Water Engineering
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Module 12
Geotechnics
Module 12
Properties, Classification, Compaction, Permeability
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Module 12
Problem 12-1
A soil with a water content of 30 percent, specific gravity of 2.65 and bulk density of 110 lb/ft3
and has degree of saturation, expressed as a percentage, most nearly:.
(A) 70
(B) 75
(C) 80
(D) 85
Solution
γd = γ / 1 + w
γd =
γd =
γd = (Gs * γw)/ 1 + e
1+e=
e=
e=
e=
S = w * (Gs/e)
S=
S=
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Problem 12-2
A sample of a sandy soil has a specific gravity of soil solids of 2.68 has a dry density of 92 pcf.
The saturated density of the soil, in pounds per cubic foot, is most nearly:
(A) 120
(B) 122
(C) 125
(D) 128
Solution
e = ((Gs * γ w ) / γ d ) – 1
e =
e =
γ sat = γ w (Gs + e) / (1 + e)
γ sat =
γ sat =
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Problem 12-3
A transportation department has limited space for temporarily stockpiling embankment fill at an
urban location. The proposed location is within an easement approximately 50 ft wide where 12
ft must remain for a roadway. The angle of internal friction is 32E. Given that the borrow
source soil is primarily a silty sand, approximate the maximum height to which the conical
stockpiles may be placed while remaining stable from sloughing in feet, is most nearly:
(A) 12
(B) 16
(C) 24
(D) 30
Solution
Hint: For silty sand, the angle of internal friction can assumed to be approximately equal to the
angle of repose.
Assuming the angle of internal friction is equal to the angle of repose for silty sand, the
maximum slope angle of the stockpiles can be considered equivalent to the angle of repose.
Using the following relationship, the height of the stockpiles can be determined by
H
= tan β
r
H
β
It is reasonable to assume the angle of repose is approximately equal to the angle of internal
friction, since the borrow source soil consists of a silty sand, not a clean, poorly graded sand.
Therefore, it is conservative to assume that the maximum and stable slope angle will be equal to
or less than the angle of internal friction. The maximum stockpile diameter that can fit the
available width is
d = 2r = weasement − wroadway
=
=
Therefore, the maximum allowable radius is
d
r= =
2
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=
The maximum height of the stockpile slope can be found.
H = r tan β
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Problem 12-4
A soil is under investigation as a possible subgrade material. Mechanical and plasticity tests are
shown below:
Mechanical Analysis Plasticity
Sieve % finer Liquid Limit Plastic Limit
10 96 42 23
40 84
200 37
The soil is best classified according to the AASHTO classification system, as:
(A) A-7-6(2)
(B) A-2-5
(C) A-7-b
(D) A-7-5 (1)
Solution
Refer to the Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and methods of Sampling and
Testing, 16th edition, Washington D.C.: The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials copyright 1993. Note, this classification table is reproduced in most
geotechnical textbooks. You will find it typically titled as “The AASHTO Soil Classification
System”.
The AASHTO Soil Classification system has two components:
The selection of the Group Classification is by a process of elimination. The identification of the
Group Index is through the application of the Group Index empirical formula:
GI = (F200– 35)[0.2 + 0.005(LL – 40)] + 0.01(F200– 15)(PI – 10)
Where GI = Group Index
F200= % soil passing the # 200 (0.075mm) sieve
LL & PI are the Liquid Limit and Plasticity Indices expressed as integers.
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Group Classification
more than 35% passes # 200 sieve:
Group Elimination
A-1-a
A-1-b
A-2-4
A-2-5
A-2-6
A-3
A-4
A-5
A-6
A-7-5
A-7-6
Liquid Limit>
Group Elimination
A-4 x
A-5
A-6 x
A-7-5
A-7-6
Plasticity Index = LL – PL =
Plasticity Index >
Group Elimination
A-5
A-7-5
A-7-6
For A-7-5
For A-7-6
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Group Elimination
A-7-5
A-7-6
Therefore, soil can be classified as
Group Index
GI = (F200– 35)[0.2 + 0.005(LL – 40)] + 0.01(F200– 15)(PI – 10)
GI =
GI =
GI =
The soil can be classified as A-
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Problem 12-5
A soil is under investigation. Mechanical and plasticity tests are shown below:
Mechanical Analysis Plasticity
Sieve % passing Liquid Limit Plastic Limit
by weight
10 34 30 13
40 38
200 28
The soil is best classified according to the Unified Soil Classification (USCS) as:
(A) GL
(B) SW
(C) CH
(D) SC
Solution
Refer to the Unified Soil Classification System, Technical Memorandum No. 3-357, US Army
Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1960. Note, this
classification table is reproduced in most geotechnical textbooks. You will find it typically titled
as “The Unified Soil Classification System”.
