Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (council) Soil Types and Classification

Indra Lal Subedi

• Soil is defined as an assemblage of discrete solid particles of organic or inorganic
composition.
• Soil are formed by weathering of rocks (mechanical disintegration or Chemical
decomposition).
• Soils resulting from disintegration of rock may stay at the place of their formation,
known as residual soil or sedentary soil.
• If the soil are carried away by forces of gravity, water, wind and ice and deposited at
another location, they are known as transported soil.

Prepared By:
Fig: Geological Cycle (K. R. Arora, “Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering,” Standard Publishers Distributors, Delhi, 2008)

Transported soil are further classified based on mode of transportation and place of Three Phase System of Soil
deposition:
 Glacial Soil or (Till) or (Drift): Soils that are transported by glaciers.  Soil consists of solid, liquid (water) and air. Hence, soil is said to be three phase system.
 Aeoline deposit or Loess: Soil deposited formed by wind.  Water and air space fills up the voids in the solid. Hence, water and air together
constitute void space.
 Alluvial deposit: Soil deposits formed by rivers and streams.
 Dry Soil: Voids contains no water ( i.e., only air is in the voids)
 Marine Deposit: Soil deposit formed by sea water.
 Saturated Soil: Voids contain no air (i.e., only water in the voids)
 Lacustrine deposit: Soil deposit in lake beds.
 Colluvial (Talus): Soil that are transported by gravity.
Volumetric Relationship:
𝑉𝑣 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠)
 Voids Ratio ( e ) = ; (can be > 1)
𝑉𝑠 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠)
• Generally, e for (coarse grained soil < fine grained soil).
𝑉𝑣 (𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠)
➢ Porosity ( n ) =
𝑉 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
➢ Expressed as percentage (0  n  100)
Relation:
𝟏 𝑽 𝑽𝒔 +𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝒔 𝟏 𝟏+𝒆 𝒆
= = =𝟏+ =𝟏+ = Hence, 𝒏 =
𝒏 𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝑽 𝒆 𝒆 𝟏+𝒆

Fig: Transported soil (Alluvial) [Source: constructor.org]

 Degree of Saturation: (S or Sr)  Unit Weight () of soil is its weight per unit volume.
𝑉𝑤 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 (𝑾) 𝑾𝒔 +𝑾𝒘 𝑾𝒔 +𝑾𝒘
 𝑆=
𝑉𝑣
× 100% =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠
× 100%  Bulk Unit Weight ( 𝒐𝒓 𝒕 ) = = = ; (𝒘𝒂 = 𝟎)
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 (𝑽) 𝑽𝒔 +𝑽𝒘 +𝑽𝒂 𝑽𝒔 +𝑽𝒗

 For Fully saturated soil, Vw=Vv ; Hence S=100% or 1.

 For Perfectly Dry Soil, Vw=0 ; Hence S=0 or 0 % 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑾𝒔
 Dry Unit Weight (𝒅 ) = =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝑽
 For Partially Saturated Soil (General Case): 0 ≤ 𝑆 ≤ 100
 Dry unit weight indicates denseness of soil. Higher the dry density, more dense is the soil.
 Air Content (ac)
𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠
 𝑎𝑐 = = =1−𝑆
𝑉𝑣 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 (𝑾𝒔𝒂𝒕 )
 Saturated Unit Weight (𝒔𝒂𝒕 ) =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍
 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑆 = 1
 It is Bulk Unit Weight when the sample is fully saturated.
 Percentage Air Voids (na)
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑉𝑎
 𝑛𝑎 = = 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑾𝒔𝒖𝒃
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑉
 Submerged Unit Weight (𝒔𝒖𝒃 𝒐𝒓 ′ = =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝑽
 Relation:
𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑣  When a soil mass is submerged below GWT, a buoyant force acts on the soil solids which
 𝑛𝑎 = = × = 𝑎𝑐 × 𝑛  𝒏𝒂 =n 𝒂𝒄 is equal in magnitude to the weight of water displaced by the solids.
𝑉 𝑉𝑣 𝑉

 Water Content (w)  Mathematically, (𝒔𝒖𝒃 𝒐𝒓 ′ = 𝒔𝒂𝒕 - 𝒘 ) ; 𝑤 = 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 9.81 kN/m2
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒘
 𝒘= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑾𝒔
𝑾𝒔
 Unit Weight of Solids (𝒔 ) =
 For dry soil, w = 0% 𝑽𝒔

