PTVICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER ACQUISITIONS EDITOR VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF MARKETING EXECUTIVE MARKETING MANAGER PRODUCTION EDITOR DESIGNER PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES EDITORIAL ASSISTANT MEDIA EDITOR COVER PHOTO WILEY 200" ANNIVERSARY LOGO DESIGN This book was ‘The cover was printed by Phoenix Color. “This book is printed on acid free paper. © Don Fowley Jenny Welter ‘Susan Elbe Chris Ruel Nicole Repasky Hope Miller Ingrao Associates Lindsay Murdock/Mark Owens Lauren Sapira John Geiven Kamp, University of Arizona Richard J. Pacifico in Times New Roman by Thomson Digital Limited and printed and bound by Hamilton Printing, ‘Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, In. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system of transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, ‘scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 ofthe 1976 United States Copyright Act, without tither the prior written permission ofthe Publisher or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Ine, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, website www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, (201)748-601 I fax (201)748-6008, website http:liwww.wiley:com/0! permissions. ‘To order books or for customer service, please call 1-800-CALL WILEY (225-5945) Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data: Budhu, M. Foundations and earth retaining structures / Muni Budhu. pcm. ISBN 978.0871-47012.0 (cloth) 1. Soil mechanies. 2, Foundations. 1. Tile "TAT10.B763 2007 624.15 —de22 2007018089 Printed in the United States of America 0987654321PREFACE There are three primary objectives for this textbook: first, to present basic concepts and fundamental principles that are necessary to understand the background of the methods employed in foundation design; second, to inform students on the values and limitations of popular methods of analysis in foundation engineering; and third, to provide a framework for students to carry out simple foundation design and appreciate the design process. BACKGROUND Foundation engineering is becoming more challenging as the transportation, housing, industrial, environmental, and commercial needs of the population increase and solid ground is becoming scarce! Foundation engineers have to deal with these challenges through 1. Better understanding of the fundamentals 2. Utilization of modern technology such as remote sensing, geographic information systems, novel u testing equipment, and numerical simulation 3. Better appreciation of the social, economic, and environmental context of foundation engineering 4, Accumulation of experience ‘There is a trend toward more usage of computer software in engineering practice because of advancement in computer technologies, ready availability of this software, and its applications to a wide range of problems. Computer software can increase efficiency, save resources, and. allow designers to analyze increasingly complex foundation systems. Constitutive models are at the heart ‘of computer software used for numerical analysis. These models are the domain of experts. However. a growing number of novices (young and inexperienced engineers) are using these models for daily work without understanding the fundamental bases for them or proper applications to the problem or system that is intended to be modeled. This is an undesirable situation because foundation engineering works impact lives, properties, and the environment. Improper use of these models could lead to disastrous outcomes. This textbook provides students with the basic background information to better under- stand foundation analysis and to assist them in interpreting the results for design. AUDIENCE This textbook is written primarily for an undergraduate course in foundation analysis and design. It should also appeal to graduate students and practicing engineers. The coverage of topics in this textbook does not follow any particular curriculum because different institutions have different educational missions and the student body normally comprises students with different abilities. Instructors can vsequence selected topics to structure different learning pathways depending on the educational mission of the institution, Two learning pathways (tracks) are suggested for a semester course in Foundation Engineering (Geotechnical Engincering II). Track I, basic learning pathway, provides students with the basic knowledge of foundation engineering with only rudimentary theoretical background. Track Il, advanced learning pathway, provides students with the fundamentals to help them appreciate the basis and the limitations, of foundation analysis and to initiate learning that will allow them to later model complex foundation problems. The table below shows the suggested coverage for the two learning pathways: Learning Pathways Chapters leaning 12 30 4 6 6 7 2 9 0 4 pathways Tacki Ente «20-26 Skip Entre Enire70- ‘Emi |—-90-96 Entre Entre chapter chapter chapter chaptar 73474, chapter choptor chapter xcept 76-78 except except 510 m7 816 1010 and1012 Tack Ente Ente Emre Ene ‘Ente ‘Entre Entre ‘Ente ‘Ente ‘Ente Entre chapter chapter chapter chapter _chapter_ chapter chapter chapter chapter chapter__chapter APPROACH This is a textbook and not a design manual. Consequently, it emphasizes fundamentals rather than procedures. However, practical procedures, where appropriate, are included to allow students to transit into “office” design. It is expected that when students complete this textbook, they should have a firm grounding in the principles of the practice of foundation analysis and should be able to plan, analyze, and design simple shallow and deep foundations and retaining walls. The topics are sequenced so aS not to rush the students into design but to build a solid foundation in the fundamentals so that they can understand the implications of the assumptions in the design. ‘The importance of a particular topic is declared and the topic is presented with sufficient details using, wherever appropriate, the students’ background in engineering mechanics and soil mechanics, Example problems have been solved to provide further insights of the basic concepts, to demonstrate the application of the fundamental principles in problem solving, and to foster understanding of the design process. Each solution provides a step-by-step procedure to guide the student in problem solving techniques. Students are encouraged to use software modules available at www.wiley.com/college/budhu to carry out iterative calculations. Most of these software modules were developed using Excel to give students control over the calculation process. Students can modify the Excel spreadsheets to solve classes of problems. The author suggests that students be encouraged to solve problems using “hand calculations” and use the spreadsheets to carry out sensitivity analyses (parametric studies). Typical soil parameters and correlations are grouped together in the appendices. This allows students to easily find these parameters and correlations for design use. ORGANIZATION ‘This textbook is organized into 11 chapters divided into two main parts with a