CE 412  

–  Geotechnical
 Geotechnical Engineering I (Soil Mechanics)

Quiz No. 2 Properties of Soil

Name : Answer Key Student No. :

Course &Sec : Rating :

Solve the following problems and kindly show your solution.

1. An undisturbed sample of fine sand is tested in the laboratory and found to

have a dry mass of 3.63 kg, a total volume of 0.00198 m 3 and a specific
gravity of 2.70. Other laboratory tests are performed to determine the
maximum and minimum density of the sand. At the maximum density, it is
determined that the void ratio is 0.35, at the minimum density, the void
ratio is 0.95. Compute the:
a. void ratio of the sand

W
 γ = V = Vmg
3.63 kg 9.81 s 
  

 γ = 0.00198 m
 γ =17.985 kN⁄m

 γ = 1 +G e γw
2.70
17.985 ⁄m = 1 + e 9.81 kN⁄m
kN
=.

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 b. relative density of the undisturbed sample
ea − e ×100%
Dr = ea − en
0.95−0.473
Dr = 0.95−0.35 ×100%
 =.%
c. dry density
m
ρ = V
3.63 kg
ρ = 0.00198 m
 =,. ⁄

2. A soil excavated from a borrow pit has an in-place dry unit weight of
18.59 kN/m3. In the laboratory, the values of dry maximum and minimum
unit weights are 20.60 kN/m3 and 14.13 kN/m3 respectively. Compute the:
a. relative density of the soil sample

1⁄ γ − 1⁄ γ
Dr = 1⁄ − 1⁄ ×100%
 γ  γ
1⁄14.13 − 1⁄18.59
Dr = 1⁄ − 1⁄ ×100%
14.13 20.60
 =.%

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 ea =0.92 and en =0.28
b. void ratio in the natural condition if
e a − e
Dr = ea − en ×100%
0.92−e
76.39%= 0.92−0.28 ×100%
=.
c. specific gravity of the soil

G
 γ = 1 + e γw
G
18.59 ⁄m = 1+0.431 9.81 kN⁄m
kN
=.
3. A soil at a constant moisture content shows the following when compacted 

   ,%     , ⁄

40
14.50
70
17.89
Determine the:

a. specific gravity of soil

GMC=Se
GMC
e= S

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 G
 γ = 1 + e γw
G
 γ = 1 +  γw

GMC
 γwG = γ 1 + S 
GMC
 γwG=14.501+ 0.40  ⟶ Eq.1
 γwG=17.891+ GMC 0.70  ⟶ Eq.2

Eq.1=Eq.2
GMC GMC
14.501+ 0.40 =17.891+ 0.70 
14.50+36.25GMC=17.89+25.56GMC
10.69GMC=3.39
GMC=0.317

 γ = 1 +G γw

G
14.50 ⁄m = 1 + . 9.81 kN⁄m
kN
.
=.

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 b. moisture content of soil

GMC=0.317
2.65MC=0.317
MC=0.1197
=.%
c. void ratio of the17.89 kN⁄m soil
 γ = 1 +G γw

2.65
14.50 ⁄m = 1 + e 9.81 kN⁄m
kN
=.
4. A saturated soil used to determine the shrinkage limit has an initial volume
V =20.2cm
 , final volume V =14.3cm , mass of wet soil  m = 34 g
and mass of dry soil  m = 24 g. Determine the:
a. shrinkage limit

m − m V
SL = m − m  ρw
   − V
34 g − 24 g 20.2 cm  − 14.3 cm g
SL = 24 g − 24 g (1 ⁄cc)
=.%
b. shrinkage ratio

1 m
SR = ρw V
24 g
SR = (1 g⁄ )14.3 cm
cc
=.
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 c. specific gravity of soil

G =  −1 
 
G =  −1 .
. 
=.
5. From the table shows the summary of a liquid limit and plastic limit test.

Compute the:

a. liquid limit

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

Soil Wt. of wet Wt. of dry Water  No. of

Sample soil (kg) soil (kg) Content (%) Blows (N)
A 9.50 6.70 41.79 28
B 7.95 5.54 43.50 20
C 8.21 5.69 44.29 18
D 12.85 8.83 45.53 13

Using Calculator Technique:

[Mode][3][4]
x y
1  28 41.79  Note: ⏞y = [Shift][1][5][5]
2 20 43.50 [A]
Liquid Limit,LL = 25 ⏞y
=.%
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 b.  plastic limit

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

Wt. of wet soil Wt. of dry soil Water content

Soil Sample (kg) (kg) (%)
1 9.05 7.35 29.13
2 8.66 7.01 23.54

ω
PL=MCav = 2 
 + ω
PL = 29.13%+23.54%
2
=.%
c. natural water content

NATURAL WATER CONTENT

Wt. of wet soil Wt. of dry soil Water content

Soil Sample (%)
(kg) (kg)
1 9.69 7.00 38.43
2 9.47 6.86 38.05

MCav = ω +2 ω
MCav = 38.43%+38.05%
2
 =.%

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 d.  plasticity index

PI=LL−PL
PI=42.37%−23.33%
=.
e. liquidity index

MC−PL
LI = LL−PL
38.24%−23.33%
LI = 42.37%−23.33%
=.
6. Given the tabulated data for an Atterberg Limit Test.

Compute the:

a. liquid limit

LIQUID LIMIT

Test
1 2 3 4
 Number
 No. of blows 39 30 23 12
Wt. of wet soil +
22.4 g 21.19 g 21.27 g 26.12 g
container
Wt. of dry soil +
20.10 g 19.28 g 19.25 g 22.60 g
container
Wt. of container 12.74 g 13.24 g 13.06 g 13.27 g
Water content 31.25% 31.62% 32.63% 37.73%

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 Using Calculator Technique:

[Mode][3][4]
x y
1  23 32.63  Note: ⏞y = [Shift][1][5][5]
2 30 31.62 [A]
Liquid Limit,LL = 25 ⏞y
=.%

b.  plastic limit

PLASTIC LIMIT

Test Number 1 2
Wt. of wet soil + container 22.12 g 21.84 g
Wt. of dry soil + container 20.42 g 20.19 g
Wt. of container 13.07 g 13.18 g
Water content 23.13% 23.54%

ω
PL=MCav = 2 
 + ω
PL = 23.13%+23.54%
2
=.%

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 c. natural water content

NATURAL WATER CONTENT

Test Number 1 2

Wt. of wet soil + container 17.53 g 16.97 g

Wt. of dry soil + container 14.84 g 14.36 g
Wt. of container 7.84 g 7.50 g
Water content 38.43% 38.05%

ω
MCav = 2 
 + ω
MCav = 38.43%+38.05%
2
 =.%
d.  plasticity index

PI=LL−PL
PI=32.32%−23.33%
=.
e. liquidity index

MC−PL
LI = LL−PL
38.24%−23.33%
LI = 32.32%−23.33%
=.

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