CHAPTER 2 SOIL WATER RELATIONSHIP

& INDEX PROPERTIES

Introduction  For spherical shaped grains maximum
Soil mass is a 3 phase system which consist of value of e = 0.91 and minimum is 0.35.
soil solid particles (organic or inorganic), (2) Porosity () :
water and air. The properties of soil mass Ratio of volume of voids to total volume of
depend upon the relative proportion of these soil.
constituents. V
Soil Mass  V
V
  is not a stable parameter as compared
to e.
Solids Water Air
e 
 Water and air is present in the voids   or e
1 e 1 
formed by arrangement of solids.
 Range of n : 0 <  < 1
Phase diagram :
(3) Degree of Saturation (S) :
 Soil mass is represented in a 3 phase Ratio of volume of water to volume of voids
diagram where volume and mass of solids,
V
air and water are drawn for easy S W
interpretation. VV
Representation  Can be represented in percentage
 For oven dried soil Vw = 0 ∴ S = 0%
 For fully saturated soil Vw = Vv ∴ S = 100%
3 Phase 2 Phase  For partially saturated soil : 0 < S < 100%
(Solid + water + air)
0 <S<1 (4) Air Content (ac) :
Ratio of volume of air to volume of voids.
V
Fully Saturated
(Solids + water)
Totally Dry
(Solids + air)
ac  a
S=1 S=0
Vv
 can be represented in percentage
 for fully saturated soil ac = 0
AIR VA
 for oven dried soil ac = 100%
VV VV = VW
WATER V VW
WATER
 Also ac + S =1

SOLID VS (5) Percentage Air Voids (a)

SOLID VS Ratio of volume of air to volume of soil.
2 - Phase
V
3 - Phase (Fully Saturated)
a  a
Important terms : V

(1) Void Ratio :  for saturated soil a = 0

Ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids (e)  for dry soil a =  = porosity
𝑉𝑣  a = a.ac
𝑒=
𝑉𝑠 (6) Ratio of weight of water to weight of
 e is greater than zero and can have value solids :
greater than 1 wt of water W
w 100  W 100
 Generally, e for fine soil is greater as wt of solids WS
compared to coarse soil.  Water content can be greater than 100%
 Generally W is fine grained soil is greater  Gs = 2.6 to 2.9 for inorganic solids
than coarse grained soil.  Gs = 1 to 2 for organic solids
(7) Modified water content (W’): (10) Apparent/mass Specific Gravity (Gm):
Ratio of weight of water to weight of total soil Ratio of bulk unit weight to unit weight of
W W water.
W '  W 100 
WT 1W b
Gm 
w
(8) Unit Weight/Mass density:
Generally represented in four forms.  dry
 For dry soils Gm 
(a) Bulk until weight/field unit weight/Insitu w
density (b) : Ratio of total weight of soil  sat
 For saturated soils = 
mass to the total volume of soil mass. w
W
b  T W  WW  Gm < GS
 S
VT V  GS is preferred over Gm as it is a more
stable parameter.
(b) Dry Unit Weight (dry) : Ratio of weight
of oven dried sample to total volume. Some important relationships
W (1) S.e  wG.
 dry  S
V  G  S .e 
(2) b    . w
(c) Saturated Unit Weight (sat) : Ratio of  1 e 
𝐺+𝑒
weight fully saturated soil sample to 𝑠𝑎𝑡 =  ∵𝑆=1
total volume. 1+𝑒 𝑤
𝑊𝑊 + 𝑊𝑆 𝐺. 𝑤
𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝑑𝑟𝑦 = ∵𝑆=0
𝑉 1+𝑒
(d) Submerged Unit Weight ( ’ or sub) : 𝐺−1
′ = 𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝑤 = . 𝑤
Unit weight due to submergence of soil 1+𝑒
solids and buoyancy force. b
(3)  dry 
 '   sub   sat   W 1 w

