Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, SI Edition 9th edition by Braja

M. Das, Khaled Sobhan Solution Manual

Chapter 2. Origins of Soil and Grain Size Chapter 2

2
D60 0.48 D30 0.25 2
2.1 Cu = = = 4.36 ; Cc = = = 1.18
D10 0.11 ( D60 )( D10 ) ( 0.48)( 0.11)

Since Cu > 4 and Cc is between 1 and 3, the soil is well graded.

2
D60 1 .1 D30 0.412
2.2 Cu = = = 6.11 ; Cc = = = 0.727 ≈ 0.73
D10 0.18 ( D60 )( D10 ) (1.1)( 0.18)

Although Cu > 6, Cc is not between 1 and 3. The soil is poorly graded.

2.3 The D10, D30, and D60 for soils A, B, and C are obtained from the grain-size
distribution curves.

2
D60 3.5 D30 1.95 2
Soil A: Cu = = = 17.5 ; Cc = = = 5.43
D10 0.2 ( D60 )( D10 ) (3.5)(0.2)

Although Cu > 6, Cc is not between 1 and 3. The sand is poorly graded.

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 2
D60 1 .5 D30 0.75 2
Soil B: Cu = = = 8.82 ; Cc = = = 2.2
D10 0 .17 ( D60 )( D10 ) (1.5)(0.17)

Cu > 6 and Cc is between 1 and 3. The sand is well graded.

D60 0.55 D302 0.22 2

Soil C: Cu = = = 17.2; Cc = = = 2.75
D10 0.032 ( D60 )( D10 ) (0.55)(0.032)

Cu > 6, and Cc is between 1 and 3. The sand is well graded.

2.4 a.
Sieve Mass of soil retained Percent retained Percent
No. on each sieve (g) on each sieve finer
4 0.0 0.0 100.0
10 18.5 4.4 95.6
20 53.2 12.6 83.0
40 90.5 21.5 61.5
60 81.8 19.4 42.1
100 92.2 21.9 20.2
200 58.5 13.9 6.3
Pan 26.5 6.3 0
∑ 421.2 g

The grain-size distribution is shown in the figure.

b. D60 = 0.4 mm; D30 = 0.2 mm; D10 = 0.095 mm

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 D60 0.4
c. Cu = = = 4.21
D10 0.095

( D30 )2 ( 0 .2 ) 2
d. Cc = = = 1.05
( D10 )( D60 ) (0.4)(0.095)

2.5 a.
Sieve Mass of soil retained Percent retained Percent
No. on each sieve (g) on each sieve finer
4 0 0.0 100
6 30 6.0 94.0
10 48.7 9.74 84.26
20 127.3 25.46 58.80
40 96.8 19.36 39.44
60 76.6 15.32 24.12
100 55.2 11.04 13.08
200 43.4 8.68 4.40
Pan 22 4.40 0
∑ 500 g

The grain-size distribution is shown in the figure.

b. D10 = 0.13 mm; D30 = 0.3 mm; D60 = 0.9 mm

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 D60 0 .9
c. Cu = = = 6.923 ≈ 6.92
D10 0.13

2
D30 0.32
d. Cc = = = 0.769 ≈ 0.77
( D60 )( D10 ) (0.9)(0.13)

2.6 a.
Sieve Mass of soil retained Percent retained Percent
No. on each sieve (g) on each sieve finer
4 0 0 100
10 44 7.99 92.01
20 56 10.16 81.85
40 82 14.88 66.97
60 51 9.26 57.71
80 106 19.24 38.47
100 92 16.70 21.77
200 85 15.43 6.34
Pan 35 5.34 0
∑ 551 g

The grain-size distribution is shown in the figure.

b. D60 = 0.28 mm; D30 = 0.17 mm; D10 = 0.095 mm

0.28
c. Cu = = 2.95
0.095

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 (0.17)2
d. Cc = = 1.09
(0.095)(0.28)

2.7 a.
Sieve Mass of soil retained Percent retained Percent
No. on each sieve (g) on each sieve finer
4 0 0.0 100
6 0 0.0 100
10 0 0.0 100
20 9.1 1.82 98.18
40 249.4 49.88 48.3
60 179.8 35.96 12.34
100 22.7 4.54 7.8
200 15.5 3.1 4.7
Pan 23.5 4.7 0
∑ 500 g

