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Introduction to Soils by Jill-Ann Stolley, CTR, DMA (TPD0401006)

Introduction to Soils

Overview

The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize you, the student, with the classifications, testing procedures, stabilization methods, and dust abatement methods used for soils.

Learning Objectives

Terminal Learning Objectives
Enabling Learning Objectives

Method / Media

Lecture Method
Power Point Presentation
Video
Demonstrations
Practical Applications

A twenty-five question, multiple choice written exam.

Safety / Cease Training

Vehicle Safety
Sunburn
Drink Water
Bug Spray
In the event of a casualty, all students will go back to the classroom and wait for further instruction.

Transition

Are there any questions over:
- What will be taught?
- Methods used for teaching?
- Evaluation method?

Soil Basics

Collecting the sample.

Definition of Soil

Soil is defined as the entire unconsolidated material that overlies and is distinguishable from bedrock.
Composed of loosely bound mineral grains of various sizes and shapes.
Contains voids of varying sizes. These voids contain:
- Air
- Water
- Organics

Composition of Soil

Soil Formation

The principle factor influencing soil formation is Weathering.

Weathering

Defined as the process by which rock is converted into soil.
Two types of weathering:
- Mechanical
- Chemical

Mechanical Weathering

Unloading – removal of overlying material
Frost Action – up to 4000 psi
Organism Growth – growth inside of joints causes wedging effect
Abrasion – friction
- Wind
- Water

Wind and Water Abrasion

Chemical Weathering

Decomposition of rock through chemical bonding
Examples include:
- Hydration (combining with water)
- Oxidation
- Carbonation (saturation with carbon dioxide)

Engineering Properties of Soil

Varies greatly depending on its physical properties, however, the behavior of a soils not exclusively dependant on physical properties.
Also dependant on arrangement of particles (Compaction)

KSE K-2009 SOIL TEST SET

LABORATORY

SPEEDY MOISTURE TESTER

DYNAMIC CONE PENETROMETER

Laboratory Test Set

#4, 40, 200 Sieves
Mixing Bowls, mortar, & pestles, trowels
Halogen water bottles
Scale, spatula, towels, brush
USACE Cone Penetrometer, water jug, printer

Speedy Moisture Kit

Cleaning brush & scoop
200 gram Scale
Steel balls
Measuring cups
Speedy Moisture Tester

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

Rod Assembly & Dual Mass Hammer
Set Pins & Clips, Allen Wrench
Magnetic ruler w/Digital Assembly

Grain Size

Four major categories:
- Cobbles – greater than 3”
- Gravels – Passes a 3” sieve and retained on No.4 sieve (approx 0.25”)
- Sands – Passes No.4 sieve and retained on No. 200 sieve (0.072 mm)
- Fines – Passes No.200 sieve

Dry Sieve Analysis

Grain Size Groups

Gradation

Distribution of particles within a soil.
Soils are either:
- Well graded – good distribution of particle sizes
- Poorly graded – bad distribution of particles sizes
  - Uniformly graded – only one soil size
  - Gap graded – missing soil sizes

Soil Gradations

Grain Shape

Influences a soils strength and stability
Two general shapes:
- Bulky – three dimensional
  - Angular – recently been broken
  - Sub angular – sharper points and edges are worn
  - Sub rounded – further weathered than sub angular
  - Rounded – no projections and smooth in texture
- Platy – two dimensional

Soil Particle Shapes

Density

Determined by the ratio of voids (air and water) to soil particles.
A denser soil has greater strength and stability than a looser soil.

Moisture

Most important factor affecting engineering characteristics.
Moistures affect varies greatly depending on soil type:
- Course grained soils usually remains unchanged.
- Fine grained soils are susceptible to shrinking and swelling.

Plasticity and Cohesion

Plasticity is the ability of a soil to deform without cracking.
Fine grained soils, like clay, have a wide range of plasticity.
Coarse grained soils, like clean sands and gravels, are non plastic

Concepts of Soils Engineering

Settlement
Shear Resistance
Soil Failure

Settlement

Soil settlement is dependent on:
- Density
- Grain size and shape
- Structure
- Past loading history of the soil deposit
- Magnitude and method of application of the load
- Degree of confinement of the soil mass

Shear Resistance

Related to a soils ability to withstand loads.
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is a measure of shearing resistance
- CBR is a soil’s ability to support a load relative to that of soil with known strength (limestone).
- Determined by the Soils Test Kit (B2150)

Bearing Capacity

The ability of a soil to support a load applied by an engineering structure.
A soil with insufficient bearing capacity might fail, by shear, allowing the structure to sink and shift.
Dense and well graded soil with angular particles generally has good bearing capacities.

Soil Failure

Soil Classification

Introduction

The principle objective of any soil classification system is predicting the engineering properties and behavior of a soil.
This is achieved with simple laboratory and field tests.
These tests results place a soil into a group of similar soils.

Unified Soils Classification System

Based on the characteristics of the soil which affect its engineering properties.
Basic classification considerations:
- % of gravels, sands, and fines
- Gradation of the soil
- Plasticity and compressibility of the soil

USCS Soil Categories

Coarse grained soils – less than 50% fines
- Gravels and gravelly soils
- Sands and sandy soils
Basic classification considerations:
- Fine grained soils – more than 50% fines
  - Silts (0.05mm to 0.005mm)
  - Clays (smaller than 0.005mm)
  - Organics
Highly organic soils (peat)

USCS Soil Groups

A symbol is assigned to each soil category, and categories can be combined to create a two letter designator.

