Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Course Teacher: Dr. Md.

Mokhlesur Rahman Professor Department of Civil Engineering DUET

Soil Classification
Soil classification according to their origin and mode
Soil Classify

Organic Origin, Organic Soil

Inorganic Origin, Inorganic Soil

Muck

Peat

Residual Soil

Transported Soil

Black Cotton Soil

Lateritics, Coarse Grained Soil, Have not swelling properties

Lateritics, Fine Grained Soil, Have swelling properties

Water Transported

Glacier Transported

Wind Transported

Gravity Transported

Water transported soil 1. Alluvial soil: If soil is deposited by running water. 2. Lacustrine soil: If soil is deposited by standing water. 3. Marine soil a. Offshore deposit, takes place in relatively still water below zone of wave action. b. Shore deposit, form from many different shore currents and wave action. Wind transported soil 1. Aeolian soil a. Dunes, in higher proportion, sand deposit. b. Loess, in higher proportion, silt deposit. Saturated loess is collapsible soil. c. Tuff, in higher proportion, ash deposit. Gravity transported soil Colluviums soil Talus (Formed by Landslides)

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Glacier Transported soil 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Glacial till, form from melting ice-water depositing soil. Moraine, direct deposits of glacier. Drift Eskers, 10 m to 30 m high and 0.5 to several km long form small tiller. Drumlins, 10 70 m height and 200 800 m long. Erraties Hardpan, Glacier soil of hard stiffness. Varved clay, 3 mm or 1/8 thick or more.

The roles of soil classification system in geotechnical engineering

Classification and Index Properties (, , , G, n, LL, PL, SL etc)

Classification System ("Language")

Engineering Properties (Permeability, Compressibility, Shrinkage Swell, Shear Strength)

Engineering Purpose (Highways, Airfields, Foundaiton, Dams etc)

Systems of soil classification The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or The British Standard Institute (BSI) American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International System (IS) Unified soil Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

Soil Grain Size in mm

100 75 75 19 4.75 4.75 2.0 0.425 0.075 0.075 0.0002

C USCS
75

M Sand
2.0 0.425

Gravel

Fines Silt and Clay

0.075

C AASHTO Gravel
2.0 0.6 0.2

F Sand Silt and Clay

0.06 0.02 0.006 0.002 0.0006 0.0002

C M F MIT
2.0

C M F Silt

M Clay

FC

Gravel
1.0 0.5 0.2 0.1

Sand
0.05 0.02

0.006

0.002

0.0006

0.0002

VC C M IS Sand
2.0

C Silt
0.075

M Clay

UF

Glacial Silt
0.425

0.005

0.001

ASTM

Gravel

Medium Sand
2.0

Fine Sand
0.075

Silt

Clay

Collodial Clay

0.005

FAA

Gravel

Sand

Silt

Clay

C M F VC FC UF FAA USCS AASHTO MIT ASTM IS

Coarse Medium Fine Very Coarse Fine Collidal Ultra Fine Federal Aviation Administration Unified Soil Classification System American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Massachusetts Institute of Technology American Society for Testing and Materials International Standard
3

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Four type of common soil Gravel Sand Silt Clay

Soil classification depending on cohesive properties Cohesive soil o Gravel o Sand o Non Plastic (NP) silt Cohesive soil o Plastic silt o Clay Uses of soil classification Foundation design Highway design Airport design Agricultural field (USCS system) (AASHTO system) (AASHTO system) (USBR system)

Soil tests required for classification Grain size analysis o Sieve analysis o Hydrometer analysis Consistency tests o Liquid limit test o Plastic limit test Condition of General Design Economy Shear failure / shear strength Excess settlement / consolidation properties Effective Size This parameter is the diameter in the particle size distribution curve corresponding to l0% finer. The effective size of a granular soil is a good measure to estimate the hydraulic conductivity and drainage through soil Determination of granular or sandy soil whether it is poor or well graded The co-efficient of uniformity, The co-efficient of curvature,
( )

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

100% 90% 80% 70% 60%

% Finer by Mass

50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 10 1 Grain Size, D (mm) D60 D30 D10 0.1

Where , and 10% respectively.

