KINGSTON POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

2nd YEAR
1 INTERNAL EXAMINATION
SUBJECT: Geo-Technical Engineering-I
st

Structure, Physical & index

Properties of Soil and its weightvolume relationship
Question
1.

Each Question carry 1 mark

I.
Cohesion less soil is ---(a)sand (b)silt (c) clay (d)clay & silt
II.
Minimum size of the particle of silt soil , is (a)0.002mm (b)0.0002mm (c)0.004 mm
(d)0.02mm
III.

Maximum size of clay particle of clay is (a)0.02(b)0.002(c)0.0002(d)0.00002

IV.

The relation between void ratio(e) and porosity(n) is.. (a) n=1+e/1-e(b) e=1+n/1-e
(c)n=e/1-e (d)n=e/1+e

V.
VI.

Write down The fundamental relation between ------Void Ratio(e), Degree of

saturation (s),specific gravity(G) & Water Content(w) .
The Ratio between Volume of void (Vv ) and total volume of soil(V) is known as--(a)void Ratio (b)porosity (c)water content (d)Degree of Saturation

VII.

The Ratio of the Weight of Water (Ww) and Weight of Solid(Ws) is known as--(a)Water Content (b) void Ratio (c)porosity (d)Degree of Saturation.

VIII.

The fundamental relation between Dry Density(d) ,Water content(w) and Bulk
Density().

IX.

Degree of saturation (s) of a natural soil deposit having water content (w)=15%,
Void Ratio(e)=0.05 and S.p gravity(G)=2.5 is----(a)50%(b)60%(c)75%(d)80%

X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.

The soil which contains Finest particles, is-------(a)coarse sand(b)Fine

sand(c)silt(d)clay.
Write Down The Relation between Submerge density (sab),Saturated Density(sat).
When Volume of Void(Vv) equal to Volume of Water(Vw) ,then Degree of saturation
(S) is (a)100%(b)50%(c)25%(d)0%
Write Down the fundamental relation between Bulk Density() SP Gravity(G)
Degree of Saturation (s) ,void ratio(e) & unit Weight of water (w).

An Unsaturated 100cm Soil sample weight 190gm ,if its Dry weight is 160gm
,water content of soil is ,water content of soil (Ww) ,is----(a)0.188(b)0.288(c)0.388(d)0.488(e)0.588

XIV.

XV.

2.

If void Ratio=0.67,Water content=0.188 and Sp gravity =2.68,the degree of

saturation of the soil mass is -----(a)25%(b)40%(c)60%(d)75%

Each question carry 5 marks

I.

What is Relative Density and Atterberg Limits?

II.

What Soil Mass as a Three-phase System

III.

What is Void ratio (e) Porosity (n) Water content (w)

(s) Specific gravity of solids (Gs or G)

IV.

What is Plasticity Index, Liquidity Index , Consistency Index,

(If) & Toughness Index

V.

3.

Degree of saturation

Flow Index

A saturated soil sample, weighing 178 gm, has a volume of 96 cc. If the specific
gravity of soil solids be 2.67, determine the void ratio, water content and unit
weight of the soil.

Each question carry 10 marks

I. A soil sample has a unit weight of 1.9 gm/cc and a water content of 12%. If the
specific gravity of solids be 2.65, determine the dry density, degree of
saturation, void ratio and porosity of the soil.

II.

The volume and weight of a partially saturated clay sample are 185 cc and 362
gm respectively. After drying in an oven at 105C for 24 hours, its weight reduced
to 326 gm. If the natural void ratio of the soil was 0.54, determine the moisture
content, dry density, bulk density, degree of saturation and specific gravity of
solids.

III.

A sample of silty clay has a void ratio of 0.8. The soil is allowed to absorb water
and its saturated density was found to be 1.92 gm/cc. Determine the water content
of the saturated sample.

IV.

The initial void ratio of an inorganic clay is found to be 0.65, while the specific
gravity of solids is 2.68. Determine the dry density and saturated density of the
soil. Also determine its bulk density and moisture content, if the soil is 50%
saturated.

V.

Laboratory tests on a soil sample yielded the following results:

Liquid limit = 54%
Plastic limit =25%
Natural moisture content = 29%
% finer than 0.002 mm = 18%
a)Determine the liquidity index of the soil and comment on its consistency.
b) Find out the activity number and comment on the nature of the soil.
c) Classify the soil with the help of a plasticity chart.

VI.

The bulk density and dry density of a partially saturated soil are 1.95 gm/cc and
1.80 gm/cc respectively. The specific gravity of solids is 2.68. Determine the void
ratio, moisture content and degree of saturation of the soil

VII.

The Degree of a partially saturated soil was found to be 1.88

gm/cc. If the moisture content and void ratio of the soil be 24.8%
and 0.76 respectively, determine the specific gravity of solids,
and the degree of saturation.

