Assignment 1A - Answer
Assignment 1A - Answer
ASSIGNMENT 1
1. The moist soil has a weight 18.8kg and volume 0.009m3. The oven dry weight of the
soil is 16.13kg. Specific gravity is 2.70. calculate:
a. Moisture content
b. Moist unit weight
c. Dry unit weight
d. Void ratio
e. Porosity
f. Degree of saturation
Air
Ma = 0 Va = 3.6 x 10-4
Vv = 3.03 x 10-3
-3
Mw = Water Vw = 2.67 x 10
Mt 2.67 Vt =
=18.8kg 9 x 10-3 m3
Ms =
16.13 Solid Vs = 5.97 x 10-3
ρs
G sv =
ρw
ρ
2. 7= s
1000
ρs =2700 kg / m3
Ms
ρs =
Vs
16 . 13
2700=
Vs
V s =5 . 97×10
Mw
ρw =
Vw
2 . 67
1000=
Vw
V w =2 .6×10−3
V A =V T −V S −V W
¿ 3 .6×10−4
V V =V A + V W
¿ 3 .03×10−3
i. Moisture content
MW
W= ×100
MS
2. 67
¿ ×100
16 .13
¿ 16 .55 %
v. Porosity
Vv
n= ×100
VT
3 .03×10−3
¿ ×100
0 .009
¿ 33 .7 %
Soil A Soil B
e A=0 . 52 e B=0 . 4
V TA=? V TB =3 ft ×1 acre
¿ 3 ( 0. 3048 ) ( 4046 . 86 )
¿ 3700 m3
Soil A
V
e A = vA
Vs
V vA
0 .52=
Vs
0 .52 V s =V vA ⋯( 1 )
Soil B
V
e B = vB
Vs
V vB
0 . 4=
Vs
0 . 4 V s =V vB ⋯( 2 )
( 1 ) over ( 2 )
V VA 0 .52 V S
=
V VB 0 . 4 V S
V VA =1 .3 V VB
eB
n B=
1+e B
0.4
¿
1+ 0 . 4
V VB
¿ 0 .286 ⇒
V TB
V VB =( 0 .286 )( 3700 )
¿ 1058. 2 m 3
V VA =1 .3 V VB
¿ 1. 3 ( 1058. 2 )
¿ 1375. 66 m 3
V TB =V VB +V S
3700=1058 . 2+ V S
V S =2641 . 8 m3
V TA =V VA +V S
¿ 1375. 66+2641 . 8
¿ 4017 . 46 m3
3. The moist weight of 2.83 x 10-3 m3 of soil is 54.3N. If the moisture content is 12%
and the specific gravity of soil solids is 2.72, find the following:
Ma = 0 Air Va =
4.7 x 10-4 Vv = 1.05 x 10-3
Mt Mw = Water Vw = Vt =
=5.54kg 0.58kg 5.8 x 10-4 2.83 x 10-3
m3
Ms = Vs =
4.85kg Solid 1.78 x 10-3
Mw
×100=12%
Ms
M w =0 .12 M s
ρs
Gs =
ρw
ρ
2. 72= s
1000
ρ s =2720 kg / m3
Ms
ρs =
Vs
4 . 85
2720=
Vs
V s =1 .78×10−3
Mw
ρw =
Vw
0 . 58
1000=
Vw
V w =5 . 8×10−4
V A =V T −V S −V W
−4
¿ 4 .7×10
V V =V A +V W
¿ 1. 05×10−3
MT
γ=
VT
5. 43
¿
2. 83×10−2
¿ 191. 87 kg /m3
b. Dry unit weight (kg/m3)
MS
γ d=
VT
4 . 85
¿
2. 83×10−2
¿ 171. 38 kg /m3
c. Void ratio
Vv
e=
Vs
1. 05×10−3
¿
1. 75×10−3
¿ 0 .6
d. Porosity
Vv
n= ×100
VT
1. 05×10−3
¿ ×100
2. 83×10−3
¿ 37 .1 %
e. Degree of saturation
VW
S= ×100
VV
5. 8×10−4
¿ ×100
1. 05×10−3
¿ 55. 2 %
n
Void ratio, e=
1 −n
0 . 45
=
1 −0 . 45
=0 . 82
Moist density of soil:
Mt
ρ=
Vt
M s+ M w
¿
1+ e
G ρ + wG s ρ w
¿ s w
1+ e
G ρ ( 1 +w )
¿ s w
1+ e
2 . 68 ( 1000 ) ( 1 + 0 . 1 )
¿
1+ 0 . 82
¿ 1619 . 8 kg / m3
Saturated density of soil
Mt
ρsat = ; S=100 %
Vt
G ρ +eρ w
¿ s w
1+ e
ρw ( Gs + e )
¿
1+ e
1000 (2 . 68+0 . 82 )
¿