Where w = unit weight of water (4) d 

1   G.
g w

= 9.81 KN/m3 1  S .e
e 
OR (5)  OR e
= 10 KN/m3 1 e 1 

(e) Unit Weight of Soil Solids (rs) : Ratio of (6) 𝑉 = 𝑉𝑆 (1 + 𝑒)

weight of solids to volume of solids. V1 1  e1 rd2
(7)  
W V2 1  e2 rd1
s  S
VS
Laboratory Methods
Note : s > sat > b > d >  ’
(1) Determination of water content:
(9) Specific Gravity of Soil Solids (GS): Generally determined by following 5
Ratio of unit weight of solids to unit weight of methods:
water. (a) Oven dry method
b (b) Pycnometer method
Gm  (c) Calcium Carbide method
w
(d) Sand bath method
 (e) Torsion balance moisture meter soil and help in their accurate classification
method are called as index properties.
(a) Over Dry Method (1) For coarse grained soil, index properties

Sample is oven dried at 110 C for 24 are particle size and shape and relative
hours. density.
𝑊2 − 𝑊3 (2) For fine grained soil the most important
𝑊= × 100
𝑊3 − 𝑊1 index property is consistency limits and
W1 = weight of empty container index.
W2 = weight of container + soil mass (3) Index properties help in estimation of
(solid + water) engineering properties like shear
W3 = weight of container + dry soil strength, compressibility, swelling and
mass (solids) shrinkage, etc.
(b) Pycnometer Method Grain Shape :
Used when specific gravity of soil solids The shape of particles are classified on the
is known. basis of their sphericity, angularity, elongation
and flakiness.
𝑊2 − 𝑊1 𝐺−1
𝑊= − 1 × 100 De
𝑊3 − 𝑊4 𝐺 (1) Sphericity =
L
W1 = weight of empty bottle
Where
W2 = weight of bottle + soil
W3 = weight of bottle + soil + water De = equivalent dia of spherical particles
W4 = weight of bottle + water L = Length of particles
 Used generally for coarse grained soil. 1
 6.V  3
(2) Determination of specific gravity of De   
solids (Gs) :   
Done by use of pycnometer method. where V is volume of particle
𝑊2 − 𝑊1
𝐺𝑠 = (2) Angularity (R) :
𝑊2 − 𝑊1 − (𝑊3 − 𝑊4 )
𝐴𝑣𝑔. 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑠 & 𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑠
𝑅=
W1 = weight of empty bottle 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒
W2 = weight of bottle + over dried  Angular particles have tendency to
soil fracture and can be crushed easily.
W3 = weight of bottle + dried soil +
water
W4 = weight of bottle + water
(3) Determination of field density or bulk
density (b):
(a) Core-cutter method
(b) Sand replacement method
(c) Water displacement method
(d) Water Balloon Method
(e) Radiation Method
Index Properties of Soil
The properties which are useful in
determination of engineering behaviour of
Particle Size Distribution (2) Cofficient of Uniformity (Cu) :
(Analysis of grain size) : 𝐷60
𝐶𝑢 =
Also called as mechanical analysis. It is used 𝐷10
for sepuration of soil into different fractions
For well graded gravel Cu > 4
depending on their size.
For well graded sand Cu > 6
 For coarse grained soil Sieve analysis is
done. (3) Cofficient of Curvature (Cc) :
 For fine grained soil wet analysis is done 𝐷30 2
𝐶𝑐 =
which is based on Stoke’s law 𝐷60 × 𝐷10
(Hydrometer method). For well graded soil 1 ≤ Cc ≤ 3
Soil
Particle size analysis of fine grained
soil :
It is done by Hydrometer method and Pipette
Coarse Grained Air method.
(More than 50% coarser (Finer than 75 μ sieve)
than 75μ sieve)
(1) Hydrometer Method :
Boulders (> 300 mm) Silt (75 μ - 2 μ )
Hydrometer measures specific gravity of
Cobbles (300 - 80 mm) Clay (< 2 μ)
liquids. It is based on the principle of Stoke’s
Gravels (80 - 4.75 mm)
law.
Sand (4.75 mm - 75μ )
(2) Pipett Method :
 Particle size distribution helps in Based on Stoke’s law.
determining gradation and uniformity of
soil. Relative density/Density Index (ID) :
It is used to determine relative compactness
Sieve Analysis :
of coarse grained soil in their natural stage.
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒
% finer 𝐼𝐷 (%) = × 100
𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛
emax = max void ratio in loosest state of soil
emin = min void ratio in densest state of soil
e = insitu void ratio
1 1
−
log scale Particle Size
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑏
(decreasing)
𝐼𝐷 = × 100
1 1
(a) Uniformly/Poorly graded soil : −
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑥
 Most of the particles are of same size.
 ID Range : 0  b  100%
(b) Well graded soil :
 Higher Ib means high shear strength and
 Contain various size of particles.
low permeability.
(c) Gap graded soil :
Relative Compactness (Rc):
 Some particles are in excess whereas
Ratio of dry density of soil in natural stage to
some particles are deficient.
maximum achievable dry density.
Important terms d
Rc 
(1) Effective Size (D10):  d max
More than 10% of particles are finer than this
size. Expressed in mm.
Consistency of Soil:  Slope of flow curve is called as flow index.
 Relative easiness with which soil can be (If)
deformed due to change in water content w1  w2
If 
is called as consistency of soil. N 
log10  2 
 It is significant only for fine grained soils.  N2 
(clayey soil) 
 Atterberg classified soil in four stages on
the basis of their behaviour: 1
(a) Solid-solid state
(b) Semi-solid state 2

