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Lecture 5 - Relative Density - Ce 5133 Foundation Engineering

Relative density is a measure of the compactness of granular soils like sand. It is defined as the ratio of the difference between the void ratios of a soil in its loosest and densest states to the difference between its void ratios in the loosest and densest states. In the laboratory, a mobile pluviation device can be used to prepare sand samples with different relative densities by varying the height of fall and deposition rate. The relative density of samples can then be verified using a dynamic cone penetrometer, which measures penetration resistance, and correlating the results to relative density using established relationships.

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76 views29 pages

Lecture 5 - Relative Density - Ce 5133 Foundation Engineering

Relative density is a measure of the compactness of granular soils like sand. It is defined as the ratio of the difference between the void ratios of a soil in its loosest and densest states to the difference between its void ratios in the loosest and densest states. In the laboratory, a mobile pluviation device can be used to prepare sand samples with different relative densities by varying the height of fall and deposition rate. The relative density of samples can then be verified using a dynamic cone penetrometer, which measures penetration resistance, and correlating the results to relative density using established relationships.

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Faheem Shah
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CE 5133 Engineering Properties of Soil Mechanics-I

Relative Density

1
Importance
Introduction
Relative density is the measure of compactness of cohesionless soil
(Granular and sandy soil). Relative density or density index is the
ratio of the difference between the void ratios of a cohesionless
soil in its loosest state and existing natural state to the difference
between its void ratio in the loosest and densest states.
The use of relative density has been restricted to granular soils
because of the difficulty of determining emax in clayey soils.
Definition

emax is void ratio of the soil in the loosest state


emin is void ratio in the densest state
e is in situ void ratio

4
Minimum Unit weight of soil

6
Minimum Unit weight of soil
The mould should be weighed and the mass recorded. Oven-dry soils should be used. Soil
should be placed as loosely as possible in the mould by pouring the soil through the spout in a
steady stream. The spout should be adjusted so that the height of free fall of the soil is always
25 mm. While pouring the soil, the pouring device should be moved in a spiral motion from
the outside towards the centre to form a soil layer of uniform thickness without segregation.
The mould should be filled approximately 25 mm above the top and levelled with top by
making one continuous pass with the steel straight edge. If all excess matter is not removed,
an additional continuous pass should be made. Great care shall be exercised to avoid jarring
the mould during the entire pouring and trimming operation. The mould and the soil should
be weighed and the mass recorded. If necessary, large particles may be held by hand to
prevent them from rolling off the scoop. The mould should be filled to overflowing but not
more than 25 mm above the top. The surface of the soil should be levelled with the top of the
mould using the steel straightedge (and the fingers, if necessary) in such a way that any slight
projections of the larger particles above the top of the mould shall approximately balance the
larger voids in the surface below the top of the mould. The mould and the soil should be
weighed and the mass recorded.

7
Maximum Unit weight of soil

Video link

8
Maximum Unit weight of soil
The guide sleeve should be assembled on top of the mould and the clamp
assemblies tightened so that the inner surfaces of the walls of the mould
and the sleeve are in line. The lock nuts on the two set screws equipped with
them should be tightened. The third clamp should be loosened, the guide
sleeve removed, the empty mould weighed and its mass recorded.
The mould should then be filled with the thoroughly mixed oven dry soil. The
mould filled for the determination of minimum density may also be used for
this test.
The guide sleeves should be attached to the mould and the surcharge base
plate should be placed on the soil surface. The surcharge weight should then
be lowered on the base-plate using the hoist in the case of the 15000 cm 3 
mould.
The mould should be fixed to the vibrator deck for assembly. The vibrator
control should be set at maximum amplitude and the loaded soil specimen
should be vibrated for 8 minutes.
The surcharge weight and guide sleeves should be removed from the mould.
The dial gauge readings on two opposite sides of the surcharge base plate
should be obtained and the average recorded. The mould with the soil should
9
be weighed and its mass recorded.
Maximum Unit weight of soil
Maximum Unit weight of soil
In situ Unit weight of soil

