Soil Cohesion

The cohesion is a term used in describing the shear strength soils. Its definition is mainly derived
from the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and it is used to describe the non-frictional part of the shear
resitance which is independent of the normal stress. In the stress plane of Shear stress-effective
normal stress, the soil cohesion is the intercept on the shear axis of the Mohr-Coulomb shear
resistance line

Typical values of soil cohesion for different soils

Some typical values of soil cohesion are given below for different soil types. The soil cohesion
depends strongly on the consistence, packing, and saturation condition. The values given below
correspond to normally consolidated condition unless otherwise stated. These values should be
used only as guidline for geotechnical problems; however, specific conition of each engineering
problem often needs to be considered for an appropriate choice of geotechnical parameters.

Cohesion [kPa]
Description USCS Specific Reference
min max
value
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no
GW - - 0 [1],[2],[3],
fines
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or
GP - - 0 [1],[2], [3],
no fines
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels GM - - 0 [1],
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels GC - - 20 [1],
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no
SW - - 0 [1],[2], [3],
fines
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or
SP - - 0 [1],[2], [3],
no fines
Silty sands SM - - 22 [1],
Silty sands - Saturated compacted SM - - 50 [3],
Silty sands - Compacted SM - - 20 [3],
Clayey sands SC - - 5 [1],
Clayey sands - Compacted SC - - 74 [3],
Clayey sands -Saturated compacted SC - - 11 [3],
Loamy sand, sandy clay Loam - compacted SM, SC 50 75 [2],
Loamy sand, sandy clay Loam - saturated SM, SC 10 20 [2],
Sand silt clay with slightly plastic fines -
SM, SC - - 50 [3],
compacted
Sand silt clay with slightly plastic fines - saturated
SM, SC - - 14 [3],
compacted
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with
ML - - 7 [1],
slight plasticity
Inorganic silts and clayey silts - compacted ML - - 67 [3],
Inorganic silts and clayey silts - saturated
ML - - 9 [3],
compacted
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low
CL - - 4 [1],
plasticity
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low
CL - - 86 [3],
plasticity - compacted
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low
CL - - 13 [3],
plasticity - saturated compacted
Mixture if inorganic silt and clay - compacted ML-CL - - 65 [3],
Mixture if inorganic silt and clay - saturated
ML-CL - - 22 [3],
compacted
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low
OL - - 5 [1],
plasticity
Inorganic silts of high plasticity - compactd MH - - 10 [1],
Inorganic silts of high plasticity - saturated
MH - - 72 [3],
compacted
Inorganic silts of high plasticity MH - - 20 [3],
Inorganic clays of high plasticity CH - - 25 [1],
Inorganic clays of high plasticity - compacted CH - - 103 [3],
Inorganic clays of high plasticity - satrated
CH - - 11 [3],
compacted
Organic clays of high plasticity OH - - 10 [1],
ML, OL,
Loam - Compacted 60 90 [2],
MH, OH
ML, OL,
Loam - Saturated 10 20 [2],
MH, OH
ML, OL,
Silt Loam - Compacted 60 90 [2],
MH, OH
ML, OL,
Silt Loam - Saturated 10 20 [2],
MH, OH
ML, OL,
CL,
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam - Compaced 60 105 [2],
MH,
OH, CH
ML, OL,
CL,
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam - Saturated 10 20 [2],
MH,
OH, CH
OL, CL,
Silty clay, clay - compacted 90 105 [2],
OH, CH
OL, CL,
Silty clay, clay - saturated 10 20 [2],
OH, CH
Peat and other highly organic soils Pt - -

REFERENCES

1. Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Swiss Road
and Traffic Engineers
2. Minnesota Department of Transportation, Pavement Design, 2007
3. NAVFAC Design Manual 7.2 - Foundations and Earth Structures,SN 0525-LP-300-7071,
REVALIDATED BY CHANGE 1 SEPTEMBER 1986