PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Problems in Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering

1. The initial void ratio of an inorganic clay is found to be 0.65, while the specific gravity
of solids is 2.68. Determine the dry density and saturated density of the soil. Also
determine its bulk density and moisture content, if the soil is 50% saturated.

2. A soil sample has a unit weight of 1.9 gm/cc and a water content of l2%.If the specific
gravity of solids be 2.65, determine the dry density, degree of saturation, void ratio and
porosity of the soil.

3. An undisturbed specimen of soil has a volume of 300 cc and weighs 498 gm. After
drying in oven at 105° C for 24 hours, its weight reduce to 456 gm. Determine the void
ratio, porosity, degree of saturation and water content. Assume G = 2.70.

4. A saturated soil sample, weighing 178 gm, has a volume of 96 cc. If the specific gravity
of soil solids be 2.67 , determine the void ratio, water content and unit weight of the soil.

5. An undisturbed sample of saturated clay has a volume of 16.5 cc and weighs 35.1 gm.
On oven-drying, the weight of the sample reduces to 29.5 gm. Determine the void ratio,
moisture content, dry density and the specific gravity of solids.

6. The volume and weight of a partially saturated clay sample are 185 cc and 362gm
respectively. After drying in an oven at 105° C for 24 hours, its weight reduced to 326
gm. If the natural void ratio of the soil was 0.54, determine the moisture content, dry
density, bulk density, degree of saturation and specific gravity of solids.

7. A fully saturated soil sample has a volume of 28 cc. The sample was dried in oven and
the weight of the dry soil pat was found to be 48.86 gm. Determine the void ratio,
moisture content, saturated density and dry density of the soil mass. Given G =2.68.

8. A sample of silty clay has a void ratio of 0.8. The soil is allowed to absorb water and its
saturated density was found to be 1.92 gm/cc. Determine the water content of the
saturated sample.

9. The bulk density and dry density of a partially saturated soil are 1.95 gm/cc and 1.80
gm/cc respectively. The specific gravity of solids is 2.68. Determine the void ratio,
moisture content and degree of saturation of the soil.

10. The density of a partially saturated soil was found to be 1.88 gm/cc.If the moisture
content and void ratio of the soil be 24.8% and 0.76 respectively, determine the specific
gravity of solids, and the degree of saturation.

11. A given soil mass has a moisture content of 10.5% and a void ratio of 0.67. The specific
gravity of soil solids is 2.68. It is required to construct three cylindrical test specimens of
diameter 3.75 cm and height 7.5 cm from this soil mass. Each specimen should have a
moisture content of l5% and a dry density of 1.6 gm/cc. Determine : (i) the quantity of
the given soil to be used for this purpose (ii) quantity of water to be mixed with it

12. A soil sample has a porosity of 35%. The soil is 75% saturated and the specific gravity of
solids is 2.68. Determine its void ratio, dry density, bulk density and moisture content.

13. The mass specific gravity of a soil is 1.95, while the specific gravity of soil solids is 2.7.
If the moisture content of the soil be 22%, determine the following : (i) Void ratio (ii)
porosity (iii) degree of saturation (iv) dry density (v) saturated density
14. The saturated and dry densities of a soil are 1.93 gm/cc and 1.47 gm/cc respectively.
Determine the porosity and the specific gravity of the solid grains.

15. A partially saturated soil sample has a natural moisture content of l7% and a bulk density
of 2.05 gm/cc. If the specific gravity of soil solids be 2.66, determine the void ratio,
degree of saturation and dry density of the soil. What will be the bulk density of the soil
if it is : (i) Fully saturated (ii) 6O% saturated

16. An undisturbed soil sample has a volume of 50 cc and weighs 96.5 gm. On oven-drying,
the weight reduces to 83.2 gm. Determine the water content, void ratio and degree of
saturation of the soil. Given, G = 2.65.

17. The bulk density and dry density of a soil are 1.95 gm/cc and 1.58 gm/cc respectively.
Assuming G = 2.68, determine the porosity, water content and degree of saturation of the
soil.

18. A cylindrical sample of saturated clay, 7.6 cm high and 3.8 cm in diameter, weighs 149.6
gm. The sample was dried in an oven at 105° C for 24 hours, and its weight reduced by
16.9 gm. Determine the dry density, void ratio, moisture content and specific gravity of
solids.

19. The moisture content and bulk density of a partially saturated silt sample were l8% and
19.6 kN/m3 respectively. The sample was kept in an oven at 105° C for 15 minutes,
resulting in a partial evaporation of the pore water. The bulk density of the sample
reduced to 18.3 kN/m3. Assuming the void ratio to remain unchanged, determine the
final water content of the sample. What would have been its bulk density if the sample
was kept in the oven for 24 hours?

20. An embankment was constructed with a clayey soil at a moisture content of 12%. Just
after construction, the degree of saturation of the soil was found to be 55%. The soil
absorbed water during the monsoon and its degree of saturation increases to 90%.
Determine the water content of the soil at this stage. What will be the degree of
saturation if the moisture content reduces to 5% in the dry season ? Given, G =2.68.

21. The natural moisture content of a soil mass is 11%, while its void ratio is 0.63. Assuming
the void ratio to remain unchanged, determine the quantity of water to be added to 1 m 3
of this soil in order to double its moisture content. Given, specific gravity of solids =
2.72.

22. The in-situ density of a soil mass is to be determined by the core-cutter method. The
height and diameter of the core are 13 cm and 10 cm respectively. The core, when full of
soil, weighs 3155 gm, while the self-weight of the empty core is 1250 gm. The natural
moisture content and the specific gravity of solids are 12% and 2.66 respectively.
Determine the bulk density, dry density and void ratio of the soil.

23. In problem 22, what will be the water content and bulk density of the soil if, without
undergoing any change in the void ratio, the soil becomes: (i) Fully
saturated (ii) 80% saturated

24. A 4 m high embankment, with a top width of 5 m and side slopes of 1 : 1, has to be
constructed by compacting soil from a nearby borrow pit. The unit weight and natural
moisture content of the soil are 1.8 t/m3 and 8%, respectively. Determine the volume of
earth to be excavated from the borrow pit and the quantity of water to be added to it for
every km of finished embankment, if the required dry density and moisture content of the
embankment soil be 1.82 gm/cc and l8% respectively. Given, G = 2.70.