10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Dr. AHMAD ALKHDOUR

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Course Code: CIE0367

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Credit Hours: 3

Instructor Information
Instructor Name: Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour
Office No.: Department of Civil Engineering, (Technical Building)

Email: a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo
Office Hours: 12:00 – 13:00 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Building Day Start Time End Time Room No.
Class Times:
Faculty of
Engineering
Monday and Wednesday 12:30 14:00 002 ‫هندسة‬

1
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Course Description: Textbook: Principles of Geotechnical Engineering

Index properties of soils, soil classification, Atterberg limits: liquid and plastic limits,
shrinkage limit, soil permeability, and Water Flow in Soils: one-dimensional and two-
dimensional flow, Soil Compaction, Stress distribution in soils due to surface loads,
Compressibility and Consolidation of Soil, shear strength of soils, and shear strength tests,
Slope stability.

Course Title: Geotechnical engineering

Credit Hour - (3)
[Pre-req. (Strength of Materials(]

The tools and the following will be used to test students' ability to understand the material and the
extent to which they acquire the skills and competencies set out in the learning outcomes:

ASSESSMENT TOOLS %
Quizzes 10
Homework 6
Participation 4
Mid Exam 30
Final Exam 50
TOTAL MARKS 100
3

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

COURSE SYLLABUS
Week Course Topic Notes
 Introduction
Discuss the syllabus, why study the course, and
Week 1  Properties of Soil
General information.
 Origin of soil & Grain Size
Week 2  Consistency of Soil
Week 3  Classification of Soils

 Soil Compaction
Week 4 Midterm Exam
 Field Compaction
 Soil Permeability Laplace's equation of continuity seepage calculation
 Seepage from a flow net and flow nets in anisotropic soil and
Week 5
 Flow Nets in Soil mathematical solution for seepage and seepage
through an earth dam on an Impervious base.
 In Situ Stresses
Week 6
 Stresses in a Soil Mass
Week 7  Compressibility of Soil
Week 8  Shear Strength of Soil
Week 9  Slope stability
Week 10  Final Exam Final Exam 4

2
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Chapter №1

Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering

5

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

The Title:
Soil Mechanics:
Geotechnical Engineering:
The application of the principles of soil and Engineering mechanics to evaluation of the
behavior of earth materials.

Why do we need to study Geotechnical Engineering?

Select proper foundations (Substructures)
1. Shallow Foundation: 4. Design of offshore structures:
Single Footing, Wall Footing, Combined Footing Bridges, Ports & Harbors
Cantilever Footing, Raft Footing. 5. Earthquakes
2. Deep Foundation:
6. Special foundations for dynamic structures
Piles, Sheet Piles.
3. Understand lateral earth parser: 7. Soil Improvements:
Rating Walls, Sheet Piles, Braced cuts, Dams. Buildings, Highway, Railways, Runways,
Bridges. 6
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

3
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

How?
1. Collect qualitative information • Economy
• Past experience
• Geology: soil structure, texture
• Engineering judgment or sense
• Mechanics:
γ = Unit weight
ρ = Density of soil
Gs = Specific gravity of soil solids
𝐰𝐜 = Weight of water
e = Void ratio
n = Porosity
S = Degree of saturation
Es = Modulus of elasticity
μs =Poisson’s ratio of soil
c = Cohesion
ϕ = Angle of internal friction
σ = normal stress
ϵ = Strain
τ = Shear strength
R = Relative compaction. 7
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Rock cycle Bowen’s reaction series

Lower resistance to weathering Crystallization at higher temperature
Sediments Olivine Calcium feldspar

Sedimentary rock Augite

Sodium feldspar

Hornblende

Biotite (black mica)

Orthoclase (potassium feldspar)

Metamorphic rock Igneous rock

Muscovite (white mica)

Higher resistance to weathering Quartz Crystallization at lower temperature

Magma

8
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

4
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

1. On the basis of their mode of origin, rocks can be divided

into three basic types: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic.
3. Soil Aggregate = Σ Soil particles
1. Rocks
4. Soil classification
Igneous Rock Sedimentary Rock Metamorphic
A) Based on origin:
Rock
Residual:
• Residual,
• Saprolite,
Soils are formed by the chemical and mechanical weathering of rocks. • laterite.
2. Rocks
Transported:
Minerals
• Aeolian dune loess
• Alluvial rivers lakes
Crystals
• Colluvial (slopes)
• Glacial (glaciers)
Atoms
• Marine
9
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

B) Based on Size: Based on the size of the particles, soil can be classified as gravel, sand, silt, and clay.

