Introduction to Soil Mechanics Laboratory Testing Book

Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     xi
List of symbols     xiii
In situ methods     1
In situ soil description and identification     2
Particle size     2
Dry strength     3
Shape and mineralogical composition of coarse-grained soils     3
Moisture     3
Color     4
Consistency     4
Odor     5
Structure     5
In situ soil investigation     6
The importance of proper geotechnical investigation     6
Soil sampling     7
In situ testing     11
Standard penetration test     13
Cone penetration test     15
Vane shear test     15
Pressuremeter test     15
Geophysical exploration     18
Recording soil exploration results     20
References     22
Physical properties     23
Weight-volume relations     24
Phase diagram     24
Compilation of typical values for soils     27
Water displacement method for the evaluation of soil unit weight     28
Gravimetric moisture content determination using ovendrying     31
Alternative gravimetric moisture content determination methods     33
Moisture content determination using microwave oven drying (ASTM standard D4643)     33
Moisture content determination using the calcium carbide gas pressure tester (ASTM standard D4944)     34
Specific gravity     36
Sample calculations     39
References     42
Soil classification     43
Sieve analysis of soils     44
Introduction     44
Test description     45
Sample data and calculations     48
Hydrometer analysis     51
Introduction     51
Principle of analysis     51
Correction factors     56
Analysis procedure     57
Sample calculations     60
Combined grain size distribution     63
Introduction     63
Computations     63
Report     64
Atterberg limits     65
Introduction     65
Liquid limit test     67
Plastic limit test     70
Shrinkage limit     70
Report     73
Sources of error     74
Typical data      74
Sample calculations     75
Soil classification systems     77
Unified soil classification system     77
Procedure     78
Sample calculations     78
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) classification system     78
Sample calculations     81
References     85
Soil construction and field inspection     87
Compaction test     88
Introduction     88
Sample data and calculations     94
Typical values     95
Field inspection     96
Introduction     96
Sand-cone test     96
Rubber-balloon-density test     97
Nuclear density test     98
Sand-cone method     98
Sample data and calculations     101
Balloon-density method     102
Sample data and calculations     105
Nuclear density method     106
References     115
Engineering properties - hydraulic conductivity and consolidation     117
Hydraulic conductivity of soils     118
Introduction     118
Hydraulic conductivity tests      120
Constant-head permeability test     122
Falling-head permeability test     127
Sample data and calculations     130
Consolidation of soils     133
Introduction     133
The consolidation test     134
Determination of geotechnical engineering parameters     138
Calculations     143
Summary of results     146
Typical values     147
Sample data and calculations     148
References     158
Engineering properties - shear strength     159
Direct shear test     160
Introduction     161
Procedure     163
Data reduction     165
Presentation of results     166
Sample data and calculations     168
Unconfined compression test     171
Introduction     171
The unconfined compression test     172
Calculations     174
Presentation of results     175
Sample data and calculations     175
Triaxial test     179
Introduction     180
Equipment     182
Test procedure     185
Electronic monitoring      188
Conclusion     189
Calculations and results     189
Sample data and calculations     191
References     205
Notes on report writing     207
Properties and conversion tables     215
Index     219