are the diameters corresponding to percents finer than 60, 30, and

For, Gravel when well-graded,

Otherwise Gravel is poor graded. For, Sand when well-graded,

Otherwise Sand is poor graded. Plasticity of soil The plasticity of a soil is its ability to undergo deformation without cracking or fracturing. A plastic soil can be molded into various shapes when it is wet. Plasticity is an important index property of fine grained soils, especially clayey soils. Atterberg limits or Consistency Limits of soil The moisture contents of a soil at the points where it changes from one state to the other are called consistency limits or Atterberg limits. On the other hand, The moisture content, in percent, at which the soi l changes from a liquid to a plastic state, is defined as the liquid limit (LL). The moisture content, in percent, at which the soil changes from a plastic to a semisolid state and from a semisolid to a solid state are defined as the plastic limit (PL) and the shrinkage limit (SL), respectively. These limits are referred to as Atterberg limits. 5

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Atterberg Limits used for To describe the consistency of fine-grained soils To determines its state or consistency Four states are used to describe the soil consistency; solid, semi-solid, plastic and liquid To defining or classifying a soil type or predicting soil performance when used a construction material.

State Water Content, Liquidity Index 0

Brittle Solid SL LI < 0

Semi Solid PL LI = 0

Plastic Solid
LL

Liquid

0 < LI < 1

LI = 1

LI > 1

W PL Stress - Strain Diagram of soil at various state W < PL

W LL

W > LL

Figure: Water content and stress strain graph at various state Liquid Limit The increasing moisture content, in percent, at which the soil changes from a plastic to liquid state, is defined as the liquid limit (LL). It offers no shearing resistance and can flow like liquids. The liquid limit of a soil is determined by Casagrandes liquid device (ASTM- D-4318) and is defined as the moisture content at which a groove closure of 12.7 mm or ( ) inchh occurs at 25 blows. Plastic limit The increasing moisture content, in percent, at which the soil changes from a semisolid to plastic state, is defined as the plastic limit (PL). The soil in the plastic state can be molded into various shapes. The Plastic limit of a soil is determined by Casagrandes liquid device (ASTM- D-4318) and is defined as the moisture content at which the soil crumbles when rolled into a thread of 3.18 mm ( ) in diameter. Shrinkage limit The increasing moisture content, in percent, at which the soil changes from a solid to a semisolid state is defined as the shrinkage limit (SL). The shrinkage limit is determined by the moisture content at which the soil does not undergo any further change in volume with loss of moisture (ASTM - D-427). Plasticity Index The difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit of a soil is defined as the plasticity index, PI PI = LL PL.

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Liquidity Index The relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state can be defined by a ratio called the liquidity index, which is given by

Where,

Increasing Moisture

Solid

Semi-Solid

Plastic

Liquid

Volume

Shrinkage Limit

Plastic Limit

Liquid Limit

Drying

The ranges of Liquid limits and Plastic Limits The range of liquid limit can be from zero to 1000, but most soils have LL less than 100. The Plastic Limit can range from Zero the 100 or more, with most being less than 40. Determination of Liquid Limit & Plastic Limit Liquid Limit The increasing moisture content, in percent, at which the soil changes from a plastic to liquid state, is defined as the liquid limit (LL). It offers no shearing resistance and can flow like liquids. The liquid limit of a soil is determined by Casagrandes liquid device (ASTM - D-4318) and is defined as the moisture content at which a groove closure of 12.7 mm or ( ) inch occurs at 25 blows. The liquid limit (LL) is the water content at which a soil changes from plastic to liquid behavior. The original liquid limit test of Atterberg's involved mixing a pat of clay in a roundbottomed porcelain bowl of 10-12cm diameter. Soil is placed into the metal cup portion of the device and a groove is made down its center with a standardized tool of 13.5 millimeters (0.53 in) width. The cup is repeatedly dropped 10mm onto a hard rubber base at a rate of 120 blows per minute, during which the groove closes up gradually as a result of the impact. The number of blows for the groove to close is recorded. The moisture content at which it takes 25 drops of the cup to cause the groove to close over a distance of 13.5 millimeters (0.53 in) is defined as the liquid limit. The test is normally run at several moisture contents, Liquid limit is determined by plotting a flow curve on a semi -log graph, with no. of blows in log scale and the water content as ordinate and drawing the best straight line through the plotted points.

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Plastic limit The increasing moisture content, in percent, at which the soil changes from a semisolid to plastic state, is defined as the plastic limit (PL). The soil in the plastic state can be molded into various shapes. The Plastic limit of a soil is determined by Casagrandes liquid device (ASTM- D-4318) and is defined as the moisture content at which the soil crumbles when rolled into a thread of 3.18 mm or ( ) in diameter. A soil is considered non-plastic if a thread cannot be rolled out down to 3mm at any moisture.

