Percent Passing
100
91
83
51
Percent Passing
80
72
35
20
Requirements
Sieve analysis:
% passing
#10
#40
#200
Characteristics
of fraction
passing #40:
Wl:
A-1
A1-b
A-3
A1-a
< 50
< 30
< 15
< 50
< 25
> 51
< 10
Ip:
<6
NP
A2-4
A-2
A2-5
A2-6
A2-7
< 35
< 35
< 35
< 35
> 36
> 36
> 36
> 36
< 40
> 41
< 40
> 41
< 40
> 41
< 40
> 41
< 10
< 10
> 11
> 11
< 10
< 10
> 11
> 11
A-8
1A) What is the classification of Soil A according to the AASHTO System (include the group
index)?
1. First, find the plasticity index: Ip = wl wp
Ip = 35 22 = 13
wl < 40
Ip > 11
3. Find the group index: I g = ( F200 35)[0.2 + 0.005( wl 40)] 0.01( F200 15)( I p 10)
1B) What is the classification of Soil B according to the AASHTO System (include the group
index)?
1. First, find the plasticity index: Ip = wl wp
Ip = 37 20 = 17
wl < 40
Ip > 11
3. Find the group index. For A-2-6 and A-2-7 soils: I g = 0.01( F200 15)( I p 10)
Criteria for assigning group symbols and group names using laboratory tests A
Course-grained
soils:
More than 50%
retained on
#200 sieve
Fine-grained
soils:
50% or more
pass the #200
sieve
Clean gravels:
< 5% fines c
Gravels w/ fines:
> 12% fines c
Clean sands:
< 5% fines D
Sands w/ fines:
> 12% fines D
Inorganic
Silts and Clays:
wl < 50
Organic
Inorganic
Silts and Clays:
wl > 50
Organic
Highly organic
soils
Soil Classification
Group
Symbol
Group NameB
GW
GP
Well-graded gravelF
Poorly graded gravelF
GM
Silty gravelF, G, H
GC
Clayey gravelF, G, H
SW
SP
Well-graded sandI
Poorly graded sandI
SM
Silty sand G, H, I
SC
Clayey sand G, H, I
CL
Lean clay K, L, M
ML
Silt K, L, M
Organic clay K, L, M, N
OL
Organic silt K, L, M, O
CH
Fat clay K, L, M
MH
Elastic silt K, L, M
Organic clay K, L, M, P
OH
Organic silt K, L, M, Q
PT
Peat
D60
D10
Cc =
2
D30
D10 D60
F: If soil contains > 15% sand, add with sand to group name
1C) What is the classification of Soil A according to the Unified Soil Classification System?
1. Use USCS chart
Ip > 4
Soil A is CL
1D) What is the classification of Soil B according to the Unified Soil Classification System?
1. Use USCS chart
wl =37
Ip = 20
Soil B is SC
120.0 pcf
8.0%
2.66
The Modified Proctor maximum dry density and optimum moisture content are 128 pcf and
13.0%, respectively.
Requirements
2A) What is the dry unit weight of the material in the borrow pit?
1. Dry unit weight: d =
2. d =
t
1+ w
120
= 111.1 pcf
1 + 0.08
2B) What is the void ratio of the borrow material in the borrow pit?
1. Void ratio: e =
Vs =
Ws
Gs w
2. e =
Vv
Vs
111.1
= 0.669
2.66 62.4
Vs =
Vv = Vt Vs = 1 0.669 = 0.331
0.331
= 0.49
0.669
2C) In order to meet the specified compaction criteria, what is the minimum dry unit weight of
the compacted fill?
1. Maximum dry density = 128 pcf
2. Minimum dry density is 95% of max
3. Minimum dry density = 0.95 128 = 121.6 pcf
2D) The minimum number of cubic yards of borrow material required to construct the
embankment is approximately:
1. For each cubic foot of compacted fill, you need 121.6 lb of dry soil, but each cubic
foot of excavated borrow weighs only 111.1 lb, so you will need to excavate a larger
volume.
2E) How many gallons of water must be added per cubic yard of borrow to achieve the
Modified Proctor optimum moisture content? Assume no loss of water by evaporation
during transport from the borrow pit.
