Soil Mechanics - Chapter 2 Examples
Soil Mechanics - Chapter 2 Examples
Soil Mechanics - Chapter 2 Examples
SOIL MECHANICS
Examples:
Grain Size Distribution
The table are the results of a sieve analysis: U.S. sieve no. Mass of soil
a) Determine the percent finer than each sieve retained (g)
and plot a grain-size distribution curve. 4 0
b) Determine D10, D30, and D60 from the grain- 10 18.5
size distribution curve.
20 53.2
c) Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu.
40 90.5
d) Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.
60 81.8
e) Determine the percentages of gravel, sand,
silt, and clay-size particles using the Unified 100 92.2
Soil Classification System (USCS). 200 58.2
Pan 26.5
Solution 1
𝑀 − 𝑐𝑜𝑙. 4
Particle-size distribution curve × 100
𝑀
Opening Mass retained on Cumulative mass retained Percent
U.S. sieve (mm) each sieve (g) above each sieve (g) Finer
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
4 4.75 0 0 100.0
10 2.00 18.5 0 + 18.5 = 18.5 95.6
20 0.850 53.2 18.5 + 53.2 = 71.7 83.0
40 0.425 90.5 71.7 + 90.5 = 162.2 61.5
60 0.250 81.8 162.2 + 81.8 = 244 42.0
100 0.150 92.2 244 + 92.2 = 336.2 20.1
200 0.075 58.2 336.2 + 58.2 =394.4 6.3
Pan - 26.5 394.4 + 26.5 = 420.9 = ∑M 0.0
Solution 1
Particle-size distribution curve
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
0.41
Percent finer
60.0
50.0
40.0
0.1
30.0
20.0
0.0
10.0
0.0
10 1 0.1 0.01
Particle size (mm)
Solution 1
Uniformity coefficient, Cu
0.41
𝐶𝑢 𝟒. 𝟑
0.0
Coefficient of gradation, Cc
2
0.1 2
𝐶𝑐 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕
× 0.41 × 0.0
Solution 1
Percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay-size particles according to USCS.
Size (mm) Percent finer
76.2 100
4.75 100 100 – 100 = 0% gravel
100 - 6.3 = 93.7% sand
0.075 6.3
6.3 – 0 = 6.3% silt and clay
- 0
Example 2
U.S. Mass of Opening Percent
sieve no. soil (mm) Finer
Repeat Example 2 with the following:
retained (2) (5)
(g)
4 0 4.75 100.0
10 44 2.00 92.0
20 56 0.850 81.9
40 82 0.425 67.0
60 51 0.250 57.7
80 106 0.180 38.5
100 92 0.150 21.8
200 85 0.075 6.4
Pan 35 - 0.0
Solution 2
Particle-size distribution curve
Solution 2
Uniformity coefficient, Cu
0. 3
𝐶𝑢 𝟑. 𝟏𝟓
0.0 3
Coefficient of gradation, Cc
2
0.16 2
𝐶𝑐 𝟏
× 0.0 3 × 0.0 3