transition. The first five chapters (part 1), are fundamental materials including soil mechanics review materials. All the soil mechanics review topics are directly connected with foundation engineering. Some of them may appear to be unwarranted, but they are needed since most students tend to dispose of their soi mechanics textbook after taking the course. Chapter 6—the transition—deals with uncertainties anddesign philosophy. The last five chapters (part 2) pr design of foundations and earth retaining walls. Chapter 1 is a review of basic soil mechanics concentrating on physical soil parameters Chapter 2 deals with loads, stresses, strains, stress states, and stress paths. Much of the materi this chapter is taught in soil mechanics courses. However, some additional materials, such as Cerrut and Mindlin’s solutions for horizontal loads (¢.g., wind loads) and a vertical point load in the interior of a half space (e.g., end bearing pile load) respectively and stress paths, which may not be covered in some undergraduate soil mechanics courses but are important fundamental learning materials, are included. Chapter 3 deals with fundamental issues such as yielding and failure of soils at a level that can, hopefully, be easily assimilated by undergraduates. These are important topics because students need to understand the difference between yielding and failure, and the differences among the failure criteria that are in use to interpret soil failure (Chapter 4). The stress-strain behavior of ideal materials is presented to help students appreciate that the analyses used in foundation engineering are approximations of soil behavior. The popular limit equilibrium and limit analyses, pervasive in analysis of foundations, are presented using materials that the students would have learned in courses in statics and engineering materials. Numerical analyses are briefly discussed. The aim is to give undergraduate students, who may use numerical methods in foundation design soon after graduation, some background material without the mathematical rigor and provide some guidance on the use and misuse of these methods. Most institutions have courses dedicated to numerical analyses whercin the mathematics is expounded. Chapter 4 is about the interpretation of settlement, strength, and deformation parameters from laboratory tests for foundation design. Much of the material in this chapter may have been completed by some undergraduate students. However, in this textbook soil is treated as a dilatant-frictional material rather than a cohesive-frictional material, so the’ presentation is concentrated on how the Parameters required for foundation design are interpreted from the appropriate laboratory tests for soil as a dilatant-frictional material using the appropriate failure criteria. Popular empirical relation- ships among settlement, strength, and deformation parameters and simply obtained soil parameters are summarized. While it is possible that the topics in this chapter could have been integrated into Chapter 3, the author believes that Chapter 3 would have been too long and students might be weary Of it. In addition, treating settlement, strength, and deformation parameters separately rightly estab- lishes their importance in the context of foundation design. Chapter 5 deals with site characterization. Here again some of the material may have been covered in some undergraduate soil mechanics courses. In-situ tests are described and data reduction and interpretation presented. Evaluation of liquefaction potential is dealt with here because empirical Procedures in practical use have been developed using SPT and CPT data Chapter 6 is the bridge between fundamentals and application, Students are informed about luncertainties in foundation design to prepare them to make informed compromises in foundation design The two methods of design—allowable stress and load and resistance factor—are discussed and compared. Chapter 7 begins foundation design with consideration of shallow foundations. Mat foundations are not considered here because coupling mats with piles is becoming a popular type of foundation, especially for high-rise buildings. Mat foundations are then presented after pile foundations so that piled rafts can be discussed. Chapter 8 deals with pile foundations. Drilled shafts are not considered separately because they are pile foundations also. Both vertical and lateral loads are included in the presentation. Chapter 9 is about mat foundations. The key issue with mat foundations is the structural design, Because this textbook is intended primarily for undergraduates, a broad-brush approach is taken by giving the governing equations and alerting students that computer programs are available commer- Cially to solve the equations. Some broad discussions on the assumptions made in the analyses of mat foundations by these programs, in general, are presented. Empirical procedures for mat foundations used for expansive and collapsible soils are included because some students, soon after gradu, may be practicing in areas where expansive or collapsible soils are present. ‘ent practical applications and procedures for thePREFACE v enaprent REVIEW OF BASIC SOIL MECHANICS 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Definitions of Key Terms 1 12 Engineering Geology 2 121 Soil Formation 2 122 Soil Fabric 2 1.23. Soil Minerals 3 1.3 Soil Types and Soil Description 3 13.1 General Soil Types and Their Qualities for Engineering Applications 4 132 Common Soil Types 4 133. Soil Description and Identification 5 14 Soil Phases 6 15 Particle Size of Soils 9 16 Physical Soil States and Index Properties of Fine-Grained Soils 10 17 Soil Classification 12 1.8 One-Dimensional Flow of Water Through Soils 16 1.9 Two-Dimensional Flow of Water Through Soils 18 1.10 Soil Compaction 24 1.11 Geostatic Stresses and the Principle of Effective Stress 27 1.12 Summary 28 Exercises 29 chapten2 FOUNDATION LOADS, STRESSES, AND STRAINS IN SOILS 31 20 24 22 23 24 Introduction 31 Definitions of Key Terms 31 Loads 32 221 Static Loads 32 222 Dynamic Loads 33 Stresses and Strains 37 23.1 Normal Stresses and Normal Strains 37 23.2 Shear Stresses and Shear Strains 37 Stresses in Soils from Surface and Interior Loads 39 24.1 Vertical Point Load on Soil Surface— Boussinesq's Solution 39 242 Strip Surface Loads 40 243 Uniformly Distributed Circular Surface Load 41 244 Uniformly Distributed Rectangular Surface Load 42 24.5 Embankment Loads 43 246 Approximate Method for Rectangular Loads 44 2.47 Uniformly Distributed Surface Load on Irregularly Shaped Area— Newmark’s Solution 45 248 Uniform Load of Large Lateral Extent 45 249 Horizontal Point Load Parallel to Soil Surface—Cerutti’s Solution 45 2.4.10 Vertical Point Load Within Soil Mass— Mindlin’s Solution 46 24.11 Influence of Foundation-Soil Relative Stiffness on Stress Distribution 50 25 Lateral Effective Stress Coefficients 51 26 Stress and Strain States 5B 2.6.1 Mohr’s Circle for Stress States 55 2.62. Mobr’s Circle for Strain States 67 2.7. Stress and Strain Invariants 58 28 Stress Paths 60 281 Basic Concept 61 282 Plotting Stress Paths 65 29 Summary 67 Practical Example 68 Exercises 69 cuapten3. ANALYTICAL, NUMERICAL, AND OBSERVATIONAL METHODS FOR FOUNDATION DESIGN 73 3.0. Introduction 73 3.1 Definitions of Key Terms 73 3.2 Stress-Strain Response of Ideal Materials 74 3.2.1 Elastic Materials 74 3.22. Plastic Materials 75 33 Yielding of Soils. 