1. Find difference between current and optimum weight of water in borrow material
w opt =
Ww
Ws
Ww
111.1
0.13 =
w cur =
Ww
Ws
Ww
111.1
0.08 =
5.56 lb 27 ft 3
gal
= 18 gal/yd3
3
3
ft
yd
8.34 lb
2F) If the compacted fill in the embankment becomes saturated, what is the moisture content?
Assume that the compacted fill does not swell when water is added.
1. Se = wG s
e = 0.49
Gs = 2.66
2G) The borrow material is transported from the borrow pit in dump trucks that can hold 10
cubic yards of material. The average total unit weight of the borrow when it is placed in the
truck is 115.0 pcf. The minimum number of truck loads of borrow required to construct the
embankment using 250,000 yd3 is approximately:
1. First find the volume of borrow material that must be transported by truck to fill the
embankment.
d trucks =
t trucks 115
=
= 106.5
1 + w 1.08
Vtrucks = 285,446
Truckloads =
285,446
= 28,545
10
Sand
Clay
Gravel
The ground water level is at the top of the sand layer. Assume that the total head is the same
in the sand and the gravel layer.
Requirements
3-1A) The total vertical stress at a depth of 28 feet below ground surface is approximately:
1. Total vertical stress is the sum of stresses for each soil layer: v = t H
2. v = 3300 psf
3-1B) The pore water pressure at a depth of 28 feet below the ground surface is
approximately:
1. Pore water pressure without seepage: u = w h
2. u = 62.4 28 = 1747 1750 psf
3-1C) What is the vertical effective stress at a depth of 28 feet below ground surface?
1. Vertical effective stress: ,v = v u
2. ,v = 3300 1750 = 1550 psf
10
11
3-1D) What is the total vertical stress at a depth of 28 feet below ground surface if the water
level rises to 4 feet above the ground surface?
1. Add stress of extra 4-ft of water to total stress from requirement A.
3-1E) What is the change in the vertical effective stress at a depth of 28 feet below ground
surface if the water level rises to 4 feet above ground surface?
1. Vertical effective stress: ,v = v u
3-1F) A 20-foot diameter water storage tank is constructed on the ground surface. The weight
of water in the tank exerts a uniform pressure of 1,200 psf on the ground surface. What is
the total vertical stress at a depth of 20 feet below ground surface at the center of the
tank? Assume the sand and the clay have the same elastic modulus.
1. Total = from soil + from tank
To find tank use the Boussinesq stress contour chart for uniformly loaded
circular footings d
x
z 20
= 0; =
=2
r
r 10
12
Situation 2
A two mile long embankment was constructed for a new highway. The embankment is 12 feet
high and 20 feet in width. Due to right-of-way restrictions, retaining walls are used to maintain
the width of the embankment at 20 feet for its full height. The total unit weight of the
embankment fill is 125 pcf. The embankment is constructed on a sand layer that is more than
100 feet thick. The water table is at a depth of 5 feet below the original ground surface. The
total unit weight of the sand is 120 pcf above the ground water table and 130 pcf below the
water table.
Requirements
3-2A) The stress increase at a depth of 15 feet under the center of the embankment is
approximately:
1. Stress increase: v = vtotal I
depth = 0.75B
(width)
so, I = 0.60
3-2B) How much would the stress due to the embankment increase/decrease if the water table
was lowered to 10 feet?
1. As long as the embankment is above the water table, raising or lowering water table
wont affect the applied stress due to the embankment. The best answer here is It
would not change.
Module 4 - Consolidation
Situation 1
A soil profile consists of dense sand, 40 feet in thickness, underlain by a 10-foot layer of
normally consolidated clay. The clay, in turn, is underlain by relatively incompressible and
impermeable bedrock. The present water table is at the existing ground surface. Ten feet
of fill will be placed over the existing ground surface in a 1,000-foot wide by 1,500-foot long
area.
The sand has a void ratio of 0.45 and a specific gravity of 2.67. The sand is saturated
below the water table and has a moisture content of 5 percent above the water table. The
fill has a total unit weight of 125 pounds per cubic foot and a moisture content of 10
percent. The water table will be lowered 20 feet with the addition of the fill material.