(c) Plastic state

(d) Liquid state
log N1 log N2 log N
 Consistency is also measure of shear
strength of soil particles. 1
Flow Index 
Consistency Shear Strength
Curve
Volume of (2) Plastic Limit : ( P ):
Soil Mass
Liquid  The minimum water content at which soil
State can be rolled into a thread of 3mm in
Vd Plastic
State diameter without crumbling.
Solid Semi-Solid
State State  Soil changes from semi solid state to
0 S P L Water Content plastic state
(%)
(3) Shrinkage limit ( S ):
S = shrinkage limit
 The maximum water content at which
P = plastic limit further reduction in volume of water does
not result in reduction of soil volume is
L = liquid limit called as shrinkage limit.
  L >  P > S  It is also defined as the water content at
 Shear strength in solid state > semi solid > which soil is just saturated.
plastic > liquid Determination of shrinkage limit:
(1) Liquid Limit : ( L ) : (1) S.e = W.G
 It is the minimum water content after For S = 1 W = WS
which soil loses its shear strength and 𝑒
comes in liquid state. ∴ 𝑊𝑠 =
𝐺
 Determined by help of : 1
(2) G
(a) Casagrande  w Ws

(b) Cone Penetration method  d 100
 According to Casagrande, liquid limit is
where WS = shrinkage limit in %
that water content at which 25 number of
below are required to fill the groove made  V V 
by ASTM tool. (3) Ws  W1   1 d  w
 Wd 
 A flow curve is plotted with water content
in y-axis and no. of blows in log scale x- where V1 = Volume of soil mass when
axis. water content is greater
than ws and equal to W1
 Vd, Wd = volume and weight of soil (6) Shrinkage Ratio (SR) :
sample after drying.  Ratio of given volume change in a soil
Important Index and Ratios: expressed as percentage of dry volume to
the corresponding change in water
(1) Plasticity Index (Ip): content.
 IP = Liquid limit – Plastic limit  V1  V2 
 Higher is IP, higher is plasticity of the  
SR   d  
V VS
soil.
 Plasticity depends on type of clay mineral w1  w2 w1  w2
and its proportion in the soil. Where,
 If IP1 is plasticity of soil A and IP2 is V1  Vd
VS is volumetric shrinkage =
plasticity of soil B. Where x1 is percentage Vd
of soil A and x2 of soil B then, combined (7) Degree of shrinkage (SD) :
plasticity is
 It is the percent change in volume on
I P x1  I P2 x2 drying expressed as its initial volume.
IP  1
x1  x2 V V
S D  i d 100
(2) Consistency Index : (IC) Vi
w w Vi = initial volume of soil mass.
IC  L
wL  wP Activity (A):
w = natural water content  It is the ratio of plasticity index to the
 If IC = 1 soil is in plastic state percentage of clay fraction.
IC = 0 soil is in liquid state  It is related to swelling and shrinking
IC > 1 soil is in semi solid or stiff properties of soil.
IC < 0 soil behaves like liquid I
A P
(3) Liquidity Index (IL) : C
w  wP w  wP where C is % of particles finer than 2µ.
IL  
wL  wP IP  Activity of montmorellonite > Illite >
 IC + IL = 1 Kaolinite
 If IL > 1 soil is in liquid state Sensitivity :
0 < IL < 1 (Plastic state)  It is the degree of disturbance achieved
IL < 0 (Solid/semisolid) on remoulding of soil from its natural
IL = 1 (Liquid limit) state.
𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡 𝑕 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
IL = 0 (Plastic limit) 𝑆= 𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡 𝑕 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙

(4) Shrinkage Index : (IS)  As the particle size decreases, sensitivity

IS = WP – WS increases.
= Plastic limit – shrinkage limit Thixotropy :
(5) Toughness Index (It) :  It is the property of soil due to which loss
I in shear strength caused by remoulding
Tt  P can be recovered.
If
 If it is more then soil is less pressable like
clay.
 Larger the value, better strength at its
plastic limit.
EXERCISES LEVEL – I

1. Match List-I (Densities) with List-II Select the correct answer from the
(Expressions) and select the correct codes given below:
answer using codes given below. (a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 1, 3, 2
List-I List-II (c) 3, 2, 1 (d) 3, 1, 2
A. Dry density 1.  G  Se  /  a  e  
W 5. A dry soil has mass specific gravity of
B. Moist density 2. G / 1  e   W 1.35. If the specific gravity of solids is
2.7, then the void ratio will be
C. Submerged density 3.  G  e  / 1  e  W
(a) 0.5 (b) 1.0
D. Saturated density 4.  G  1 / 1  e  W (c) 1.5 (d) 2.0
Codes:
6. A clay sample has a void ratio of 0.50 in
A B C D
dry state and specific gravity of solids =
(a) 2 1 4 3 2.70. Its shrinkage limit will be
(b) 2 3 4 1
(a) 12% (b) 13.5%
(c) 4 1 2 3
(d) 4 3 2 1 (c) 18.5% (d) 22%

