School of Civil Engineering

Module CE2SMG

Physical Properties and Compaction of Soils G2 and G3 Laboratory Reports

Giannis Kallika 1027449

University of Birmingham College of Engineering and Physical Sciences School of Civil Engineering Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom

(Date 27/02/2012)

Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1.Introduction 1.1 Aim and Objectives 1.2. Experimentation Procedures 1.2.1 Triaxial shear stress test 1.2.2 Sieving Test 1.2.3 Dieter Compaction Test 1.2.4 Penetrometer Test 1.2.5 Oedometer Test 1.3 Standards Followed 1.4 Soils 1.5 Structure of the report 2. Results 2.1 Compaction Results 2.2 Plastic Limits and Activity 2.3 Permeability of the Compacted Soil 2.4 Particle Size Distribution 2.5 Untrained Shear Strength 3. Discussion 3.1 Test Description 3.1.1 Triaxial Shear Stress 3.1.2 Sieving Test 3.1.3 Compaction Test 3.1.4 Cone penetrometer method and Roll test 3.1.5 Oedometer Test 3.2 Data description from an engineering point of view 3.2.1 China clay 3.2.2 China clay & Bentonite 3.2.3 Silty Clay 3.2.4 Clayey Clay 3.3 Identification of soils 3.3.1 Initial Categorisation 3.3.2 Secondary Categorisation 4. Conclusion 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8

5. References

List of Figures
Figure 1 Compaction Test Results with Air void curves Figure 2- Penetrometer Cone Test result Figure 3- Particle size Distribution curve of all soils Figure 4 Undrained Shear strength results of SL-SMCC-2952 3 4 5 6

List of Tables
Table 1- Summary of the results Table 2-Brief Description of the soils Table 3- Dry Densities and Water Content Table 4- Plastic and Liquid limits & indexes (incl. Activity) Table 5- Oedometer Test results and coefficient of permeability Table 6-Undrained shear strength results 1 2 3 3 4 5

List of Symbols
Symbol m mm Ac k k Pa LL PL PI LI Cu Unit m mm m Dimensionless m/s k Pa % % % dimensionless Definition Metre Millimetre Micro Activity Coefficient of Permeability kilo Pascal Liquid Limit Plastic Limit Plasticity Index Liquidity Index Apparent Cohesion (Undrained)

A V Cv Hi Hf ei ef w OMC Su t90

m2 m3 m2/s mm mm dimensionless dimensionless kN/m3 % kPa min kg/m3

Area of specimen Volume of specimen Coefficient of Consolidation Initial height Final height Initial void ratio Final void ratio Water unit weight Optimum moisture content Undrained Shear Strength Square root of time when 90% consolidation occurs Density

Executive Summary The report investigates the following soil samples, SL-SMCC-2961, SL-SMCC-2957, SL-SMCC2952, and SL-SMCC-2964, and recommends the most suitable for the construction of the low permeability blanket. The four soils are identified using various tests, such as the Oedometer test, Penetrometer test, Dieter Compaction test and Triaxial test and a summary of the tests results can be found in the table below. By using the Plasticity Index we identified the four soils. Specification/ Soil Code Unit weight, at least 12 kN/m3 Air voids after compaction 5% Water content less than plastic limit of the soil Permeability 1.5x10-9 Not prone to shrink or swell (activity) Constant Shear strength with changes to water content Plasticity index SL-SMCC-2961 11 kN/m3 No No SL-SMCC-2957 12 kN/m3 Yes No SL-SMCC-2952 17 kN/m3 Yes Yes SL-SMCC-2964 14 kN/m3 Yes Yes

Yes 7.96 x10-10 Yes 1.68 (active) No

Yes 2.70 x10-10 Yes 0.27 (Inactive) Yes

Yes 2.83 x10-10 Yes 0.94 (Normal) Yes

Yes 4.55 x10-10 Yes 0.51 (Inactive) Yes

41kPa

51kPa

132kPa 24% Clayey silt

128kPa 33% Silty clay

96% 21% China and Soil Name China clay Bentonite clay Table 1- Summary of the results

The soil that passes all the requirements is the Clayey silt because it has a high value of Shear strength, it will not collapse due to seepage of water, it is inactive (soil particles do not bond with water giving high plasticity), as a result the soil will not shrink or swell, and the compaction will give the required density with less than 5% water and air present in the soil. Therefore the Shear Strength will be high and the soil will not fail due to loading.

