Review Module – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING (SOIL TESTING AND CLASSIFICATION)

C. SHRINKAGE LIMIT
– Soil shrinks as moisture is gradually lost from it. With continuing
loss of moisture, a stage of equilibrium is reached at which more
loss of moisture will result no further volume change. The
moisture content, in percent, at which the volume of the soil mass
ceases to change, defined as the shrinkage limit.
𝒎𝟏 − 𝒎𝟐 (𝑽𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐 )𝞺𝒘
𝑺𝑳 = −
𝒎𝟐 𝒎𝟐
Where:
𝑚1 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑉1 = 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝑚2 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑉2 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝜌𝑤 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

SOIL INDICES
Table 1. Soil Indices
A. LIQUID LIMIT, LL Index Definition
– moisture content required to close a distance along the bottom Plasicity 𝑷𝑰 = 𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳
of the groove at 25 blows using the Liquid Limit device or Shrinkage 𝑺𝑰 = 𝑷𝑳 − 𝑺𝑳
Casagrande apparatus. Liquidity 𝒘 − 𝑷𝑳
𝑳𝑰 =
𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳
Consistency 𝑳𝑳 − 𝒘
𝑪𝑰 =
𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳
Flow 𝑭𝑰 = 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆
Toughness 𝑷𝑰
𝑻𝑰 =
𝑭𝑰

Table 2. Description of soil based on plasticity index.

Category Soil PI (%) Degree of Plasticity

Sand or silt 0 Non plastic
I Traces of clay 1–5 Slight plasticity
Little clay 5 – 10 Low Plasticity
II Clay loam 10 – 20 Medium plasticity
III Silty Clay 20 – 40 High plasticity
Clay >40 Very high plasticity
(Figure 1)
SITUATION. Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg’s Limits Test in Table
– the moisture content at which a standard cone of apex of 30o 3. Determine the following. The water content versus the number of blows is
and weight of 0.78N will penetrate a distance d = 20mm in 5 shown in Figure 4.
seconds when allowed to drop from a position of point of contact 1. Determine the nearest value of the Liquid Limit of soil.
with the soil surface by Cone Penetration Test. 2. Determine the nearest value of the Plastic Limit of soil.
3. Determine the nearest value of the Liquidity Index of soil.
4. Determine the nearest value of the Consistency Index of soil.
5. What is the characteristic of the soil?

Table 3. Lab Results

A. Liquid Limit
Test Number → 1 2 3 4
Number of Blows 35 21 16 11
(Figure 2) Weight of Wet Soil +
22.45 21.30 21.30 26.10
Container, g
B. PLASTIC LIMT, PL Weight of Dry Soil +
19.45 18.75 18.75 22.10
Container, g
– the moisture content wherein a soil starts to crumble when rolled
Weight of Container, g 10.10 11.95 12.50 13.20
into 1/8 in  thread.
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry Soil , g
Water Content , %

(Figure 3)
 B. Plastic Limit and Natural Water Content SHRINKAGE RATIO and SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOILS
Plastic Limit Natural Water 𝜌𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑚2
Content 𝑆𝑅 = =
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑉2 𝜌𝑤
Test Number → 1 2 1 2
Weight of Wet Soil + 1
22.10 21.77 17.95 17.40 𝐺𝑆 = (𝑆𝐿 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒)
Container, g 1 𝑆𝐿
Weight of Dry Soil + −
𝑆𝑅 100
20.40 20.20 14.85 14.35
Container, g
𝑆𝑅
Weight of Container, g 11.19 12.38 6.45 6.50 𝐺𝑆 = (𝑆𝐿 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙)
Weight of Water, g 1 − 𝑆𝑅𝑆𝐿
Weight of Dry Soil , g
Water Content , %
Average , % Situation. During an experiment for shrinkage limit determination of clay, the
following laboratory data were obtained.
Mass of dish coated with petroleum jelly = 11.30 g
Mass of dish coated with petroleum jelly + wet soil = 38.51 g
Mass of dish coated with petroleum jelly + oven-dried soil = 32.80 g
Volume of shrinkage dish = 15.25 cc
Volume of oven-dried soil pat = 12.85 cc
10. Determine the shrinkage limit of soil.
11. Determine shrinkage ratio.
12. Determine the specific gravity of soil solids.