2. What are the respective values of void 7. A soil has liquid limit of 60%, plastic
ratio, porosity ratio and saturated limit of 20% and it has a natural
density (in kN/m3) for a soil sample moisture content of 50%. The liquidity
which has saturation moisture content index of soil is
of 20% and specific gravity of grains as (a) 1.5 (b) 1.25
2.6 ? (c) 0.6 (d) 0.4
(a) 0.52, 1.08, 18.07 8. Consider the following statements in
(b) 0.52, 0.34, 18.07 relation to the given sketch.
(c) 0.77, 1.08, 16.64 Volume, (cc) Weight (g)
(d) 0.52, 0.34, 20.14 0.2 Air 0
3. Embankment fill is to be compacted at a 0.3 Water 0.3
density of 18kN/m3. What is the 0.5 Solids 1.0
estimated number of trips of 6 cu.m 1. Soil is partially saturated at degree of
capacity truck for hauling the soil saturation = 60%
required for compacting 100 m3 fill of
2. Void ratio = 40%
the embankment? (assume that the soil
in the borrow area and that in the 3. Water content = 30%
embankment are at the same moisture 4. Saturated unit weight = 1.5 g/cc
content) Which of these statements is/are
(a) 14 (b) 18 correct?
(c) 20 (d) 23 (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 3 and 4
4. The moisture content of a clayey soil is (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4
gradually decreased from a large value. 9. The value of porosity of a soil sample in
What will be the correct sequence of the which the total volume of soil grains is
occurrence of the following limits? equal to twice the total volume of voids
1. Shrinkage limit would be
2. Plastic limit (a) 75% (b) 66.66%
3. Liquid limit (c) 50% (d) 33.33%
10. A soil has a liquid limit of 40% and Consider the following comment on this
plasticity index of 20%. The plastic limit value:
of the soil will be 1. Liquidity index cannot have a
(a) 20% (b) 30% negative value and should be taken
(c) 40% (d) 60% as zero.
11. A sample of saturated sand has a dry 2. Liquidity index can have a negative
value.
unit weight of 18kN/m3 and a specific
gravity of 2.7. If water is 10kN/m3, the 3. The soil tested is in semisolid state
void ratio of the soil sample will be and stiff
(a) 0.5 (b) 0.6 4. The soil tested is in medium soft state
(c) 0.4 (d) 0.9 Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 4 (b) 1 and 3
12. The dry density of a soil is 1.5 g/cc. If the
(c) 2 and 4 (d) 2 and 3
saturation water content was 50%, then
its saturated density and submerged 16. A sample of sand has a volume of 1000
density would, respectively, be ml in its natural state. Its minimum
(a) 1.5 g/cc and 1.0 g/cc volume when compacted is 750 ml.
When gently poured into a measuring
(b) 2.0 g/cc and 1.0 g/cc
cylinder, its possible maximum volume
(c) 2.25 g/cc and 1.25 g/cc is 1320 ml. What is the relative density?
(d) 2.50 g/cc and 1.50 g/cc (a) 56 (b) 52
13. A fill having a volume of 1,50,000 cum is (c) 58 (d) 60
to be constructed at a void ratio of 0.8.
17. A saturated specimen of clay was
The borrow pit soil has void ratio of 1.4.
immersed in mercury and displaced
The volume of soil required (in cubic
volume was 21.8 cc. The weight of the
metres) to be excavated from the
sample was 32.2 gm. After oven drying
borrow pit will be
for 48 hours, weight reduced to 20.0gm
(a) 1,87,500 (b) 2,00,000 while volume came down to 11.6 cc. The
(c) 2,10,000 (d) 2,50,000 shrinkage limit of the soil is
14. Which one of the following relation (a) 7.9% (b) 8.0%
gives the value of degree of saturation s, (c) 8.9% (d) 9.8%
in terms of unit weight  , water content 18. Consider the following statements:
w (as ratio) and specific gravity of soil 1. At shrinkage limit, the soil remains
solids Gs, w is unit weight of water? fully saturated.
w 2. The shear strength of all soils at liquid
(a) s  
 /  w 1  w  1/ Gs limit is the same.
w 3. The shear strength of all soil at plastic
(b) s 
 /  w 1  w  1 / Gs limit is the same.

