DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

College of Engineering and Technology

Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telephone: (053) 525-0140 local 1015
Email: civilengineering@[Link]
Website:[Link]

CEng 136n – Geotechnical Engineering I

Second Semester, Academic Year 2021-2022

Name : SUAREZ, JOHN GIL Student ID 18-01-01541

POMAREJOS,POCH No. 18-01-01576
FRUTAS,LEO ANDREW 18-01-01457
BORJA,ERICA 18-01-01784
Schedule: W(7:00-10:00) Group No. 2

“Preparation of Disturbed and Undisturbed Soil Sample”

Introduction
Undisturbed soil samples have a high recovery rate within the sampler and keep the structural
integrity of the soil. It's rare to collect an entirely undisturbed sample, and samplers may retain a little
amount of undisturbed soil at the top and bottom of the sample length. Engineers can use undisturbed
samples to measure geotechnical parameters such as strength, permeability, compressibility, and
fracture patterns, among other things. The findings of these studies are crucial in the design of a new
structure.
On the other hand,during the collection procedure, disturbed soil samples do not preserve the
in-situ properties of the soil. Except for geotechnical testing that does not rely on the structure of the
soil itself, engineers do not consider these samples to be indicative of subsurface soils. Scientists
examine disturbed soil samples for a variety of factors, including soil type and texture, moisture content,
and nutrient and contaminant analyses, among others.

Important concept
Under the use of various sampling procedures and related technical standards, undisturbed samples will
be taken at specific intervals to the borehole depth termination and at the change of strata in the
borehole. Samples that have been disturbed can be obtained from chosen recovered cores from regular
penetration tests (SPT).
The open-tube sample as thin-walled or thick-walled tube samplers can be used for undisturbed
sampling depending on the encountered soil conditions, whereas the thick-walled tube sampler is used
for stiff and dense soils as well as soils containing coarse particles. Sample-retaining or closing devices
are required for difficult-to-sample soil types. In low-strength fine soils like silt and clay, including
sensitive clays, undisturbed sampling with the piston sampler can be used. It can be used in two ways.
TYPES OF SOIL SAMPLER
• Shovel • Continuous Flight Auger
• Hand/Machine Driven Auger. • Split-spoon / SPT Sampler
 • Mod ified California Sampler • Shelby Tube Sampler
Types of Sampling Methods
[Link] Pits [Link] Penetration Test
[Link]-Walled Sampler 5. Cone Penetration Test
3. Mazier Sampler

*Purpose of Air Drying and Oven Drying of Soil Sample

-soil sample that is collected needs to be either air dried or put in an oven to stop any chemical changes.

*ASTM Standards:
• ASTM D420-87: "Standard guide for investigation and sampling of soil and rock"
• ASTM D1452-80:" Soil investigation and sampling by auger borings"
• ASTM D1587-83:"Thin-walled sampling tube"
• ASTM D3550-84: " Standard practice for ring-lined barrel sampling of soils"
• ASTM D2113-83:" Standard practice for diamond core drilling for site investigation"
• ASTM D4220-83:" Standard practices for preserving and transporting soil samples."

SOIL INDEX PROPERTIES TESTS:

1 .Natural Water (Moisture) Content of Soil
Purpose:To calculate the water content of soil in its natural state (in situ).
Compare the in-situ water content to the moisture content of liquids and plastics (i.e., Atterberg
limits). Compare the in-situ moisture content to the ideal moisture content determined by
moisture-density testing. This will aid in determining the amount of effort necessary for
compaction (i.e., will drying or wetting of soil be required for compaction, or is soil naturally
at optimum water content).
2 .Sieve/Gradation Analysis of Soil
Purpose: To determine the particle size distribution and gradation in soils. Only gravel and
sand particles are graded using sieve analysis (i.e., larger than No. 200 sieve).
[Link] Gravity
Purpose: Calculate specific gravity of soil solids.
Uses: Weight-volume connections are calculated, including the void ratio, for consolidation settling
calculations. Because the specific gravity values of soil solids normally have little change, specific
gravity testing is rarely done. Peat, highly organic soil, and soil with peculiar solid minerals, on the
other hand, can have a wide range of specific gravity, so testing is recommended.
[Link] limit test
Purpose: Calculate the soil's liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index.
Uses: In addition to sieve analysis, soil classification is required (AASHTO and USCS). Limits can also
be compared to moisture content in situ.
Soil Types: Except for pure sands and gravels, all soils (i.e., less than approximately 5 percent passing
No. 200 sieve)

