Review Innovations CE Review for Apr 2025 – Geotechnical Engineering 2

Consistency & Classification of Soil Situation 2.

In a specific gravity test the following data were recorded:
1. Shrinkage Limit (SL) Mass of pycnometer jar = 530 grams
M 1 − M 2 (V1 − V2 )  w Mass of pycnometer jar when full of clean water = 1560
SL = [ − ](100%)
M2 M2 grams
Mass of pycnometer jar containing soil = 980 grams
100e
SL = Mass of pycnometer jar containing soil and topped with
Gs water = 1840 grams
2. Shrinkage Ratio (SR) Determine the following:
M2 4. Specific gravity of solid
SR =
V2  w 5. Unit weight of solid
6. Shrinkage limit if the shrinkage ratio is 1.83.
3. Specific Gravity of Solids (Gs)
1 Situation 3.
Gs =
1/ SR − SL /100 In a liquid limit test using Fall cone apparatus, the following
readings were recorded.
4. Plastic Limit (PL) - Water content wherein soil sample Water Penetration of
Sample
starts to crumble when rolled into 1/8 in ø thread. content cone (mm)
1 40% 12
5. Liquid Limit (LL) - Water content that corresponding to 2 45% 16
25 blows or 20 mm penetration of cone.
3 50% 21
6. Plasticity Index (PI) 4 58% 35
PI = LL − PL While in a plastic limit test the following data were obtained:
Weight of wet soil + container = 22.12 grams
7. Consistency Index (CI) Weight of dry soil + container = 20.42 grams
LL −  Weight of container = 13.07 grams
CI =
LL − PL Determine the following:
7. Liquid limit
8. Liquidity Index (LI) 8. Plastic limit
 − PL 9. Plasticity index
LI =
LL − PL 10. Consistency index if natural water content is 40%

Soil consistency based on CI & LI: Situation 4.

In a liquid limit test using cup apparatus, the following data
Consistency CI LI were taken:
Brittle Solid CI > 1 LI < 0
Water
Plastic 0 < CI < 1 0 < LI < 1 Sample No. of blows
content
Liquid CI < 0 LI > 1 1 41.8% 39
2 43.5% 23
9. Activity Classification (Ac)
3 44.3% 20
PI 4 45.5% 13
Ac =
%Clay While in a plastic limit test the following values were
observed.
10. Group Index (GI) Weight of wet soil + container = 21.19 grams
GI = ( F200 − 35)(0.005LL) + 0.01( F200 −15)( PI −10) Weight of dry soil + container = 18.78 grams
Weight of the container = 8.20 grams
Sample Problems:
Determine the following:
Situation 1. 11. Liquid limit
From the results of a shrinkage limit test, the following data 12. Plastic limit
were taken: 13. Liquidity index if natural water content is 38%
Initial volume of soil in saturated state = 24.6 cm3
Final volume of soil in dry state = 15.9 cm3
Situation 5.
Initial mass of soil in a saturated state = 44 grams From the given data:
Final mass of soil in a dry state = 30 grams SIEVE % PASSING
Specific gravity of solid is 2.83. SOIL A SOIL B SOIL C
Determine the following: 4 60 100 64
1. Shrinkage limit of soil 200 30 75 16
2. Void ratio LL 33 37 28
3. Dry unit weight PI 12 23 3

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 Review Innovations CE Review for Apr 2025 – Geotechnical Engineering 2
Using USCS method 28. Liquidity index of the soil for a water content of 45%, also
14. Determine the group symbol for soil A determine the consistency of the soil (0.27 – Plastic)
15. Determine the group symbol for soil B 29. Shrinkage limit of the soil if the void ratio at the
16. Determine the group symbol for soil C minimum volume reached on shrinkage is 0.88 (32.5%)

Situation 6. Situation 11.

A sample of soil has the following grain-size characteristics: From the given data:
Size (mm) Percent Passing Particle Size Soil
2.000 100 Distribution A B C D
0.075 74 Gravel 12 18 0 12
0.05 60 Sand 25 31 15 22
0.005 32 Silt 32 30 30 26
0.002 15 Clay 31 21 55 40
Determine the following: Classify according to the USDA textural classification system
17. Percentage of silt 30. Soil A (Gravelly Clay Loam)
18. Classification of the soil using the Triangular 31. Soil B (Gravelly Loam)
Classification Chart. 32. Soil C (Clay)
19. Activity classification if the plasticity index is 34%. 33. Soil D (Gravelly Clay)

Situation 7. Situation 12.

SIEVE %FINER Percent Finer
SOIL A SOIL B SOIL C Soil No 10 No 40 No 200 LL PI
10 83 100 90 A 90 74 32 28 9
40 48 92 76 B 86 56 8 NP
200 20 86 34 C 42 28 12 18 13
LL 20 70 37 D 92 68 30 42 18
PI 5 32 18 E 90 48 22 31 5
Using AASHTO Method Give the classification and group index using AASHTO
20. Determine the group symbol and index for Soil A 34. Soil A (A-2-4 (0))
21. Determine the group symbol and index for Soil B 35. Soil B (A-3 (0))
22. Determine the group symbol and index for Soil C 36. Soil C (A-2-6 (0))
37. Soil D (A-2-7 (1))
Problems for Practice: 38. Soil E (A-1-b (0))

Situation 8.
Situation 13.
A cylindrical soil sample of 7.5 cm height and 3.75 cm
The results of the sieve analysis of soils A, B and C is given
diameter has been prepared at the shrinkage limit. The
below. It is required to classify the soils according to USCS
following limits were determined to be:
LL = 62%
Soil Sample
PL = 34% Sieve Diameter
A B C
SL = 21% No. (mm)
Percent Passing
Assume that Gs = 2.68. 4 4.760 90 100 100
23. If the sample is now allowed to absorb water so that its 6 2.380 64 90 100
water content reaches the liquid limit, what will be its 10 2.000 54 77 98
volume? (141.08 cc) 20 0.840 34 59 92
40 0.420 22 51 84
60 0.250 17 42 79
Situation 9.
100 0.149 9 35 70
A saturated soil used to determine the shrinkage limit has
200 0.074 4 33 63
initial volume V1 = 20.2 cm3, final volume V2 = 14.3 cm3, mass
of wet soil M1 = 34 g and mass of dry soil M2 = 24 g. LL - 46 47
24. Determine the shrinkage limit (17.08) PL - 29 24
25. Determine the shrinkage ratio (1.68)
26. Determine the specific gravity of the soil solids (2.36) 39. What is the classification of Soil A? (SW)
40. What is the classification of Soil B? (SM)
Situation 10. 41. What is the classification of Soil C? (CL)
The following has been determined for a sample of soil:
Liquid limit = 56%
Plasticity Index = 15%
Specific gravity of solids = 2.71
Determine the following:
27. Plastic limit (41%)

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 Review Innovations CE Review for Apr 2025 – Geotechnical Engineering 2

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 Review Innovations CE Review for Apr 2025 – Geotechnical Engineering 2

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reproduction, use, or dissemination is strictly prohibited and shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
 Review Innovations CE Review for Apr 2025 – Geotechnical Engineering 2

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reproduction, use, or dissemination is strictly prohibited and shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
 Review Innovations CE Review for Apr 2025 – Geotechnical Engineering 2

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reproduction, use, or dissemination is strictly prohibited and shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.