Geotechnical Engineering 1

T-CEET316
The Lasallian Prayer

“Let us remember
that we are in the holy presence of God.”

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 2

Ang Panalanging Lasalyano

“Ating alalahanin
na ang Diyos ay ating kapiling.”

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 3

Gospel

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 4

The Lasallian Prayer

“I will continue, O my God,

to do all my actions for the love of Thee.”

Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 5

Ang Panalanging Lasalyano

“Ipagpapatuloy ko, O Diyos,

ang lahat ng aking gawain
upang Ikaw ay lalong pakaibigin.”

San Juan Bautista de La Salle, ipanalangin mo kami.

Hesus, manahan ka sa aming puso, magpakailanman.

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 6

Grain Size
Soils generally are called gravel, sand, silt, or clay, depending on the
predominant size of particles within the soil.

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 Soil Particle Size
• Sizes of particles that make up soil vary over a wide range. Soils generally are
called gravel, sand, silt, or clay, depending on the predominant size of particles
within the soil.
• To describe soils by their particle size, several organizations have developed
particle-size classifications.

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 Soil Particle Size

• Gravels are pieces of rocks with occasional particles of quartz,

feldspar, and other minerals.
• Sand particles are made of mostly quartz and feldspar. Other
mineral grains also may be present at times.
• Silts are the microscopic soil fractions that consist of very fine
quartz grains and some flake-shaped particles that are
fragments of micaceous minerals.

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 Soil Particle Size

• Clays are mostly flake-shaped microscopic and

submicroscopic particles of mica, clay minerals, and other
minerals.
• Particles classified as clay on the basis of their size may not
necessarily contain clay minerals. Clays have been defined as
those particles “which develop plasticity when mixed with a
limited amount of water” (Grim, 1953). (Plasticity is the putty-
like property of clays that contain a certain amount of water.)

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 Specific Gravity (Gs)
• Specific gravity is defined as the
ratio of the unit weight of a given
material to the unit weight of water.
• Commonly used value of unit weight
(specific weight) of water is at 4°C,
which is 9.807 kN/m3 or
62.43 lbf/ft3
• The specific gravity of soil solids is
often needed for various
calculations in soil mechanics. It can
be obtained accurately in the
laboratory.
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 Mechanical Analysis of Soil

• Mechanical analysis is the determination of the size range of

particles present in a soil, expressed as a percentage of the
total dry weight.
• Two methods generally are used to find the particle-size
distribution of soil:
• (1) sieve analysis—for particle sizes larger than 0.075 mm in
diameter, and
• (2) hydrometer analysis—for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm in
diameter.

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 Sieve analysis
Sieve analysis consists of shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have
progressively smaller openings. U.S. standard sieve numbers and the sizes of
openings are given in the table shown.

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 Sieve analysis
1. Determine the mass of soil retained on each sieve (i.e., M1, M2, … Mn) and in the
pan (i.e., Mp).
2. Determine the total mass of the soil: M1 +M2 + …+ Mi + … +Mn + Mp= ΣM
3. Determine the cumulative mass of soil retained above each sieve. For the ith
sieve, it is M1 + M2 + … + Mi.
4. The mass of soil passing the ith sieve is Σ M - (M1 + M2 + … + Mi).
5. The percent of soil passing the ith sieve (or percent finer) is
σ 𝑀 − (𝑀1 + 𝑀2 + ⋯ + 𝑀𝑖 )
𝐹= 𝑥100
σ𝑀

Once the percent finer for each sieve is calculated (step 5), the calculations are
plotted on semilogarithmic graph paper.