22 mm

Soil

54 mm

50 mm

Hard Rubber Base

150 mm

Hard Rubber Base

125 mm

Liquid Limit Apparatus

8 mm 2 mm 20 mm 45 10 mm 50 mm 20 mm

20 mm

Casagrande Tool

Divied Soil Cake Before Test

Divied Soil Cake After Test

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Liquid Limit One Point Method The determination of liquid limit as explained earlier requires a considerable amount of time and labor. We can use what is termed the 'one-point method' if an approximate value of the limit is required. The formula used for this purpose is ( ) Where,

Sliding Rod Total mass = 80 0.5 gm

Calibrated Scale 30 30.5 mm

50 mm 50 mm

Cylindrical mold

Cone Penetrometer method The soil whose liquid limit is to be determined is mixed well into a soft consistency and pressed into the cylindrical mold of 5 cm diameter and 5 cm high. The cone which has a central angle of 30 and a total mass including cone, sliding rod and the disk is 80 0.05 gm will be kept free on the surface of the soil. The depth of penetration 3; of the cone is measured in mm on the graduated scale after 30 sec of penetration. The liquid limit LL ( ) may be computed by using the formula, ( )( 9 ) Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Where, = The water content corresponding to the penetration y = Liquid Limit y = Penetration in mm Symbols used in the unified soil classification system Soil Gravel Sand Silt Clay Organic soil Peat Gradation Well graded Poorly graded Low Plasticity High Plasticity Symbol G S M C O Pt Symbol W P L H

Plasticity Chart and its Significance A plasticity chart is used to differentiate the plasticity and organic characteristics of the finegrained soils based on liquid limit (LL) and plasticity index. Significance Used in Unified Soil Classification System Used in AASHTO Soil Classification system Used for Silt-Clay Soil Classification
60
8)

50
U

e in -L = PI

0.

L 9(

L-

40
Plasticity Index (%)
CL CI CH

A P

-L

ine .73 (

LL

20

0 I=

Inorganic Clays of High Plasticity

30
Inorganic Clays of Medium Plasticity Inorganic Silts of High Compressibility and Organic Clays

20

Inorganic Clays of Low Plasticity

ML or OL

10
Cohesionless Soil CL - ML

MI or OI Inorganic Silts of Low Compressibility

MH or OH
Inorganic Silts of Medium Compressibility and Organic Silts

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Liquid Limit (%)

10

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Field identification procedures for fine grained soil These procedures are to be performed on the below #40 sieve particles, approximately 0.4 mm. For field classification purposes, screening is not intended; simply remove by hand the coarse particles that interfere with the tests. Dry Strength test It gives idea crushing characteristics. The part of the soil is completely dried by air drying, sun drying or oven drying. The dry strength is determined by breaking the dried pat and crumbling it between fingers. The dry strength is a measure of plasticity of the soil. The dry strength depends upon the colloidal fraction of the soil. The strength is termed; high, if the dried pat cannot be powdered at all; medium if considerable pressure is required; and low, if the dry pat can be powdered. Dilatancy Test It is the reaction of shaking. A small part of moist soil of about 5 ml in volume is prepared. Water is added to make the soil soft but not sticky. The pat is placed in the open palm of one hand and shaken horizontally striking by the other hand at bottom of the palm at several times during shaking. If the soil gives a positive reaction, the water appears on its surface which changes to a lively consistency and appears glossy. When the pat is squeezed between the fingers, the water appears and glossy disappear from the surface. The larger size particles, the quicker is the reaction, called quick if water appears and disappears quickly. The reaction is termed slow if water appears and disappears slowly. For no reaction, the water does not appear at the surface.

Results Test Dilatancy Toughness Dry Strength ML Quick None None of low CL None to very slow Medium OL Slow Low MH Slow to none High CH None High High to Very High OH None to Very Slow Low to Medium Medium to High MI Quick to Slow None Low CI None Medium OI Slow Low

Low to Medium Slow Medium

Medium Low to to High Medium

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Toughness test The pat is rolled on a smooth surface or between the palms into a thread of about 3 mm in diameter. The thread is folded and re-rolled to reduce the water in soil, due to evaporation by heat of hand, until the 3 mm diameter thread just crumbles. The water content at that stage is equal to the plastic limit and the resistance to moulding at that stage is called the toughness. Dual Symbol and Borderline Classification in USCS. Soils having between 50% and 12% passing the #200 sieve are classified as Borderline and have a symbol called dual symbol. The first part of the dual symbol indicates whether the coarse fraction is well graded or poorly graded. The second part describes the nature of the fines. For example, a soil classified as a SP-SM means that it is a poorly graded sand with between 5% and 12% silty fines. Similarly, a GW-GC is a well graded gravel with some clayey fines that plot above the Aline.
Coarse Grained Soils Fine Grained Soils ML MH OH CL CH OL