7634 35 36 37 38 39 3.10 (CHAPTER 4 Failure Criteria 77 34.1 Coulomb 77 342 Mohr-Coulomb 77. 343. Tresca 78 344 Taylor 78 345. Critical State 79 Limit Equilibrium 83 Limit Analysis 86 Numerical Methods 89 3.7.1 Soil Models. 89 3.72 Finite Difference Method (FDM) 90 Finite Element Method (FEM) 91 Boundary Element Method (BEM) 92 Using Numerical Methods in Foundation Design 93 Observational Methods 95 Physical Soil Models. 96 Summary 98 Practical Example 98. Exercises 99 373 3.74 375 SETTLEMENT, STRENGTH, AND STIFFNESS PARAMETERS FROM LABORATORY TEST FOR FOUNDATION ANALYSIS. 101 40 41 42 43 44 Introduction 101 Definitions of Key Terms 101 Consolidation and Settlement Parameters 102 42.1 Basic Concept 102 42.2 One-Dimensional Consolidation Theory 103 423 Consolidation Settlement Parameters 104 424 Determination of the Preconsolidation Vertical Effective Stress 106 Shear Strength Parameters 10 43.1 Stress-Strain Response 110 43.2 Interpretation of Shear Strength Parameters from Popular Shear Tests 12 43.2.1 Simple Pouring Test to Determine the Friction Angle for Clean Coarse-Grained Soils 113 4322. Direct Shear Test—ASTM 3080 113 4323 Triaxial Tests 16 4324 Direct Simple Shear Tests 122 Excess Porewater Pressure Under Axisymmetric Undrained Loading 124 45 46 47 48 49 CHAPTER 5 5.0 5.1 52 53 54 Practical Implications of the Interpretation of Shear Siength Paramctems a6 Soil Stiffness 127 Correlations of Settlement, Strength, and Stiffness Parameters Using Simple Laboratory Tests 132 47.1 Settlement Parameters 132 47.2. Shear Strength Parameters 132 473. Soil Stifiness 132 Difficult Soils 134 Summary 136 Exercises 137 SITE CHARACTERIZATION 138 Introduction 139 Definitions of Key Terms 139 Purposes of Site Characterization 139 Phases of Site Characterization 140 Mapping the Subsurface Using Geophysical Methods 141 54. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 142 5.4.2. Seismic Surveys 142 5.4.3 Electromagnetic Survey (EMS) 144 Mapping the Subsurface and Sampling Using Destructive Methods 145 55.1 Which Method Is Best for the Project? 145 Where Should the Borings Be Located? 147 How Many Borings and at What Depths? 147 What Methods and Procedures Should Be Used to Advance the Borings? 149 How Do We Sample the Soils? 150 What Are the Requirements for Groundwater Observations? 151 What Types of Tests Should Be Conducted? 152 In Situ Tests 152 552 6.1 Standard Penetration Test (SPT)—ASTM D1586 152 5.6.2 Vane Shear Test (VST)—ASTM 2573. 158 5.6.3. Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT)— ASTM S778. 159 56.4 Flat Plate Dilatometer (DMT) 161 5.65. Pressuremeter Test (PMT)—ASTM. Da7I9 162, 5.66. Plate Loading Tests (PLT)—ASTM DI194 164 5.6.7 Hydraulic Conductivity Test (HCT)— ASTMD4043 165, 5.6.8 Comparison of In Situ Tests 16637 58 59 5.10 sl ‘CHAPTER 6 Laboratory Tests 166 Geotechnical Report 170 Empirical Relationships for Settlement and Shear Strength Parameters 172 Liquefaction Potential 173 5.10.1 Basic Concept. 173 5.10.2 Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential 174 Summary 179 Practical Example 179 Exercises 181 UNCERTAINTIES IN FOUNDATION DESIGN, PHILOSOPHY AND METHODOLOGIES 183 60 61 63 6. 64 65 66 67 68 ‘CHAPTER? Introduction 183 Definitions of Key Terms 183 Uncertainties in Foundation Design 184 Design Process 190 Limit States 190 64.1 Ultimate-Limit State 190 642 Serviceability Limit State 191 64.3. Limit State Provisions 191 Design Methods 191 65.1 Allowable Stress Design to Satisly ULS 192 652 Load and Resistance Factor Design to Satisfy ULS 194 ASD and LRED to Satisfy SLS_ 195 196 65 Which Design Method Should Be Used? How Do I Start? 197 Summary 198 Exercises. 198 ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS 200 20 7A 72 73 Introduction 200 Definitions of Key Terms 200 ‘Types of Shallow Foundations 201 Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations 203 73.1. General Bearing Capacity for Homogeneous Soils. 203 73.1.1 Ultimate Net Bearing Capacity 205 73.12 Allowable Bearing Capacity 205 73.13. Ultimate Gross Bearing Capacity 205 73.14 Bearing Capacity for Special Cases 205 73.15 Bearing Capacity, Geometric Compressibility, and Ground. water Factors 206 14 1S 16 1 18 19 7.0 7 7212 713 74 CHAPTER 8 80 81 732 Combined Loading 216 732.1 Circular and Rectangular Foundations 217 7322 Strip Foundation 218 Layered Soils 219 74.1. Two-Layered Fine-Grained Soils 220 742 Coarse-Grained Soil Over Fine-Grained Soil 220 743. Practical Guidelines for Layered Soils 222 Soil Strength Varying with Depth 223 224 Presumptive Allowable Bearing Capacity Settlement of Shallow Foundations 224 77.1 Immediate Settlement 225 7.1.2. Primary Consolidation Settlement 228 7.73. Secondary Compression (Creep) 230 7.74 Modification to One-Dimensional Con- solidation Settlement to Account for Lateral Stresses 230 7.75. Time Rate of Settlement 231 72.6 Thick Layers 231 717 Procedure to Calculate Consolidation Setilement 232 Determination of Bearing Capacity and Settle ‘ment Using Data from In Situ Tests 234 781 SPT 235 782 CPT 238 783. Pressuremeter 240 784 Plate Load Test 241 Seismic Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Shallow Foundations 242 Bearing Capacity and Settlement Using Numerical Methods 247 Design for Ductility 251 Design Issues 254 7.12.1 Soil Improvement 7.12.2 Drainage 255 7.12.3 Foundation Depth for Horizontal Load and Environmental Effects 7.12.4 Expansive Soils 256 7.12.5 Global Stability 257 7.12.6 Construction 257 7.12.7 Seismicity 257 Design Procedures 258 Summary 260 Practical Examples Exercises 270 254 261 PILE FOUNDATIONS 274 Introduction 274 Definitions of Key Terms 27482 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 8.10 sit 8.12 813 84 815 816 Considerations for Use of Pile Foundations 275 Pile Types 278 Pile Installation 277 Load Capacity of Single Piles 280 Load Capacity Using Staties—Driven Piles 282 8.6.1 2-Method (Total Stress Analysis)— Short-Term Loading in Fine-Grained Soils 283 8.62. -Method (Effective Stress Analysis)— Long-Term and Short-Term Conditions in Coarse-Grained Soils and Long-Term Condition in Fine-Grained Soils 285 Load Capacity for Driven Piles Based on SPT and CPT Results 287 8.7.1 SPT (Meyerhof, 1976) 287 872 CPT 288 Load Capacity of Drilled Shafts 290 8.8.1 a-Method for Fine-Grained (Total Stress Analysis) 290 88.2. Method for Coarse-Grained Soils and Fine-Gained Soils (Effective Stress Analysis) 290 Uplift Resistance 287 Piles Subjected to Negative Skin Friction 298 Group Piles 299 Combined Axial Load and Moments 304 Settlement of Piles 305 8.13.1 Elastic Settlement 305 8.132 Settlement of Drilled Shafts 308 8.133 Consolidation Settlement Under a Pile Group 308 8.134 Procedure to Estimate Settlement of Single and Group Piles 309 Pile Load Test 313 Laterally Loaded Piles 317 815.1 Basic Concept 317 8.152 Basic Structural Mechanics for Laterally Loaded Piles 318 Design Issues and Procedures 324 8.16.1 Evaluate the Need for a Pile Foundation 324 Pile Selection 324 Pile Spacing 324 Pile Handling 325 Scour 325 Pile Installation 325 Pile Verticality and Pile Batter Determine Load Capacity Using Parameters That Will Lead to @ Ductile Response 325 8162 8.163 8164 8.16. 