SITUATION. Using the plasticity chart shown with a given soil having the
following properties: Liquid limit = 65%, Plasticity index = 20%.
13. Find the shrinkage limit of soil.

PLASTICITY CHART

(Figure 4)
SITUATION. The results of the Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit test for a soil
sample are shown Table 4 and 5.
6. Determine the Liquid Limit (LL) of the soil.
7. Determine the Plastic Limit (PL) of soil.
8. Determine the Plasticity Index of soil.
9. Indicate the activity classification when the particles smaller than 0.002
mm is 40%
Table 4. Liquid Limit Test
Cone penetration
Water Content (mm)
42.5 16.0
47.5 17.5
58.1 22.8
60.1 26.1 SOIL COMPACTION
It is the densification of soil by removal of air which requires mechanical
Table 5. Plastic limit Test energy. The degree of compaction measured in terms of the dry unit weight.
Weight of Moist Soil Weight of Oven The moisture content at which the maximum dry unit weight is attained is
(g) Dried Soil (g) called the optimum moisture content.
128.5 115.5
115.2 103.7 Relative compaction- defined as the ratio of the in-place, dry density of a
soil or aggregate to the test maximum dry density of the same soil or
125.5 112.5
aggregate when compacted by a specific test method.
122.8 110.2 𝛾𝑑
123.4 110.5 𝑅= 𝑥100%
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥

Soil compaction apparatus:

1. Standard Proctor Mold and Hammer
2. Sand Cone Apparatus
3. Rubber Balloon Apparatus
SITUATION. Given the results of a Standard Proctor Test:
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛
Water content (%) Weight of moist soil in Proctor mold 𝑅𝑂 =
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥
(grams)
10 1874 𝛾𝑑 = in situ dry unit weight
12 2002 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 = dry unit weight in its densest condition
14 2101 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 = dry unit weight in its loosest condition
16 2162
18 2145 DESIGNATION OF GRANULAR SOILS
20 2042 DESIGNATION Dr (%)
The volume of the mold for this test is 1/30 cubic feet (946,000 cubic Very loose 0 - 15
millimeters) Loose 15 - 50
14. Determine the maximum dry unit weight of the soil in kN/m3. Medium dense 50 - 70
15. Determine the void ratio at optimum moisture content. Take Gs=2.85 Dense 70 - 85
16. Determine the optimum moisture content in percent. Very dense 85 - 100

SITUATION. Following are the results of a field unit weight determination test SITUATION. To determine the relative density of a soil sample the following
performed on the soil by means of the sand cone method: data were obtained using a compaction mold having a mass of 5300 g and a
Calibrated density of sand = 1570 kg/m3 volume of 950 cm3.
Calibrated mass of sand to fill the cone = 0.535 kg Mass of mold filled with dry soil poured in loosely = 7000 g
Mass of jar + cone + sand (before use) = 7.65 kg Mass of mold filled with dry soil dynamically compacted = 7400 g
Mass of jar + cone + sand (after use) = 4.67 kg If the dry density of the soil in situ is 19.65 kN/m3 and a Gs = 2.65
Mass of moist soil from hole = 3.005 kg
20. Determine the maximum bulk unit weight (kN/m3).
Moisture content of moist soil = 11.2%
21. Determine the minimum void ratio.
17. Determine the dry unit weight of compaction in the field in kN/m3.
22. Determine the maximum void ratio.
SITUATION. The following data were obtained from a field density test on a 23. Determine the relative density.
compacted fill of sandy clay. Laboratory moisture density test on the fill material
indicated a maximum dry density of 18.85 kN/m3 at optimum water content of
SUITABILITY NUMBER
11%.
Weight of moist soil removed from test hole = 1038 g
This is based on the grain size distribution of the backfill material that controls
Weight of soil after oven drying = 914 g
the rate of compaction. The suitability number gives an index for the quality
Volume of test hole from Rubber Balloon Apparatus = 478.55 cc
of the backfill material. The smaller the SN, the more desirable the backfill
18. Compute the field water content.
material is.
19. Compute the percent compaction of the fill.