Borderline Case

Gravel

GP SW SP

Gravel

GC SM SC

Borderline Case

GW

GM

Silt

Sand

Sand

Clay

12

45 50

55

100

Percent Passing the #200 Sieve

Dual Symbol for 5% to 12% finer particles Or GW GW GP GP GM GC GM GC SW SW SP SP SM SC SM SC

Dual Symbol for 45% to 55% finer particles Or GM GM GC GC ML MH CL CH 12 SM SM SC SC ML MH CL CH

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 The limitations/criticism/drawback of USCS Although the letter symbols in the USCS are convenient, they do not completely describe a soil or soil deposit. In USCS, do not examine the characteristics as color, odor and homogeneity. In USCS, for coarse-grained soils such items as o Grain shape o Mineralogical content o Degree of weathering o In situ density o Degree of compaction are do not express. Adjectives such as rounded, angular and sub-granular are not used to describe in USCS. For the fine grained fraction a) natural water content and b) consistency do not be noted. Plasticity Chart for AASHTO Soil Classification System
60

50

40
Plasticity Index (%)
A-7-6
PI = LL

0 -3

30

20
A - 6 and A - 2 - 6 A - 7 - 5 and A - 2 - 7

10
A - 4 and A - 2 - 4 A - 5 and A - 2 - 5

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Liquid Limit (%)

13

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Flow Chart of Unified Soil Classification System

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

Make visual examination of soil to determine whether it is highly organic, coarse grained, or fine grained. In borderline cases, determine amount passing through the #200 sieve 50% or more retained on #200 sieve

Highly organic soils (Pt) Fibrous texture, color, odor, very high moisture content, particles of vegetable matter (sticks, leaves, and so forth)

More than 50% passes the #200 sieve Fine Grained Run LL and PL on minus #40 sieve material.

Coarse Grained Run a Sieve Analysis %G>%S Gravel (G) %S>%G Sand (S)

LL < 50 Low LL More than 12% pass #200 sieve Run LL and Pl on minus #40 sieve fraction

LL > 50 High LL Above "A" line on plasticity chart

Less than 5% pass #200 sieve Obtain Cc and Cu from grain size graph Well Graded GW Poorly Graded GP

Between 5% and 12% pass #200 sieve Requires dual symbol based on gradation and plasticity characteristics GW GP GW CP GM GM GC GC

More than 12% pass #200 sieve Run LL and Pl on minus #40 sieve fraction

Less than 5% pass #200 sieve Obtain Cc and Cu from grain size graph Well Graded SW Poorly Graded SP

Between 5% and 12% pass #200 sieve Requires dual symbol based on gradation and plasticity characteristics SW SP SW SP SM SM SC SC

Below "A" line or PI <4

Color or odor Organic OL

Limits plot in hatched zone on plasticity chart

Above "A" line and PI >7

Below "A" line on plasticity chart

Inorganic ML ML - CL CL

Color or odor Organic OH Inorganic MH CH

Below "A" line or hatched zone on plasticity chart GM

Limits plot in hatched zone on plasticity chart GM - GC

Above "A" line and hatched zone on plasticity chart GC

Below "A" line or hatched zone on plasticity chart SM

Limits plot in hatched zone on plasticity chart SM - SC

Above "A" line and hatched zone on plasticity chart SC

Unified Soil Classification System

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Flow Chart of AASHTO Soil Classification

Make visual examination of soil to determine whether it is highly organic, coarse grained, or fine grained. In borderline cases, determine amount passing through the #200 sieve 35% or Less passes the #200 sieve More than 36% passes the #200 sieve Silt-clay Material Run LL and PL on minus #40 sieve material.

Granular Material Run a Sieve Analysis

Less than 25% pass #200 sieve Run sieve analysis, Also LL and Pl on minus #40 sieve material

A-2 Less than 25% pass #200 sieve Run LL and PL on minus #40 sieve material.