 Particle Size

Soil-separate-size limits by various systems

Grain size (mm)
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) Gravel Sand Silt Clay

> 4.75 4.75 to 0.075 0.075 to 0.001 > 0.001

U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA)
Gravel: pieces of fractured rocks with occasional particles
(AASHTO) of Quartz and Feldspar.

Unified Soil Sand: particles of Quartz and Feldspar.

Classification System
Silt: microscopic particles of Quartz and Feldspar.
100 10 1.0 0.01 0.001
Grain size (mm)
Clay 10
Gravel Sand Silt Silt and clay Clay: Consists of clay minerals.
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

5
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

C. Basic Structural Units Of Clay Minerals → Clay minerals are complex aluminum silicates.
The atomic structures of clay minerals are built up of two basic units:
a) Silica tetrahedral units,
b) Aluminium (or magnesium) octahedral units.
Silica sheet Alumina sheet

Symbol

Atomic
structure

Silicon Aluminum
Oxygen Hydroxyl

Silica Tetrahedron Alumina Octahedron

11
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Clays are flake-shaped microscopic and submicroscopic particles of mica, clay minerals, and other minerals .
From an Engineering point of view, three clay minerals of interest are kaolinite, montmorillonite and illite.

Kaolinite or Kaolin Illite Montmorillonite or Bentonite

Diagram of the
structures

Units

H – bond K+ H2O
Bond hydrogen potassium ions water 12
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

6
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Silica Tetrahedron Silica Sheet

Elemental Silica-Gibbsite Sheet

Alumina Octahedron Octahedral (Gibbsite) Sheet

13
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Atomic structure of Montmorillonite

Atomic structure of Illite

Exchangeable cations nH2O

14
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

7
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Clay Water Clay particles carry a net negative charge on their surfaces. When water is added, a diffuse double layer
of water is developed around the clay particles that is responsible for providing plasticity to clay soils.

Diffuse double layer Attraction of dipolar molecules in diffuse double layer

Oxygen

Hydrogen Hydrogen
105°

Cation
Dipolar water molecule

Concentration of ions
Cations

Anions

Surface of clay particle Clay particle

15
Distance from the clay particle
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Relationships of clay crystals to surface and double layer water.

Typical montmorillonite particle, 1000 Å by 10Å Typical kaolinite particle, 10,000Åby 1000 Å

Double-layer water

Double-layer water

Double-layer water Kaolinite Crystal

Montmorillonite Crystal Adsorbed water

Double-layer water

16
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

8
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Clay Minerals
Particle Kaolinite Illite Montmorillonite
Kaolin Bentonite
Particle size Big Medium Small
Particle sheep Rounded Angular Flaky
Plasticity Low Medium High
Activity Low Medium High
Swelling Low Medium High
Compressibility Low Medium High

Clay mineral Reciprocal of average surface density of charge (Å𝟐 electronic charge)

Kaolinite 25
Clay mica and chlorite 50
Montmorillonite 100
Vermiculite 75
17
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Specific Gravity (Gs)

Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the unit weight of a given material to the unit weight of water.
The specific gravity of soil solids is often needed for various calculations in soil mechanics. It can be determined
accurately in the laboratory.
Table 2.4 Specific Gravity of Common Minerals
shows the specific gravity of some common
minerals found in soils. Most of the values fall within
the range of 2.6 to 2.9. The specific gravity of solids
of light-colored sand, which is mostly made of
quartz, may be estimated to be about 2.65; for
clayey and silty soils, it may vary from 2.6 to 2.9.

18
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

9
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical Analysis of Soil

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

sieve analysis
hydrometer analysis

19
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical Analysis of Soil

To classify soils to Gravel, Sand, Silt and Clay based on particle size - Sieve Analysis

№40 №10
3/4 in
№200
Fine Gravel
Medium-Coarse Sand Medium Gravel
Dry Clay Silt

Figure 2.21 A set of sieves for a test in the laboratory.

