Tennessee Tech

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Memo
To:

Dr. Daniel R. VandenBerge, P.E.

From: write name here

CC:

File

Date:

2/24/16

Re: Homework 3

1. The gradation curve for stockpile A has been plotted against the gradation criteria for AASHTO # 57.
It can be seen that the gradation curve of stockpile A does not fit the criteria at sieves number 3/8 and
4. Therefore, more gravel have to be added to bring the lower bounds within the criteria. Stockpile A
has been classified as Well Graded Gravel (GW)
2. The group name of Layer 2 is Silty Sand and group symbol is SM
The group name of Layer 3 is Poorly Graded Sand and group symbol is SP
The group name of Layer 4 is Lean Clay with Sand and group symbol is CL
3. The completed boring log has been attached. The major problem is that there is peat at the foundation
level which is a weak soil and therefore will have strength problems. It should be replaced with a
stronger soil.
4. The maximum dry unit weight is 112.5 pcf and the optimum moisture content is 12%.
4/25 or 16% of the test points have failed to meet the criteria.

Question 1:
Classification:
Passing #200=1%<50% (Coarse)
16
( 8 )2
C
=
=4.57
C
=
=1.14
u
c
Gravel %= 100-13=87 and
,
3.5
163.5
It is Well Graded Gravel (GW)

Question 2:
CURVE J (LAYER 2)
Passing # 200 = 19%<50% (Coarse grained)
Gravel %= 100-90 = 10%.
Sand %= 90-19=71%
LL= 30, PI= 30-25=5
It is Silty Sand (SM)
CURVE I (LAYER 3)
Passing #200= 4%<50% (Coarse grained)
Gravel%=100-100= 0%
Sand %= 100-4=96%
0.32
Cu =
=3.51
0.091

( 0.18 )2
C c=
=1.11
0.091 0.32
It is Poorly Graded Sand (SP)
CURVE H (LAYER 4)
Passing #200= 82%>50% (Fine grained)
LL=38, PI=38-22=16
Sand %= 100-82=18%>15%
It is Lean Clay with Sand (CL)

Question 3:
Question 4:
Sample calculations:
Write name here

Water content ( w )=

Test

Weight of

weight of water
4.193.86
=
100=8.55
weight of dry solids
3.86

Total

CL
SP
S
M

Water
Moist
Dense
Very
Medium
stiff
gray
dense
gray
poorly
lean
brown
graded
CLAY
silty Unit
SAND
with sand
(ASTM
(ASTM
D2487)
D2487)

Dry Unit

Zero Air

point

Dry Soil,
Ws (lb)

Weight of
Moist Soil,

Content w
(%)

Wt (lb)
1
2
3
4
5

3.86
4.02
4.08
3.92
3.75

4.19
4.45
4.58
4.49
4.36

8.55
10.69
12.25
14.54
16.25

Weight

Void

(pcf)

ZAV

125.7
133.5
137.4
134.7
130.8

(pcf)
115.79
120.60
122.40
117.60
112.51

(pcf)
140.56
134.10
129.75
123.85
119.78

Weight

Test Points
124
122
120
118
116
Dry Unit weight (pcf) 114
112
110
108
106

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

16

17

Moisture Content (w%)

Figure 1 Problem 4(b)

Standard Proctor curve

124
122
120
118
116
Dry unit weight (pcf) 114
112
110
108
106

10

11

12

13

14

15

Moisture content (w%)

Problem 4 (c)

140

135

130

Dry Unit weight (pcf) 125

Standard Proctor curve

zero air void

120

115

110

10

11

12

13

14

Moisture Content (w%)

Problem 4(d)

15

16

128
126
124
122
Dry unit weight (pcf) 120
Standard Proctor curve
118

Field Test Points

Percentage

116
114
112

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Moisture content (w%)

Problem 4 (e)
#

w%

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

13
12.8
12.4
11.5
12.9
12.2
12
12.4
13.1
13.2
12.9
11.8
10.5
11.3
11.7
11.7
11.2
11.3
12.2
13.2
12.9
12.6
13
11.4
10.5

(pcf)

122.6
122
125.9
125.3
122.7
125.1
125.1
124.6
123.4
123.1
124.7
125.2
126
125.8
124.7
124.8
122.4
122.7
124.4
116.9
118.3
120.7
119.9
121.4
117.6

R.C. (%)

w-wOPT

100.0816
99.59184
102.7755
102.2857
100.1633
102.1224
102.1224
101.7143
100.7347
100.4898
101.7959
102.2041
102.8571
102.6939
101.7959
101.8776
99.91837
100.1633
101.551
95.42857
96.57143
98.53061
97.87755
99.10204
96

1
0.8
0.4
-0.5
0.9
0.2
0
0.4
1.1
1.2
0.9
-0.2
-1.5
-0.7
-0.3
-0.3
-0.8
-0.7
0.2
1.2
0.9
0.6
1
-0.6
-1.5