Silty PI < 10

Clayey PI > 11

LL < 40 A-4

LL > 41 A-5

LL < 40 A-6

A-7 LL > 41

A-1 Less than 50% pass #40 sieve Less than 15% pass #200 sieve, Less than 30% pass #40 sieve, Less than 50% pass #10 sieve, PI less than 6 A-1-a Less than 25% pass #200 sieve, Less than 50% pass #40 sieve, PI less than 6 A-1-a

Greater than 51% pass #40 sieve Less than 10% pass #200 sieve, Non Plastic A-3

Silty PI < 10

Clayey PI > 11

PI equal to or less than LL minus 30 A-7-5

PI Greater than LL minus 30 A-7-6

LL < 40 A-2-4

LL > 41 A-2-5

LL < 40 A-2-6

LL > 41 A-2-7

AASHTO Soil Classification System

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Plasticity Chart for Classification of Clay Minerals

50

) -8 ne LL i - L 0.9( U = PI

40
Plasticity Index (%)
Montmorillonite Illite

) ne - 20 i L -L A 73(L . =0 PI

30
Kaolinite

20

10
Chlorite

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Liquid Limit (%)

Group Index The group index is a means of rating the value of a soil as a sub-grade material within its own group. It is a new factor used in the AASHTO soil classification system. It is not used in order to place a soil in a particular group that is done directly from the results of sieve analysis, the liquid limit and plasticity index. The higher the value of the group index, the poorer is the quality of the material. The group index is a function of the amount of material passing the # 200 sieve, the liquid limit and the plasticity index. Group Index ( Where, )[ ( ) ( )( )]

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 The value of Group Index should be reported to the nearest whole number but not a fraction, say 15.2 15 or 15.6 16. When the calculated Group Index is negative, shall be reported as 0 (zero). When PI = 0, then particle Group Index formula ( )[ ( )] When LL = 0, then particle Group Index formula ( )[ ] The good qualities of a sub-grade material are related as inversely proportional to its Group index. For example, a Group Index the value of which is zero, generally indicates a excellent sub-grade material. A Group Index the value of which is 20 indicates a Poor material.

Soil Rheology Soil Rheology is the study of time dependent deformations of soil materials. For the analysis, the real/physical soil system is placed by an ideal mechanical model, called the Rheological model, composed of springs, dashpots and friction elements in various combinations. The three basic rheological models of practical interest are shown in figure
Spring Dashpot y

a) Hookean model

b) Newtonian model

c) Yield Stress model

These models characterize the stress strain relationship in terms of the material constants known from experiments. a) Hookean model: Represents a perfect elastic response of soil independent of time, i.e. stress in a linear function of strain, where, K = Spring constant or modulus of elasticity. b) Newtonian models: Represents a perfect viscous response of soil, i.e. stress is a linear function of the rate of change in strain with respect to time, ( ) Where, c) Yield stress models: the stress can be generate a strain only if Where, is a certain minimum stress necessary for causing strain or slip. is yield stress or frictional resistance. 17 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Significance of Liquidity Index, Consistency Index and Toughness Index of Soil Liquidity Index is defined as

Significances of Liquidity Index It indicates the nearness of its water content to it, liquid limit. When LI = 100%, Soil behaves liquid and is at LL LI = 0%, Soil is at PL LI = -ve, Soil behaves hard, it indicates a water content < PL.

Consistency Index is defined as

Significances of Consistency Index Consistency Index shows the nearness of water content of the soil to its Plastic Limit. When CI = 0%, at LL CI = 100% at LL = PL CI > 100% at semi solid state CI = -ve at water content > LL LI high then CI low, vice versa. Toughness Index is defined as

Significances is a measure of shearing strength of the soil at PL. varies 0 to 3.0. < 1.0 the soil is brittle at het PL. Flow Index Flow Index is the slope of the flow curve obtained between the number of blow (abscissa = log scale) and the water content in Casagrandes method of determination of the liquid limit as figure. ( )

Significances is the rate at which a soil mass loses shear strength with an increases in water content. is greater, shear strength lower. 18 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

100

90

80

70

Moisture Content %

60

W1
(1)

( )

50

W2 (1) W3
(2)

40

30

( )

20

W2 (2)

10 N1 10 N2 N3

No of Blow, N (Log Scale)

Figure: Flow Index Activity of soil The activity (A) of a soil is the ratio between Plasticity Index and the percent of clay fraction (F) (less than 2 m) present. The range of activity of soil is between 1 -2.
Plasticity Index (%)

Montomor illonite
80

60

A (3) A (2)

When A<0.75 A=0.75 to 1.25 A>1.25 Soil is Inactive Soil is Normal Soil is Active

40

Illite
A (1)

Kaolinite
20

Significance: Activity of soil gives information about type and effect of clay mineral of soil. 19

10

20

30

40

50

Clay Fraction

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Soil Sensitivity: Soil sensitivity is the estimate of a soil's ability to maintain its original strength when bothered or remolded. The value of sensitivity varies in between 1 to 16.