1+ 0 .82
¿ 1923 kg/m 3
5. The moist unit weight of a soil is 19.2kN/m3. Given Gs = 2.69 and moisture content
w = 9.8%, determine these values:
a. Dry unit weight (kN/m3)
b. Void ratio
c. Porosity
d. Degree of saturation (%)
MT
γ=
VT
G s γ w +wG s γ w
19 .2=
1+e
19 .2 ( 1+e )=( 2. 69 ) ( 9 . 81 )+ ( 0. 098 ) ( 2 .69 ) ( 9 . 81 )
19 .2+19 . 2e=28 . 975
e=0 . 509
MS
γ d=
VT
GS γ W
¿
1+e
3
¿ 17 . 49 kN /m
e
n=
1+e
¿ 0 .337
wG s
S=
e
¿ 52 %
a. Determine the percent finer than each sieve size and plot a particle-size
distribution curve.
b. Determine D10, D30 and D60 from the particle-size distribution curve.
c. Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu
d. Calculate the coefficient of curvature, Cc
mass
us sieve no diameter retained % retained % passing
4 4.75 0 0 100
10 2 21.6 4.8 95.2
20 0.85 49.5 15.8 84.2
40 0.425 102.6 38.6 61.4
60 0.25 89.1 58.4 41.6
140 0.106 95.6 79.6 20.4
200 0.075 60.4 93.1 6.9
pan 31.2 100.0 0.0
450
a. Determine D10, D30 and D60 from the particle-size distribution curve.
D10, = 0.07
D30 = 0.19
D60 = 0.42
b. Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu
D 60
Cu =
D 10
0 . 42
¿
0 .08
¿ 5. 25
c. Calculate the coefficient of curvature, Cc
D
30 2
C c=
D10 D 60
( 0 .19 )2
¿
( 0 .08 )( 0 . 42 )
¿ 1. 07
Percent finer by
Diameter (mm)
weight
0.850 100.0
0.425 92.1
0.250 85.8
0.150 77.3
0.075 62.0
0.040 50.8
0.020 41.0
0.010 34.3
0.006 29.0
0.002 23.0
D
D 60 30 2
Cu = C c=
D 10 D 10 D 60
0 .074 ( 0 .007 )2
¿ ¿
0 .0007 ( 0 .0007 )( 0 . 074 )
¿ 105. 7 ¿ 0 . 94
Gravel = 0%
Sand = 38%
Silt = 39%
Clay = 23%
8. The following results were obtained from a liquid limit test on a clayey soil.
Number of blows 17 22 26 39
Water content (%) 38.2 36.0 34.4 30.6
Two test for plastic limit were conducted which gave values of 24.1 and 23.8
respectively. Determine the liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index. Classify
the soil according to USCS.
a. Liquid limit, LL
b. Plastic limit, PL
24 . 1+23. 8
PL=
2
=23 . 95 %
c. Plasticity index, PI
PI =LL−PL
=34 . 7−23 .95
=10 . 75 %
d. Classification of soil
Based on plasticity chart,
= Lean clay (CL)/ organic clay/silt (OL)
* Inorganic and organic silts and silty clays of low plasticity, rock flour, silty or
clayey fine sands.
a. Determine the maximum dry density of compaction and the optimum moisture
content.
b. Plot the Zero air void curve (ZAVC).
c. Calculate the degree of saturation and the void ratio at the maximum dry
density.
