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Soil Properties and Compaction Calculations

This document contains 12 practice problems related to soil mechanics concepts including: natural moisture content, degree of saturation, void ratio, dry unit weight, specific gravity, porosity, bulk unit weight, and water content. The problems involve calculating various soil properties from given measurements and specifications.

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JayLord Mico Pacis
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217 views7 pages

Soil Properties and Compaction Calculations

This document contains 12 practice problems related to soil mechanics concepts including: natural moisture content, degree of saturation, void ratio, dry unit weight, specific gravity, porosity, bulk unit weight, and water content. The problems involve calculating various soil properties from given measurements and specifications.

Uploaded by

JayLord Mico Pacis
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Problem Set 1
  • Problem Set 2
  • Problem Set 3
  • Problem Set 4
  • Problem Set 5
  • Problem Set 6
  • Problem Set 7

Problem for Practice (Assignment):

1. The weight of water expressed as a percentage of the total dry weight of a soil material.
a. Dry Densit
b. Natural Moisture content
c. Degree of Saturation
d. Void Ratio

2. Degree of Saturation is:


a. All of these
b. Volume of voids divided by the volume of the solids.
c. Volume of the voids divided by the volume of voids
d. Volume of water divided by the volume of voids.

3. Substances contain in a soil sample such as water and solid are usually express in terms of ratios. The
ratio of the mass of solids to the total volume is:
a. Dry unit weight
b. Dry density
c. Wet unit weight/Moist unit weight
d. Mass density

4. A dry soil is mixed with 17% by mas with water and compacted. Volume of wet soil is 0.001 m3 and
has a mass of 1.6 kg. If the specific gravity of soil is 2.70.
a. Compute the dry unit weight of soil.
b. Compute the void ratio.
c. Compute the degree of saturation.
5. The dry unit weight of soil at zero air voids is equal to 19 kN/m3. The soil has a water content of 12%
and a degree of saturation of 58%. Compute the following:
a. Specific gravity
b. Void ratio
c. Porosity

6. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.30 ft3. The dry weight of the sample is 31 lb. A
volume of 0.051 ft3 of water is carefully added to the container so as not to disturb the condition of the
sand. If the specific gravity of sand is 2.72, determine the following:
a. Porosity
b. Degree of saturation
c. Bulk specific gravity
7. An embankment for a highway 30 m wide and 1.2 m in compacted thickness is to be constructed from
a sandy soil trucked from a borrow pit. The water content of the sandy soil in the borrow pit is 15% and
its void ratio is 0.75. The specification requires the embankment be compacted to a dry unit weight of
18.2 kN/m3 . Length of embankment is 1.5 km. Assume G= 2.7. Determine the volume borrow material
required.
8. In an experiment of determining the porosity and specific gravity of solids of a soil, a soil is dug out
from the ground, weighed, then oven dried, and then saturated with water. The weight of soil taken
from the test hole is 1346 grams. It was then oven-dried and weighed 1076 grams. After saturating it
with water, it weighed 1462 grams. The volume of the test hole was then measured and found to be 792
cc. Determine the voids ratio of the soil.

9. A building requires a 10,000-m3 fill at a void ratio of 20%. Material for earth fill was available from a
borrow site at P320 per cubic meter. It was found that the average void ratio from the site is 80%.
Estimate the total cost of fill.
10. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.0089 cm3. The dryweight of the sample is
0.014 g. Water is carefully added to the container so as not to disturb the condition of the sand. When
the container is filled, the combined weight of soil plus water is 0.0174 g.
1. Determine the void ratio of the soil in the container
a. 0.38 b. 0.42 c. 0.62 d. 0.65
2. Determine the dry unit weight of the soil sample.
a. 15.44 kN/m3 b. 16.78 kN/m3
c.18.56 kN/m3 d. 17.21 kN/m3
3. Determine the saturated unit weight of the soil sample.
a. 15.44 kN/m3 b. 16.78 kN/m3
c.19.20 kN/m3 d. 17.21 kN/m3
11. The undisturbed soil at a borrow pit has a bulk unit weight of 19.1 kN/m3 and water content of 9.5%.
The soil from this borrow will be used to construct a compacted fill with finished volume of 42,000 m3.
The soil is excavated by machinery and placed in trucks, each with a capacity of 4.50 m3. When loaded
to the full capacity, each load of soil weighs 67.5 KN. In the construction process, the trucks dump the
soil at the site, then the soil is spread and broken up. Water is then sprinkled to bring the water content
to 15%. Finally, the soil is compacted to a dry unit weight of 17.1 kN/m3.
1. Assuming each load is to the full capacity, how many truckloads are required to construct the fill?
a. 10,567.25
b. 11,650.80
c. 12,178.95
d. 12,872.55
2. What would be the volume of the pit in the borrow area?
a. 37,602.09 m3
b. 45,085.85 m3
c. 34,339.81 m3
d. 41,174.29 m3
3. How many kilo Newton of water should be added to a truckload?
a. 3.71 b. 3.39 c. 4.05 d. 4.28
12.(State whether the following are true or false)
1. A porosity of 40% implies that 40% of the total volume consists of voids.
2. A degree of saturation of 40% implies that 40% of the total volume consists of water.
3. Larger void ratios correspond to larger dry densities.
4. Water content cannot exceed 100%
5. The void ratio cannot exceed 1