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 Particle-size distribution curve

A particle-size distribution curve can be characterized by the following parameters:

1. Effective size (𝐷10 ): This parameter is the diameter in the particle-size distribution
curve corresponding to 10% finer. The effective size of a granular soil is a good
measure to estimate the hydraulic conductivity and drainage through soil.
𝐷
2. Uniformity coefficient 𝐶𝑢 : This parameter is defined as 𝐶𝑢 = 60 where 𝐷60 =
𝐷10
diameter corresponding to 60% finer.
• When Cu < 4, the soil contains uniform size.
• Poorly graded soil exhibits almost vertical gradation curve.
• Humps in gradation curve indicate two or more poorly graded soils.
• Cu > 4 describes wider assortment of particle sizes (or well graded).

curve

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 Particle-size distribution curve

A particle-size distribution curve can be characterized by the following parameters:

2
𝐷30
3. Coefficient of gradation 𝐶𝑐 : This parameter is defined as 𝐶𝑐 =
𝐷60 𝑥𝐷10
• Cc for well graded soils typically is between 1 and 3.
• Outside of this range may indicate the absence of certain grain sizes that results to a gap-
graded soil.
4. Sorting coefficient (𝑆𝑜 ): This parameter is another measure of uniformity and is
𝐷75
generally encountered in geologic works and expressed as 𝑆𝑜 =
𝐷25

Curve
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Particle-size distribution curve

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Particle-size distribution curve

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 Particle Shape
The shape of particles present in a soil mass is equally as important as the particle
size distribution because it has significant influence on the physical properties of a
given soil. However, not much attention is paid to particle shape because it is more
difficult to measure. The particle shape generally can be divided into three major
categories:
1. Bulky
2. Flaky
3. Needle shaped

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 Bulky

• Bulky particles are formed mostly by

mechanical weathering of rock and
minerals. Geologists use such terms as
angular, subangular, subrounded, and
rounded to describe the shapes of bulky
particles.
• Small sand particles located close to their
origin are generally very angular.
• Sand particles carried by wind and water
for a long distance can be subangular to
rounded in shape.
• The shape of granular particles in a soil
mass has a great influence on the physical
properties of the soil, such as maximum
and minimum void ratios, shear strength
parameters, compressibility, etc.

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 Flaky and Needle-shaped
• Flaky particles have very low
sphericity— usually 0.01 or less.
These particles are predominantly
clay minerals.
• Needle-shaped particles are
much less common than the
other two particle types.
Examples of soils containing
needle-shaped particles are some
coral deposits and attapulgite
clays.
Scanning electron micrograph showing basal cleavage of individual mica
grains (Courtesy of David J. White, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa)

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 Flaky and Needle-shaped
• Flaky particles have very low
sphericity— usually 0.01 or less.
These particles are predominantly
clay minerals.
• Needle-shaped particles are
much less common than the
other two particle types.
Examples of soils containing
needle-shaped particles are some
coral deposits and attapulgite
clays.
Khalaf, Fikry & Alshuaibi, Arafat. (2012). Occurrence and characteristics of
Quaternary calcareous microbialitic crust in the southern desert of Kuwait,
Arabian Gulf. Journal of Arid Environments. 79. 48–55.
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.12.005.

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Sample Problem 1
 Solution

σ𝑀 −𝐶𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

Percent Finer = 𝑥 100
σ𝑀
From the data obtained in the table, the particle-size distribution
curve is formed in Figure 2.30.
Solution
Sample Problem 2
Solution
Solution
Sample Problem 3
Solution
 Sample problem 4 (See video solution)
A 650 grams of soil sample is tested to calculate its particle size
distribution. The result are as follows:
Sieve no. 9.53mm (3/8”) 4 10 20 40 100 200 Pan

Opening (mm) 9.53 4.75 2 0.85 0.425 0.15 0.075

Mass retained (grams) 0 53 76 73 142 85 120.5 99.8

Determine
(a) the amount of course-grained and fine-grained soils, and
(b) plot the particle grain size distribution.

