Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352

Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

Foundation Engineering
ECIV 4352
Lecture No. (1)
Geotechnical Properties of Soil

The main topics that will be discussed in this lecture are:

1- Phases of the soil.
2- Atterberge limits.
3- Hydraulic conductivity of the soil.
4- Concept of effective stress.
5- Settlement.
6- Shear strength of soil.

1- Phases of soil:
There are various relations for soil properties can be derived as follow:
Important relations:
VT = VV + VS = Va + Vw + VS
WT = WW + WS
Phase Diagram of soil element:
Va

Air
Vv

Water
Ww

Vw

V
WT

Solid
Vs
Ws

Figure 1 Phase Diagram

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

Vv n
• Void ratio, e = . e=
Vs 1− n

Vv e
• Porosity, n = . n=
VT 1+ e

Vw
• Degree of saturation, S = x100, At saturation S=1.
Vv
Ww
• Moisture content, w = .
Ws
γ solid ρ
• Specific gravity, Gs = = solid .
γ water ρ water
WS G s γ w
• γ dry = = .
VT 1+ e
W G γ (1 + w) γ γ sat
• γ moist = T = s w . γ dry = moist =
VT 1+ e 1 + w 1 + wsat
W (G + e)γ w
• γ sat = T @ Saturation = s .
VT 1+ e
e −e γ − γ d min γ
• Relative density, Dr = max = d × d max .
emax − emin γ d max − γ d min γd
• Se = GS w .

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

Example 1)
For a sample of soil, given that Gs = 2.67 , γ moist = 17.6kN / m 3 , w = 10.8%.
Find:
γ dry - e – n – S
Solution
γ 17.6
• γ dry = = = 15.88kN / m 3 .
1 + w 1 + 0.108
Gγ 2.67 × 9.81
• e = ?? ⇒ γ dry = s w → 15.88 = ⇒ e = 0.648
1+ e 1+ e
e 0.648
•n = = = 0.393
1 + e 1 + 0.648
• S = ?? ⇒ Se = G s w → S × 0.648 = 2.67 × 0.108 ⇒ S = 0.444 = 44.4%

2- Atterberge limits:
‫ فوجود الماء بنسبة كبيرة يجعل التربة بحالة‬،‫نسبة تواجد الماء في التربة لھا أثر كبير في تغيير خصائص التربة‬
‫ ومن ھذا المنطلق‬،‫ و بتقليل ھذه النسبة تمر التربة بعدة حاالت من اللدونة إلى الصالبة وھكذا‬،‫شبيھة بالحالة السائلة‬
: ‫وضع العالم أتربيرج معايير معينة تحكم تحول التربة من حالة إلى حالة فيما يعرف بـ‬
Atterberge limits

Figure 2: Atterberge Limits

3- Hydraulic conductivity of soil:

The hydraulic conductivity of soil is related to permeability of soil which has a
coefficient called permeability coefficient measured by (cm/sec) and denoted by (k).
For sandy soil the value of (k) is relatively high to the clayey soils.
In the laboratory we have two types of tests to determine (k):
• Constant head test for sandy soil.
• Falling head test for clay.

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

4- Concept of effective stress:

‫ الماء بين فراغات التربة باإلضافة إلى‬،‫عند تعرض التربة لألحمال فإن ھناك جزأين يقوموا بتحمل ھذه األحمال‬
‫ لكن بعد مرور وقت معين على تأثير الحمل على التربة يحصل تسريب للماء فتبقى حبيبات‬.‫حبيبات التربة ذاتھا‬
‫ ولذا يتوجب علينا معرفة اإلجھادات التي يتحملھا الجزء الصلب فقط من التربة أي‬،‫التربة وحدھا تقاوم ھذه األحمال‬
:‫حبيبات التربة وھو ما يعرف بـ‬
Soil Effective Stress

Figure 3 Soil profile

σ Total = σ ' + u
σ Total : Total stress.
σ ' : Effective stress.
u: Pore water pressure.
From figure 3, if we want to find the effective stress at point A:
σ Total = γ 1 h1 + γ 2 h2
u = γ w h2 .
σ ' = σ Total − u = γ 1 h1 + γ 2 h2 − γ w h2 = γ 1 h1 + (γ 2 − γ w )h2 = γ 1 h1 + γ ' h2
*** γ 2 = γ sat

γ w = 9.81KN / m 3 = 62.4 Ib / ft 3

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

5- Settlement:
There are 3 types of settlements on soil, the two main types are:
• Immediate settlement.
• Primary consolidation settlement.
5-1) immediate settlement:
The settlement that occurs immediately after applying the loads on the soil.
1− µ 2
S e = ∆σB I p.
Es
S e : Im mediate Settlement.
∆σ : Applied pressure.
B : Width of the foundation or diameter if it was circular.
µ : Poisson' s ratio (0 → 0.5)
E s : Soil Modulus of elasticity.
I p : Influence Factor given from table below depend on type of foundation (flexible or rigid) and also
the shape (circular or rectangular).

m1 = Length of Foundation (L) / Width of Foundation (B)

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

5-2) consolidation settlement:

‫ ولكن بعد مرور زمن يبدأ الماء بالتسرب‬،‫ فإن الماء يتحمل الحمل بالكامل‬،‫عند تعرض التربة المشبعة بالماء لألحمال‬
‫ فتبدأ حبيبات التربة بالتضاغط و‬،‫من بين حبيبات التربة فيتوزع الحمل بين حبيبات التربة و الماء في الفراغات‬
.‫بالتدريج حتى يحدث التسريب الكامل للماء من بين الحبيبات فيحدث الھبوط االنضغاطي بشكل كامل للتربة‬

According to consolidation, soil can be classified to two types:

• Normal consolidation:
Present pressure=Past pressure.
• Over consolidation:
Past pressure > Present pressure.
In general; the maximum pressure that the soil is subjected to is called Pre consolidation.