ρt MT
ρd = ⇒ ρt =
1+w VT
WET
w t d ρdsat
SOIL
1650 0.1 1.75 1.59 2.10
1750 0.12 1.86 1.66 2.01
1830 0.14 1.94 1.70 1.93
1810 0.16 1.92 1.65 1.86
1760 0.18 1.87 1.58 1.80
1700 0.2 1.80 1.50 1.73
a. Plot the Zero air void curve (ZAVC).
ρw S
ρd = with S = 1
S
w+
Gs
ρw (1 )
¿
1
w+
2 . 65
1
¿
w+ 0. 377
b. Calculate the degree of saturation and the void ratio at the maximum dry
density.
10. The laboratory test data for a standard Proctor test are given in the table below.
Weight of wet
Moisture content
soil in the mold
(%)
(kg)
1.76 12
1.86 14
1.92 16
1.95 18
1.93 20
1.90 22
a. Find the maximum dry unit weight d(max) and the optimum moisture content.
b. Determine the moisture content required to achieve 95% of d(max).
c. Plot the zero air void curve (ZAVC).
ρt MT
ρd = ⇒ ρt =
1+w VT
WET
w t d ρdsat
SOIL
1760 0.12 1.87 1.67 2.01
1860 0.14 1.97 1.73 1.93
1920 0.16 2.04 1.75 1.86
1950 0.18 2.07 1.75 1.80
1930 0.2 2.05 1.71 1.73
1900 0.22 2.01 1.65 1.68
ρw S
ρd = with S = 1
S
w+
Gs
ρw (1 )
¿
1
w+
2 . 65
1
¿
w+ 0. 377
11. An undisturbed moist soil sample obtained from the field has a volume of 100 cm3
and weights 210g. When it is dried in a drying oven, it weights 168g. The specific
gravity of soil solids is 2.65. Draw the phase diagram and calculate the water content,
void ratio, porosity, degree of saturation, wet density and dry density.
Air
Ma = 0 Va = 14.604
Vv = 56.604
Mw = Water Vw = 42
Mt = 42 Vt =
210 g 120 cm3
Ms =
168 Solid Vs = 63.396
ρs
Gs =
ρw
ρ
2. 65= s
1
ρs =2 .65 g / cm3
Ms
ρs =
Vs
168
2. 65=
Vs
V s =63 . 396 cm3
Mw
ρw =
Vw
42
1=
Vw
V w =42cm 3
V A=V T −V S −V W
¿ 14 . 604 cm3
V V =V A+V W
¿ 56 .604 cm3
i) Water content [Kandungan lembapan]
MW
W= ×100
MS
42
¿ ×100
168
¿ 25 %
ii) Void ratio [Nisbah lompang]
Vv
e=
Vs
56 .604
¿
63 .396
¿ 0 .893
iii) Porosity [Keliangan]
Vv
n= ×100
VT
56 .604
¿ ×100
120
¿ 47 . 17 %
iv) Degree of saturation [Darjah ketepuan]
VW
S= ×100
VV
42
¿ ×100
56 .604
¿ 74 . 20 %
MT
ρt =
VT
210
¿
120
¿ 1. 75 g /cm3
vi) Dry density [Ketumpatan kering]
MS
ρd =
VT
168
¿
120
¿ 1. 4 g / cm3
12. A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.48, water content of 22% and specific gravity of
soil solids of 2.6. Draw the phase diagram and calculate the porosity, degree of
saturation, wet density and dry density.
Air
Ma = 0 Va
Vv
Mw Water Vw
Mt Vt
Ms
Solid Vs
Porosity:
e 0.48
n= ¿
1+ e 1+ 0.48
¿ 0.32
Degree of saturation:
wG s
S=
e
0.22 ( 2.6 )
¿
0.48
¿ 1.19
Dry density:
G s ρw
ρd =
1+ e
2.6 ( 1 )
¿
1+ 0.48
¿1.76
Wet density:
ρt
ρd =
1+ w
ρt
1.76=
1±0.22
ρt =2.15
13. A soil sample has a moist unit weight of 120lb/ft3. Its water content and specific
gravity are 23% and 2.6 respectively. Draw the phase diagram and calculate the void
ratio, degree of saturation and dry unit weight. Give your answer in g/m3.