Common questions

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Understanding the relationship between void ratio and dry unit weight is crucial because the void ratio affects the compaction and stability of soils, which are vital for ensuring the structural integrity of civil engineering projects . Larger void ratios typically indicate a lower dry density, affecting the load-bearing capacity of the soil .

Adjusting water content in soil used for compacted fills impacts the compaction efficiency and the subsequent compaction degree achievable. Increasing water content to an optimal level ensures better lubrication between soil particles, enabling a denser packing (lower void ratio) and improving stability . In construction fills, achieving a specific water content is essential to meet design density requirements .

The void ratio can be calculated by measuring the volume of voids and dividing it by the volume of solids. In the experiment, the void ratio is inferred from changes in weight and volume after the soil is oven-dried and saturated with water . For instance, in the laboratory setting from Source 2, the void ratio options provided come from calculations using dry bulk properties versus moisture content changes.

Porosity indicates the fraction of the total volume of soil that is occupied by voids. High porosity means more void spaces, which typically decreases with increased compaction as soil particles are packed closer, reducing void spaces . This directly affects the soil's weight-bearing capacity and its stability when used in construction .

In estimating the cost of earth fill material, factors to consider include the void ratio of the material at the borrow site versus the construction site, the compaction requirements, transportation costs, and the cost per cubic meter of material. These factors combined show the true volume and thus total cost needed to achieve the desired fill characteristics and volume .

In soil mechanics, the weight of water expressed as a percentage of the total dry weight of a soil material is known as the Natural Moisture Content .

The degree of saturation is calculated as the volume of water divided by the volume of voids .

Compaction specifications directly affect the amount of soil needed because higher compaction requirements result in a greater reduction of voids, which in turn changes the dry unit weight. For an embankment with specified compaction standards, calculations need to consider the change in soil volume from the borrow pit to the final compacted state . For instance, if the dry unit weight is increased due to compaction, more material will be required to achieve the desired volume .

The calculation of truckloads required involves first determining the total compacted volume of fill needed, then considering the loose volume of the soil from the borrow pit, and finally translating this volume into truckloads based on each truck's carrying capacity . This involves understanding the mass changes due to moisture content adjustments and compaction densities.

To determine the validity of statements regarding porosity and saturation, one must compare them against established soil mechanics principles. For example, a porosity of 40% implies that 40% of the volume is voids. A statement regarding saturation must relate the water volume correctly to voids (not total volume), and assertions concerning maximum values must adhere to logical and theoretical limits, such as a void ratio not exceeding 1 in unmodified soil .

Problem for Practice (Assignment): 1. The weight of water expressed as a percentage of the total dry weight of a soil materia
5. The dry unit weight of soil at zero air voids is equal to 19 kN/m3. The soil has a water content of 12% and a degree of s
7. An embankment for a highway 30 m wide and 1.2 m in compacted thickness is to be constructed from a sandy soil trucked from
8. In an experiment of determining the porosity and specific gravity of solids of a soil, a soil is dug out from the ground,
10. A dry sand is placed in a container having a volume of 0.0089 cm3. The dryweight of the sample is 0.014 g. Water is care
11. The undisturbed soil at a borrow pit has a bulk unit weight of 19.1 kN/m3 and water content of 9.5%. The soil from this b
12.(State whether the following are true or false) 1. A porosity of 40% implies that 40% of the total volume consists of void

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