USCS Soil Symbols

Possible USCS Soil Types

GW – gravel, well graded

GP – gravel, poorly graded

GM – silty gravels

GC – clayey gravels

SW – sand, well graded

SP – sand, poorly graded

SM – silty sands

SC – clayey sands

ML – silts, low plasticity

CL – clays, low plasticity

OL – organics, low plasticity

MH – silts, high plasticity

CH – clays, high plasticity

OH – organics, high plasticity

Pt – peat and other highly organic soils

Other Soil Terms

Loam – mix of clay, sand, and organics

Soil Compaction

Purpose of Compaction

Most critical component in horizontal construction.
Durability and stability of structures is related to proper compaction.
Structural failure can often be traced to improper compaction.

Effects of Soil Compaction

Settlement – Compaction brings a closer arrangement of soil particles which, in turn, reduces settlement.
Shearing Resistance – Increasing soil density usually increases shearing resistance.
Water Movement – Compaction decreases the size and number of voids leaving less room for water.
Volume Change – Generally not of great concern except with clayey soils.

Design Considerations

The degree of compaction that can be achieved is dependant on its physical and chemical properties; however, several common factors influence compaction of all soils.

Moisture Content

The moisture content has a great impact on a soils ability to densify.
Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) – the percentage of water, at which a soil will achieve maximum dry density (MDD) under a given compactive effort.
When at MDD, most of the air voids have been expelled from the soil.

Effect Of H2O on Density

Typical H2O-Density Relationship

Compaction Characteristics of Various Soils

The nature of a soil has an effect on its response to compaction.
Light weight soils can have maximum densities under 60 pcf under a given compactive effort.
The same compactive effort applied to clay could yield 90 to 100 pcf.
Well graded soils can yield maximum densities up to 135 pcf under a given compactive effort.

Selection of Materials

Use the indigenous material from cut sections of the road as much as possible.
Tables 13, 14, and 15 provide a listing of soil types and the value as construction materials.

Soil Stabilization

Introduction

Soil Stabilization is the alteration of one or more soil properties, by mechanical or chemical means, to create an improved soil material possessing the desired engineering properties.
Typically, soil stabilization seeks to alter texture, gradation, or plasticity.

Stabilization Techniques

Geotextiles
Mechanical Stabilization
Chemical Stabilization

Geotextiles

Geotextiles serve three primary functions:
- Reinforcement – Good in low load bearing soils such as swamps and peat bogs.
- Separation – Separates weaker layers in a project.
- Drainage – Allows water to pass while preventing soil particle movement.

Geotextiles Separation

Mechanical Stabilization

Mechanical Stabilization is the blending of one or more soil types with in place soil to obtain a material the will have engineering properties better than that of the other.
Does not include compaction.

Chemical Stabilization

Chemical Stabilization is adding granular or chemical admixtures to a soil.
Used when an inadequate soil is too costly to remove and replace
Common methods are:
- Portland Cement
- Lime
- Fly-Ash
- Mixtures
- Bituminous
Portland Cement
- Transforms the soil into a cemented mass increasing strength and durability
- Good for a wide range of materials

Portland Cement

Chemical Stabilization

Lime
- Reacts with medium to fine grained soils to decrease plasticity
- Not normally used with SW,SP, GW, or GP because of the low amount of fines
- The increased plasticity increases strength and reduces shrinkage and swell
Fly-Ash
- By-product of coal fired electric power plants
- Reacts with lime and water to produce a strong, slow-hardening cement
- Capable of high compressive strengths
Mixtures (if materials are available)
- Lime/Fly-ash
- Lime/Cement/Fly-ash
  - Expedient mix:
    - 1% Cement
    - 4% Lime
    - 16% Fly-ash
    - 79% Soil
Bituminous
- Not normally available to the Marine Corps
- Types include:
  - Asphalt cement
  - Cutback asphalt
  - Asphalt emulsions

Dust Abatement

What is Dust?

Dust is simply soil particles which have become airborne.
Generally, dust are those particles which pass the #200 sieve.
Causes of dust:
- Wind
- Physical Abrasion
  - Vehicles
  - Foot Traffic
Dust is typically a problem with sandy soils of Greater than 10% fines
Soils with 10% to 40% fines are the most difficult to deal with
Soils with greater than 40% fines generally respond the best to dust abatement products

Factors Influencing Dust

Soil texture and structure
Soil moisture content
Presence of salts and organic matter
Smoothness of the ground cover
Vegetation cover
Wind velocity and direction
Humidity

Dust Control Methods

Agronomic
- Examples include:
  - Mulch
  - Sodding
  - Planting vegetation
- Not normally used in traffic areas
Surface Penetrates
- Applied to the soil surface and allowed to “seep” in
- Examples include:
  - Bitumen’s
  - Resins
  - Salts
  - Water
  - Polymers
Surface Blanket
- Covers the soil to prevent dust
- Examples include:
  - Aggregates
  - Geofabrics
  - Bituminous surface treatments

Dust Abatement Products

Gretch
EK-35
EnviroKleen
Tar
Mobi-matting
Tri-PAM
Soiltac

Reference Library

Introduction to Soils by Jill-Ann Stolley, CTR, DMA (TPD0401006)

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