For normally consolidated Clay:

C H   σ ' + ∆σ 
S C =  c  × log o ' 

 1 + e o   σ o 
C c : Compression index = 0.009(LL - 10)
H : Thickness of layer under considration.
eo : Initial void ratio.
σ o' : Over burned pressure (effective stress).
∆σ : Added vertical pressure.
For Over Consolidated Clay:
If σ c' > σ o' + ∆σ
C H   σ ' + ∆σ 
S C =  S  × log o ' 

 1 + e o   σ o 
σ c : Pre Consolidation Pressure.
'

C S : Swell index

Ifσ o' < σ c' < σ o' + ∆σ

 CS H   σ c'   C C H   σ ' + ∆σ 
SC =    × log σ '  +  1 + e
  × log o ' 
 1 + e o   o  o   σC 
σ c : Pre Consolidation Pressure.
'

C S : Swell index

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

= 1 ⇒ Normal Consolidated 
σ c'  
OCR = '  
σo  
> 1 ⇒ Over Consolidated 

OCR: Over Consolidation Ratio.

e1 − e2
CC =
log σ 2 − log σ 1

1 1
C S =  → C c
5 10 

5.3) Time rate of consolidation:

Tv H dr2
Cv =
t
t: The required time to reach a specific degree of consolidation.
Hdr: Height of drainage.
Cv: Coefficient of consolidation.

To find Cv:
k
CV =
γ w mv
K: Permeability coefficient.
mv: Coefficient of volume compressibility.
 e0 − e1 
 
 σ 1 − σ 0  e +e
mv = , eavg = 0 1
1 + eavg 2
To find Tv: Look Table 10.5 P293
Or from equations:
π  U %  2
   → U = 0 → 60%
 4  100 

TV = 


1.781 − 0.933 log(100 − U % ) → U > 60%

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 Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

Example 2)

A soil profile as shown, the pre-consolidation Dry sand:

10ft

of the clay is 3400 psf. Estimate the primary Gs = 2.65, e=0.6

consolidation settlement that will take place
as the result of surcharge equal 2200 psf.
1 Saturated Sand
Assume Cs = C C .
10ft

5 Gs = 2.65,
e=0.6
Saturated Clay
Gs = 2.70,
10ft

w=30%, LL=35

Solution
• Find the unit weights of the soil layers:
- For dry sand:
Gγ 2.65 × 62.4
γ dry = s w = = 103.35 pcf
1+ e 1 + 0.6
- For saturated sand:
(G + e )γ w (2.65 + 0.6) × 62.4
γ sat = s = = 126.75 pcf
1+ e 1 + 0.6
- For saturated clay:
e = 2.7 x 0.3 = 0.81

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

(G s + e )γ w (2.65 + 0.81) × 62.4 = 121 pcf

γ sat = =
1+ e 1 + 0.81
• Find the present effective pressure:

σ o' = 10 × 103.35 + 10 × (126.75 − 62.4 ) + × (121 − 62.4 ) = 1970 psf

10
2
σ o + ∆σ = 1970 + 2200 = 4170 psf
' '

σ c' = 3400 psf

σ o' (1970) ≤ σ c' (3400) ≤ σ o' + ∆σ ' (4170)
• Find Cc and Cs:
Cc = 0.009 ( 35 – 10 ) = 0.225
Cs = Cc / 5 = 0.225 / 5 = 0.045
C H σ '  C H  σ ' + ∆σ ' 
S C = S log c'  + C log o ' 
1 + eo σ
 o 1 + e o  σ c 
0.045 × 10  3400  0.225 × 10  4170 
SC = log + log  = 0.169 ft = 2.03in
1 + 0.81  1970  1 + 0.81  3400 

6- Shear strength:
The shear strength of soil mass is defined as the internal resistance that the soil can offer
to resist failure.
The general equation to calculate the shear strength at failure is coulomb equation:
τ f = c + σ tan Φ
τ f : Shear strength at failure.
c : cohesion
σ : vertical stress
Φ : Angle of internal friction

Figure 2 shear and normal stress diagram

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

By determining the values of σ & τ at plane (ab), if it lies at point A, it means that no
shear failure will occur at plane (ab), but if it lies at point B it means that it will fail at
plane (ab), Point C can’t be achieved because the soil will be failed before it.

There are many laboratory tests to obtain the shear strength parameters (C and Φ), the
famous tests are:

1- Direct shear test:

Figure 3 Direct shear test equipment

Figure 4 shear failure envelope

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Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

2- Triaxial shear test:

Figure 5 Triaxial shear test

Figure 6 Stresses on soil specimen

σ 3 : Minor stresses.
∆σ : Added vertical stress.
σ 1 : Major stresses = σ 3 + ∆σ
By changing σ 3 several times we can obtain more than Mohr circle, the common tangent
for these circles is the shear failure envelope, by which we can find the shear strength
parameters.

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 Foundation Engineering ECIV 4352
Chapter 1: Geotechnical Properties of Soil

Figure 7 Triaxial shear test

There are three types of Triaxial Shear test:

1- Consolidated Drained Test (CD).
2- Consolidated Undrained Test (CU).
3- Unconsolidated Undrained Test (UU).

Type of Test Consolidation phase* Shearing phase**

Consolidated Drained Test Allow complete drainage Allow Drainage
Consolidated Undrained Test Allow complete drainage Prevent Drainage
Unconsolidated Undrained Test Prevent Drainage Prevent Drainage

* This phase is related to the stage of applying the confining pressure (σ3).
** This phase is related to the stage of applying the added stress (∆σ).

Remember:
For Pure Sand: c = 0.00
For Pure clay: Φ = 0.00

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