Ma = 0 Air Va
Vv
Mw Water Vw
Mt Vt =
Solid
Ms Vs
Ma = 0 Air Va =
2.594 x 10-3 Vv = 2.652 x 10-3
Mt Mw = Water Vw = Vt =
=0.543kg 0.058kg 5.8 x 10-5 2.83 x 10-3
m3
Ms = Vs =
0.48kg Solid 1.78 x 10-4
[20 marks]
Mw
×100=12%
Ms
M w =0 .12 M s
ρs
Gs =
ρw
ρ
2. 72= s
1000
ρ s =2720 kg / m3
Ms
ρs =
Vs
0. 485
2720=
Vs
V s =1 .78×10−4
Mw
ρw =
Vw
0 . 058
1000=
Vw
V w =5 . 8×10−5
V A=V T −V S −V W
−3
¿ 2. 594×10
V V =V A +V W
¿ 2. 652×10−3
MT
γ=
VT
0 .543
¿
2. 83×10−3
¿ 191. 87 kg / m3
[5 marks]
b. Dry unit weight (kg/m3)
MS
γ d=
VT
0 . 485
¿
2. 83×10−3
¿ 171. 38 kg /m 3
[5 marks]
c. Void ratio
Vv
e=
Vs
2. 652×10−3
¿
1. 78×10−4
¿ 14 . 9
[5 marks]
d. Porosity
Vv
n= ×100
VT
2. 652×10−3
¿ ×100
2. 83×10−3
¿ 93 .7 %
[5 marks]
e. Degree of saturation
VW
S= ×100
VV
5. 8×10−5
¿ ×100
2. 594×10−3
¿ 2. 24 %
[5 marks]
15. Sieve analysis test results for three soils are provided below. Draw the grain size
distribution curves and determine the coefficient of uniformity and the coefficient of
curvature for these soils. Also find the percentage of gravel, sand, silt and clay.
Classify these soils according to the USCS.
Mass of soil U.S sieve size
retained (g) 4 10 20 40 60 140 200 Pan
Soil A 72.8 57.8 29.5 19.4 84.6 253 19.7 39.6
Soil B 0 1.5 1.8 2.0 66.9 556.9 44.3 42.2
Soil C 4.2 4.6 3.4 6.1 19.7 485.6 26.5 37
From graph
a. Coefficient of uniformity, Cu
D60
Cu =
D10
Soil A = 3.72
Soil B = 2.1
Soil C = 1.93
b. Coefficient of curvature, Cc
D
302
C c=
D10 D 60
Soil A = 0.98
Soil B = 1.18
Soil C = 1.2
c. Classification of soil
Well graded: Cc = 1 – 3
Gravelly: Cu > 4
Sandy: Cu > 6
16. The following results were obtained from a liquid limit test on a soil sample.
Number of blows 8 18 29 34
Wt. of container + wet soil (g) 19.8 18.4 19.4 14.6
Wt. of container + dry soil (g) 19.0 17.8 18.8 14.0
Wt. of container (g) 15.9 15.2 15.9 11.1
Two test for plastic limit were conducted which gave average values of 16.9.
Determine the following:
i. Liquid limit
ii. Plasticity index
iii. Classify the soil according to USCS
Number of blows 8 18 29 34
Wt. of container + wet soil (g) 19.8 18.4 19.4 14.6
Wt. of container + dry soil (g) 19.0 17.8 18.8 14.0
Wt. of container (g) 15.9 15.2 15.9 11.1
Wt. of water (g) 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6
Wt. of solid (g) 3.1 2.6 2.9 2.9
Water /moisture content (%) 25.8 23.1 20.7 20.7
i. Liquid limit
[Had cecair]
PI = LL-PL
= 21.5 – 16.9
= 4.6%
17. The following data were obtained from Proctor’s compaction test on a soil.
The weight of the mold is 1850g and volume is 945cm3. The specific gravity of soil
solids is 2.65.
a) Plot the compaction curve and determine the maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content.
Gs = 2.65
Mold = 1850g
Vt = 945cm3
ρt MT
ρd = ⇒ ρt =
1+w VT
From graph
ρdmax = 1.94 g/cm3
Optimum moisture content = 12.8%
b) Determine the range of moisture content at which 90% of more of the maximum
dry unit weight can be obtained.