816.6 816.7 8168 8.16.9 Pile Integrity During and After Installation 326 8.16.10 Lateral Squeeze 328 8.16.11 Cost 328 8.17 Summary 329 Practical Examples 329 Exercises 332 cuaptens MAT FOUNDATIONS 335 9.0 Introduction 335 9.1. Definitions of Key Terms 335 9.2 Considerations for Using Mat Foundations 335 9.3. Types of Mat Foundations 336 94 Design Considerations 338 9.5. Pressure on a Mat Foundation 338 9.6 Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Mat Foundations 339 9.7 Structural Analysis of Mat Foundations 341 9.7.1 Approximate Analysis—Uniform (Planar) Contact Pressure 342 9.72. Mat on Springs—Winkler Spring Model 342 9.7.3 Mat on Soil as a Continuum 343 98 Approximate Analysis for Stiffened Slab-on-Grade on Expansive and. Collapsible Soils 344 9.9 Piled-Raft Foundations 346 9.10 Design Isssues 346 9.10.1 Water Content Variations 346 9.102 Heaving 347 9.10.3 Foundation Shape 348 9.10.4 Stability of Excavation for Rafts 348 9.1 Summary 348 Practical Examples 349 Exercises 353 cuaprento EARTH RETAINING STRUCTURES RIGID AND FLEXIBLE WALLS 355 100 10.1 102, 103 104 105 106 107 Introduction 355 Definitions of Key Terms 385 Basic Concepts on Lateral Earth Pressures 355 Lateral Stresses from Surface Loads 359 Coulomb's Earth Pressure Theory 364 Rankine’s Lateral Earth Pressure for a Sloping Backfill and a Sloping Wall Face 367 Lateral Earth Pressures for a Total Stress Analysis 369 ‘Application of Lateral Earth Pressures to Retaining Walls 37110.8 Types of Retaining Walls and Modes of Failure 373 10.9 Stability of Rigid Retaining Walls. 377 10.9.1 Translation 377 10.92 Rotation 378 10.9.3 Bearing Capacity 378 10.94 Deep-Seated Failure 378 10.95 Seepage 379 10.9.6 Procedure to Analyze Gravity Retaining Walls 379 10,10 Seismic Analysis and Design of Rigid Retaining Walls 386 10.10.1 Seismic Stability 386 10.10.2 Seismic Displacement 390 10,11 Stability of Flexible Retaining Walls 392 10.11.1 Analysis of Sheet Pile Walls in Uniform Soils 392 10.11.2 Analysis of Sheet Pile Walls in Mixed Soils. 393 10.11.3 Consideration of Tension Cracks in Fine-Grained Soils 394 10.114 Methods of Analysis. 394 10.11.5 Stability of Cantilever Sheet Pile Walls Using Analytical Methods 396 10.116 Stability of Anchored Sheet Pile Walls Using Analytical Methods 397 10.12 Seismic Analysis and Design of Flexible Retaining Walls 407 10.13 Braced Excavation 408 10.14 Design Issues 412 10.14.1 Lateral Stress Coefficients and Lateral Stresses 412 10.142 Drainage 412 10.143 Wall Deformation 412 10.144 Construction 412 10.15 Summary 413. CHAPTERT Practical Examples 413 Exercises 426 MECHANICAL STABILIZED EARTH WALLS AND OTHER RETAINING WALLS 11.0 Ma n2 13 4 ns 116 431 Introduction 431 Definitions of Key Terms 431 Basic Concepts 431 Mechanical Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls 432 113.1 MSE Reinforcement 432 11.32 Stability of Mechanical Stabilized Earth Walls 433 Seismic Analysis of MSE Walls 441 In Situ Reinforced Walls—Soil Nailing 441 11.5.1 Basie Concept 441 11.52 Analysis of Soil Nail Walls 442 Other Types of Retaining Walls 445 11.6.1 Modular Gravity Walls 446 11.62 Chemically Stabilized Earth (CSE) Walls 446 Summary 446 Exercises 447 Appendix A 448, Appendix B 450 Appendix C461 REFERENCES 465 INDEX 472 Answers (0 Selected Problems can be found on the web at www.wiley.com/college/budhu.Cee ———— REVIEW OF BASIC SOIL MECHANICS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ‘The purpose of this chapter is to review some basic soil mechanics concepts that you will use in foundation analysis and design. Soils are geological materials that have the vagaries of the natural world. One of the primary tasks of a geotechnical engineer is to collect, classify, and investigate the physical properties of soils to use in design and construction. Certain properties, parameters, and relationships have been established to accomplish this task. In this chapter, we will summarize the important physical properties and parameters that will be used later in foundation analysis and design. When you complete this chapter, you should be able to: + Understand the importance of geology for foundations. * Calculate and use basic physical soil parameters. 1.1 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS ———— Soils are materials that are derived from the weathering of rocks. Water content (w) is the percentage weight of water relative to the weight of solids. Void ratio (e) is the ratio of the volume of void space to the volume of solids. Porosity (n) is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of soil. Degree of saturation (S) is the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of void. Bulk unit weight (y) is the weight density (ie., the weight of a soil per unit volume) Saturated unit weight (y,) is the weight of a saturated soil per unit volume. Dry unit weight (y,) is the weight of a dry soil per unit volume. Effective unit weight (y') is the weight of soil solids in a submerged soil per unit volume, Relative density (D,) isan index that quantifies the degree of packing between the loosest and densest state of coarse-grained soils. Effective particle size (Dp) is the average particle diameter of the soil for which 10% of the particles have smaller diameters. Average particle diameter (Ds9) is the average particle diameter of the soil. Liquid limit (LL) is the water content at which a soil changes from a plastic state to a liquid state. Plastic limit (PL) is the water content at which a soil changes from a semisolid to a plastic state.‘Shrinkage limit (SL) is the water content at which a soil changes from a solid toa semisolid state without further change in volume. Hydraulic conductivity (k) isa proportionality constant to determine the flow of water through soils Maximum dry unit weight (Yaax)) is the maximum unit weight that a soil ean attain using a specified ‘means of compaction. Optimum water content (Woy) isthe water content required to allow asoil to attain its maximum dry unit weight ‘Compaction is the densiti ion of a soil by expelling air from the soil pores. Consolidation is the time-dependent settlement (densification) of fine-grained soils resulting from the expulsion of water from the soil pores. Porewater pressure (u) is the water pressure in the soil pores. .2_ENGINEERING GEOLOGY ——$———— Importance Soils are notoriously variable. You need to understand the geological setting of your Project ite and the soils that exist there to provide a qualitative understanding of their possible use and potential problems. In this section, basic information on soil formation is reviewed. 1.21. Soil Formation Soils are geological materials formed from the physical and chemical weathering of rocks. Physical weathering involves reduction of size without any change in the original composition of the parent rock. The main agents responsible for this process are exfoliation, unloading, erosion, freezing, and thawing. Chemical weathering causes both reductions in size and chemical alteration of the original parent rock. The main agents responsible for chemical weathering are hydration, carbonation, and oxidation. Often, chemical and physical weathering take place in concert. Soils that remain at the site of weathering are called residual soils. These soils retain many of the elements that comprise the parent rock. Alluvial soils, also called fluvial soils, are soils that were transported by rivers and streams. 