1 Introduction
1.1 Aim and Objectives The aim is to identify the four given samples and choose the most suitable by taking into consideration the six end product specifications. The results of the Oedometer test, Penetrometer test, Dieter Compaction test and Triaxial test will be analysed and the soil that meets all the specifications will be chosen for the construction of the Low Permeability Blanket 1.2 Experimentation Procedures(1) The experiment has been carried out by using the following tests: 1.2.1 Triaxial shear stress test Plot a graph of stress against strain and by taking the maximum value we calculate the maximum shear strength of the soil being tested 1.2.2 Sieving test The soil is identified by the percentage of particles passing through each sieve which has a known filtering size 1.2.3 Dieter compaction test The soils dry density is determined and by using the compaction curve, the void 0,5,10 % ratio can be analysed and discussed 1.2.4 Penetrometer test The soils plastic index can be found by using this test since the tests aim is to find the plastic and liquid limit. 1.2.5 Oedometer test Load is applied to the sample and the penetration of the soil is measured (change in height). Using the Square Root method, the coefficient of consolidation and the change in height, the coefficient of permeability is measured. 1.3 Standards followed(2) All of the above tests except the Dieter test follow the British Standard code 1377, year of 1990. 1.4 Soils Grain size(3) China clay <2 m China clay and Bentonite particles size <2 m <1 m respectively Clay < 2m Silt particles 2m - 60m Clayey Silt Clay < 2m Silt particles 2m - 60m Table 2-Brief Description of the soils Soil name English China Clay English China Clay/Bentonite mixture (75%/25% respectively) Silty Clay Behaviour(3) Low plasticity index Shrinks/Swell

Stable Stable

1.5 Structure of the report The reports first step is to state which tests will be undertaken and basic information of the four soils will be introduced .The next area of the report presents the key behaviours of the four soils by presenting the results of the test with the aid of diagrams, tables and graphs. In the third section of the report, a discussion of which soil will be chosen as the ideal for the construction of the Low Permeability Blanket will be written. Furthermore,
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reasons of which soils is which will be presented with the aid of diagrams and tables. The report will come to a conclusion with a summary of the key pertinent findings presented in the previous sections.

2 Results
2.1 Compaction Results
Dietert Compaction Test Results for the soils

Figure 1 Compaction Test Results with Air void curves Soil Sl-2952 Sl-2964 Water Content 13% 23% Maximum Dry Density 1894kg/m3 1518kg/m3 95% Dry Density 1880kg/m3 1442kg/m3 95% Dry Unit Weight 17kN/m3 14kN/m3 Table 3- Dry Densities and Water Content 2.2 Plastic Limits and Activity Soil Plastic Limit Liquid Limit Water Content Plasticity Index Liquidity Sl-2952 3% 27% 13% 24% 0.4 Sl-2964 25% 59% 23% 33% -0.5 Sl-2957 33.3% 54.9% 29% 21% -1.9 Sl-2961 27% 123% 21% 96% -0.06
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Sl-2957 29% 1379kg/m3 1310kg/m3 12kN/m3

Sl-2961 21% 1353kg/m3 1286kg/m3 11kN/m3

Index <2m 65.99% 57.15% 79.89% (4) Activity (Ac) 0.94 (normal) 0.51(inactive) 0.27 (inactive) Table 4- Plastic and Liquid limits & indexes (incl. Activity)

25.81% 1.68 (active)

Penetrometer Cone test Results

140 120 Water Content (%) 100 80 60 40 20 15 17 19 21 23 25 Average Penetration (mm)
Liquid Limits for corresponding soils

2961 2957 2952 2964 Linear (2961) Linear (2957) Linear (2952) Linear (2964)

Figure 2- Penetrometer Cone Test result 2.3 Permeability of the Compacted Soil Sl-2964 Sl-2961 m m % kg/m3 m3 kg kg kg m3 m3 2.63 0.02 0.08 0.30 1945.00 0.00 0.13 0.04 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.93 2.63 0.02 0.08 0.40 1815.00 0.00 0.15 0.06 0.09 0.00 0.00 1.42

