No.10 50 max
No.40 30 max 50 max 51 min
No.200 15 max 25 max 10 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max
Characteristics of
fraction passing
No.40
Liquid Limit 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min
Plasticity index 6 max NP 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min
Usual types of
Stone, fragments, Fine
significant constituent Silty or clayey gravel and sand
gravel and sand Sand
materials
General subgrade
Excellent to Good
rating

Silty – Clay Materials

General Classification
(More than 35% of total sample passing No.200 sieve)
A-27
Group Classification A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7-5
A-7-6
Sieve Analysis (Percentage Passing)
No.10
No.40
No.200 36 min 36 min 36 min 36 min
Characteristics of fraction passing
No.40

Liquid Limit 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min

Plasticity index 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min
Usual types of significant constituent
Silty Soils Clayey Soils
materials
General subgrade rating Fair to poor

GI = (F200 – 35)[0.2 + 0.005(LL – 40)] + 0.01(F200 – 15)(PI – 10)