The grain-size distribution is shown in the figure.

b. D10 = 0.21 mm; D30 = 0.39 mm; D60 = 0.45 mm

D60 0.45
c. Cu = = = 2.142 ≈ 2.14
D10 0.21

2
D30 0.392
d. Cc = = = 1.609 ≈ 1.61
( D60 )( D10 ) (0.45)(0.21)

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2.8 a. The grain-size distribution curve is shown in the figure

100

80

Finer
Percent finer
60

Percent

40

20

0
1 0.1 0.01 0.001
Grain
GrainSize (mm)
size (mm)

b. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.06 mm = 84 SAND: 100 – 84 = 16%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 11 SILT: 84 – 11 = 73%
CLAY: 11 – 0 = 11%

c. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.05 mm = 80 SAND: 100 – 80 = 20%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 11 SILT: 80 – 11 = 69%
CLAY: 11 – 0 = 11%

d. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.075 mm = 90 SAND: 100 – 90 = 10%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 11 SILT: 90 – 11 = 79%
CLAY: 11 – 0 = 11%

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2.9 a. The grain-size distribution curve is shown in the figure.

100

80

Percent Finer
finer
60

Percent

40

20

0
1 0.1 0.01 0.001
Grain
GrainSize
size (mm)
(mm)

b. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.06 mm = 73 SAND: 100 – 73 = 27%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 9 SILT: 73 – 9 = 64%
CLAY: 9 – 0 = 9%

c. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.05 mm = 68 SAND: 100 – 68 = 32%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 9 SILT: 68 – 9 = 59%
CLAY: 9 – 0 = 9%

d. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.075 mm = 80 SAND: 100 – 80 = 20%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 9 SILT: 80 – 9 = 71%
CLAY: 9 – 0 = 9%

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2.10 a. The grain-size distribution curve is shown in the figure.

100

80

Percent Finer
60

40

20

0
1 0.1 0.01 0.001
Grain
GrainSize
size(mm)
(mm)

b. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.06 mm = 30 SAND: 100 – 30 = 70%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 5 SILT: 30 – 5 = 25%
CLAY: 5 – 0 = 5%

c. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.05 mm = 28 SAND: 100 – 28 = 72%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 5 SILT: 28 – 5 = 23%
CLAY: 5 – 0 = 5%

d. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.075 mm = 34 SAND: 100 – 34 = 66%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 5 SILT: 34 – 5 = 29%
CLAY: 5 – 0 = 5%

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2.11 a. The grain-size distribution curve is shown in the figure.

100

80

Percent Finer
60

40

20

0
1 0.1 0.01 0.001
Grain
GrainSize
size (mm)
(mm)

b. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.06 mm = 65 SAND: 100 – 65 = 35%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 35 SILT: 65 – 35 = 30%
CLAY: 35 – 0 = 35%

c. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.05 mm = 62 SAND: 100 – 62 = 38%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 35 SILT: 62 – 35 = 27%
CLAY: 35 – 0 = 35%

d. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.075 mm = 70 SAND: 100 – 70 = 30%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 35 SILT: 70 – 35 = 35%
CLAY: 35 – 0 = 35%

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2.12 a. The grain-size distribution curve is shown in the figure.

100

80

Percent Finer 60

40

20
1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001
Grain
Grain Size (mm)
size (mm)

b. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.06 mm = 96 SAND: 100 – 96 = 4%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 42 SILT: 96 – 42 = 54%
CLAY: 42 – 0 = 42%

c. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.05 mm = 95 SAND: 100 – 95 = 5%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 42 SILT: 95 – 42 = 53%
CLAY: 42 – 0 = 42%

d. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.075 mm = 97 SAND: 100 – 97 = 3%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 42 SILT: 97 – 42 = 55%
CLAY: 42 – 0 = 42%

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2.13 a. The grain-size distribution curve is shown below.