VIII.

A sample of coarse sand was found to have void ratios of 0.87 and 0.52 in its
loosest and densest states respectively. The in-situ density and water content of the
sand were 1.95 gm/cc and 23%. Determine the degree of saturation and relative
density of the sand in the field. Given, G = 2.66.

ANSWER

1.
I.

(a)sand

II.

(a)0.002mm

III.

(b)0.002mm

IV.

(d) n=e/1+e

V.

es=GW

VI.

(b) porosity

VII.

(a)Water content

VIII.

Dry Density, d=/1+W

SHEET

IX.

(c)75%

X.

(d)clay

XI.

sat = sab + w

XII.

(a)100%

XIII.

=(G+se / 1+e)w

XIV.

(a)0.188

XV.

(d) 75%

2.
I.

Answer :
Relative Density : it is a measure of the degree of compactness of a cohesion
less soil in the state in which it exists in the Field. It is defined as,
Relative stability, RD = emax - e / emax emin

where, emax = void ratio of the soil in its loosest state

emin =void ratio at the densest state
e = natural void ratio in the field
Atterberg limits: are a basic measure of the critical water contents of a finegrained soil , such as its shrinkage limit, plastic limit, and liquid limit. As a dry,
clayey soil takes on increasing amounts of water, it undergoes dramatic and
distinct changes in behavior and consistency. Depending on the Water
Content of the soil, it may appear in four states: solid, semi-solid, plastic and
liquid. In each state, the consistency and behavior of a soil is different and
consequently so are its engineering properties. Thus, the boundary between each
state can be defined based on a change in the soil's behavior.

II.

Soil Mass as a Three-phase System : In a soil mass in its natural

state, the three phases, viz., solid, liquid and gas, are completely intermingled
with one another. However, if one can determine the individual volumes of
solid grains, liquid (i.e., water) and gas (i.e., air) presenting a certain volume
Fig.1.1

Of a soil, the entire soil mass can be represented by a schematic diagram, as

shown in Fig. 1.1, where the volume of each constituent part is shown as a
fraction of the total volume. The cross-sectional area of the soil mass of taken
to be unity, so that, the volume of each constituent part is numerically equal
to its height shown in the diagram. Again, the mass of each part may be
obtained by multiplying its volume by the corresponding density
The notations used in the diagram are defined below:
V = total volume of the soil mass
Vs = volume of solid particles in the soil
Vv = volume of voids in the soil
Vv = volume of water present in the voids
Va = volume of air present in the voids
W = total mass of the soil
Ws = mass of the solid Particles
Ww = mass of water present in the voids
III.
Void ratio (e):
The void ratio of a soil is defined as the ratio of Volume of voids to the volume of
solids
Porocity(n):
it is defined as the ratio of the volume of void to the total volume of the soil mass.
Water Content(w):

the water content of a soil mass is define as the ratio of the mass of water to the
mass of solids.
Degree of saturation(S):
the ratio of volume of water to the volume of voids, is known as degree of
saturation.
Specific gravity of solids (Gs or G):
It is defined as the ratio of the mass of a given volume of solid grains to the mass
of an equal volume of water, measured at the same temperature.

IV.
plasticity Index = Liquid Limit Plastic Limit
Liquidity Index = natural water content plastic limit / plasticity index
Consistency Index = Liquid Limit natural water content / plasticity Index
Flow Index =w1 - w2/log ( N / N )
Where
N1 & N2 are the number of blows corresponding to the water
content w1 & w2
10

Toughness Index = Plasticity index / flow Index

V.

Solution :
Given

Required

W V G s

Unit weight of the soil,

sat =W / V =178 / 96 =1.854 gm/cc

sat = G+e/1+e w

But,

or, 1.854=2.67+(1e) /1+e (1)

or,1.854 + 1.854e =2.67+e
or, 0.854e =0.816
or,

e = 0.955

sat

Again ,

wG = se
w = se/G=(1)(0.955)/2.67 =0.358 =35.8%
w =35.8%

3.
I.

Solution : From the consideration of degree of saturation, a soil sample

may be:
Completely dry (s = 0)
fully saturated (s = 1)
partially saturated (0 < s < 1)
Unless otherwise mentioned in the problem, a soil sample should always be taken
to be partially saturated.
Given

Required

d s e n

As e and n are mutually dependent on each other, effectively three unknown parameters
have to be determined from the given data. Select the appropriate equations which may serve
this purpose. The value of d can be determined from :

d
Here,

/ (1+w)

y = unit weight of the soil = 1.9gm/cc

w = water content = 12% = 0.12

d=1.9/(1+0.12)=1.696gm/cc
In order to solve for the other two unknowns, viz., s and e, two equations are required.
Evidently, the following equations will serve the purpose :
wG = se, or se = (0.12) (2.65) = 0.318
...(i)

=(G+se/1+e)w

Again

Or, 1.9=(2.65+0.318/1+e)1
Or,

e=0.56

The expression of d may also be used.

d= G w/1+e
or,1.696=(2.65)(1)/1+e
or,1.696+1.696e=2.65
or,e=0.954/1.696=0.56
or,

e = 0.56

From Eq (i) , s = 0.318/0.56 = 0.568 = 56.85%

s = 56.85%
n = e/1+e = 0.56/1+0.56 = 0.36 = 36%
n=36%
Dry density = 1.696 gm/cc, void ratio = 0.56
Degree of saturation = 56.8%, Porosity = 36%
II.