w Which of the above statements is/are

(c) s  correct?
 w /  1  w  1/ Gs
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 2 only
w
(d) s  (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 only
 w /  1  w  1/ Gs
19. Consider the following statements:
15. While computing the values of limits of 1. A conspicuous break in the continuity
consistency and consistency indices, it is of a grain size distribution curve
found that liquidity index has negative indicates a maximum of soil from two
value. different layers.
 2. A steep grain size distribution curve 24. The plasticity index and the percentage
indicates prevalence of nearly of grain size finer than 2 microns of a
uniform grain size clay sample are 25 and 15, respectively.
3. A flat grain size distribution curve Its activity ratio is
indicates certain range of passing (a) 2.5 (b) 1.67
grain sizes. (c) 1.0 (d) 0.6
Which of these statements are correct? 25. A soil sample having a void ratio of 1.3,
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 3 only water content of 50% and a specific
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 and 2 only gravity of 2.60, is in a state of
(a) Partial saturation
20. A soil has liquid limit = 35, plastic limit =
20, shrinkage limit = 10 and natural (b) Full saturation
moisture content = 25%. What will be its (c) Oversaturation
liquidity index plasticity index and (d) Undersaturation
shrinkage index?
26. The natural void ratio of a sand sample
(a) 0.67, 15 and 15 (b) 0.33, 15 and 10 is 0.6 and its density index is 0.6. If its
(c) 0.67, 25 and 15 (d) 0.33, 20 and 15 void ratio in the loosest state is 0.9, then
21. The saturated and dry density of a soil the void ratio in the densest state will
are respectively 2000 kg/m3 and 1500 be
kg/m3. The water content (in (a) 0.2 (b) 0.3
percentage) of the soil in the saturated (c) 0.4 (d) 0.5
state would be 27. Consider the following statements:
(a) 25 (b) 33.33
A well-graded sand should have
(c) 50 (d) 66.66
1. Uniformity coefficient greater than 6
22. If a soil sample of weight 0.18 kg having 2. Coefficient of curvature between 1
a volume of 10-4m3 and dry unit wt. of and 3
1600 kg/m3 is mixed with 0.02 kg of
3. Effective size greater than 1mm.
water then the water content in the
sample will be Of these statements
(a) 30% (b) 25% (a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 20% (d) 15% (b) 1 and 2 are correct
23. Match List-I (Terms) with List-II (c) 2 and 3 are correct
(Formulae) and select the correct (d) 1 and 3 are correct
answer: 28. A clayey soil has liquid limit = WL :
List-I List-II plastic limit = WP and natural moisture
A. Void Ratio 1. Vv/V content = W. The consistency index of
B. Porosity 2. Ww/WS the soil is given by
C. Degree of saturation 3. VW/VV WL  W WL  WP
(a) (b)
D. Water content 4. M/V WL  WP WL  W
5. Vv/VS
WP  W WL  WP
Codes: (c) (d)
WL  WP WP  W
A B C D
(a) 4 3 5 1
(b) 5 4 3 1
(c) 4 2 5 2
(d) 5 1 3 2
29. The given figure indicate the weights of Which of the clays, X or Y, experience
different pycnometers : larger Settlement under identical loads;
is more plastic; and is softer in
consistency?
(a) X, Y and X (b) Y, X and X
(c) Y, X and Y (d) X, X and Y
Empty Pycnometer Pycnometer Pycnometer
Pycnometer + dry soil + soil + water + water 34. The porosity of a soil sample having its
W1 W2 W3 W4
void ratio equal to unity would be
The specific gravity of the soil is given by (a) 33.33% (b) 50.0%
W2 (c) 66.66% (d) 75.0%
(a)
W4  W2
35. On analysis of particle size distribution
W2  W1 of a soil, it is found that D10 = 0.1 mm,
(b)
W3  W4   W2  W1  D30 = 0.3 mm and D60 = 0.8 mm. The
W2 uniformity coefficient and coefficient of
(c) curvature, as given by the particle size
W3  W4  distribution curve, are respectively
W2  W1 (a) 3 and 3 (b) 2.67 and 1.125
(d)
W2  W1   W3  W4  (c) 2.67 and 3 (d) 8 and 1.125
30. What is the dry unit weight of a clay soil 36. Two soil samples A and B have
when the void ratio of a sample thereof porosities nA = 40% and nB = 60%
is 0.50, the degree of saturation is 70%, respectively. What is the ratio of void
and the specific gravity of the soil grains ratios eA : eB?
is 2.7? Take the value of w to be 9.81 (a) 2 : 3 (b) 3 : 2
kN/m3? (c) 4 : 9 (d) 9 : 4
(a) 13.65 kN/m2 (b) 19.95 kN/m2 37. In a wet soil mass, air occupies one-sixth
(c) 26.65 kN/m2 (d) 29.95 kN/m2 of its volume and water occupies one-
31. Consistency as applied to cohesive soils third its volume. The void ratio of the
is an indicator of its soil is
(a) Density (b) Moisture content (a) 0.25 (b) 0.50
(c) Shear strength (d) Porosity (c) 0.75 (d) 1.0
32. Given the Plasticity Index (PI) of local 38. The ratio of dry unit weight to unit
soil = 15 and PI of sand = zero, for a weight of water represents
desire PI of 6. The percentage of sand in (a) Specific gravity of soil solids
the mix should be (b) Specific gravity of soil masses
(a) 70 (b) 60 (c) Specific gravity of dry soil
(c) 40 (d) 30 (d) Shrinkage ratio
33. Consider the following properties for 39. The value of porosity of a soil sample in
clays X and Y. which the total volume of soil grains is
Clay x Clay y equal to twice the total volume of voids
S. No. Properties
(%) (%) would be
1. Liquid limit 42 56 (a) 30% (b) 40%
2. Plastic limit 20 34 (c) 50% (d) 60%
Natural water 40. The liquid limit and the plastic limit are
3. 30 50
content 65% and 29% respectively. The
percentage of the soil fraction with grain
 size finer than 0.002 mm is 24. The
activity ratio of the soil sample is
(a) 0.50 (b) 1.00
(c) 1.50 (d) 2.00
41. The natural water content of the soil
sample was found to be 40%, specific
gravity is 2.7 and void ratio 1.2; then the
degree of saturation of the soil will be
(a) 100% (b) 69%
(c) 87% (d) 90%
 PREVIOUS YEAR GATE QUESTIONS