The Unified Soil Classification system has two analytical components:
1. Particle size
2. Plasticity
Particle size
More than half of the material is larger than No. 200 sieve: the material is a
More than half of the soil is smaller than No. 4 sieve: the soil is a
Plasticity
The Atterberg’s plot is above the “A” line, and the PI is greater than 7, the group symbol is
The soil can be classified as
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Problem 12-6
Commencing from 2 ft below the ground surface and using a standard penetration test (SPT)
split-barrel sampler driven 18 in, the following blow-count data was obtained in increments of 6
in: 10, 15, 19. The N-value to be reported on the boring log for the depth of 3 ft in blows per
foot, is most nearly:
(A) 19
(B) 25
(C) 34
(D) 44
Solution
Hint: In a standard penetration test (SPT), a seating interval of 6 in precedes the actual blow-
count measurement.
The N-value is obtained by counting the number of blows needed to drive the sampler for 12 in
after a 6 in seating drive. The blow counts for the final two sets of 6 in increments are to be
summed to get the resulting N-value.
Nvalue = N2nd - 6 in + N3rd – 6 in
=
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Problem 12-7
A soil sample, taken from a borrow pit has a specific gravity of soil solids of 2.65. The sample
was taken to a materials laboratory and tested. The results of a standard Proctor test are
tabulated below.
Weight of soil (lb) Moisture content (%)
2.60 10%
3.70 14%
3.90 15%
3.85 16%
3.70 17%
3.60 19%
The optimum moisture content, expressed as a percentage, is most nearly:
(A) 12
(B) 15
(C) 18
(D) 20
Solution
Step 1: Derive unit weight (of wet soil) from:
γ = weight of soil/volume of proctor mold,
where volume of proctor mold =
WeightMoist unit
of soil weight
lb lb/ft3
W γ
2.60
3.70
3.90
3.85
3.70
3.60
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Step 2: Derive dry density γd
γ d = γ / (1+w)
Moist unit Moisture Dry
weight content density
lb/ft3 % lb/ft3
γ w γd
78
111
117
116
111
108
Step 3: Plot Moisture content (w) vs dry density ( γ d )
120
115
(lb/ft3)
110
d
105
Dry unit weight,
100
95
90
85
80
10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%
Moisture Content, w (% )
Step 4: identify maximum dry density ( γ d ) and optimum moisture content (w) from the plot:
Answers
(a) γ d (max) =
(b) Optimum moisture content = w =
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Problem 12-8
The table below is the results from a modified Proctor compaction test of a soil sample of
excavated material.
moisture dry
content density
% lb/ft3
w γd
7% 91
11% 105
12% 116
13% 119
14% 115
16% 101
17% 87
The natural moisture of the excavated material is 9%. If 600,000 cubic yards of the soil is to be
used as fill, and that compaction to a minimum of 90% of the Modified Proctor maximum dry
density has been specified, the volume of water, in millions of gallons to increase the moisture
content to the optimum level for compaction is most nearly:
(A) 8
(B) 11
(C) 13
(D) 16
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Solution
Step 1: Plot Moisture content (w) vs dry density (γd)
125
Dry unit weight, γd (lb/ft3)
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
85
80
6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%
Moisture Content, w (%)
Step 2: identify maximum dry density (γd) and optimum moisture content (w) from the plot:
Optimum moisture content = w = and γd(max) =
Step 3: calculate the weight of water to be added
Ww = [vol in yd3] * [yd3 to ft3] * [γd = 0.9 γzav] * [γdmax] * [wopt – wnat]
Ww =
Step 4: calculate the volume of water to be added:
Vw = (Ww) / (lb to gallon)
Vw =
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Problem 12-9
A soil sample was tested in the apparatus as shown in the following figure. The coefficient of
permeability (inches per minute) of the soil sample is most nearly:
(A) 0.02
(B) 0.14
(C) 0.21
(D) 0.44
Solution
The apparatus if for a Constant Head Permeability Test:
V= volume =
L= sample length =
A= area of sample
H= head loss =
t = time of flow =
VL
k= =
AHt
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Problem 12-10
A soil sample was tested in the apparatus as shown in the following figure. The coefficient of
permeability (inches per minute) of the soil sample is most nearly:
(A) 0.010
(B) 0.013
(C) 0.018
(D) 0.023
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Solution
The apparatus if for a Falling Head Permeability Test:
a = cross-sectional area of burette
L = length of sample = 6 inches
A = area of sample
t = time of flow =
h1 = initial head in burette = 20 inches
h2 = final head in burette =
aL h1
k= 1n =
At h2
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