CE REVIEW 2 - Geotechnical Engineering 1
Properties of Soil 9. Air content = n(1 – S) Dr = 1/γd min – 1/γd x 100%
1/γd min – 1/γd max
1. Void ratio (e) = Volume of void 10. Air void ratio = 1 - S
Volume of solid 14. Relative/Percent compaction (R)
e = Vv 11. Bulk specific gravity (Gm)
Vs Gm = γm / γw R = _γd_ x 100%
γd max
2. Porosity (n) = = Volume of void 12. Critical hydraulic gradient (i)
Volume of soil 15. Effective grain size (D10)
n = Vv i = γ’ / γw = G - 1
V 1+e 16. Coefficient of uniformity (Cu)
3. Water content (w) = Weight of Relationship: Cu = D60
water or Moisture content Weight D10
of solid a. n= e
1+e 17. Coefficient of gyration / curvature (Cc)
w = Ww = Wm – Wd
Ws Wd b. Gsw = eS Cc = D302
D10 x D60
4. Degree of saturation(S) = Volume of water c. γm = Gs + Gsw (γw)
Volume of void 1+e 18. Average grain size (D50)
S = Vw
Vv d. γm = Gs + eS (γw) 19. Sorting coefficient (So)
1+e S = √
D75
5. Moist/Bulk unit weight (γm) . 0 D25
γm = Wm e. γsat = Gs + e (γw)
V 1+e 20. Suitability number (Sn)
6. Saturated unit weight (γsat)
f. γ' = Gs - 1 (γw) Sn = 1.7 √
3 1 1
2+ 2 + 2
γsat = Wsat 1+e D50 D20 D10
V
g. γd = Gs (γw) = _γm_ 21. Group index (GI)
7. Submerged/Buoyant unit weight (γ’) 1+e 1+w
GI = (F200-35)(0.005LL)+0.01(F200-15)(PI -10)
γ’ = γsat - γw 13. Relative density or Density index (Dr)
22. Liquid limit (LL) – water content correspond
8. Dry unit weight (γd) Dr = _emax – e x 100% to 25 blows or 20 mm penetration of cone.
emax – emin
γd = Wd
V
CE REVIEW 2 - Geotechnical Engineering 1
23. Plastic limit (PL) – water content wherein a Suitability number:
soil starts to crumble when rolled into 1/8 in. Ф
thread. Sn Rating
0-10 Excellent
24. Shrinkage limit (SL) 10-20 Good
𝑚1−𝑚2 𝑉1−𝑉2 20-30 Fair
𝑆𝐿 = [ − ] 𝑥100% 30-50 Poor
𝑚2 𝑚2
SL = 100e Liquidity index:
Gs
LI Rating
25. Shrinkage ratio (SR) LI<0 Brittle solid
0<LI<1 Plastic
SR = _ m2 LI>1 Liquid
V2ρw
26. Specific gravity of solid (Gs)
G= 1
1/SR – SL/100
27. Plasticity index (PI) = LL – PL
28. Liquidity index (LI) = _w - PL_
LL - PL
39. Consistency index (CI) = _LL – w_
LL - PL
40. Activity of clay or Activity classification (Ac)
Ac = PI
% Clay
Geotechnical Engineering 1
Properties of Soil: Situation 4
The moist unit weight of sample of soil is 17.43
Situation 1 kN/m3. It has a specific gravity of solid of 2.65
The sample of soil weighing 30.6 kg had a volume and water content of 16%. The sample has a void
of 0.0183m3. The sample is allowed to dry in an ratio of 0.88 in the loosest condition and 0.36 in
oven and the weight was reduced to 27.2 kg. The the densest condition.
specific gravity of the solids was found to be 2.65. 1. Compute the density index
Determine the following: 2. If the dry unit weight at optimum water
1. Moist unit weight of soil in kN/m3 content was 19.12 kN/m3, what is the minimum
2. Dry unit weight of soil in kN/m3 dry unit
3. Moisture content
4. Void ratio
5. Porosity Problems for Practice:
6. Degree of saturation
Situation 5
A saturated soil has a unit weight of 18.85 KN/m3
Situation 2
and water content of 32%. Determine the
The soil sample in natural state having a volume
following:
of 0.0012 m3 weighs 1.73 kg. The degree of
1. Specific gravity of solid (2.725)
saturation being 61.6%. After drying in an oven
2. Porosity (0.872)
the final weight of sample was 1.44 kg. Determine
3. Submerged unit weight (9.04)
the following:
1. Specific gravity of solid
Situation 6
2. Void ratio
The relative compaction of sand in the field is
3. Critical hydraulic gradient
94%. The maximum and minimum dry unit
weights of the sand are 16.2 kN/m3 and 14.9
Situation 3
The moist soil having a volume of 0.0154m3 has a kN/m3 respectively. For the field condition
unit weight of 16.5KN/m3 and a moisture determine the following:
content of 15%. If the specific gravity of solid is 1. Dry unit weight (15.23)
2.7. Determine the following: 2. Relative density of compaction (27%)
1. Degree of Saturation 3. Moist unit weight at moisture content of 8%
2. Volume of air in the original sample (16.45)
3. Weight of water to be added to reach full
saturation