The clay is saturated, has a specific gravity of solids of 2.70 and a moisture content of 35
percent. The compression index of the clay has been determined to be 0.22. The
coefficient of consolidation 0.1 square feet per day.
Requirements
4-1A) What is the total unit weight of the saturated sand?
1. Saturated unit weight: sat =
2. sat =
(G s + e) w
1+ e
(2.67 + 0.45)62.4
= 134.3 pcf
1 + 0.45
4-1B) What is the total unit weight of the moist sand above the ground water level?
1. Total unit weight: t =
2. t =
S=
(G s + S e) w
1+ e
wG s 0.05 2.67
=
= 0.297
e
0.45
13
2. sat =
(1 + w ) w
w+ 1
Gs
(1 + 0.35) 62.4
= 116.9 pcf
0.35 + 1
2.7
wG s 0.35 2.7
=
= 0.95
S
1
4-1E) What is the total settlement in inches of the clay layer due to the combined effect of the
imposed fill and lowered water table?
1. Settlement for normally consolidated clay ( 'vm = 'vf ): =
2. =
' v
Cc
H log f
' v
1 + e0
0
0.22
5373
10 log
= 0.26 ft = 3.1 in
1 + 0.94
3149
14
4-1F) What is the estimated time required for 50% consolidation of the clay layer?
1. Consolidation time: t =
2. t =
TH d2
cv
0.20 10 2
0.1
= 200 days
4-1G) How long will it take for 50% consolidation of the clay layer to occur if the clay layer is
underlain by sand instead of bedrock?
1. Consolidation time: t =
2. t =
TH d2
cv
0.20 52
0.1
= 50 days
Situation 2
A soil profile consists of a10-foot layer of dense sand overlying an 8-foot layer of normally
consolidated clay. The clay is also underlain by dense sand. The groundwater level is at
the ground surface. Also, the total head measured in a piezometer installed in the middle
of the clay layer is equal to the existing ground surface elevation. A proposed development
requires that 13 feet of fill be placed above the existing ground surface. The fill material
has a total unit weight of 130 pcf and a moisture content of 12 percent.
The saturated unit weight of the sand and clay is 138 pcf and 113 pcf, respectively. The
clay has a specific gravity of 2.68 and a moisture content of 40 percent. The clay has a
compression index of 0.20 and a coefficient of consolidation of 0.05 square feet per day.
15
16
Requirements
4-2A) What is the pore pressure in the center of the clay immediately after placement of the fill
layer? Assume that fill placement occurs instantaneously.
1. Pore pressure = static + initial excess pore pressures: u = u i + u 0
4-2B) Assuming that the total consolidation settlement due to the weight of the added fill is 4.1
inches, how long after the fill is placed can the building be constructed? Assume that the
building has no weight
1. Total settlement = 4.1 in; allowable settlement = 1 in. So, fill must settle 3.1 in before
building can be constructed.
TH d2
2. Consolidation time: t =
cv
3. t =
U=
cv = 0.05
0.50 4 2
0.05
= 160 days
17
4-2C) What is the pore pressure in the middle of the clay layer 100 days after placement of the
fill? Assume fill placement is instantaneous.
1. Pore pressure: u = u e + u 0
u0 = 874 psf
ue
v '
=1
ui
ui
ui = 1690 psf
v '
to depth for various T values f
ui
z 4
= = 1 (for double drainage)
H 4
depth =
100 =
T = 0.31
0.05
v '
= 0.41
ui
ue
= 1 0.41
ui
TH d2
cv
18
B = B 2e = B 2 0 = 10 ft
N 66
Nq 43
Strip footing with concentric vertical load, so: Ss = Sqs = Si = Sqi = 1.0
70,850 lb 1 ton
= 35.4 tsf
ft 2
2000 lb
5B) What is the approximate ultimate bearing capacity if the bottom of the footing is 10 feet
deep?