1.22 Soil Fabri The composition of these soils depends on the environment under which they were transported and is often different from the parent rock. The environment under which deposition occurs influences the structural framework that is formed. In particular, the electrochemical environment has the greatest influence on the kind of soil fabric that is formed during deposition, ” ‘The two common types of soil fabrics are flocculated and dispersed, A flocculated structure, formed under saltwater environment, comprises many particles that tend to orient parallel to each other. A flocculated structure, formed under freshwater environment, comprises many particles that tend to orient perpendicular to each other. A dispersed structure comprises a majority of the particles orienting Parallel to each other. Any loading (tectonic or otherwise) during or after deposition permanently alters the soil fabric or structural arrangement in a way that is unique to that particular loading condition. Consequently, the history of loading and changes in the environment are imprinted in the soil fabric. The soil fabricis the brain; it retains the memory of the birth of the soil and subsequent changes that occur.1.2.3 Soil Minerals “The response of soils (essentially fine-grained soils, see Section 1.3) to loads, known as the mechanical behavior, depends on the type of predominant minerals present. Minerals are crystalline materials and make up the solids constituent of a soil. The mineral particles of fine-grained soils are platy. Minerals are classified according to chemical composition-and structure.Most minerals of interest to geotechnical engineers are composed of oxygen and silicon—two of the most abundant elements on earth, Silicates are a group of minerals with a structural unit called the silica tetrahedron. The predominant minerals in fine-grained soils are kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite. Kaolinite has a structure that consists of one silica sheet and one alumina sheet bonded together into a layer about 0.72 nm thick and stacked repeatedly. The layers are held together by hydrogen bonds. Tightly stacked layers result from numerous hydrogen bonds. Kaolinite is common in clays in humid tropical regions. Illite consists of repeated layers of one alumina sheet sandwiched by two silicate sheets. The layers, each of thickness 0.96 nm, are held together by potassium ions. Montmorillonite has a similar structure to illite, but the layers are held together by weak van der Waals forces and exchangeable ions. Water can easily enter the bond and separate the layers in montmorillonite, causing swelling. Montmorillonite is often called swelling or expansive clay. The key points are: 1. Knowledge of geology is important for the successful practice of geotechnical engineering. 2. Soils are derived from the weathering of rocks. 3. Physical weathering causes reduction in size of the parent rock without change in its composition. Chemical weathering causes reduction of size and chemical composition different from the parent rock. s 5. The in-situ structure of a soil depends on the deposition environment and any past mechanical loading. 6. Fine-grained soils (clays) are composed of three main types of minerals: kaolinite, illite, and ‘montmorillonite. 7. The clay minerals consist of silica and alumina sheets that are combined to form layers. The bonds between the layers play a very important role in the mechanical behavior of clays. The bond between the layers in montmorillonite is very weak compared with kaolinite and illite. Water can easily enter between the layers in montmorillonite, causing swelling. The soil fabric (structural arrangement of the soil grains) is the brain; it retains the memory of the birth of the soil and subsequent changes that occur. 8 1.3 SOILTYPES AND SOIL DESCRIPTION Importance Geotechnical engineers have categorized soils into various types and common descriptive terms have evolved to aid them in getting a quick, qualitative estimate on the soils’ strength ‘and deformation properties and variability. Some of the key soil types and common descriptive terms are reviewed.1.31 General Soil Types and Their Quali Engineering Applications Soils are described as coarse-grained (gravels and sands) and fine-grained (silts and clays). Coarse- grained soils feel gritty and hard. Fine-grained soils feel smooth. In general, coarse-grained soils have good load-bearing capacities and good drainage qualities, and their strength and volume change characteristics are not significantly affected by change in moisture conditions. They are practically incompressible when dense, but significant volume changes can occur when they are loose. Vibrations accentuate volume changes in loose coarse-grained soils by rearranging the soil fabric into a dense s for Fine-grained soils have poor load-bearing capacities compared with coarse-grained soils. Fine- grained soils are practically impermeable. They change volume and strength with variations in moisture Conditions and are frost susceptible. The engineering properties of coarse-grained soils are controlled mainly by the grain size of the particles and their structural arrangement. The engineering properties of fine-grained soils are controlled by mineralogical factors rather than grain size. Thin layers of fine-grained soils, even within thick deposits of coarse-grained soils, have been responsible for many geotechnical failures and therefore you need to pay special attention to fine-grained soils, 1.3.2 Common Soil Types There are many different types of soils. Some soil types are listed below: * Alluvial soils are fine sediments that have been eroded from rock, transported by water, and have settled on river and stream beds. * Calcareous soil contains calcium carbonate and effervesces when treated with hydrochloric acid, * Caliche consists of gravel, sand, and clay cemented together by calcium carbonate. * Collovial soils are found at the base of mountains that have been eroded by the combination of water and gravity. Expansivesoisare clays that undergo large volume changes (expansion) from cycles of wetting and drying. * Collapsible soils are generally low-plasticity soils that undergo large volume changes (settle suddenly) from wetting and loading. + Eolian soils are sand-sized particles deposited by wind, Glacial soils are mixed soils consisting of rock debris, sand, Glacial till is a soil that consists mainly of coarse particles. * Glacial clays are soils that were deposited in ancient lakes and subsequently frozen. The thawing of these lakes reveals a soil profile of neatly stratified silt and clay, sometimes called varved clay. The silt layer is light in color and was deposited during summer periods while the thinner, dark clay layer was deposited during winter periods. + Lacustrine soils are mostly silts and clays deposited in glacial lake waters. * Lateritie soils are residual soils that are cemented with iron oxides and are found in tropical regions. * Loam is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay that may contain organic material. *+ Loess is a wind-blown, uniform fined-grained soil. * Marine soils are sand, silts, and clays deposited in salt or brackish water. 