Video Link

12
Relative Density

The Void ratio is determined as:

  𝐺ϓ𝑤
𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = −1
ϓ 𝑚𝑎𝑥

  𝐺ϓ 𝑤
𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = −1
ϓ 𝑚𝑖𝑛

13
Relative Density

The maximum void ratio can be determined from correlations:

14
Relative Density

The maximum void ratio can be determined from correlations:

15
Relative density
How to conduct a parametric study on
sandy soil in laboratory

It is important to have a good estimation of soil properties in the


laboratory when simulation of natural soil condition is required,
especially if the soil profile is subjected to static and dynamic
loadings.
Soil configuration is one of the most important parameters to
maintain when preparing soil samples in large area.
It is necessary to prepare uniform sand layer specimens in the
laboratory for performing physical model testing..

17
How to conduct a parametric study on
sandy soil in laboratory

In case of any experimental investigation of geotechnical structures in


shake table test, such as embankment and retaining wall, it is highly
recommended to ensure uniformity in the density throughout the sand
specimens. However, it is very difficult for the researchers to achieve the
target and uniform relative density during large-scale or small-scale
laboratory testing in geotechnical engineering.
Moreover, it is usually appreciated that either relative density or
percent compaction is a good parameter to influence soil behavior of the
state of compactness of a given soil mass

18
Mobile Pluviator (Air pluviation)
 The air pluviation is the most popular approach in sand
samples preparation.
Using this approach, samples can be produced over a wide
range of densities.
 The pluviation methods have been developed based on free
fall theory of spherical particles. In this theory, we consider
the mass m of a falling body toward the surface of the earth,
and the drag force resistance against it in an upward
direction, and therefore, the particle velocity remains
constant; and as a result, the particle acceleration will be
equal to zero.

19
Mobile Pluviator
Mobile Pluviator consists mainly
of a soil bin (hopper), the diffuser
system (the three sieves and
shutter), the sand collector, a
fixing device to set up these
components so that the whole
system is carried by a moveable
steel frame.
Mobile Pluviator (Air pluviation)
FACTORS EFFECTING RELATIVE DENSITY

Relative density achieved by mobile pluviator depends upon;


Height of Fall (H) &
Rate of deposition
The rate of deposition is controlled by Shutter Porosity. The Relative
density varies inversely with the Shutter Porosity while it varies
directly with the Height of fall, H.
Mobile Pluviator

Video Link
Verification of Relative density
DYNAMIC CONE PENETROMETER
To verify the density which we achieved using Mobile Pluviator
we used DCP.
DCP or Dynamic Cone Penetrometer is an instrument which is
used to determine the underlying strength of granular material by
measuring the penetration of the instrument into the soil after
each hammer blow. It basically provides a measure of the
material’s in-situ resistance to penetration.
Dynamic cone penetrometer has the following components.
• Hammer
• Guiding rod
• Cone
• Lower Shaft
• Anvil
• Handle
DCP
Relative density from DCP
Using
  the following correlation proposed by Shadat, Hussain
(2009), for
relative density which is widely use.

Pindex is Penetration per blow & D50 is mean


particle size.
DCP and relative Density

Application of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) for determination


of the engineering parameters of sandy soils
S.D. Mohammadi a,⁎, M.R. Nikoudel a, H. Rahimi b, M. Khamehchiyan
a
Relationship between DCP and Dr
Pindex Dr(%) Dr(%)
DPI (cm/blow)
(mm/blows) (using Eq.1) (using Eq.2)
15 150 41.59 48.78
10 100 55.55 56.05
8 70 66.25 63.09
9 90 58.90 59.27
7.5 70 66.25 65.28
8 70 66.25 63.09
9 90 58.90 59.27
8 80 62.46 63.09
7.5 70 66.25 65.28
9 90 58.90 59.27
7 70 66.25 67.72
Average 60.69 60.93

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