90% of maximum dry unit weight = 90% x maximum dry unit weight (from
graph)
ρw S
ρd = with S = 1
S
w+
Gs
ρw (1 )
¿
1
w+
2 . 65
1
¿
w+ 0. 38
d) Calculate the degree of saturation and void ratio at the maximum dry density.
At ρdmax =1. 94
w=12. 8
Gs =2 .65
V t =945
MS
ρd =
VT
M
1. 94= S
945
M S =1833 .3
ρt
ρd =
1+w
ρt
1. 94=
1+0 . 128
ρt =2 .18
MT
ρt =
VT
M
2. 18= T
945
M T =2060 .1
M Wv =M T −M S
¿ 2060. 1−1833 . 3
¿ 226 .8 g ⇒ M W =V W =226 . 8 cm 3
MS
ρs =
VS
1833. 3
2. 65=
VS
V S =691 . 8 cm 3
V V =V T −V S
¿ 945−691. 8
¿ 253 .2 cm3
VW
S= ×100
VV
226 .8
¿ ×100
253 .2
¿ 89 .6 %
Vv
e=
Vs
253 .2
¿
691. 8
¿ 0 .37
18. The results of a standard Proctor’s compaction test are given in the table.
The weight of the mold is 1.56 kg and volume is 943.3 cm3. The specific gravity of
soil solids is 2.65.
a) Plot the compaction curve and determine the maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content.
W (%) Mt (g) ρt (g/cm3) ρd (g/cm3) ρdzav (g/cm3)
8.4 1480 1.6 1.45 2.17
10.2 1890 2.0 1.82 2.09
12.3 2120 2.2 2.00 2.00
14.6 1830 1.9 1.69 1.91
16.8 1530 1.6 1.39 1.83
[15 Marks/Markah]
ρt MT
ρd = ⇒ ρt =
1+w VT
b) Determine the range of moisture content at which 95% of more of the maximum
dry unit weight can be obtained.
ρw S
ρd = with S = 1
S
w+
Gs
ρw (1 )
¿
1
w+
2 . 65
1
¿
w+ 0. 377
d) Calculate the degree of saturation and void ratio at the maximum dry density.
At ρdmax =2. 00
w=12. 2
G s =2.65
V t =943 .3
MS
ρd =
VT
M
2. 00= S
943 .3
M S =1886 . 6 g
ρt
ρd =
1+ w
ρt
2. 00=
1+0 .122
ρt =2 . 244
MT
ρt =
VT
MT
2. 208=
943 .3
M T =2116 . 76
M Wv =M T − M S
¿ 2116 . 76−1886 . 6
¿ 230 .16 g ⇒ M W =V W =230 .16 cm 3
MS
ρs =
VS
1886 .6
2. 65=
VS
V S =711 . 9 cm3
V V =V T −V S
¿ 943 .3−711 . 9
3
¿ 231. 4 cm
VW
S= ×100
VV
230 .16
¿ ×100
231. 4
¿ 99 . 46 %
Vv
e=
Vs
231. 4
¿
711 .9
¿ 0 .325
19. For a constant head permeability test in a sand, the following values are given:
L = 350mm
A = 125cm2
h = 420mm
Water collected in 3 min = 580cm3
Determine:
i. Coefficient of permeability, k (cm/sec)
QL
k=
ΔhAt
580 ( 35 )
=
125 ( 42 ) ( 3×60 )
=0 . 0215 cm/s
20. For a falling head permeability test, these values are given:
Length of soil specimen = 200mm
Area of soil specimen = 1000mm2
Area of standpipe = 40mm2
Head difference at time, t = 0 is 500mm
Head difference at time, t = 3 min is 300mm
2. 3 aL h
k= log 1
At h2
2. 3 ( 0 . 4 ) ( 20 ) 50
¿ log
10 (180 ) 30
−3
¿ 2. 27×10 cm/ s
ii. What was the head difference at the time, t = 100 sec.
2. 3 aL h1
k= log
At h2
2 .3 ( 0 . 4 )( 20 ) 50
2. 27×10−3 = log
10 ( 100 ) h2
50
log =0. 123
h2
log 50−log h2=0. 123
log h2 =1. 7−0 .123
¿ 1. 577
h2 =37 . 7 cm