10 a viscous fluid condition, , clays, and boulders. + Mud is clay and silt mixed with water i1.3.3. Soil Description and Identification Common descriptive terms and methods of identification of soils are as follows: Color: Color is not directly related to engineering properties of soils, but is related to the soil ‘mineralogy and texture. Gray and bluish: unoxidized soils White and creat Red and yellow: oxidized soil Black and dark brown: soil containing organic matter Moisture: Appearance due to water is described as wet, dry, and moist Structure: Homogeneous: Color and texture feel the same throughout. -aleareous soils Nonhomogeneous: Color and texture vary Shape: Angular, subangular, subrounded, rounded, flaky. Weathering: Fresh, decomposed, weathered. Carbonate: Effervesces with acid. Add a small amount of hydrochloric acid and check if soil effervesces. If it does, it contains carbonate. Odor: Organic soils give off a strong odor that intensifies with heat. Nonorganic soils have a subtle odor with the addition of water. Feel: Use feel to distinguish betwe Sand has a gritty feel. Silt has a rough feel similar to fine sandpaper. Clay feels smooth and greasy. It sticks to fingers and is powdery when dry. Consistency: Very stiff: Finger pressure barely dents soil but cracks under significant pressure. sand, silts, and clays. Stiff: Finger pressure dents soil. Firm: Soil can be molded using strong finger pressure. Soft: Easily molded by finger. Very soft: Soil flows between fingers when fist is closed. Dilatancy: Place a small amount of the soil in your palm and shake horizontally. Then strike it with the other hand. If the surface is slurry and water appears, the soil probably has a large amount of silt. Packing: Coarse-grained soils are described as: Very loose: collapses with slight disturbance, open structure Loose: collapses upon disturbance, open structure Medium dense: indents when pushed firmly Dense: barely deforms when pushed by feet or with stomping Very dense: impossible to depress with stomping The key points are: 1. There are many soil types that you need to distinguish. 2. Common descriptive terms have evolved to get a quick, qualitative estimate on the soils’ strength and deformation properties and variability.4 SOIL PHASES Importance Soils are complex materials. Like all complex engineering materials, we have to decompose soils into simpler forms to understand them. Geotechnical engineers have simplified soils into three constituents. The proportion of each constituent has significant influences on the strength and deformation properties. In this section, we will review fundamental relationships among the three constituents. Itis convenient to decompose soils into three constituents; solids, liquids, and gases. The solid phase may be mineral, organic matter, or both. The liquid phase is predominantly water, and the gaseous phase is ar. ‘The spaces between the solids (soil particles) are called voids. The water within the voids is commonly called porewater and plays a very important role in the behavior of soils under load. If all the voids are filled by water, the soil is saturated. Otherwise, the soil is unsaturated. Ifall the voids are filled with air, the soil is said to be dry. (See Fig. 1.1.) Several physical parameters are used to relate the various phases. The essential ones are as follows: 1. Specific gravity (G,) is the ratio of the weight of the soil solids to the weight of water of equal volume: Ww, Vow a where y,, = 9.8 kN/m? is the unit weight of water. The specific gravity of soils does not vary significantly. For most soils, a value of 2.7 is sufficiently accurate for practical purposes. 2. Water content (1) is the ratio, often expressed as a percentage, of the weight of water to the weight of solids: We , we* 100% (1.2) The water content of soils varies from nearly zero to over 200%. The usual range of water content for granular soils is 0.1 to 40% while the range for fine-grained soils is 0.1 to 75%. Some fine-grained soils, for example, soils with an abundance of sodium montmorillonite mineral, can have water contents in excess of 700% 3. Void ratio (e) is the ratio of the volume of void space to the volume of solids. Void ratio is usually expressed as a decimal quanti 3) (a) Soil (b)Idealized soi FIGURE14 Soil phases.4. Porosity (n) is the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume. Porosity is usually expressed as a percentage: ve nae (ay Porosity and void ratio are related by the expression, Tre (5) 5. Degree of saturation (S) is the ratio, often expressed as a percentage, of the volume of water to the volume of voids: a or Se=wG, (1.6) IfS = 1 oF 100%, the soil is saturated. If $ = 0, the soil is bone dry. It is pra soil with $= 0. ically impossible to obtain a 6. Unit weight is the weight of a soil per unit volume. We will use the term bulk unit weight, -, to denote unit weight: G,+5Se (G42). (7) w Vv Special Cases (a) Saturated unit weight (S = 1): - ( 7 sy, as) (b) Dry unit weight (S We (G v2 i (©) Effective or buoyant unit weight is the weight of a saturated soil, surrounded by water, per unit volume of soil: (1.10) ‘Typical values of unit weight of soils are given in Appendix A, Table A.1. 7. Relative density (D,) is an index that quantifies the degree of packing between the loosest and densest possible state of a clean, coarse-grained soil as determined by experiments: eax De= quay where €max = maximum void ratio (loosest condition), émin = minimum void ratio (densest condition), and e = current void ratio. A description of coarse-grained soils based on relative density is given in Appendix A, Table A.2.The key points are: 1. Soils are complex materials. They are conveniently decomposed into three constituents: solids, liquids, and gases. 2. The proportion of each constituent influences the strength and deformation properties. EXAMPLE 1.1 Calculation of Basic Soil Parameters Acylindrical sample of clay, 50mm (2in) x 100 mm (4 in) long, was placed in a container and weighed. The weight of the sample was3.5N (0.79 1b). The clay in its container was placed in an oven for 24 hoursat 105°C. The sample weight reduced to a constant value of 2.9 N (0,65 Ib). If G, = 2.7, determine the following: (a) Water content (b) Void ratio (©) Bulk unit weight (@) Dry unit weight (e) Effective unit weight (0) Degree of saturation Strategy Write down whatis given and then use the appropriate equations to find the unknowns. You are given the weight of the natural soil, sometimes called the wet weight, and its dry weight. The difference between these will tive the weight of water and you can find the water content by using Eq, (1.2). SI units will be used in the solution of this problem. Solution 11 Step 1: Write down what is given. ‘Wet weight of sample, W = 3.5 N Dry weight of sample, W, = 2.9 N Volume of wetsoil =< 008 <0 _ 196.4 10-%m* Step 2: Determine the weight of water. Weight of water, Wye = 3.9 2.9 = 0.6N Step 3: Determine the water content. Woe 06 a w= ape 100 = 55 x 100 = 20.7% Step 4 Determine the bulk unit weight. 