Continuation - WPS Office

Continuation…
Chapter 2
Relative Density
Relative density is defined as the ratio of difference of void ratios of cohesionless soil in its
loosest state and the natural state (e – e) to the difference between void ratio in its loosest and
max
densest state (e – e ). Relative density determines the compactness of the cohesionless soil.
max min
Relative density, Id= emax-eemax-emin

Where,
e = void ratio of coarse-grained soil (cohesionless) in its loosest state.
max
e = void ratio of coarse-grained soil (cohesionless) in its densest state.

min
e =void ratio of coarse-grained soil (cohesionless) in its natural existing state in the field.
If the dry density of the soil at its loosest densest and natural state is known, the relative density is given
by the relation:
Relative density, Id= 1d(min)-1d1d(min)- 1d(max)
Consistency of Soils
The consistency of a fine-grained soil refers to its firmness, and it varies with the water content of the
soil.
Soil consistency is the strength with which soil materials are held together or the resistance of soils to
deformation and rupture. Soil consistency is measured for wet, moist and dry soil samples. For wet soils,
it is expressed as both stickiness and plasticity.
Determination of wet-soil consistency
Testing is done when the soil is saturated with water, as, for example, immediately after a good rainfall.
First, determine stickiness, that is, the ability of soil materials to adhere to other objects. Then,
determine plasticity, that is, the ability of soil materials to change shape, but not volume, continuously
under the influence of a constant pressure and to retain the impressed shape when the pressure is
removed.
Field test for stickiness of wet soil
Press a small amount of wet soil between your thumb and forefinger to see if it will stick to your fingers.
Then slowly open your fingers. Rate the stickiness as follows:
0 Non-sticky, if no soil or practically no soil sticks to your fingers;
1 Slightly sticky, if the soil begins to stick to your fingers but comes off one or the other cleanly and does
not stretch when the fingers are opened;
2 Sticky, if the soil sticks to both the thumb and forefinger and tends to stretch a little and pull apart
rather than pulling free from your fingers;
3 Very sticky, if the soil sticks firmly to both thumb and forefinger and stretches when the fingers are
opened.
Field test for plasticity of wet soil

Roll a small amount of wet soil between the palms of your hands until it forms a long, round strip like a
wire about 3 mm thick. Rate the plasticity as follows:
0 Non-plastic, if no wire can be formed;

1. Slightly plastic, if a wire can be formed but can easily be broken and returned to its former state;
2. Plastic, if a wire can be formed but, when it is broken and returned to its former state, it cannot be
formed again;
C
3. Very plastic, if a wire can be formed which cannot be broken easily and, when it is broken, it can be
rolled between your hands and be reformed several times.
Determination of moist-soil consistency

Field test for moist-soil consistency
Testing is done when the soil is moist but not wet, as, for example, 24 hours after a good rainfall.
Try to crush a small amount of moist soil by pressing it between your thumb and forefinger or by
squeezing it in the palm of your hand. Rate moist soil consistency as follows:
0 Loose, if the soil is non-coherent (single-grain structure);
1. Very friable, if the soil crushes easily under very gentle pressure but will stick together if pressed
again;
2. Friable, if the soil crushes easily under gentle to moderate pressure;
3. Firm, if the soil crushes under moderate pressure but resistance is noticeable;
4. Very firm, if the soil crushes under strong pressure, but this is difficult to do between the thumb and
forefinger;
5. Extremely firm, if the soil crushes only under very strong pressure, cannot be crushed between the
thumb and forefinger, but must be broken apart bit by bit.
Determination of dry-soil consistency

Field test for dry-soil consistency
Testing is done when the soil has been air-dried.
Try to break a small amount of dry soil by pressing it between your thumb and forefinger or by
squeezing it in the palm of your hand. Rate dry soil consistency as follows:
0 Loose, if the soil is non-coherent (single-grain structure):

1. Soft, if the soil is very weakly coherent and friable. breaking to powder or individual grains under very
slight pressure;
2. Slightly hard, if the soil resists light pressure, but can be broken easily between thumb and forefinger;
3. Hard, if the soil resists moderate pressure, can barely be broken between the thumb and forefinger,
but can be broken in the hands without difficulty;
4. Very hard, if the soil resists great pressure, cannot be broken between the thumb and forefinger but
can be broken in the hands with difficulty;
5 Extremely hard, if the soil resists extreme pressure and cannot be broken in the hands.
Determination of soil consistency using the Atterberg Limits

A gradual increase in water content causes the soil to change from solid to semi-solid to plastic to liquid
states. The water contents at which the consistency changes from one state to the other are called
consistency limits(or Atterberg limits).
Two of the Atterberg Limits are the liquid limitand the plastic limit, which are defined from three soil
consistencies:
Liquid consistency - fluid or liquid mud;
Plastic consistency - kneading and moulding to shape are possible;
Semi-solid consistency - no more kneading is possible and the volume decreases (shrinkage) as
the sample dries up.
Atterberg Limits - soil consistency
Theliquid limit (LL)

The percentage moisture content at which a soil changes with decreasing wetness from the
liquid to the plastic consistency or with increasing wetness from the plastic to the liquid
consistency.
Liquid Limit can be determined using the Casagrande cup method.
In the Casagrande cup method, the soil paste is placed in the Casagrande cup, and a groove is
made at the center of it (see procedure below). The limit is defined as the moisture content, in
percent, required to close a distance of 0.5 inches along the bottom of a groove after 25 blows
in a liquid limit device. It is difficult to adjust the moisture content in the soil to meet the
required 12.5 mm (0.5 in.) closure of the groove in the soil pat at 25 blows. Hence, at least three
tests for the same soil are conducted at varying moisture contents, with the number of blows, N,
varying between 15 and 35.
The test procedure to find the Liquid Limit of soil consists of the following steps
1. 2. 3.
Procedures:
1. Place a soil paste in the cup.
2. Cut a groove at the center of the soil paste with the standard grooving tool.
3. Lift the cup and drop it from a height of 10mm, using the crank-operated cam. Measure the
water content required to close a distance of 12.7mm along the bottom of the groove and note
down the number of blows.
4. Repeat the procedure at least three times for the same soil at varying moisture contents.
5. Plot the moisture content of the soil, in percent, and the corresponding number of blows on
semi-logarithmic graph. Draw the best-fit straight line through the plotted points.
6. The moisture content corresponding to N 25, determined from the curve, is the liquid limit of
the soil.
Graph of the test results

The plastic limit (PL)
The percentage moisture content at which a soil changes with decreasing wetness from the
plastic to the semi- solid consistency or with increasing wetness from the semi-solid to the
plastic consistency.
The plastic limit is the lower limit of the plastic state. A small increase in moisture above the
plastic limit will destroy the cohesion* of the soil.
The difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit is known as the plasticity index (PI),
and it is in this range of water content that the soil has a plastic consistency. The consistency of
most soils in the field will be plastic or semi-solid.

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Continuation…

Relative density, Id= emax-eemax-emin

e = void ratio of coarse-grained soil (cohesionless) in its densest state.

Field test for plasticity of wet soil

0 Non-plastic, if no wire can be formed;

Determination of moist-soil consistency

0 Loose, if the soil is non-coherent (single-grain structure);

2. Friable, if the soil crushes easily under gentle to moderate pressure;

Determination of dry-soil consistency

0 Loose, if the soil is non-coherent (single-grain structure):

Determination of soil consistency using the Atterberg Limits

Theliquid limit (LL)

Graph of the test results

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