1. For sand with c = 0, bearing capacity: q ult = 0.5B' eff N SsSi + D N qSqsSqi
B = B 2e = B 2 0 = 10 ft
N 66
Nq 43
Strip footing with concentric vertical load, so: Ss = Sqs = Si = Sqi = 1.0
98,800 lb 1 ton
= 49.4 tsf
ft 2
2000 lb
19
5C) What is the bearing capacity if the water table is at ground surface? Assume that the
saturated unit weight of sand is equal to 138 pcf.
1. For sand with c = 0, bearing capacity: q ult = 0.5B' eff N SsSi + D N qSqsSqi
B = B 2e = B 2 0 = 10 ft
N 66
Nq 43
Strip footing with concentric vertical load, so: Ss = Sqs = Si = Sqi = 1.0
D = t u
41,202 lb 1 ton
= 20.6 tsf
ft 2
2000 lb
20
21
1 sin
1 + sin
= 30
2. K a =
1 sin 30
= 0.33
1 + sin 30
1
t H 2K a
2
1
120 182 0.33 = 6415 lb = 6.4 k
2
6C) What is the overturning moment per foot of wall about point A?
1. Overturning moment: M o = Pa
2. M o = 6.4
H
3
18
= 38.4 k/ft
3
22
6D) What is the resisting moment per foot of wall about point A, neglecting passive pressure at
the toe of the wall?
1
18
A
3
1. Divide the wall into 4 rectangular areas, as shown in the figure above.
2. Sum the moments for each of the four areas:
Mr = (Fi armi)
F = A
Arm = d
Section
F
(kips)
Arm
(ft)
M
(ft-k)
16
80
120
9.60
7.5
72.0
16
32
150
4.80
4.0
19.2
10
20
150
3.00
5.0
15.0
120
0.72
1.5
1.1
Total
107.3
6E) What is the approximate factor of safety against overturning, neglecting passive pressure
at the toe of the wall?
1. Factor of safety: F.S. =
2. F.S. =
Mr
M0
107.3
= 2.8
38.4
6F) What is the approximate eccentricity of the resultant of the vertical and horizontal forces?
1. Eccentricity: e =
Mr Mo
Fv
x=
2. e =
Wbase
x
2
x=
107.3 38.4
= 3.8 ft from point A
18.12
10
3.8 = 1.2 ft
2
6G) What is the factor of safety against sliding without passive earth pressure considered?
1. Factor of safety: F.S. =
2. F.S. =
s
Pa
s = Fv tan s
Fv = 18.12 k
s = 30
23
24
6H) What is the Approximate factor of safety against bearing capacity failure? Use Meyerhofs
bearing capacity and correction factors.
1. Factor of safety: F.S. =
Qult
Fv
Qult = qult B
B = B 2e = 10 2 1.2 = 7.6 ft
N = 15.7
Nq = 18.4
For inclined load: Si = 1
Pa
= 19.5o
Fv
= arctan
19.5
Si = 1
= 0.1225
30
2. F.S. =
q ult = 0.5 7.6 120 15.7 1 0.1225 + 480 18.4 1 0.6136 = 6,296 psf
47.85
= 2 .6
18.12
25
Module 7 - Piles
Situation
A bridge is proposed to span a river. The bridge piers will be supported on 12 diameter, steel,
closed-end pipe piles (concrete-filled) driven into the medium-dense sand river bottom. The
water in the river is 15 feet deep. Laboratory tests indicate that the sand has the following
properties: specific gravity Gs = 2.67; void ratio, e = 0.60
The results of a pile load test on a 12 steel pipe pile driven 15 feet into the sand indicated that
the unit skin friction on the test pile at a depth of 10 feet into the sand was 350 psf at failure.
Also, the ultimate end bearing capacity of the test pile was estimated to be 32.0 kips.
Neglect the structural capacity of the pile and settlement in answering the following questions.
Requirements
7A) What is the saturated unit weight of the sand?
1. Saturated unit weight: sat =
Gs = 2.67
e = 0.60
2. sat =
w (G s + e)
1+ e
62.4(2.67 + 0.60)
= 127.5 pcf
1 + 0.60
26
7B) The ultimate skin friction capacity of a pile embedded 25 ft into the sand river bottom is
approximately:
1. You need the unit skin friction to find the ultimate friction capacity. You know the skin
friction for the pile test at 10 feet is 350 psf.