35x 103 5 eee im? Y= 9 ~ oa 10-8 ~ 178 KN Step &: Determine the dry unit weight. i 178 = yw) 140207Step 6 Determine the void ratio. eeu ire e=08 step 7: Determine the degree of saturation. WG, 0207 27 0% “e 08 ‘Step 8 Determine the saturated unit weight. Step 9: Determine the effective unit weight 1.5 PARTICLE SIZE OF SOILS —_—_——————— Importance The particle sizes and their distribution within a soil mass can indicate the appropriate engineering use of that soil and give qualitative estimates of the soil’s load-bearing capacity. In this ‘section, the determination of the particle sizes for soils is described. ‘The particle or grain sizes of soils are conveniently divided into two groups: coarse-grained soils (sands and gravels) and fine-grained soils (silts and clays). The distribution of grain sizes or average grain diameters of coarse-grained soils—gravels and sands—is obtained by screening a known weight of the soil through a stack of sieves of progressively finer mesh size. An illustrated particle size distribution plot is shown in Fig, 1.2. On the abscissa is the grain size or sieve number (each sieve number corresponds to the number of square openings per square inch of mesh area). There is no theoretical basis for this. Rather, the log scale is used for convenience because of the large range of grain sizes of soils. The ordinate is the percent finer, which is the percentage of particles passing a particular sieve. Finer ‘we grades Ht 7 10 100 100 90 20 7 Cy 50 40 0 FIGURE12 Particle size distribution curves.‘The screening process, also called sieve analysis, cannot be used for fine-grained soils (silts and clays) because of their extremely small size (0.002. mm to 0.075 mm). Traditionally, a hydrometer test i8 conducted to determine the distribution of grain size in fine-grained soils. The laboratory method to determine the grain-size distribution is described in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) test methods ASTM D422 and ASTM D140. The key points are: 1. A sieve analysis is used to determine the grain-size distribution of coarse-grained soils. 2. A hydrometer test is used to determine the grain-size distribution of fine-grained soils. 3. Particle-size distribution is represented on a semilogarithmic plot of % finer (ordinate, arithmetic scale) versus particle size (abscissa, logarithmic scale). The particle-size distribution plot is used to delineate the different soil textures (percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay) in a soil. 1.6 PHYSICAL SOIL STATES AND INDEX PROPERTIES OF FINE-GRAINED SOILS ———$— Importance The proportion of water in a soil matrix can change the way a soil behaves. This is particularly important for fine-grained soils. In this section, we review how water changes fine-grained soils. The physical and mechanical behavior of fine-grained soils is linked to four distinet states: solid, semisolid, plastic, and liquid in order of increasing water content. The water contents at which these changes in states occur are called the index properties of soils. There are three index properties: liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage limit. The water content at which the soil changes from a liquid to a plastic state is called the liquid limit (LL). As the soil dries below the liquid limit, it behaves in a plastic manner—it can be molded into any desired shape without rupture—until the semisolid state is reached. ‘The water content at which the soil changes from a plastic toa semisolid is known as the plastic limit (PL). The range of water contents over which the soil deforms plastically is known as the plasticity index (PI). PI=LL~PL (1.12) [As the soil continues to dry, it comes to a final state called the solid state. At this state, no further volume change occurs since neatly all the water in the soil has been removed. The water content at which the soil changes from a semisolid to a solid is called the shrinkage limit (SL). The shrinkage limit is useful for the determination of the swelling and shrinking capacity of soils. The liquid and plastic limits are called the Atterberg limits, named after their originator, Swedish soil scientist, A. Atterberg (1911). We have changed the states of fine-grained soils by changing the water content. Since engineers are interested in the strength and deformation of materials, we can associate specific strength characteristics to cach of the soil states. At one extreme, the liquid state, the soil has the lowest strength and the largest deformation. At the other extreme, the solid state, the soil has the largest strength and the lowest deformation. A qualitative measure of soil strength using the Atterberg limits is known as the liquidity index (LI) and is expressed as: wePL 13 u="> (1.13)‘The liquidity indexis the ratio of the difference in water content between the natural or in-situ water content of a soil and its plastic limit to its plasticity index. A description of soil strength bat xd on values of tric ghven in Appendix A. Table A.3. Typical values for the Atterberg limits for soils are shown in Appendix A, Table A.4. ‘The Atterberg limits depend on the type of predominant mineral in the soil. If montmorillonite is the predominant mineral, the liquid limit can exceed 100%, because the bond between the layers in ae rede tTonite (amectte) is weak and large amounts of water can easly infiltrate the spaces between the layers. Sodium smectite can have liquid limits as high as 1100% Inthe case of kaolinite, the layers are held relatively tightly and water cannot easily infiltrate between the layers in comparison with montmorillonite, Therefore, you can expect the Atterberg limits for kaolinite to be, in g eral, much Jower than either montmorillonite or illite. ‘Skempton (1953) showed that for soils with a particular mineralogy. the plasticity index is linearly related to the amount of the clay fraction. He coined the term activity (A) to describe the importance of the clay factions on the plasticity index. The equation for A is Pl 4 Gayfraction( (ta) ‘You should recall that the clay fraction is the amount of particles less than 2 microns. “The laboratory tests to determine the index properties are described in ASTM D4318 and ASTM D427. The key points are: 1. Fine-grained soils can exist in one of four states: solid, semisolid, plastic, and liquid. 2. Water is the agent that is responsible for changing the states of soils. 3. A soil gets weaker if its water content increases. 4. Three limits are defined based on the water content that causes a change of state. These are the liquid limit (the water content that caused the soil to change from a liquid to a plastic ‘state); the plastic limit (the water content that caused the soil to change from a plastic 10 ‘a semisolid), and the shrinkage limit (the water content that caused the soil 10 change from ‘a semisolid to a solid state). All of these limiting water contents are found from laboratory tests. 5. The plasticity index defines the range of water content for which the soil behaves like a plastic material. 