 In General; w  0%;(with no upper limit)

  Specific Gravity (or Specific Gravity of Soil Solids)
MCQ Questions Preparation
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑾𝒔  BDCCDCCD 1. The term Soil Mechanics was coined by:
 𝑮𝑠 = 𝑮 = = = 𝑠 [𝑤 =9.81 kN/m3 or 1 gm/cc] 5. Glacial soils are those soils which are:
𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕 𝟒𝟎 𝑪 𝑽𝒔 𝒘 𝑤 a. Kray
a. Deposited in sea water
b. Karl Tergazhi
 Typical Values of Specific Gravity: b. Deposited in lakes
c. Leygue
c. Transported by running water
d. Fellenius
Soil Types Specific Gravity 2. Pick up the correct sequence of geological cycle of formation of
d. None of these
Clean Sand and Gravel 2.65-2.68 soil?
6. Loess is
a. Transportation-Upheaval-Deposition-Weathering
Silt and Silty Sands 2.66-2.70 a) Over consolidated clay
b. Transportation-Deposition-Weathering- Upheaval
Inorganic Clays 2.70-2.80 b) Fine Sand
c. Weathering- Upheaval- Deposition- Transportation
c) Wind Borne Soil
Soil high in mica, iron 2.75-2.85 d. Weathering-Transportation- Deposition- Upheaval
d) Marine Soil
3. If the soil stays at a place above the parent rock where it is produced,
Organic Soil Quite Variable; May fall below 2.0 then it is called: 7. Soil is considered as
a. Stationary soil a. Single phase system
b. Static Soil b. Two Phase system
c. Residual Soil c. Three Phase System
d. Immobile Soil d. None of the above
4. The soil transported by the running water is called:
8. Soils are derived from:
a. Aeolian soil
a. Igneous rock
b. Marine soil b. Sedimentary rock
c. Alluvial soil c. Metamorphic rock
d. Lacustrine soil d. Any one of these

9. The relation between the air content (aC) and the degree of saturation (s) is :
a. (aC)=s 13. Water content of soil can
BDBC b. (aC)=1-s a. Never be greater than 100%
c. (aC)=1+s b. Take values only from 0% to 100%
d. (aC)=1/s c. Be less than 0%
10. The degree of saturation for fully saturated soil is: d. Be greater than 100%
a. 0.25 14. Valid range for the degree of saturation (S) of soil in percentage is
b. 0.50 a. S  0
c. 0.75 b. S  0
d. 1.00 c. 0  S  100
11. The ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of soil mass is called: d. 0  S  100
a. Water Content 15. Valid range for percentage air voids 𝑛𝑎 is
b. Porosity a. 𝟎 < 𝒏𝒂 < 𝟏𝟎𝟎
c. Void Ratio b. 0 ≤ 𝑛𝑎 ≤ 100
d. Degree of Saturation c. 𝑛𝑎 > 0
d. 𝑛𝑎 ≤ 0
12. The ratio of the unit weight of the soil solids to that of the water is called: 16. Select the correct range of density index (𝐼𝐷 )
a. Void Ratio a. 𝐼𝐷  0
b. Porosity b. 𝐼𝐷  0
c. Specific Gravity c. 0  𝐼𝐷 1
d. Degree of Saturation d. 0  𝑰𝑫  1