Soil Initial Gs h d w Vt Mt Mw Ms Vs Vv ei Final Hi He H ef

Sl-2957 2.63 0.02 0.08 0.35 1584.00 0.00 0.11 0.04 0.07 0.00 0.00 1.55

Sl-2952 2.63 0.02 0.08 0.12 2129.00 0.00 0.15 0.02 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.41

m m m

1.5E-02 1.5E-02 7.0E-04 8.4E-01

1.9E-02 1.8E-02 3.7E-04 1.4E+00

1.5E-02 1.5E-02 7.1E-04 1.4E+00

1.6E-02 1.5E-02 8.5E-04 3.3E-01

4

 mv

N m2/N

1.0E+05 4.6E-07

1.0E+05 2.0E-07

1.0E+05 4.6E-07 0.014982 14 7.60E-03 0.848 5.8E-08 10000.00 2.70E-10 1.5E-09

1.0E+05 5.4E-07 0.015083 16 7.73E-03 0.848 5.2E-08 10000.00 2.83E-10 1.5E-09

h90 m 0.01459 0.018472 t90 min 8 30 d m 7.46E-03 9.29E-03 Tv 0.848 0.848 Cv m/s 9.8E-08 4.3E-08 N 10000.00 10000.00 k m/s 4.53E-10 7.96E-11 Required K value 1.5E-09 1.5E-09 Table 5- Oedometer Test results and coefficient of permeability 2.4 Particle Size Distribution

Particle Size Distribution

100

90 Percentage Passed Through (%)

80 Soil 2957 Soil 2961 Soil 2952 Soil 2964

70

60

50

40 1 10 Log particle size (m) 100 1000

Figure 3- Particle size Distribution curve of all soils

2.5 Untrained Shear Strength

Soil Sl-2952 Sl-2964 Av. Max strength 264kPa 256kPa Su 132 kPa 128 kPa Table 6-Undrained shear strength results

Sl-2957 102kPa 51 kPa

Sl-2961 82kPa 41 kPa

Figure 4 Undrained Shear strength results of SL-SMCC-2952

3. Discussion

3.1 Test Description

3.1.1 Triaxial Shear Stress(5) Since every solid has an upper limit to how much shear stress it can support, a shear Triaxial test is performed to find this value. Due to errors that might be present, a line of best fit has been used and the equation of the line is differentiated as to find x. Then by using the value of x the maximum shear strength is calculated. 3.1.2 Dry Sieving In order to classify which soil is which a sieving test is used. An amount of soil is weighted and it is poured into the nest of sieves. The first sieve has the largest screen openings and the openings decrease as the soil goes to the bottom. Each sieve is weighted and then by using its diving each weight with the initial, a percentage of the particles passing is calculated. 3.1.3 Compaction test This test method uses a hammer to compact the soil in order to remove most of the voids and find the dry density of the soil. The value of the optimum water content and maximum dry unit weight is determined from the compaction curve. A concern about the laboratory-human errors was raised; therefore a best fit line of the compaction curve is made in order to show how the compaction curve should be. 3.1.4 Cone penetrometer method and Roll test The Cone penetrometer test is used to calculate the liquid limit of the sample. The roll test is used to find the plastic limit of the sample and it is performed by rolling the sample into a thread approximately 1/8 inch in diameter. By finding the plastic limit and liquid limit, the plasticity index can be calculated. The Activity can be found by dividing the PI with the percentage of 2m passing through and this will determine whether the soil will shrink or swell with changes in water conditions. 3.1.5 Oedometer test
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The Oedometer test is performed to calculate the coefficient of permeability and the coefficient of consolidation. It stimulates the one dimensional deformation and drainage conditions that the soil experience. A different mv and cv values are calculated because in the test of soil 2952 the final void ratio were calculated as 0 which is wrong since there is always a small percentage of voids in the soil.

