Module 4 - Soil Index Properties Part 1

SOIL INDEX
PROPERTIES
CE 401: SOIL MECHANICS
MODULE 4 Part 1
PREPARED BY: ENGR. MARC DANIEL LAURINA
01 Index Properties
02 Soil Color
03 Specific Gravity
04 Relative Density
2
INDEX PROPERTIES
Index Properties vs. Engineering Properties
 Index Properties  Engineering Properties

• They are the physical properties of soil that help • Index properties are also known as the indicative
in identification and classification of soil for of engineering properties
general engineering purpose. • Examples: compressibility, permeability and shear
• Also give rough estimation of engineering strength.
properties of soils • The test required for determination of
• These properties are generally determined in the engineering properties is elaborate and time
laboratory. consuming. Sometimes, the geotechnical
• Disturbed samples or remolded samples can be engineer is interested to have some rough
used to determine the index property of the soil. assessment of the engineering properties without
conducting elaborate tests. This is only possible
SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina when index properties of soil determined.
Index Properties
• Some of the important physical properties, which may relate to the state of the soil or the
type of the soil include
1. Soil color,
2. Soil structure,
3. Specific gravity
4. Particle shape,
5. Particle size distribution, Main Index Properties for Coarse-Grained (Non-Cohesive) Soil
6. Relative Density
7. Consistency limits Main Index Properties for Fine-Grained (Cohesive) Soil
SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

A. SOIL COLOR
Soil Color
• Color of soil is one of the most obvious of its features

• It is a useful particle characteristics to the geologist working in
mining, but it is of little value to the soil engineer.
• The colors and their indications in the followings: -
a. Red color: due to the presence of non-hydrated Fe2O3.
b. Clear yellow and brown colors: indicates good drainage.
c. Bluish grey colors: reduced or bivalent iron compounds.
d. Black and dark brown colors: are characteristic of organic
matter.
e. White colors: due to predominance of silica, lime, gypsum,
and relatively pure clay deposits.
B. SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Specific Gravity of Soil Solids
• Specific gravity of the soil solids is useful in the determination of void-ratio, degree of saturation, etc.
• It is useful in computing the unit weight of the soil under different conditions and also in the
determination of particle size by wet analysis.

10
C. PARTICLE SHAPE
Particle Shape
• Engineering properties of coarse-grained soil depends on shape of particles

• The particle shape generally can be divided into three major categories:
1. Bulky
2. Flaky
 These particles are predominantly clay minerals.
3. Needle shaped
 These particles are much less common than the other two particle types.
 Examples of soils containing needle-shaped particles are some coral deposits and
attapulgite clays.

Particle Shape
Bulky particles
• They are formed mostly by mechanical weathering of rock and
minerals.
• Geologists use such terms as angular, subangular, subrounded, and
rounded to describe the shapes of bulky particles.
• The shape of granular particles in a soil mass has a great influence
on the physical properties of the soil, such as maximum and
minimum void ratios, shear strength parameters, compressibility, etc
• When the grains are angular there is more interlocking among the
grains, and therefore the strength and stiffness of the soils would be
greater. For example, in roadwork, angular aggregates would provide
better interlocking and resistance against dislodgement.

14
D. RELATIVE DENSITY
Relative Density or Density Index
• Relative density (𝑫𝒓 ) is used to measure the compactness (denseness or

looseness) of a coarse-grained soils
• Other term, Density index (ID)
• Most important for coarse-grained soils
• Range: 0 ≤ 𝐷𝑟 ≤ 100%
• Higher relative density mean higher shear strength and low compressibility

Relative Density

Relative Density
• The relative density, Dr, is a convenient way to express the void ratio of sands and
gravels
• In granular soils, the degree of compaction in the field can be measured
according to the relative density, defined as

Relative Density
• The relative density can also be expressed in terms of dry unit weight, or

Relative Density
• Derivation

Relative Density

22
Example 1
The unit weight of sand back fill was determined by field measurements to be 1746
kg/m^3. The water content at the time of test was 8.6% and the unit weight of the
solid constituents was 2.6 g/cm^3. In the laboratory, the void ratio in the loosest
and densest states were found to be 0.642 and 0.462, respectively. What was
relative density of the fill? Write the importance of this term.

Example 2
A test of the density of soil in place was performed by digging a small hole in the
soil, weighing the extracted soil, and measuring the volume of the hole. The soil
(moist) weighed 895 g; the volume of the hole was 426 cm^3. After drying, the
sample weighed 779 g. Of the dried soil, 400 g was poured into a vessel in a very
loose state. Its volume was subsequently determined to be 276 cm^3. That same
400 g was then vibrated and tamped to a volume of 212 cm^3, G = 2.71. Determine
the relative density of the soil.

REFERENCES
Besavilla. Basic Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering 5th Edition

Budhu, M. (2011). Soil Mechanics and Foundations 3rd Edition
Coduto, D. (1999). Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices
Das, Braja. and Sobhan, K. (2012). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering 8th Edition
Handy, R. and Spanger, M. G. (2007). Geotechnical Engineering: Soil and Foundations
Principles and Practice 5th Edition
Gillesania, DIT. Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering
Murthy, V. N. S. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and
Foundation Engineering
Sivakugan, N. and Das, B. (2010). Geotechnical Engineering: A Practical Problem Solving n
Approach
Venkatramaiah, C. (2006). Geotechnical Engineering 3rd Edition
Institute for Engineers, IES Soil Mechanics Reviewer
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SOIL INDEX

 Index Properties  Engineering Properties

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

• Color of soil is one of the most obvious of its features

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

• Engineering properties of coarse-grained soil depends on shape of particles

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

• Relative density (𝑫𝒓 ) is used to measure the compactness (denseness or

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

Besavilla. Basic Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering 5th Edition

SOIL MECHANICS LECTURES by Engr. Marc Daniel Laurina

GOOGLE CANVAS FACEBOOK GMAIL

No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any

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