100

80

Percent Finer
60

40

20

0
1 0.1 0.01 0.001
Grain
Grain Size (mm)
size (mm)

b. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.06 mm = 84 SAND: 100 – 84 = 16%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 28 SILT: 84 – 28 = 56%
CLAY: 28 – 0 = 28%

c. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.05 mm = 83 SAND: 100 – 83 = 17%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 28 SILT: 83 – 28 = 55%
CLAY: 28 – 0 = 28%

d. Percent passing 2 mm = 100 GRAVEL: 100 – 100 = 0%

Percent passing 0.075 mm = 90 SAND: 100 – 90 = 10%
Percent passing 0.002 mm = 28 SILT: 90 – 28 = 62%
CLAY: 28 – 0 = 28%

2.14 Gs = 2.65; temperature = 26°; time = 45 min.; L = 10.4 cm.

L (cm)
Eq. (2.6): D (mm) = K
t (min)

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 From Table 2.9 for Gs = 2.65 and temperature = 26°, K = 0.01272

10.4
D = 0.01272 = 0.006 mm
45

2.15 Gs = 2.75; temperature = 21°C; time = 88 min.; L = 11.7 cm

L (cm)
Eq. (2.6): D (mm) = K
t (min)

From Table 2.6 for Gs = 2.75 and temperature = 21°, K = 0.01309

11.7
D = 0.01309 = 0.0047 mm
88

CRITICAL THINKING PROBLEMS

2
D60 11 D30 52
2.C.1 a. Soil A: Cu = = = 18.33; Cc = = = 3.78
D10 0.6 ( D60 )( D10 ) (11)(0.6)

2
D60 7 D30 2.12
Soil B: Cu = = = 35; Cc = = = 3.15
D10 0.2 ( D60 )( D10 ) (7)(0.2)

2
D60 4.5 D30 12
Soil C: Cu = = = 30; Cc = = = 1.48
D10 0.15 ( D60 )( D10 ) (4.5)(0.15)

b. Soil A is coarser than Soil C. A higher percentage of soil C is finer than any
given size compared to Soil A. For example, about 15% is finer than 1 mm for
Soil A, whereas almost 30% is finer than 1 mm in case of Soil C.

c. Particle segregation may take place in aggregate stockpiles such that there is a
separation of coarser and finer particles. This makes representative sampling
difficult. Therefore, Soils A, B, and C demonstrate quite different particle size
distribution.

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 d. Soil A
Percent passing 4.75 mm = 29 GRAVEL: 100 − 29 = 71%
Percent passing 0.075 mm = 1 SAND: 29 − 1 = 28%
FINES: 1− 0 = 1%

Soil B
Percent passing 4.75 mm = 45 GRAVEL: 100 – 45 = 55%
Percent passing 0.075 mm = 2 SAND: 45 − 2 = 43%
FINES: 2 − 0 = 2%

Soil C
Percent passing 4.75 mm = 53 GRAVEL: 100 – 53 = 47%
Percent passing 0.075 mm = 3 SAND: 53 − 3 = 50%
FINES: 3 − 0 = 3%

2.C.2 a. Total mass in the ternary mix = 8000 × 3 = 24,000 kg

8,000
Percent of each soil in the mix = × 100 = 33.33%
24,000

Mass of each soil used in the sieve analysis, ∑ mA = ∑ mB = ∑ mC = 500 g

If a sieve analysis is conducted on the ternary mix using the same set of
sieves, the percent of mass retained on each sieve, mM (%), can be computed
as follows:

 m   m  m 
mM (%) = 0.333 A × 100  + 0.333 B × 100  + 0.333 C × 100 
 500   500   500 

The calculated values are shown in the following table.

Sieve Mass retained Percent

size mA mB mC mM passing for
(mm) (g) (g) (g) (%) the mixture
25.0 0.0 0 0 0.0 100
19.0 60 10 30 6.66 93.34
12.7 130 75 75 18.65 74.69
9.5 65 80 45 12.65 62.04
4.75 100 165 90 23.64 38.4
2.36 50 25 65 9.32 29.08
0.6 40 60 75 11.65 17.43
0.075 50 70 105 14.98 2.45
Pan 5 15 15 2.33 ≈0

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 b. The grain-size distribution curve for the mixture is drawn below.

Grain size (mm)

From the curve, D10 = 0.21; D30 = 2.5; D60 = 9.0

D60 9.0 D302 2.52

Cu = = = 42.85; Cc = = = 3.31
D10 0.21 ( D60 )( D10 ) (9.0)(0.21)

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