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES TESTS

1. Unconfined Compression Test
2. Consolidation Test(One-dimensional consolidation test)
3. Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression Test

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Materials
Balance, oven, standard sieves (No. 4, 10, and 40), mortar and rubber-covered
pestle, sample splitter, Soil lathe, Wire saw, Extruder if tube sample is used, Miter
box, Knife.
Sample Size

• Specific Gravity – 100 grams

• Grain Size – 400 grams
• Liquid Limit – 250 grams
• Compaction – 11 kgs

Procedure
(For preparation of Undisturbed Soil Sample for Test)
1. If at all possible, sample preparation should take place inside a room.
2. Using a knife or a hacksaw, remove the sample's protective layer.
3. Using a wire saw, cut a part of the sample from the original sample.
4. Using the soil-lathe and a wire saw, trim the finished specimen.
5. Cut the specimen to normal heights using the miter box.
6. Using a caliper, measure the specimen's dimensions.
(Precautions to take when preparing an undisturbed sample)
1. Handling the specimen with your hands is never a good idea. Use wax paper or cellophane
to wrap your gifts.
2. When transferring a specimen, make sure it is supported over its whole length.
3. After each cut, clean the wire saw to eliminate any soil that has adhered to it.
(For preparation of disturbed Soil Sample for Test)
1. The sample can be dried by air or in an oven, but the temperature must not exceed 60
degrees Celsius.
2. Break the sample with a rubber mallet or a pestle with a rubber tip.
3. Using the splitting or quartering procedure, obtain a representative sample of the amount
required to perform the specified test.
4. Prepare the material for grain size analysis and specific gravity measurement by
thoroughly mixing it after passing it through a No. 10 sieve and using a soil sampler or the
quartering method.
5. Separate the material that will not be used in step 4 using a No. 40 sieve, and grind those
that will not pass through using the pulverizing device in such a way that the aggregations
are broken up without the individual grains being broken. For physical testing, discard the
materials that pass through the No. 40 sieve thoroughly.

Calculation
(Sample Problem)
*
A sample of saturated soil weighs 588N and
has a volume of 0.03m3 . If the voids ratio
of the soil is 0.75,determine the specific
gravity of the solids.

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 reduced to 157.7 grams. What is the
moisture content of the sample:

*A specimen of moist clay has a mass of

183.4 grams. After oven drying,the mass is

* Saturated silty clay encountered in a deep Laboratoryoisture density test on this soil
excavation is found to have a water content indicated a maximum dry density of 120pcf
of 28%. Determine the unit weight of the at an optimum moisture content of 11%.
clay in kN/m3 . Assume G=2.7 @hat is the percent of compaction of the
fill?

* Field density test of a compacted fill of

sandy clay gives the following results:
Weight of moist soil from the hole= 1038
grams
Oven-dried weight of the soil=914 grams
Vole of test hole=0.0169ft3

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Flowchart

References:
• Dry Preparation of Disturbed Soil Samples for Test(n.d) Retrieved March 10,2022 from
[Link]
fmm/cps/cp-20s/10-cp-20-18
• PUBLICATION 293 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING ... - [Link]. (n.d.)Retrieved
March 10,2022
from[Link]
-15-012/S-15-012(4)_Step_2_Pub_293_C.pdf
• Disturbed vs. Undisturbed Soil [Link](n.d.).Retrieved March 10,2022 from
[Link]
• Geotechnical Investigation & Laboratory Testing(n.d). Geotechnical Investigation &
Laboratory Testing. Retrieved March 11,2022 from [Link]
[Link]/geotechnical-investigation-laboratory-testing

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 "Sample Visual and Manual Tests: Visual Classification of Soils"

Introduction:
Soils must be classified in order to have an idea or expectation of how they perform
and what existing problems they may have when developing building foundations. Coarse-
grained and fine-grained soils are the two types of soil. Coarse-grained soils include gravel and
sand, whereas fine-grained soils include silts and clays. As a result, basic visual and manual
tests are employed to visually identify the soil so that engineers can determine the next steps
in constructing a safe construction.