Solution :
Given

Required

W V Ws e

d w s G

Total Weight ,W=362gm

Total Volume ,V=185cc
Dry weight, Wd=326gm
So ,Bulk Density , = W / V =362 / 185=1.96gm/cc
Dry Density ,

d =Wd /V = 326 /185 = 1.76gm/cc

[Here,

Weight of the water evaporated, Ww = W-Ws = 362-326 gm = 36gm

Moisture content or Water Content, w=Ww / Ws =36/326 =0.11 = 11%
w =11%

Wd = Ws]

d = G w /1+e

Now,

Or, 1.76 = G /1+0.54

Or, G =1.761.54 = 2.71
Or, G =2.71
Again ,

wG = se
Or, s = Wg/e = 0.112.71 / 0.54 = 0.55 =55%
Or, s = 55%

So,

III.

=1.96gm/cc

d = 1.76gm/cc

w = 11%

s =55%

G =2.71

Solution :
It is assumed that the void ratio of the soil did not change due to absorption of
water.
The saturated density is given by,
sat = (G+e / 1+e) w
1.92 = (G+0.8 / 1+0.8) 1
Or, G = (1.921.8)-0.8

Or, G = 2.656
Now , using the relation wG = se, we get,
w = se/G = (1) (0.8) / 2.656 =0.30
so, Required water content = 30%
IV. Solution :
Given
s

Saturated density of the soil, sat= (G+e/1+e) w

Required

sat d w

Dry density,

Or,

sat=(2.68+0.65/1+0.65) (1)

Or,

sat =2.02 gm/cc

d =G w/1+e
Or, d = (2.68 1)/(1+0.65) gm/cc

Or, d =1.62 gm/cc

When the soil is 50% saturated, its bulk density
= (G+se / 1+e)w = [2.68+(0.50.65) / 1+0.65 ] 1 = 1.82 gm/cc

Moisture content at 50% saturation, w = se/G =(0.5) (0.65) /2.68 =0.12=12%

V.
a. Liquidity index , Il =Wn-Wp / Wl-Wp
=29-25 / 54-25
= 0.138
As 0 < Il < 0.25, The Solid is in the plastic state and is Stiff.
b. Activity number ,A = Ip / % finer than 0.002 mm
= 54-25/18
=1.611
As A > 1.25, The soil is an Active soil.
c. The plasticity chart is given in Fig. 1. The point corresponding to Wl
= 54% and Ip = 29% is marked in the figure as P. As this point lies in
the segment marked CH the soil belongs to the CH group.

VI.

We have
Here ,

d = / (1+W)
d = 1.80 gm/cc , =1.95 gm/cc

or,

Again , We have

1.80 =1.95/1+ W
1+W =1.95/1.80
= 1.0833
W = 0.0833
W = 8.33%
Dry density, d =G w/1+e
1.80= (2.68) (1) /1+e

or,

1+e = 2.68/1.80 =1.49

or,

e =0.49

Now ,

wG = se
or,

s =wG/e =(0.0833)(2.68) /0.49 = 0.456 =45.6%

s = 45.6 %

VII.
We have
and

=(G+se/1+e)w
wG = se

.(i)
..(ii)

Substituting for se in eqa (i) ,we get ,

=(G+we/1+e)w
or,

= G(1+w)/1+e w
1.88 = (1.88)(1.76) /1.248 =2.65

or,

VIII.

G= 2.6

We have ,

=(G+se)/(1+e)w

= (G+wG)/(1+e) w

= G(1+w)/(1+e) w
According to the given field conditions

=1.95gm/cc, w=0.23, G=2.66

1.95 = 2.66(1+0.23)/(1+e) (1)

or,

e = 0.678

So,Degree of Saturation ,S = wG /e=(0.23)(2.66)/0.678 = 0.902 =90.2%

Again , using eqa
Relative stability RD = emax - e / emax emin
Here
SO

emax =0.87

emin = 0.52, e = 0.678

Relative stability, RD = 0.87-0.678 /0.87-0.52

RD =0.55
As

1/3 < RD < 2/3 ,The soil is a Medium sand.