6. The liquidity index gives a qualitative measure of strength. EXAMPLE 1.2. Calculation of Plasticity Index and Liquidity Index "Aterberg limit tests were conducted on a saturated clay of water content 36%. The liquid limit is 74% and the plastic limit 22%. Determine the plasticity index and the liquidity index, and describe the possible qualitative strength of the clay. i Strategy Use the appropriate equations and Appendix A, Table A. Solution 1.2 Step I: Ca sulate the plasticity index. S y 0 tL PL = LL ~ PL = 74-22 = 32Step 2: Calculate the liquidity index w—PL _ 36-22 on Pr 32 Step 3: Estimate the strength. Appendix A, Table A.3: The soil will behave in a plastic manner. ml 1.7 SOIL CLASSIFICATION Importance We have reviewed some basic soil data—particle size and index properties from quick, simple tests. The question that arises is, what do we do with this data? Engineers would like to use this data to get a first impression on the use and possible performance of the soil for a particular purpose such as a foundation for a skyscraper. This is currently achieved by classification systems. A classification system or scheme provides a method of grouping soils that would likely exhibit similar characteristics. We will review one popular classification scheme. Various classification systems have evolved over the years to describe soils based on their particle sizes. Each system was developed for a specific engineering purpose. In this book. we will use the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The USCS separates soils into two categories. One category is coarse- grained soils that are delineated if more than 50% of the soil is greater than 0,075 mm. The other category is fine-grained soils that are delineated if more than 50% of the soil is finer than 0.075 mm (no. 200 sieve). Coarse-grained soils are subdivided into gravels and sands while fine-grained soils are divided into silts and clays. Each soil type—gravel, sand, silt, and clay—is identified by grain size as shown in Appendix A, Table A.S. The USCS does not differentiate silts from clays based on grain size. Clays have particle sizes, ‘onour svusot ‘sBOUP NAME <% 15% sand —p Wot gnied grave rms a ce GWot 56h Sand —> Wade Soe! woh sand 215 sand — fom ged ne Footy aed GPE 5h sand —> Pony aed Sve ah sand <15% sand —> Wet graded gael inst raver Weliaded << fhes-ML.or MH —> GW-GMA nes or MH—> GP-GM << sions sandy oy age Sa i inessch och => Grecme ae a> peoy oma 318% sand > Poo rede il anc sand eis toes. or ii <5 sand — Say are ==" OM E515 Sand —y Say vel sand ‘ines nes=CL or CH > GC mp 15% sand —> Clayey gra 2185 Sard > Clay Forel wh sand ea Siete Poorly graded 18S gel Wega rd SW~T 51S Gel Wok raed sa ih vel 215 gel Poy ge ad SP TEL Pinel Poo Pada win gral ne i ecu gw su 15% Ol —e Wot ded sand win ot web’ ghd — tent cee swishck SSIS Went dh S80, 10% fnes-CL 0° CH —» SW.SCr “155 gael = Wega sad coy aes tines 213 gel Wel rade sand th a and gavel Pootly aded-—<—> tnes=ML or MH—> SP-SM =<. 5185 Gavel —> Poot Sraded sae wit sit and gravel “Kiteesctoron eer s0

Sanya cy >on pas 200 << $S Getet —— BSSh wan ae sand <% gave Ube Sand —> Gravely lean i VIE SIE Sand ——> Gravel lea ay with sand saan 200 Baye si with sand <20% plus No.200 ~— Gravelly elastic sill with sand NOTE—Percentages are based on estimating amounts of ies, sand, and grave tothe nearest 5% FIGURE13b Unified Soil Classification flowchart for fine-grained soils. (Source: ASTM standards) 6 Umino | Pi=09(tL-8) z 50 z A~ ing 2” = 073 tt~-20) : on Ba we 0 Faz 0102 30 40 80 60 70 80 8 100 Liu) FIGURE 13e Plasticity chert for fine-grained soil. less than 0.002 mm (2 microns). ASTM identifies a third category. called highty organic soils. We will not deal with this category of soils in this text ‘The USCS uses symbols for the particle size groups. These symbols and their representations are: G-gravel, §—sand, M-silt, C—clay. These are combined with other symbols expressing, gradation characteristics (W for well graded, P for poorly graded) and plasticity characteristics (H for high and for low), and a symbol, O, indicating the presence of organic material. A typical classification of CL means @ clay soil with low plasticity, while SP means a poorly graded sand. The flowcharts shown in Figs. 13a,bare systematic means of classifying soils according to USCS. in addition to USCS, a plasticity chart shown in Fig. 1.3cis used exclusively for fine-grained soils. ‘This chart was obtained by plotting experimental data from fine-grained soils tested from different parts of the world.TABLE11 Engineering Use Chart _— eee Important Properties Workability | Shearing strength when Compressibility asa Group Permeability compacted and when compacted construction ‘Typical names of soil groups symbols when compacted saturated ‘and saturated material Well-graded graves, gravel-sand cw Pervious Excellent Negligible Excellent ‘mixtures, litle or no fines Poorly graded gravels, gravel op Very pervious Good Negligible Good sand mixtures, itl ono fines Sity gravels, poorly graded om Semipervious Good Negligible Good cgravel-sand-sit mixtures toimpervious CClayey gravels, poorly graded ec Impervious Good to fait Very low Good dgravel-sand-clay mixtures ‘Wal-graded sands, gravelly sw Pervious Excellent Negligible Excellent ‘sands, litle or no fines Pootly graded sands, gravelly P Pervious Good Very Low Fair sands, tle or no fines ‘ity sands, poorly graded sm Semipervious Good Low Fair sand-sit mitures| toimpervious Clayoy sands, poorly graded Se. Impervious Good to fair Low Good sand-clay mixtures Inorganic sits and very fine mt ‘Semipervious to Fair Medium Fair sands, ock flour silty or clayey impervious fine sands with slight plasticity Inorganic clays of low to medium a Impervious Fair Medium Good to fai plasticity, gravelly cays, sandy lays, sy clays, lean clays Organic sits and organic on Semipervious to Poor Medium Frir sit-clays of low plasticity impervious Inorganic sits, micaceous or Semipervious Fairto poor High Poor ciatomaceous fine sandy oF toimpervious sity sols, elastic sits Inorganic clays of high cH Impervious Poor High Poor Plasticity fat clays Organic clays of medium to oH Impervious Poor High Poor high plasticity Peat and other highly organic sols Pe = : — _ Sounes Wagner 1957 Geotechnical engineers have prepared charts based on USCS and on experience to assist you in selecting a soil for a particular construction purpose. One such chart is shown in Table 1.1. The numerical Values | to 9 are ratings, with number I the best. The chart should be used only to provide guidance and to make a preliminary assessment of the suitability of a soil for a particular use. You should not rely on such descriptions as “excellent” shear strength or construction decisions negligibl compressibility to make final design andability for Various Uses cin a — ee meme ng gph weebte __Tmy_—_inuramt_tortant_ponehle_ one Sitens 7 ... 1 1 - 1 1 1 3 es - = eee 4 ; : ee ee a Bs - : > el pte " er om - , ao G ie : : : 2 ; 2 oe 8 8 - = 7 Erosion critical 7 n " 2 — 9 9 — - = 8 12 12 3 = 7 7 = 10 8 Volume change 9 B 13 8 - * 10 - _ 10 4 4 4 - The key points are: 1. A classification scheme provides a method of identifying soils in a particular group that would likely exhibit similar characteristics. 2. Soil classification is used to specify a certain soil type that is best suited for a given application.