3.1 A 0.

4 m3 wet soil sample has the following:

- Wet mass 711.2 kg

- Dry mass 623.9 kg

- Specific gravity of soil solids 2.68

Estimate:

a. Moisture content

b. Wet density

c. Dry density

d. Gap ratio

e. Porosity

SOLUTION

ITEM a)

m
711, 2 kg∗9.81
2
Ww s 6976,872 N
W= = = =1.1399 ≅ 1.14 %
Ws m 6120,459 N
623 , 9 kg∗9.81 2
s
ITEM b)

kg
( 1+0.0114 )∗2.68∗1000
( 1+ w )∗G s∗ρ w m
3
kg
ρ= = =1589 , 19
(1+e) (1+ 0.71) m
3

ITEM c)

m s 623 ,9 kg kg
ρd= = 3
=1559 , 75 3
V 0.4 m m
ITEM d)

kg
2.68∗1000
Gs∗¿ ρ m
3
e= w
−1= −1=0.71 ¿
ρd kg
1559 ,75 3
m
ITEM e)
 e 0 , 71
n= = =0 , 41
1+ e 1+ 0 ,71

3.2 In its natural state, a moist soil has a volume of 9.35 x 10−3 m3 and weighs 177.6 x 10−3 kN.
The oven-dry weight of the soil is 153.6 x 10−3 kN. If Gs 2.67, calculate the moisture content, wet
unit weight, dry unit weight, void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation.

SOLUTION

ITEM a)

Ww W −W S 177.6 x 10 kN −153.6 x 10 kN
−3 −3
0.024 KN
W= = = −3
= −3
∗100=15 , 6 %
Ws WS 153.6 x 10 kN 153.6 x 10 KN
ITEM b)
−3
W 177.6 x 10 kN . KN
γ= = −3
=18 ,99 ≈ 19 3
V 9.35 x 10 m 3 m
ITEM c)

KN
19
3
γ m KN
γd = = =15 , 96 ≈ 16 3
1+ w 1+0.19 m
ITEM d)

Gs∗γ w 2, 67∗9.81
e= −1= −1=0 ,63
γd 16
ITEM e)

e 0.63
n= = =0 , 38
1+ e 1+ 0.63
ITEM f)

w∗G S 0,156∗2, 67
S= = ∗100=66 , 1 %
e 0 , 63

3.3 The wet weight of 5.66 x10−3 m3 of soil is 102.3 x10−3 kN. The moisture content and specific
gravity of soil solids are determined in the laboratory to be 11% and 2.7, respectively. Calculate
the following:

a. Wet unit weight (kN/m3)

b. Dry unit weight (kN/m3)

c. Gap ratio

d. Porosity

e. The degree of saturation (%)

f. Volume occupied by water (m3)

SOLUTION

ITEM a)
−3
W 102.3 x 10 kN . KN
γ= = −3
=18 , 07 3
V 5.66 x 10 m3 m
ITEM b)

KN
18 , 07
3
γ m KN
γd = = =16 , 27 3
1+ w 1+0.11 m
ITEM c)

Gs∗γ w 2, 7∗9.81
e= −1= −1=0 ,62
γd 16 , 27
ITEM d)

e 0.62
n= = =0 , 38
1+ e 1+ 0.62
ITEM e)

w∗G S 0 ,11∗2 , 7
S= = ∗100=47 , 9 %
e 0 , 62
ITEM f)

w∗G S γ w 0 , 11∗2 ,7∗9.81 3

Vw= = =0 ,29 m
γw 9.81

3.4 The saturated unit weight of a soil is 19.8 kN/m3. The soil moisture content is 17.1%.
Determine the following:

a. Dry unit weight

b. The specific gravity of soil solids

c. Gap ratio
SOLUTION

ITEM a)

γ sat 19.8 KN /m3. KN

γd = = =16 , 9 3
1+ w 1+ 0,171 m
ITEM b)

γwGs γ w Gs
γd = = =¿
1+ e 1+w∗G s

γ w Gs=γ d (1+ w Gs )=¿

9 , 81 Gs=16 , 9(1+ 0,171G s)=¿

9 , 81 Gs=16 , 9+2 , 88 Gs=¿

9 , 81 Gs−2 , 88 Gs=16 , 9=¿

16 , 9
Gs= =2 , 43
6 , 93

ITEM c)

e=w∗Gs=0,171∗2 , 43=0 , 41

3.16 The results of liquid and plastic limit tests of a soil are presented below.

Liquid limit test:

Number of blows, N Moisture content (%)

15 42

20 40.8

28 39.1

Plastic limit test: PL 18.7% PL 18.7% PL 18.7% PL 18.7% PL 18.7% PL 18.7% PL 18.7% PL

a. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit.

b. What is the soil plasticity index?

SOLUTION

ITEM a)
 CURVA DE FLUJO
42.5
42
42
CONTENIDO DE HUMEDAD (%)

41.5
41 40.8

40.5
40 39.7
39.7
LIMITE LI-
39.5 QUIDO 39.1
39
38.5
38
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
NUMERO DE GOLPES

Liquid limit = 39.7%.

ITEM b)

IP=¿−LP=39 , 7 %−18 ,7 %=21, 0 %