Introduction to Soil Mechanics Laboratory

A step-by-step text on the basic tests performed in soil mechanics, Introduction to Soil Mechanics Laboratory Testing provides procedural aids and elucidates industry standards. It also covers how to properly present data and document results. Containing numerical examples and figures, the information presented is based on American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, and US Army Corps of Engineers engineering manuals.The authors discuss the different methods of in situ field methods and ex situ laboratory methods of soil description and identification. They present equations for the physical properties of soil and laboratory methods of soil classification. They also discuss tests for the interaction of soil and water, and hydraulic conductivity and consolidation. These tests produce information useful in the identification and characterization of soil samples and their engineering behaviors.A comprehensive resource, the book describes the evaluation of physical properties of soils, including mass, weight, unit weight, and mass density of the soil mass and its component phases. These properties are then expanded to define a number of weight and volumetric relationships. The book also discusses tests used in the evaluation of the density-water content relationships in soils and in the evaluation of the quality of compaction operations. These features and more make this book an excellent guide for testing soils.

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

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Introduction to Soil Mechanics Laboratory Testing

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