RELATIVE DENSITY/ DENSITY INDEX 3 1 1

𝑆𝑁 = 1.7√ + +
It is used to determine the in-situ denseness or looseness of a granular soil. (𝐷50 )2 (𝐷20 )2 (𝐷!0 )2

𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
𝐷𝑟 = SUITABILITY RATING
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 NUMBER
𝑛 0-10 Excellent
𝑒= 10-20 Good
1−𝑛
20-30 Fair
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 30-50 Poor
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 >50 Unsuitable
24. Following are the details of the backfill material:
𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 = D10 = 0.36 mm
1 − 𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 D20 = 0.52 mm
where: D50 = 1.42 mm
𝑒 = in situ void ratio Find the suitability number.
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 = void ratio of soil in its loosest state
𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 = void ratio of soil in its densest state
𝑛 = in situ porosity SOIL CLASSIFICATION
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 = porosity of soil in its loosest state
𝑛𝑚𝑖𝑛 = porosity of soil in its densest state ORGANIZATION GRAIN SIZE (mm)
GRAVEL SAND SILT CLAY
𝛾𝑑 − 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 MIT >2.0 2.0 - 0.06 0.06 – <0.002
𝐷𝑟 = [ ][ ]
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑 0.002
USDA >2.0 2.0 - 0.05 0.05 - <0.002
1 1 0.002
−
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑 AASHTO 76.2 – 2.0 2.0 - 0.075 - <0.002
𝐷𝑟 =
1 1 0.075 0.002
−
𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝛾𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 USCS 76.2 – 4.75 - >0.075 (fines)
4.75 0.075
𝑅𝑜
𝑅=
[1 − 𝐷𝑟(1 − 𝑅𝑂)]
AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM 26. The results of the sieve analysis of soils A, B, and C is given next. It is
Grain Size: required to classify these soils according to USCS. Classify the soils
Gravel: fraction passing through 75 mm and retained on the No. 10 (2 mm) according to USCS.
US sieve. Sieve No. Diameter SOIL SAMPLE
Sand: fraction passing through No. 10 (2 mm) US sieve and retained on the (mm) A B C
No. 200 (0.075 mm) US sieve. Percent Passing
4 4.760 90 100 100
Plasticity: 8 2.380 64 97 100
Silty: PL ≤ 10 Clayey: PL ≥ 11 10 2.000 58 92 88
20 0.840 35 87 78
To classify a soil according to the table (Classification of highway subgrade
40 0.420 22 53 70
materials), the test data are applied from left to right. By process of
60 0.250 15 42 64
elimination, the first group from the left into which the test data will fit is the
100 0.149 10 26 60
correct classification.
200 0.074 4 17 54
𝐺𝐼 = (𝐹200 – 35) [0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)] Characteristics of -40 fractions
+ 0.01(𝐹200 – 15) (𝑃𝐼 – 10) LL - 35 52
PL - 20 30
Partial GI: Liquid Limit Plasticity Index
1. If the equation for GI yields a negative value, it is taken as 0.
2. The value of the GI is rounded off to the nearest whole number.
3. There is no upper limit for the GI.
4. The GI of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is
always 0.
5. When calculating the GI for soils that belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7,
use the partial use index for PI.
25. The given data shows a sieve analysis of soil samples A, B, and C.
Classify soils A, B and C according to AASHTO.

Sieve No. Diameter SOIL SAMPLE

(mm) A B C
Percent Passing
10 2.00 83 90 100
40 0.42 48 76 92
200 0.074 20 34 86
Characteristics of -40 fractions
LL 10 37 70
PL 6 12 38
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS)
1. Coarse grained soils that are gravelly and sandy in nature with less than 50%
passing the No. 200 sieve. The group symbols start with a prefix of either G or S.

2. Fine-grained soils with 50% or more passing through the No. 200 sieve. The group
symbols start with a prefix of M, C, or O.

For proper classification according to this system, some or all the following
information must be known:

1. Percent of gravel – that is, the fraction passing the 76.2-mm sieve and retained on
the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening).
2. Percent of sand – that is, the fraction passing the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening)
and retained on the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm opening).
3. Percent of silt and clay – that is, the fraction finer than the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm
opening).
4. Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc).
5. Liquid limit and plasticity index of the portion of soil passing the No. 40 sieve.