Geotechnical Engineering: Problems and Solutions
PART I: SOIL CLASSIFICATION (Word Problems)
1. ) A proposed highway embankment in Bukidnon requires a soil classification
analysis. A laboratory test yielded the following results:
Gravel = 10%, Sand = 70%, Fines = 20%
Liquid Limit (LL) = 35%
Plastic Limit (PL) = 25%
Determine the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) symbol of the soil.
Solution:
PI =¿−PL=35−25=10
A−line : PI=0.73(¿−20)=0.73(15)=10.95
Since PI < A-line and fines exceed 12%, the soil is classified as silty sand.
∴ SM
2.) A soil sample intended for use as a subgrade material has the following
properties:
Passing No. 10 = 60%
Passing No. 40 = 45%
Passing No. 200 = 20%
Liquid Limit (LL) = 30%
Plasticity Index (PI) = 8
Classify the soil according to the AASHTO system.
Solution:
Since the percentage passing the No. 200 sieve is less than 35%, the soil is granular.
Based on LL and PI values, the soil belongs to group A-2-4. The Group Index for A-2-
4 is 0
∴ A−2−4 [0]
3.) During a site investigation for a commercial building, sieve analysis produced the
following data:
D 10=0.20 mm , D 30=0.45 mm , D 60=0.80 mm .
Determine the coefficient of uniformity, coefficient of curvature, and classify the soil.
Solution:
Cu=D 60 /D 10=0.80/0.20=4
Cc=(D 30²)/(D 10 × D 60)=(0.45²)/(0.20 × 0.80)=1.27
Since Cu < 6, the soil is poorly graded sand.
∴ SP
4.) A soil sample collected from a dam foundation has 92% passing the No. 200
sieve. Laboratory tests indicate:
Liquid Limit = 55%
Plasticity Index = 32%
Classify the soil using the USCS.
Solution:
A−line : PI=0.73(¿−20)=0.73(35)=25.55
Since PI is above the A-line and LL > 50, the soil is a high-plasticity clay.
∴ CH
5. A soil sample has the following properties:
Liquid Limit = 45%
Plasticity Index = 12%
Determine whether the soil is silt or clay using the plasticity chart.
Solution:
A-line: PI = 0.73(45 − 20) = 18.25
Since PI is below the A-line, the soil is classified as silt.
∴ ML
6. AASHTO Group Index
A soil sample for road construction has the following data:
Percentage passing No. 200 sieve = 40%
Liquid Limit = 50%
Plasticity Index = 20%
Determine the Group Index (GI).
Solution:
GI =(F−35)[0.2+0.005(¿−40)]+ 0.01(F−15)(PI−10)
GI =(40−35)[0.2+0.005(50−40)]+ 0.01(40−15)(20−10)
GI =(5)(0.25)+(0.01)(25)(10)
GI =1.25+2.5=3.75≈ 4
GI =4
7.) A soil sample obtained from a building foundation site yielded the following
laboratory results:
- Percentage passing No. 200 sieve: 65%
- Liquid Limit (LL): 40%
- Plastic Limit (PL): 22%
Classify the soil using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).
Solution:
Since more than 50% passes the No. 200 sieve, the soil is fine-grained.
Plasticity Index:
PI =¿−PL=40−22=1 8
A−line equation : PI =0.73(¿−20)=0.73(40−20)=0.73(20)=14. 6
Since PI (18) is greater than 14.6, the soil plots above the A-line, indicating clay.
Because LL is less than 50, the soil has low plasticity.
∴ CL( LeanClay )
8.) A soil sample from a proposed roadway embankment contains negligible fines
and has the following grain-size distribution:
Gravel: 5% D10 = 0.15 mm
Sand: 93% D30 = 0.35 mm
Fines: 2% D60 = 0.90 mm
Classify the soil using the USCS.
Solution:
Since fines are less than 5%, the soil is classified as clean sand.
Coefficient of Uniformity:
Cu = D60 / D10 = 0.90 / 0.15 = 6
Coefficient of Curvature:
Cc = (D30²) / (D10 × D60)
Cc = (0.35²) / (0.15 × 0.90)
Cc = 0.1225 / 0.135 = 0.91
For well-graded sand, Cu ≥ 6 and 1 ≤ Cc ≤ 3.
Although Cu satisfies the requirement, Cc is less than 1; therefore, the soil is poorly
graded.
Final Answer: SP (Poorly Graded Sand)
9.) A soil sample from a bridge foundation excavation has the following
characteristics:
- Gravel: 60%
- Sand: 25%
- Fines: 15%
- Liquid Limit (LL): 30%
- Plasticity Index (PI): 6
Classify the soil using the USCS.
Solution:
Since less than 50% passes the No. 200 sieve, the soil is coarse-grained.
Gravel predominates; therefore, the primary symbol is G.
Because the fines exceed 12%, the soil must be classified based on plasticity.
A−line equation :
PI =0.73(¿−20)=0.73 (30−20)=0.73(10)=7.3
Since PI (6) is below the A-line, the fines are silty.
∴ GM (Silty Gravel)
10.) Clay of High Plasticity (CH)
During a geotechnical investigation for a dam project, a soil sample was found to
have the following properties:
- Percentage passing No. 200 sieve: 90%
- Liquid Limit (LL): 65%
- Plastic Limit (PL): 28%
Classify the soil using the USCS.
Solution:
Since more than 50% passes the No. 200 sieve, the soil is fine-grained.
Plasticity Index:
PI =¿−PL=65−28=3 7
A-line equation:
PI =0.73(¿−20)=0.73 (65−20)=0.73(45)=32.8 5
Since PI (37) is above the A-line, the soil is clay.
Because LL is greater than 50, it has high plasticity.
∴ CH (Fat Clay )
PART II: PERMEABILITY (Summary)
11. Darcy’s Law: Q = 2 × 10⁻⁶ m³/s
12. Constant Head Test: k = 3.33 × 10⁻² cm/s
13. Falling Head Test: k = 2.04 × 10⁻³ cm/s
14. Horizontal Permeability: kₕ = 4.8 × 10⁻⁴ m/s
15. Vertical Permeability: kᵥ = 4.29 × 10⁻⁴ m/s
16. Discharge Velocity: v = 4 × 10⁻⁴ m/s
17. Seepage Velocity: vₛ = 1.14 × 10⁻³ m/s
18. Intrinsic Permeability: K = 1.02 × 10⁻¹¹ m²
19. Flow Through Soil Layer: Q = 1 × 10⁻⁴ m³/s
20. Time for Seepage: t = 750 s
PART III: SEEPAGE (Summary)
21. Seepage Discharge Using Flow Net: Q = 6 × 10⁻⁴ m³/s per unit width
22. Hydraulic Gradient: i = 0.5
23. Critical Hydraulic Gradient: ic = 1.0
24. Factor of Safety Against Boiling: FS = 2.5
25. Uplift Pressure: u = 78.48 kPa