Tutorial – Classification and Compaction Tests
1.1 A sample of saturated Completely Decomposed Granite
(CDG) has a mass of 134 g. After oven drying, its mass
reduces to 77 g. The sample is 38 mm in diameter and 76
mm long. Calculate the water content (w), bulk density (),
unit weight () and dry unit weight (d) of the soil.
Mass of water = 134 – 77 = 57 g = 57 g
Mass of dry soil = 77 g = 77 g
w = 57 / 77 = 0.740, i.e. 74.0%
Volume of soil sample (Vt) = ( / 4) x 0.0382 x 0.076 m3 = 8.615 x 10-5 m3
= Mass of soil / Vt = 134 x 10-3 / Vt = 1555 kg/m3
Weight of the saturated soil sample = 134 x 9.81 x 10-6 kN = 1.315 x 10-3 kN
= Weight of the saturated soil sample / Volume of soil sample
= 15.26 kN/m3
d = ( Ms / Mt ) = 15.26 x 77 / 134 = 8.77 kN/m3
1.2 Find the void ratio (e), specific
= 57 g
volume (v) and specific gravity (Gs) of
the soil sample in Q1.1. What may be
= 77 g
the main mineral type of the soil
grains?
Volume of soil sample (Vt) = ( / 4) x 0.0382 x 0.076 m3 = 8.615 x 10-5 m3
Void volume (Vv) = Mw / w = 57 x 10-3 / 1000 = 5.7 x 10-5 m3
Solid volume (Vs) = Vt - Vv = 2.915 x 10-5 m3
e = Vv / Vs = 1.995
V = 1 + e = 2.995
Gs = Ms / (Vs w ) = 77 x 10-3 / (2.915 x 10-5 x 1000) = 2.64
Mineral type ?
1.3 The followings are the results of a sieve analysis on a soil:
Sieve 75 50 25 12 4 1.7 840 380 250 150 75
mm mm mm mm mm mm m m m m m
% 100 96 83 74 60 56 53 48 36 25 10
passing
Plot the PSD curve. What type of soil is this?
Soil type ?
1.4 The Atterberg limits of a soil are LL = 76 and PL = 28. The
soil contains 45% by weigh of clay. The water content (w) is
64%. Calculate the plasticity index (PI), activity (A) and
liquidity index (LI) of the soil. What is the soil type based
on the Unified Soil Classification System?
PI = LL – PL = 76 - 28 = 48
A = PI / Clay fraction by weight
= 48 /45 = 1.07
LI = (w – PL) / PI
= (64 – 28) / 48
= 0.75
Soil type?
1.5 The followings are the results of a standard Proctor compaction
test on a sapolitic fill:
Moisture content, w (%) 8 11 13 15 18
Bulk density, (kg / m3) 1750 2040 2120 2125 2060
Plot the compaction curve, and estimate the Maximum Dry
Density (MDD) and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC).
Assuming Gs = 2.65, what is the percentage air void at this OMC?
Since w = Mw / Ms Mw = w Ms
Since Dry density d = ( Ms / Mt )
= ( Ms / Ms + Mw )
d = ( 1 / 1 + w )
Dry densities d at different w are calculated as shown,
and plotted as compaction curve (next page).
MDD = 1876 kg/m3 , and OMC = 13%
Calculation of percentage air void at OMC & MDD, see
next page.
Gs = 2.65 = Ms / (Vs w ) = s / w
s = 2.65 w
Hence, Ms = s Vs = 2.65 w Vs
At OMC (w = 0.13) & MDD (d = 1876)
Dry Density, w = 0.13 = Mw / Ms = Vw w / 2.65 w Vs
d (kg/m3) 0.13 = Vw / 2.65 Vs
Vw = (0.13/2.65) Vs = 0.3445 Vs
Compaction curve
1900 d = 1876 = Ms / (Va + Vw + Vs)
= 2.65 w Vs / (Va + Vw + Vs)
1800 = 2.65 (1000) Vs / (Va + Vw + Vs)
0.7079 = Vs / (Va + Vw + Vs)
1700 = Vs / (Va + 0.3445 Vs + Vs)
Va = (1 – 0.7079 x 1.3445) Vs / 0.7079
1600 Va = 0.0681 Vs
1500 Percentage air void = Va / (Va + Vw + Vs)
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 = 0.0681Vs / (0.0681Vs + 0.3445Vs + Vs)
Moisture Content, w = 0.048, i.e. 4.8%
Alternatively, using the
following equation:
Pa
1
d 100
1 w
Dry Density,
s 100 w
d (kg/m3)
Compaction curve 1.876 = 1 – Pa / (1/2.65 + 0.13/1)
1900 0.952 = 1 – Pa
Pa = 0.048 = 4.8%
1800
Note:
1700 OMC 13%
w = 0.13 = Mw / Ms = Vw w / 2.65 w Vs
MDD 1876
Vw = (0.13/2.65) Vs = 0.3445 Vs
1600
Percentage air void = Va / (Va + Vw + Vs)
1500 0.048 = Va / (Va + 0.3445 Vs + Vs)
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 Va = 0.068 Vs
Moisture Content, w
• Geospec 3 recommends that a value of 2.65 may be assumed as
the particle density s of the soil. (Note: s = Gs w )
• s only affects the position of the air void lines. If these lines
are important consideration of the designer, then s should be
measured.
Physically
P Pa
1 a impossible
d 100 where: 100
1 w
= percentage air void
s 100 w = Va / (Va + Vw + Vs)
Amended 14 Nov 2017 66