350
v '
v = w h w + sat h sat
K tan =
f s = 0.538 v '
v = w h w + sat h sat
15 526 1
+ 10 526 1 = 29 k
2
7C) What is the ultimate end bearing capacity of a pile embedded 25 feet into the sand river
bottom?
1. Ultimate end-bearing capacity: Q t = v ' N q A tip
25 feet is deeper than the critical depth of 15 feet, v ' 25' = v ' 15'
2. So, Qt at 25 feet = 32 k
7D) Using a factor of safety of 3.0, what is the allowable capacity of a pile embedded 25 feet
into the sand if the water level rises 10 feet?
1. Allowable capacity: Q all =
FS = 3
Qult = Qs + Qt
2. Q all =
Q ult
FS
Qult = 29 + 32 = 61 k
61
= 20.3 k
3
27
28
Module 8 - Seepage
Situation 1
A 10-foot thick layer of Soil A overlies Soil B, as shown in the figure below. The ground surface
is at elevation 100 feet. Soil A has a coefficient of permeability of 20 ft/day and a total unit
weight of 125 pcf. Soil B has a coefficient of permeability of 10 ft/day and a total unit weight of
120 pcf.
Groundwater is observed at the ground surface, elevation 100. A piezometer is installed in Soil
B at elevation 75. The total head measured in the piezometer is elevation 85.
Elevation (ft)
Piezometer
100
Soil A
k =20 ft/day
t =125 pcf
90
Soil B
k =10 ft/day
t =120 pcf
75
Requirements
8-1A) What is the total vertical stress at elevation 90?
1. Total vertical stress: v = h
2. v = 125 10 = 1250 psf
85
u = hpw
h p = h t h e = 85 75 = 10
29
v = 1250 psf
u = hpw
hp = ht he
he = 90 ft
h t 90 = 100 h A
2. To find head loss through layer A, start with Darcys equation: Q = kiA
For A = 1 ft2, QA = QB
kAiA = kBiB
iA =
h A
HA
iB =
h B
HB
kA = 20; HA = 10
kB = 10; HB = 15
kA
h A =
h A
h B
= kB
HA
HB
h B
3
We know that h A + h B = 15 , so
h A = 3.7 ft
h B = 11.3 ft
h B
+ h B = 15
3
h p = 96.3 90 = 6.3 ft
30
31
8-1E) What is the rate of vertical seepage for a 1 square foot area?
1. With one-dimensional flow, use Darcys equation to find seepage rate: Q = kiA
kA = 20 ft/day
iA =
A = 1 ft2
3.7
= 0.37
10
E L 120
H = 20 ft
E L 100
DAM
A
5 ft
35 ft
Impervious
32
Requirements
8-2A) What is the rate of seepage (per foot of length) below the dam?
N
1. Seepage: Q = k f h
Nd
k = 10 4 ft/min
h = 20 ft
2. Q = 10 4
4
20 = 6.7 10 4 ft 3 / min
12
each equipotential drop represents an equal amount of head loss. There are
6 drops from the headwater side of the dam to point A, so:
h =
6
20 = 10 ft
12
2. h TA = 120 10 = 110 ft
8-2C) What is the uplift pressure at the bottom of the dam at point A?
1. Uplift pressure: u = h p w
hp = hT he
hT = 110 ft
he = 95 ft
h p = 110 95 = 15 ft
hp = hT he
Points A and B are on the same equipotential line, so they have the
same total head, so hT = 110 ft
he = 60 ft
h p = 110 60 = 50 ft
33
34
References:
a.
Adapted from: Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of
Sampling and Testing, Part I, Specifications, 13th ed., AASHTO, 1982.
b.
Adapted from: 1989 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM, Philadelphia, 1989.
c.
d.
See, for example: Michael R. Lindeburg, Civil Engineering Reference Manual, 7th ed.,
Professional Publications, Inc., Belmont, CA, 1999.
e.
See, for example: Wayne C. Teng, Foundation Design, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs,
NJ, 1962.
f.
See Module 4 Visual Aids
g.
From: Karl Terzaghi, Ralph B. Peck, and Gholamreza Mesri, Soil Mechanics in Engineering
Practice, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1996.