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Sample problem 4 (solution)

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 Sample problem 4 (solution)
Sieve no. Opening (mm) Mass % retained 𝚺 %retained % finer
retained(grams)
9.53 mm (3/8”) 9.53 0

4 4.75 53

10 2.00 76

20 0.85 73

40 0.425 142

100 0.15 85.4

200 0.075 120.5

Pan 99.8

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 Sample problem 4 (solution)
Sieve no. Opening (mm) Mass % retained
retained(grams)
9.53 mm (3/8”) 9.53 0

4 4.75 53

10 2.00 76

20 0.85 73

40 0.425 142

100 0.15 85.4

200 0.075 120.5

Pan 99.8

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 Sample problem 4 (solution)
Sieve no. Opening (mm) Mass % retained 𝚺 %retained
retained(grams)

9.53 mm (3/8”) 9.53 0 0

4 4.75 53 8.16
10 2.00 76 11.70
20 0.85 73 11.24
40 0.425 142 21.86
100 0.15 85.4 13.14
200 0.075 120.5 18.55
Pan 99.8 15.36

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 Sample problem 4 (solution)
Sieve no. Opening Mass % 𝚺 %retained % finer
(mm) retained(grams) retained
9.53 mm (3/8”) 9.53 0 0 0

4 4.75 53 8.16 8.16

10 2.00 76 11.70 19.86

20 0.85 73 11.24 31.10

40 0.425 142 21.86 52.96

100 0.15 85.4 13.14 66.10

200 0.075 120.5 18.55 84.65

Pan 99.8 15.36 100.01

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 Sample problem 4 (solution)
Sieve no. Opening Mass % 𝚺 %retained % finer
(mm) retained(grams) retained
9.53 mm (3/8”) 9.53 0 0 0 100

4 4.75 53 8.16 8.16 91.84

10 2.00 76 11.70 19.86 80.14

20 0.85 73 11.24 31.10 68.90

40 0.425 142 21.86 52.96 47.04

100 0.15 85.4 13.14 66.10 33.90

200 0.075 120.5 18.55 84.65 15.35

Pan 99.8 15.36 100.01

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 Sample problem 5
500 grams coarse grained material was sieved in the laboratory that yielded that following
result
Sieve no. Opening (mm) Mass retained (grams)
4 4.75 0
10 2.00 14.8
20 0.85 98
40 0.425 90.1
100 0.15 181.9
200 0.075 108.8
Pan 6.1
(a) Plot the particle-size distribution curve.
(b) Determine (1) the effective size, (2) the uniformity coefficient, and (3) the coefficient of
curvature.

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Sample problem 5 (solution)

Mass retained % retained

Sieve no. Opening (mm)
(grams)
4 4.75 0
10 2.00 14.8
20 0.85 98
40 0.425 90.1
100 0.15 181.9
200 0.075 108.8
Pan 6.1

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Sample problem 5 (solution)
Mass retained % 𝚺%
Sieve no. Opening (mm) Retained Retained
(grams)
4 4.75 0 0

10 2.00 14.8 2.96

20 0.85 98 19.61

40 0.425 90.1 18.03

100 0.15 181.9 36.40

200 0.075 108.8 21.77

Pan 6.1 1.22

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 Sample problem 5 (solution)
Opening Mass retained % Retained 𝚺 % % Finer
Sieve no.
(mm) (grams) Retained
4 4.75 0 0 0

10 2.00 14.8 2.96 2.96

20 0.85 98 19.61 22.57

40 0.425 90.1 18.03 40.60

100 0.15 181.9 36.40 77.00

200 0.075 108.8 21.77 98.77

Pan 6.1 1.22 99.99

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 Sample problem 5 (solution)
Opening Mass retained % Retained 𝚺 % % Finer
Sieve no.
(mm) (grams) Retained
4 4.75 0 0 0 100

10 2.00 14.8 2.96 2.96 97.04

20 0.85 98 19.61 22.57 77.43

40 0.425 90.1 18.03 40.60 59.40

100 0.15 181.9 36.40 77.00 23.00

200 0.075 108.8 21.77 98.77 1.23

Pan 6.1 1.22 99.99

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 END OF PRESENTATION

ONE HEART.
ONE COMMITMENT.
ONE LIFE.
1719 – 2019
#300LaSalle

Prepared
26 Augustby:
2022
Engr. Joshua Hernandez 45
The Lasallian Prayer

“Let us remember
that we are in the holy presence of God.”

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 46

The Lasallian Prayer

“I will continue, O my God,

to do all my actions for the love of Thee.”

Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

26 August 2022 Prepared by: Engr. Jeric Sarte 47