SOIL

C H A P T E R 3
Soil
definition
is defined as an unconsolidated material
composed of solid particles, produced by
the disintegration of rocks.

Scientifically, most of the non-organic

materials identified as soil has originated
from rocks as the parent material
Rock
is an aggregation of different
mineral constituents that
form the earth's crust.
Rock
types
Igneous

Sedimentary

Metamorphic
Igneous
Rock
is the result from the cooling and
hardening of molten rock called
magma thathas originated from
deep within the earth.

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T h e re a
rocks.
SEdimentary
Rock
are formed from accumulated
deposits of soil particles or
remains of certain organisms that
have hardened by pressure or
cemented by materials

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Ap p r o x t a r y r o c ks.
b y se d im e n
cov e r e d
metamorphic
Rock
are rocks resulted from
metamorphism due to changes
in temperature, pressure and
plastic flow, changing the
original rock structure and
mineral composition of the rock
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j u i c e or o t
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SOIL
C A T E G O R I E S
Soil
categories
Residual Soil or Sedimentary
Soil

-is formed from the weathering of rocks

or the accumulation of organic materials
remaining at the location of their origin.
weathering
process
Residual Soil or Sedimentary
Soil
-Weathering processes may be attributed
to mechanical, chemical or solution
weathering.

a. Mechanical weathering – refers to

physical disintegration dur to effects of
wind, rain, running water or earthquake.
weathering
process
Residual Soil or Sedimentary
Soil
b. Chemical and solution weathering – is
decomposition of rock due to chemical
reactions that occur as a result of
exposure to atmosphere, temperature
changes, reaction with water or other
materials.
Soil
categories
Transported
-are those
Soilmaterials transported from
their place of origin.

Transportation may result due to the

effects of gravity, wind, water, and
glaciers of human activity.
 types of soil

GRAVEL SAND SILT CLAY

 gravel
• consist of rock fragments more or less rounded by
water action or abrasion classified according to the
following types:
sand
Residual Soil or Sedimentary
Soil
b. Chemical and solution weathering – is
decomposition of rock due to chemical
reactions that occur as a result of
exposure to atmosphere, temperature
changes, reaction with water or other
materials.
silt
Residual Soil or Sedimentary
Soil
b. Chemical and solution weathering – is
decomposition of rock due to chemical
reactions that occur as a result of
exposure to atmosphere, temperature
changes, reaction with water or other
materials.
clay
Residual Soil or Sedimentary
Soil
b. Chemical and solution weathering – is
decomposition of rock due to chemical
reactions that occur as a result of
exposure to atmosphere, temperature
changes, reaction with water or other
materials.
 categories of soil
COARSE GRAIN SOIL FINE GRAIN SOIL

GRAVEL SAND SILT CLAY

characteristics
soil
of
1 Soil consists largely of minerals formed by
disintegration or decomposition of rocks

2 Soil contains humus and organic acids

resulting from decay of vegetation

3 All soils contain water, either free or

absorbed in varying contents

4 Soil in most cases, are blend or mixture of

particles of many sizes, shapes, and parent
rock materials making its behavior very
difficult to predict.
characteristics
soil
of
Behavior of soil mass could be determined
based on the characteristics of individual soil
particles such as:

1 Grain size

2 Grain shape

3 Surface texture and electrical surface

charges, resulted from chemical composition
and molecular structures.
characteristics
soil
of 1 Grain size
characteristics
soil
of 2 Grain shape
QUARTZ WELL SLIGHTLY
ROUNDED WORN GRAVEL
PEBBLES AND
BOULDERS
quartz

Quartz -is the hardest of common rock

forming mineral.
 Well rounded
pebbles and boulders
- those that undergone long period of
wear that become almost quartz.
Slightly worm gravel

b. Chemical and solution weathering – is

decomposition of rock due to chemical
reactions that occur as a result of
exposure to atmosphere, temperature
changes, reaction with water or other
materials.
FINE SAND
• has particles that are more angular than coarse and fine
sand particles.

COARSE SAND
• is usually rounded like gravel with which it is found
and generally contains the same materials

SILT SAND

• They are found as rock flour in

glacial moraines. It could be
produced by chemical decay
 • is plate like, • is a finer clay
scale like, or particle that
rod like in remains
shape as a suspended in
result of water and
chemical does not settle
weathering. under the
force of gravity

CLAY COLLOIDAL
CLAY
 COURSE grain
For most purposes, coarse grain materials are considered satisfactory construction
materials
materials.

• Silty soil will create problems in areas where the ground has moisture
movement due to capillary action

• Soil that contains clay would be troublesome.

• As a rule of thumb, soil with clay should not be used closer to the
roadway surfaces.
classification for
soils
Unified Soil Classification
• It is used in engineering and geology to describe the texture and grain size of a soil.
System
• It was introduced by the U.S. Anny Corps and the Bureau of Reclamations
Unified Soil Classification
System
Ways on identifying the Fine Grain Portions of Soil using
Unified Soil Classification System

1 The sample is mixed with water to have a puttylike consistency,

then formed into pat and dried completely.

2 If the pat is broken by the fingers and the dry strength is high,
plasticity of the sample is considered high.

3 If dry strength of the sample is high, then, it exhibits clay and

colloid characteristics.
Ways on identifying the Fine Grain Portions of Soil using
Unified Soil Classification System

4 If the sample is a pat of fine silty sand, it will easily break in the
finger.

5 Fine sand will cause the pat to feel gritty on the fingers and
silts is smooth.

6 Dilatancy or reaction to shaking is another way of classifying

the soil mortar.
composition of soil
soil deposit
• It refers to a layer or accumulation of soil or earth materials that has been
naturally deposited over time due to geological processes.
• It consists of solid particles and void spaces between particles, either partially
or completely filled with water.

Strength and
• Strength and Compressibility of the soil is directly related to:
Compressibility
• Soil density weight per unit volume.
• Water content of the soil.
• Void ratio.
• Degree of saturation.
 Why do engineers should
know the properties of soil
deposit especially strength
and compressibility?
 Engineers need to have a thorough
understanding of the properties of
soil deposits, including their strength
and compressibility, because these
properties have a significant impact
determining the bearing capacity and
stability of the construction.
 Soil Reaction to Density:

• It refers to how a soil's properties, particularly its strength and compaction

characteristics, change in response to changes in its density or compaction
level.

• An increase of 1% moisture content in granular layers can increase pavement

damage by a factor of 700.

• Density refers to soil mass per unit volume.

• Density can be expressed as "Wet Weight," including water.

 In-Place Density and Unit Weight
• In-place density refers to the density or mass of a material in its actual,
constructed location within the construction.

• Unit weight refers to the weight of a unit volume of a material. It is typically

expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).

• Nuclear apparatus is used for in-place density and unit weight tests.

• Newton-emitting device and detector are employed for testing.