GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING The following are the results of the laboratory shrinkage limit test (using mercury for displacement method). Weight of coated shrinkage limit dish, (g) 12.34 Weight of dish + wet soil, (g) 40.43 Weight of dish + dry soil, (g) 33.68 Weight of mercury to fill the dish, (g) 198.83 Weight of mercury displaces by soil pat, (g) 150.30

Following results are obtained for a liquid limit test using a fall cone device. Estimate the liquid limit of the soil and the flow index.

Since laboratory or field experiments are generally expensive and time consuming, geotechnical engineers often have to rely on empirical relationships to predict design parameters. Section 6.6 presents such relationships for predicting optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight. Let us use some of these equations and compare our results with known experimental data. The following table presents the results from laboratory compaction tests conducted on a wide range of fine-grained soils using various compactive efforts (E). Based on the soil data given in the table, determine the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight using the empirical relationships presented in Section 6.6. a. Use the Osman et al. (2008) method [Eqs. (6.15) through (6.18)]. b. Use the Gurtug and Sridharan (2004) method [Eqs. (6.13) and (6.14)]. c. Use the Matteo et al. (2009) method [Eqs. (6.19) and (6.20)]. d. Plot the calculated wopt against the experimental wopt, and the calculated d(max) with the experimental d(max). Draw a 45 line of equality on each plot. e. Comment on the predictive capabilities of various methods. What can you say about the inherent nature of empirical models?

Repeat Problem 2.4 with the following data. 2.4 The following are the results of a sieve analysis. a. Determine the percent finer than each sieve and plot a grain-size distribution curve. b. Determine D10, D30, and D60 for each soil. c. Calculate the uniformity coefficient Cu. d. Calculate the coefficient of gradation Cc.

Three groups of students from the Geotechnical Engineering class collected soil-aggregate samples for laboratory testing from a recycled aggregate processing plant in Palm Beach County, Florida. Three samples, denoted by Soil A, Soil B, and Soil C, were collected from three locations of the aggregate stockpile, and sieve analyses were conducted (see Figure 2.35). (a) (b) Figure 2.35 (a) Soil-aggregate stockpile; (b) sieve analysis (Courtesy of Khaled Sobhan, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida) a. Determine the coefficient of uniformity and the coefficient of gradation for Soils A, B, and C. b. Which one is coarser: Soil A or Soil C? Justify your answer. c. Although the soils are obtained from the same stockpile, why are the curves so different? (Hint: Comment on particle segregation and representative field sampling.) d. Determine the percentages of gravel, sand and fines according to Unified Soil Classification System.

The properties of seven different clayey soils are shown below (Skempton and Northey, 1952). Investigate the relationship between the strength and plasticity characteristics by performing the following tasks: a. Estimate the plasticity index for each soil using Skemptons definition of activity [Eq. (4.28)]. b. Estimate the probable mineral composition of the clay soils based on PI and A (use Table 4.3) c. Sensitivity (St) refers to the loss of strength when the soil is remolded or disturbed. It is defined as the ratio of the undisturbed strength (f-undisturbed) to the remolded strength (f-remolded)) at the same moisture content [Eq. (12.49)]. From the given data, estimate f-remolded for the clay soils. d. Plot the variations of undisturbed and remolded shear strengths with the activity, A, and explain the observed behavior.

The subsurface characteristics for a highway pavement rehabilitation project in the southeastern United States are shown in a boring log in Figure 5.13. The highway structure consists of the asphalt pavement underlain by four different soil strata up to a depth of 20 ft, after which the boring was terminated. Some data on the grain size and plasticity characteristics are also provided for each stratum. Perform the following tasks: 1. Determine the AASHTO soil classification and the group index (GI) for each layer. 2. Determine the most probable group symbols and group names for the various layers according to the Unified soil classification system. Use Table 5.3 and the soil characteristics given in the boring log.