20
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

10
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical Analysis of Soil

Sieve analysis consists of shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have progressively smaller openings. The current size
designation for U. S. sieves uses 100 mm to 6.3 mm, and they are listed in Table 2.5.
Table 2.5 U.S. Sieves by Size Designation After the 6.3-mm size designation, a number designation is used, i.e., No. 4 to No. 400.
U.S. Sieves by Size Designation These are shown in Table 2.6.
100.0 mm
Table 2.6 U.S. Sieve Sizes with Number Designation
75.0 mm
Sieve no. Opening (mm) Sieve no. Opening (mm)
63.0 mm
4 4.75 45 0.355
50.0 mm 5 4 50 0.3
6 3.35 60 0.25
45.0 mm
7 2.8 70 0.212
37.5 mm 8 2.36 80 0.18
10 2 100 0.15
31.5 mm
12 1.7 120 0.125
25.0 mm 14 1.4 140 0.106
16 1.18 170 0.09
19.0 mm
18 1 200 0.075
16.0 mm 20 0.85 230 0.063
25 0.71 270 0.053
12.5 mm
30 0.6 325 0.045
9.5 mm 35 0.5 400 0.038
40 0.425
8.0 mm
6.3 mm 21
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical Analysis of Soil

The opening for the (i)th sieve given in Table 2.6 can be approximately given as

Opening for the (i − 1)th sieve

Opening for the (i)th sieve =
(2)0.25

For example,

Opening for the No. 4 sieve 4.75 mm

Opening for the No.5 sieve = = = 3.994 mm ≈ 4.00 mm
(2)0.25 1.1892

Similarly,
Opening for the No. 45 sieve 0.335 mm
Opening for the No.50 sieve = = = 0.2985 mm ≈ 0.300 mm
(2)0.25 1.1892

22
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

11
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical Analysis of Soil

Several other countries have their own sieve sizes that are commonly referred to by their aperture sizes.
As an example, the British and Australian standard sieve sizes that have size designations are given in Tables 2.7 and
2.8, respectively.
Table 2.7 British Standard Sieves Table 2.8 Australian Standard Sieves
British Standard Sieves Australian Standard Sieves
75 mm 75.0 mm
63 mm 63.0 mm
50 mm 37.5 mm
37.5 mm 26.5 mm
28 mm 19.0 mm
20 mm 13.2 mm
14 mm
9.50 mm
10 mm
6.70 mm
6.3 mm
4.75 mm
5.0 mm
2.36 mm
3.35 mm
2 mm 2 mm
1.18 mm 1.18 mm
0.600 mm 0.600 mm
0.425 mm 0.425 mm
0.300 mm 0.300 mm
0.212 mm 0.212 mm
0.15 mm 0.15 mm
23
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo 0.063 mm 0.063 mm

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Origin of Soil and Grain Size LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Saves that should be used ASTM E11 Standards Table - Sieve Sizes (ASTM E11-09e1)
 Sieve №4, Sieve №200 and pan Sieve № Opening (mm) Opening (in) Notes
 At least 5 inducing pan ¾ in 19 0.75 Gravel
 Should be distributed
№4 4.75 0.187
№6 3.35 0.132 Course Sand
Gravel (Sieve № 4 to Sieve № 10)
№8 2.36 0.0937
№10 2.00 0.0787
Sieve №4
№16 1.18 0.0469
4.75 mm
№20 0.85 0.0331
Sand Medium Sand
№30 0.60 0.0234 (Sieve №10 to Sieve №40)

Sieve №200 №40 0.425 0.0165

0.075 mm №50 0.300 0.0117
Silt & Clay №60 0.250 0.0098
№80 0.180 0.0070
Fine Sand
pan №100 0.150 0.0059 (Sieve №40 to Sieve №200)
Errors №140 0.106 0.0041
№170 0.088 0.0035
 Weight not acceptable < weight 3%
№200 0.075 0.0029
№270 0.053 0.0021 24
Silt or Clay < (Sieve №200)
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

12
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Advantages of using size sieve analysis: Sieve no.

1. Knowing of percentage Gravel, Sand, Silt, Clay
10 16 30 40 60 100 200
2. Knowing type of curves well, poor, gap.
3. Determination of 𝐶𝑢 , 𝐶𝑧 , 𝐷10

Percent passing
1. Knowing of percentage Gravel, Sand, Silt, Clay

Gravel
Sand
Silt and clay

Particle size (mm) — log scale

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

25

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Advantages of using sais sieve analyses:

1. Knowing of percentage Gravel, Sand, Silt, Clay
2. Knowing type of curves well, poor, gap.
3. Determination of 𝐶𝑢 , 𝐶𝑧 , 𝐷10

Poorly graded
Percent passing

2. Three Types of Curves:

Well graded
1. Poorly Graded (P) Gap graded

2. Well Graded (W)

3. Gap Graded (G)

Particle size (mm) — log scale

26
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

13
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Advantages of using sais sieve analyses:

1. Knowing of percentage Gravel, Sand, Silt, Clay
2. Knowing type of curves well, poor, gap.
3. Determination of 𝐶𝑢 , 𝐶𝑧 , 𝐷10

Percent passing
3. Determination of 𝐶𝑢 , 𝐶𝑧 , 𝐷10
60
𝐷60
𝐶𝑢 = Uniformity coefficient, 𝐶𝑢 =
𝐷10

(𝐷30 )𝟐 30
𝐶𝑧 = Coefficient of gradation, 𝐶𝑍 =
(𝐷60 ) × (𝐷10 )
10
𝐷10 = Effective size
𝐷60 𝐷30 𝐷10
Particle size (mm) — log scale

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

27

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Example.1 - A sample of a dry coarse-grained material of mass 730 grams was shaken through a nest of sieves
and the following results were obtained: Make the necessary calculations and draw a particle-size distribution curve

Solution: The following table can now be prepared.