(a) 65.3 (b) 20.9

1. If the porosity of a soil sample is 20%
the void ratio is (c) 83.7 (d) 54.4
(a) 0.20 (b) 0.80 8. The void ratios at the densest, loosest
(c) 1.00 (d) 0.25 and the natural states of a sand deposit
are 0.2, 0.6 and 0.4 respectively. The
2. The ratio of unconfined compressive
relative density of the deposit is
strength of an undisturbed sample of
(a) 100% (b) 75%
soil to that of a remoulded sample at
the same water content is (c) 50% (d) 25%
(a) activity (b) damping 9. The following data was obtained from
(c) plasticity (d) sensitivity liquid test conducted on a soil sample
Number
3. Principle involved in the relationship 17 22 25 28 34
of blows
between submerged unit weight and
Water
saturated weight of a soil is based on
content 63.8 63.1 61.9 60.6 60.5
(a) Equilibrium of floating bodies (%)
(b) Archimedes principle
The liquid limit of the soil is
(c) Stocks law
(a) 63.1% (b) 62.85%
(d) Darcy’s law
(c) 61.9% (d) 60.6%
4. A soil sample in its natural state has mass
10. The ratio of saturated unit weight to dry
of 2.290 kg and a volume of 1.15 10-3 m3.
unit weight of a soil is 1.25. If the
After being oven dried, the mass of the
specific gravity of solids (Gs) is 2.65, the
sample is 2.035 kg. GS for soil is 2.68. The
void ratio of the soil is
void ratio of the natural soil is
(a) 0.625 (b) 0.663
(a) 0.40 (b) 0.45
(c) 0.944 (d) 1.325
(c) 0.55 (d) 0.53
11. The water content of a saturated soil
5. The toughness index of clayey soils is
and the specific gravity of soil solids
given by
were found to be 30% and 2.70,
(a) Plasticity index/ Flow index
respectively. Assuming the unit weight
(b) Liquid limit/Plastic limit of water to be 10 kN/m3, the saturated
(c) Liquidity index/Plastic limit unit weight (kN/m3) and the void ratio
(d) Plastic limit/Liquid indexd of the soil are
6. A borrow pit soil has a dry density of 17 (a) 19.4, 0.81 (b) 18.5, 0.30
kN/m3. How many cubic meters of this (c) 19.4, 0.45 (d) 18.5, 0.45
soil will be required to construct an 12. In its natural condition a soil sample has
embankment of 100 m3 volume with a a mass of 1.980 kg and a volume of
dry density of 16 kN/m3. 0.001 m3. After being completely dried
(a) 94 m3 (b) 106 m3 in an oven; the mass of the sample is
(c) 100 m3 (d) 90 m3 1.800 kg. Specific gravity is 2.7. Unit
7. The void ratio and specific gravity of a weight of water is 10 kNm3. The degree
soil are 0.65 and 2.72 respectively. The of saturation of soil is
degree of saturation (in percent) (a) 0.65 (b) 0.7
corresponding to water content of 20% is (c) 0.54 (d) 0.61
13. A certain soil has the following
properties: Gs = 2.71, n = 40% and w =
20%. The degree of saturation of the soil
(rounded off to the nearest percent) is
________.
14. A given cohesionless soil has emax = 0.85
and emin = 0.50. In the field, the soil is
compacted to a mass density of 1800
kg/m3 at a water content of 8%. Take