Important Concept:
In any geotechnical engineering project, the initial step is to identify and define the
problem,describe the state of the subsoil for instance, as soon as a ground is prepared,
Engineers can quickly make certain ideas on the basis of the fact that the material is identified
as gravel. Types of issues that may arise during a tunneling project,in a soft clay ground, on
the other hand, is likely to lead to different sorts of design and architecture,considerations in
construction as a result, having a methodical approach is beneficial. Even during the planning
stages of a project, a process for identifying soils is used.
Soils are divided into two types: (1) coarse grained and (2) fine grained. (1) coarse-
grained soils and (2) fine-grained soils Gravels are examples of coarse-grained soils, as well as
sands Silts and clays are examples of fine-grained soils. The procedures for visually
distinguishing these two types of soils are outlined in the sections that follow.
Moreover,twelve major soil texture classifications are defined by the United
States Department of Agriculture ( sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, silt,
sandy clay loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, and clay).
*The fractions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil are used to classify its texture.

IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL:
1. VISUAL EXAMINATION
-soil is observed through the naked eye
-classify wether it's a Coarse or Fine grained soil

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-COLOUR,GRADATION ,& ANGULARITY
2. FEEL TEST
- observe the soil by adding water on it and rub it in the hands
• Large particles refer to SAND
• Small particles refers to SILT
• Small and soapy particles refer to CLAY

3. ROLLING TEST
-Take a small amount of soil,and add slight amount of water on [Link] roll the soil
sample either on palm or on the table(flat surface)
• It is classified as Sandy if it breaks immediately and does not form into a thread
• It is classified as Silty soil if it turns into a ball and cracks afterwards
• It is classified as Clayey soil if it turns into a thread just by 3mm length

4. DRY STRENGTH TEST

- take a handful of soil sample and add a few amount of water on [Link] form
the soil sample into a cube. Dry the cubic soil sample either by the heat of the
sun or in an oven(100 degree Celsius). With the use of a hand,break the cubic
sample.
• If it breaks immediately it is a Sandy soil
• If it need some pressure in order to break it is a Silty soil
• If it does not break easily,then it is a Clay soil

5. DISPERSION TEST
- Fill the three transparent bottles with water, and add soil sample on each bottle
• It is considered to be Sandy soil,if the soil particles settle down easily at the
bottom(in seconds),with a range of 80-100 percent of clay
• It is considered to be Clay soil,if it takes a lot of time to settle down,having 50-
100 percent of Clay,and 0-45 percent of Sand and Silt

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 • It is considered to be Silty soil,if it takes a few moments to settle down having
a 10-30 percent of clay,30-50percent Silt, and 25-50 percent sand.

Materials:
• Magnifying Glass
• Data Sheet
• Moisture Cans
• Volume Expansion Box/Styrofoam Cups

Procedure:
1. Sort the soils into groups based on color and texture.
2. Determine the major soil constituent using grain size distribution.
3. In the following phrases, calculate the percentages of soil constituents:
• Trace- 0 to 10% by weight
• Little- 10-20%
• Some- 20-30%
• And- 30-5-%
4. If sand or gravel has been found as a dominant soil element. Identify the particle
distribution, characterize the grade, and determine the form of the particles.
5. However, if the identified soil constituent are fines, perform the tests below:
• Dry strength test
• Dilatancy test
• Plasticity test

Determine the soil symbol based on the identification of inorganic fine-grained soils
using the results of these tests.
6. Use criteria for defining soil moisture conditions to determine its moisture state.
7. Keep track of the soil's visual classification.

(Note: This is done according to ASTM D 2488- Standard Practice for Soil Description
and Identification.)

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Flow Chart

References:
• Visual-Classification-Of-Soils Magazines.(n.d.).[Link] March 13,2022 from
[Link]
• EXPERIMENT 7 VISUAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS - Priodeep's Home(n.d.). Retrieved March
13,2022 from <[Link]
visual-classification.
• Youtube"Geotechnical Eng'g 1(Soil Mechanics)- Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering" by
Marvin Bartido Cahnnel

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