Sieve №, №(1) Opening, mm. №(2) mass retained on sieve (g) .№(3) Cumulative Mass retained above each sieve (g). №(4) Percent finer

4 4.75 0 0 100

10 2.00 40 0 + 40= 40 94.5

20 0.85 60 40 + 60= 100 86.3

40 0.425 89 100 + 89= 189 74.1
60 0.25 140 189 + 140 = 329 54.9

80 0.18 122 329 + 122 = 451 38.1

100 0.15 210 451 + 210 = 661 9.3

200 0.075 56 661 + 56 = 717 1.7

Pan 12 717 + 12 = 729 = ΣM = 729 g 0

σ 𝑀 − Col. №4 729 − Col. №4

× 100 × 100
σ𝑀 729 28
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

14
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Example 2.2- For the particle-size distribution curve shown

The particle-size distribution curve is shown in Figure 2.28.
in Figure 2.28 determine
a. D10, D30, and D60
b. Uniformity coefficient, Cu
c. Coefficient of gradation, Cz
Solution - Part a From Figure 2.28,
𝐷10 = 0.15 mm 𝐷30 = 0.17 mm 𝐷60 = 0.27 mm

0.27
Part b 𝐶𝑢 = = 1.8
0.15

Part c (0.17)2
𝐶𝑍 = = 0.71
(0.27) ×(0.15) ■
Example 2.3 - For the particle-size distribution curve shown in Figure
2.28, determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay-size
particles present. Use the Unified Soil Classification System.
Solution From Figure 2.28, we can prepare the following table.
Size (mm) Percent finer
Figure 2.28 Particle-size distribution cuve ■ 76.2 100

4.75 100 100 – 100 = 0 % Gravel

0.075 1.7 100 – 1.7 = 98.3 % Sand

-- 0 1.7 - 0 = 1.7 % Silt and Clay 29

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Hydrometer analysis

Hydrometer Analysis - for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter. ASTM 152H hydrometer

Based on Stokes’ law

volume = 1000 ml

water + 4% hexametaphosphate - generally used as the dispersing agent.

Three corrections:
1. Zero correction
2. Temperature correction
3. Meniscus correction

30
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

15
 10/16/2022

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Particle Shape
The particle shape generally can be divided into three major
categories:
1. Bulky
2. Flaky
3. Needle shaped
Bulky particles are formed mostly by the mechanical weathering of rock and minerals. Geologists use such terms as angular, subangular,
subrounded, and rounded to describe the shapes of bulky particles. These shapes are shown qualitatively in Figure 2.33. 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.

Average radius of corners and edges

The angularity, A, is defined as =
Radius of the maximum inscribed sphere
Figure 2.33 Shape of bulky particles (Courtesy of Janice Das, Henderson, Nevada)

The sphericity of bulky particles is defined as

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.
31
Examples of soils containing needle-shaped particles are some coral deposits and attapulgite clays.
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour

Particle-Size Distribution Curve LECTURE NOTE COURSE №CIE0367 GE OTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

References
• American Society for Testing and Materials (2014). ASTM Book of Standards, Sec. 4, Vol. 04.08, West
Conshohocken, Pa.
• Bowen, N. L. (1922). “The Reaction Principles in Petrogenesis,” Journal of Geology, Vol. 30, 177–198.
• Grim, R. E. (1953). Clay Mineralogy, McGraw-Hill, New York.
• Grim, R. E. (1959). “Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils: Clay Minerals,” Journal of the Soil Mechanics and
Foundations Division, ASCE, Vol. 85, No. SM2, 1–17.
• Lambe, T. W. (1958). “The Structure of Compacted Clay,” Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division,
ASCE, Vol. 84, No. SM2, 1655–1 to 1655–35.
• Yong, R. N., and Warkentin, B. P. (1966). Introduction of Soil Behavior, Macmillan, New York.

32
Dr. Ahmad Alkhdour - a.alkhdour@bau.edu.jo

16