the mass density of water as 1000 kg/m3
and Gs as 2.7. The relative density (in %)
of the soil is
(a) 56.43 (b) 60.25
(c) 62.87 (d) 65.71 17. If the water content of a fully saturated
soil mass is 100%, the void ratio of the
15. A fine-grained soil has 60% (by weight)
sample is
silt content. The soil behaves are semi-
solid when content is between 15% and (a) less than specific gravity of soil
28%. The soil behaves fluid-like when (b) equal to specific gravity of soil
the water content is more than 40%. (c) greater than specific gravity of soil
The ‘Activity’ of the soil is (d) independent of specific gravity of soil
(a) 3.33 (b) 0.42 18. A 588 cm3 volume of moist sand weighs
(c) 0.30 (d) 0.20 1010 gm. Its dry weight is 918 gm and
16. An earth embankment is to be specific gravity of solids, G is 2.67.
constructed with compacted Assuming density of water as 1 gm/cm3,
cohesionless soil. The volume of the the void ratio is _______
embankement is 5000 m3 and the target 19. The porosity (n) and the degree of
dry unit weight is 16.2 kN/m3. Three solution (S) of a soil sample are 0.7 and
nearby sites (see figure below) have 40%, respectively. In a 100 m3 volume of
been identified from where the required the soil, the volume (expresses in m3) of
soil can be transported to the air is _______
construction site. The void ratios (e) of
20. Group I lists the type of gain or loss of
different sites are shown in the figure.
strength in soils. Group II lists the
Assume the specific gravity of soil to be
property or process responsible for the
2.7 for all three sites. If the cost of
loss or gain of strength in soils.
transportation per km is twice the cost
of excavation per m3 of borrow pits, GROUP I
which site would you choose as the P. Regain of strength with time
most economic solution? (Use unit
Q. Loss of strength due to cyclic loading
weight of water = 10 kN/m3)
R. Loss of strength due to upward
(a) Site X (b) Site Y
seepage
(c) Site Z (d) Any of the sites
S. Loss of strength due to remoulding

Group II
1. Boiling
2. Liquefaction
3. Thixotropy
4. Sensitivity
 The correct match between Group I and
Group II is
(a) P-4, Q-1, R-2, S-3
(b) P-3, Q-1, R-2, S-4
(c) P-3, Q-2, R-1, S-4
(d) P-4, Q-2, R-1, S-3
21. The laboratory tests on a soil sample
yield the following results; natural
moisture content = 18%, liquid limit =
60%, plastic limit = 25%, percentage of
clay sized fraction = 25%. The liquidity
index and activity (as per the expression
proposed by Skempton) of the soil,
respectively, are
(a) -0.2 and 1.4 (b) 0.2 and 1.4
(c) -1.2 and 0.714 (d) 1.2 and 0.714
22. Let G be the specific gravity of soil
solids, w is the water content in the soil
sample w the unit weight of water, and
d the dry unit weight of the soil. The
equation for the zero air voids line in a
compaction test plot is
G w G.rw
(a)  d  (b)  d 
1  Gw Gw
Gw Gw
(c)  d  (d)  d 
1  w 1  w