17. Residual soils are formed by Some Relationship:

a. Glaciers  Relation between e and n
b. Wind
𝟏 𝑽 𝑽𝒔 +𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝒔 𝟏 𝟏+𝒆 𝒆 𝒏
c. Water  = = =𝟏+ =𝟏+ = Hence, 𝒏 = or 𝒆 =
𝒏 𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝑽 𝒆 𝒆 𝟏+𝒆 𝟏−𝒏
d. None of the above
 Relation between e, w, G and S:
18. When the degree of saturation is zero, the soil mass under consideration represents
𝑊𝑤 𝑤 𝑉𝑤 1 𝑉𝑤 𝑠
a. One phase system  𝑤= = = [G= ]
𝑊𝑠 𝑠 𝑉𝑠 𝐺 𝑉𝑠 𝑤
b. Two phase system with soil and air
1 𝑉 𝑉𝑣 1
c. Two phase system with soil and water = ∗ (𝑤 ∗ ) = ∗𝑆∗𝑒
𝐺 𝑉𝑣 𝑉𝑠 𝐺
d. Three phase system Most remember these formula on Day 02
 Hence: [Se=Gw]
19. When the degree of saturation is one, the soil mass under consideration represents  Relation between 𝒕 , 𝑮, 𝒆, 𝒘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒘 :
a. One phase system
𝑾 𝑾𝒔 +𝑾𝒘 𝑾𝒔 (𝟏+𝑾𝒘ൗ𝑾𝒔 ) 𝑠 (𝟏+𝒘) 𝑮𝒘 (𝟏+𝒘)
b. Two phase system with soil and air  𝒕 = = = = =
𝑽 𝑽𝒔 +𝑽𝒗 𝑽𝒔 (𝟏+𝑽𝒗ൗ𝑽𝒔 ) (𝟏+𝒆) (𝟏+𝒆)
c. Two phase system with soil and water
d. Three phase system 𝐺𝑤 (1+𝑤) 𝐺𝑤 (1+𝑆𝑒/𝐺) 𝑤 (𝐺+𝑆𝑒)
 𝒕 = = =
(1+𝑒) (1+𝑒) (1+𝑒)

20. In wet soil mass, air occupies one-seventh of its volume and Water occupies one- eighth of its volume. What 𝑤 (𝐺+𝑒)
 Saturated Unit Weight (𝒔𝒂𝒕 ) = (1+𝑒)
[Since; S=1]
will be the ratio of volume of voids with respect to the total volume?
a. 0.329 𝐺 𝑤
b. 0.279  Dry Unit Weight (𝒅 ) = [Since; S=0]
(1+𝑒)
c. 0.432
𝑤 (𝐺+𝑒) 𝑤 (𝐺+𝑒−1−𝑒) 𝑤 (𝐺−1)
d. 0.268  Submerged Unit Weight (𝒔𝒖𝒃 𝒐𝒓 ′ = (𝒔𝒂𝒕 - 𝒘 )= (1+𝑒)
- 𝒘 = (1+𝑒)
= (1+𝑒)
 Relation between 𝒕 , 𝒘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒅 :
𝑾 𝑾𝒔 +𝑾𝒘 𝑾𝒔 (𝟏+𝑾𝒘ൗ𝑾𝒔 ) 𝒕
 𝒕 = = = = 𝒅 (𝟏 + 𝒘)  𝒅 =
𝑽 𝑽 𝑽 𝟏+𝒘

 Relation between 𝒅 , 𝑮, 𝒘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒏𝒂

 𝑉 = 𝑽𝒔 + 𝑽𝒘 + 𝑽𝒂
𝑽𝒔 +𝑽𝒘 +𝑽𝒂 𝑽𝒔 𝑽𝒘 𝑽𝒂 𝑽𝒔 𝑽𝒘
 1= = + + = + + 𝒏𝒂
𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
𝑽𝒔 𝑽𝒘 𝑤𝑠 Τ𝐺 𝜔 𝑤𝑤 Τ𝜔 𝑑 𝑤𝑊𝑠 Τ𝜔 𝑑 𝑤 𝑑 𝑑 1
 1- 𝒏𝒂 = + = + = + = + = +𝑤
𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝐺 𝜔 𝑉 𝐺 𝜔 𝜔 𝜔 𝐺
1 1+𝑤𝐺
 (1- 𝒏𝒂 ) 𝜔 = 𝑑 + 𝑤 = 𝑑
𝐺 𝐺

G𝝎 (1− 𝒏𝒂 )
 𝒅 =
𝟏+𝒘𝑮

 Relation between mass specific gravity, 𝑮𝒎 and specific gravity of soil

solids, 𝑮 (at dry condition):
 
 Mass specific gravity (𝐺𝑚 ) = (for dry condition,  = 𝒅 ); So, 𝐺𝑚 = 𝒅
𝒘 𝒘
𝐺𝑤 𝒅 𝐺
 𝒅 = ⇔ =
(1+𝑒) 𝒘 (1+𝑒)
𝑮
𝑮𝒎 =
(𝟏 + 𝒆)

Most remember these formula on Day 02