3.2 Data from an engineering point of view

3.2.1 China clay 2957 According to the Table 3, the degree of compaction of the China clay which is the unit weight is the second minimum. Therefore, the voids present in the sample are more than 5% which reduces the strength of the soil. By using this information, the soil fails the specification. Although the liquid limit is moderate, the plastic limit is low resulting in low plasticity index classifying (according to the Table 4) the soil as inactive therefore it will not swell or shrink.(6) 3.2.2 China clay & Bentonite 2961 According to the Table 3, the degree of compaction of the China clay which is the unit weight is the minimum. Therefore, the voids present in the sample are more than 5% which reduces the strength of the soil and making it prone to shrink and swell. On the other hand, it is the only soil that has the highest plasticity index (due to the nomenclature of Bentonite), therefore it is able to undergo deformation without cracking. According to the table 4 it is classified as an active soil, resulting in a soil that is prone to swelling or shrinking. The coefficient of permeability calculated from the Oedometer test, according to Table 5, is the lowest; therefore the water will not be able to flow in the soil resulting in an increase of the volume. By using this information, the soil fails the specification. 3.1.1 Silty Clay 2964 from Wembley . Since both of the soils contain the same material, only the ratio changes, they have same behaviour. The soil has the same initial and final dry density; therefore the soils particles are well graded and thus a void reduction to less than 5% is achieved. Due to the good compaction of the soil, the unit weight is 14kN/m3 resulting in high shear strength of the soil. In Table 4, the soils activity is set to be inactive, meaning that it will not swell or shrink. The coefficient of permeability is lower than the others enabling the water to pass through it (reduces the rate of settlement of a saturated soil) and its coefficient of consolidation is also low resulting in high shear strength. It has a low plasticity index, therefore it will crack more or rupture more when deformed compared to the other soils. The soil has the second highest shear strength 128kPa and can withstand high stresses. 3.1.2 Clayey silt 2952 from Skelmersdale According to the soils compaction curve in Figure 1, the Silty clays particles are well graded resulting in a good compaction. Thus, void reduction to less than 5% is achieved. Due to the good compaction of the soil, the unit weight is 17kN/m3 resulting in high shear strength of the soil. In Table 4, the soils activity is set to be normal, meaning that it will not swell or shrink but it will if the water is drained and untrained in cycles. The coefficient of permeability is lower than the others enabling the water to pass through it (7) (reduces the rate of settlement of a saturated soil) and its coefficient of consolidation is also low resulting in high shear strength. It has a low plasticity index, therefore it will crack more or rupture more when deformed compared to the other soils. The soil has the highest shear strength, thus it is classified as cohesive soil, and can withstand high stresses. This soil is chosen for the
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construction of the Low Permeability blanket because it has the highest shear strength 132kPa, it has a normal activity index, therefore it will not swell in the presence of water and it passes the permeability requirement, less than 1.5 x10-9 3.2 Identification of soils 3.2.1 Initial Categorisation Since the two quarried soils are sieved, they have smaller particles than the soils from the construction projects; we can categorize the four samples into two groups and then subcategorize them to find their corresponding names. According to Figure 3, the quarried soils are 2961 & 2957 because they have high percentage of particles passing through the first sieves. Therefore in first group (which consist of the quarried soils) there is the China Clay & the blend of China clay and Bentonite and in the second group there is the Silty clay and the clayey silt. 3.2.2 Subcategorize the group Bentonite has bigger particles than China clay and by using Figure 3it is found that the 2961 has less particles passing through the 22m sieve compared to the soil that is mixed with Bentonite. Also by using and comparing the results in Table 4, we can identify that 2961 is the soil with the Bentonite since Bentonite has a high Liquid Limit. According to Figure 3, the 2952 is the clayey silt and 2964 is the Silty clay because clay soils tend to have higher Plasticity Index than Silt soils.

4 Conclusion
This report has been prepared to show the experimental test results of four different soil types. These tests are particle size distribution, compaction, Atterberg limits, consolidation and Triaxial. Specification/ Soil Code Unit weight, at least 12 kN/m3 Air voids after compaction 5% Water content less than plastic limit of the soil Permeability 1.5x10-9 Not prone to shrink or swell (activity) Constant Shear strength with changes to water content SL-SMCC-2961 11 kN/m3 No No SL-SMCC-2957 12 kN/m3 Yes No SL-SMCC-2952 17 kN/m3 Yes Yes SL-SMCC-2964 14 kN/m3 Yes Yes

Yes 2.83 x10-10 Yes Do not pass the end product 0.94 (Normal) specifications. Yes

Yes 4.55 x10-10 Yes 0.51 (Inactive) Yes

263.81kPa

255.33kPa
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Plasticity index Soil Name China and China clay Bentonite clay

24% Silty clay

33% Clayey silt

Only two soils meet all the requirements, but the Clayey Silt has the highest value of Shear Strength, therefore it is the selected soil for the construction of the Low Permeability Blanket.

5 References
1 Barnes, G.E., 2010. Soil Mechanics Principles and Practice (Third Edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan 2 3 Craig, R.F., 2004. Soil Mechanics (Seventh Edition). London: E & FN Spon Geotest,2010, Soil tests, Available http://www.geotechdata.info/geotest, (Accessed 20/02/2012) 4 Murthy, V.N.S,2002. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.(First Edition CRC Press 5 Sidhu, I., 2010. An Investigation into the Undrained Shear Strength of Cohesive Materials. London: Brunel University of West London. 6 7 Toll, 2008, Unsaturated Soils: Advances in Geo Engineering, (First edition), CRC Press University of West England, Soil properties, Available http://environment.uwe.ac.uk/geocal/SoilMech/classification/soilclas.htm (Accessed 23/02/2012 8 Unknown Author (2004) Correlations Between Soil Plasticity and Strength Parameters, Available through http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/umrcourses/ge441/Soil%20Plasticity%20vs%20Strength%20P arameters.pdf, (Accessed 25/02/2012)