Where,

Classification of Soils based on Sensitivity Sensitivity <1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 8.0 8.0 16.0 > 16.0 Soil Type Insensitive Little sensitive Moderately sensitive Sensitive Extra sensitive Quick sensitive

When sensitivity of soil is greater than 8 soil must be treated for construction because disturbance tends to transform them, at least temporarily, into viscous fluids, such a clay montmorillonite group and posses flocculent structure. Thixotropy If a remoulded soil is allowed to stand without further disturbance and changed in water content, it may regain at least part of its original strength and stiffness. The increase in strength of the soil is due to the gradual reorientation of the absorbed molecules of water with passage of time is called thixotropy. Engineering use of Consistency Limit Both Plastic limit and Liquid limit gives the idea upon the type and amount of clay in a soil. As grain size decreases, both PL and LL increase. Plasticity chart plot of PL and LL is extremely useful for classification of fine grained soils. LL < 20%, soil is generally sands. Soils with high organic content have low Plasticity Index. Liquid Limit is a indicator of compressibility of a soil. i.e. ( ). Shrinkage Index is a indicator for amount of clay and directly proportional to clay fraction. Toughness Index is a measure of shearing strength at PL. When comparing the properties of two soils with equal volume of plasticity Index, it is found that as the liquid limit increases, the dry strength and toughness decrease, where as compressibility and permeability increases. 20 Courtesy By S M Nazmul Haque

Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 When comparing the properties of two soils with equal volume of Liquid limit, it is found that as the Plasticity Index increases, the dry strength and toughness increase, where as the permeability decreases but compressibility remains almost same.

Liquid Limit

Plastic Limit Plasticity Index

Plastic Limit

Silt

Clay Particle Size Decrease

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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201 Questions

Soil Classification 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. What are the main soil classification depending on origin and mode? What are modes of transported soil? What is water transported soil? Mention wind transported soils? Mention glacier transported soils. What are the roles of soil classification system in geotechnical engineering? What are the systems used of soil classification? What are the different soil size limits between USCS and AASHTO systems? What are the different soil size limits for ASTM and IS systems? Classify soil depending on cohesive property. What are engineering field, where soil classification used? What are the tests required for types of soil classification? On which condition general design on soil depended? How will you determine whether a gravel or sandy soil is poor or well graded? Define plasticity of soil. Define the consistency limits / Atterberg limits. Draw the stress - strain diagrams of soil at different limit limits and plastic limits. Define plastic limit and liquid limit. Define plasticity index and liquidity index. What are the ranges of liquid limit and plastic limit? Draw neat sketch of Casagrande device. State the Casagrande definition for liquid limit determination. State the Casagrande definition for plastic limit determination. Define one point method for liquid determination. State the cone penetrometer method with device for liquid limit determination. What are symbols used for unified soil classification? Draw plasticity chart. For what methods, the plasticity charts are used? What are the tests used for field identification of soils? State dry strength test of soils in field. State dilatancy test of soils in field. Compare the results for different field test for organic and inorganic clay and silt. Explain the application of A line on plasticity chart for unified classification. Explain the application of hatched zone on plasticity chart for unified classification. With example define the dual symbol for USCS soil classification. Explain the borderline classification in USCS soil classification. What are the drawback / limitations / criterion for unified soil classifications?
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Soil Mechanics 1 CE - 6201

38. Draw the plasticity chart for AASHTO soil classification system. 39. Draw the plasticity chart for classification of clay minerals. 40. Define group index with formula. 41. Define partial group index formula. 42. What are the significances for group index values for practical purposes? 43. What are the difference between A 1 a and A 1 b soil? 44. What are the difference between A 2 4, A 2 5, A 2 6 and A 2 7 soils? 45. Define A 3 soil. 46. What are the difference between A 4, A 5 and A 6 soils? 47. What are the difference between A 7 5 and A 7 6 soils? 48. What is meant by Soil Rheology and Rhecological model? 49. Define the different rhecological models with figures. 50. What are the significances of liquidity index? 51. What are the significances of consistency index? 52. What are the significances of toughness index? 53. Define flow index with significance. 54. State activity of soil. 55. State sensitivity of soil. 56. State thixotrophy of soil. 57. What are the engineering uses of Atterbergs limits? 58. What are the effects of plasticity index on engineering properties?

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