UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CIV 222 Soil Mechanics

Geotechnical Report

Submit to M. Jackson Name:Joash oseph 4/29/2011 Reg#:09/0905/1201

Table of Contents
1. 2. 3. 4. Introduction General description of site Geology of area Methodology i. Field investigation ii. Location and drilling iii. Sampling iv. Water table 5. Bore hole log stratigraphy 6. Lab testing 7. Results and analysis i. Summary of results 8. conclusion 9. Reference 10. Appendix
1 2 3-4 5 5

6 7 8-18 19 20 21 22

Introduction
The following information is a report of a geotechnical work assigned to a group of students from the course CIV 222. The purpose of the following report is to display the physical properties of the sub soil. This investigation was done on the University of Guyana Turkeyne campus. The investigation site is located in the field close to the Sophia entrance. It is bounded by the Faculty of Technologys laboratory to the north, the eastern, southern and northern sides are bounded by the Sophia. The investigation took place during the month of May and tests carried out on collected sample during the period of May to April.

General site description

The investigation site is located in the field close to the Sophia entrance. It is bounded by the Faculty of Technologys laboratory to the north, the eastern, southern and northern sides are bounded by the Sophia.1 The site was overgrown with dense vegetation. There were no existing structures in the immediate area. Upon removal of vegetation it was discovered that there was an abundance of garbage on the top of the soil.

1 As shown in appendix I

Geology of site
The Coastline, extending from the most northern part of Guyana (Point Playa) to the Corentyne River, is underlain by the clays of the Demerara and Coropina Formation. These formations are crossed by the old shorelines and sand ridges mostly parallel with the present shoreline. During the initial period of low sea level in the late Pleistocene (0.8 to 0.01 Ma), after being subjected to strong erosion and weathering, the Pleistocene (1.8 to 0.01 Ma) deposits of soft tidal flats were dewatered and oxidized. This caused them to become firmer in consistency due to loss of water thus resulting in the deposits which are now mapped as the Coropina Formation. In the following period of the rising sea level, aggradation of softer clay took place and the river valleys within the lower reaches formed during the time of low sea levels were filled up by material brought from the interior. These events resulted in the undulation of the Coropina Formation as well as the formation of Coropina islands. This soft clay now forms the Demerara Formation which still has younger parts being added to sections of the present coast. The Demerara Formation is the top member of a series of unconsolidated sediments which fringe the coast of the Guianas. They are part of the upper Clay Series which lies disconformably on the dissected plains of the White Sand Series. The Clay Series is distinguished from White Sand series mostly due to its much higher water content as well as the presence of marine molluscs and foraminifera of recent aspect. Underlying the Clay Series is a layer of water-logged sand (15 25 feet). Below these soft deposits were the more compacted deposits of the White Sand Series with the typical lignitic layers. The bearing values for piles driven through the superficial deposits would increase gradually until they reach the coarse sand overlying he deposits of the White Sand Series, when it would suddenly increase at a much faster rate. The marine and estuary deposits of the heavy, soft clays of the Demerara Formation generally possesses high water content and has fan-like distributed sand and shell 5 ridges and attains a thickness of approximately 100 feet. The clay deposits consist mainly of grey, blue and brown clay locally mottled and occasionally silted with coarse quartz grains.

(Source: P.A.Snidjers. The Demerara Formation: Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Soil Report)

Methodology
Field investigation The field investigation was carried out by a group of CIV 222 students during the month March 7 2011 Location and drilling A reconnaissance was done, with the assistance of the lecturer, to select an appropriate site for drilling. At the selected site a six foot by six foot area was cleared of all vegetation. Sampling
Sampling entails the collection of both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples, in accordance with ASTM D-1586 and ASTM D-1587 procedures. The undisturbed soil samples were obtained at a depth of 0.7 metres and 2.2metres using the Shelby tube. Samples were sent to the laboratory immediately after they were identified and classified, with the obvious exception of the undisturbed samples, which were sealed with candle wax upon recovery. A total of five samples were collected.

Water table While taking the samples it was thought that the water table was at a depth of _____________. Students were then instructed to return in a 24 hr period to record a true depth of the water table.

Bore hole log

Project: CIV 222 Location: University of Guyana Turkeyn Campus Drilling Method: Hand auguring Water Table Elevation: Depth of Borehole: Date: 7th March 2011 Strata Depth (m) 0.00 0.18 1. 0. 7 1.65 1. 2. 2 2.6 () Very dense 81.0526 gray clayey silt 48.78 24.39 Sample Depth (m) Soil Profile Sample Description Moisture content (%) Undisturbed Shear Strength (lbs/ft3) Cohesion of soil 1.65m 2.2m

Black soil with prescence of organics, garbage present Very dense 47.26 light brown soil

342.0119

171.0058 5

Laboratory testing
The tests carried out on soil sample collected were in accordance to ASTM procedures. The tests carried out were as follows.
Test Moisture Content Specific Gravity Atterberg Limit (Liquid Limit) Atterberg Limit (Plastic Limit) Atterberg Limit (Shrinkage Limit) Consolidation Unconfined Compressive Strength ASTM Procedure D2216 D854 D423 D424 D427 D2435 D2166

Results and Analysis

Results Results for Unconfined compressive test (below water table sample) mm Specimen Vertical Proving Ring Dial Reading Applied Axial Load (lbs) Corrected Area Ac = Ao/(1 ) (in2) 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 0 0.01969 0.03937 0.05906 0.07874 0.09843 0.11811 0.1378 0.1575 0.1772 0.1969 0.2165 0.2362 0.2556 0.2756 0.2953 0 0.006213 0.012422 0.018635 0.024845 0.031057 0.037264 0.043479 0.049696 0.055912 0.062127 0.068312 0.074528 0.080649 0.086959 0.093175 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.5 4.0 0 0.1483 0.2966 0.2966 0.2966 0.2966 0.2966 0.2966 0.2966 0.3708 0.3708 0.4449 0.4449 0.4449 0.5191 0.5932 0 2.061302 2.074262 2.087394 2.100687 2.114154 2.127785 2.141610 2.155621 2.169814 2.184192 2.198692 2.213459 2.228196 2.243596 2.258975 0 10.35936 20.59056 20.46110 20.33163 20.20212 20.07270 19.94299 19.81354 24.60482 24.44620 29.13805 28.94366 28.75223 33.31723 37.81396 Stress (psf)

Deformation Strain = L (in.) = L/L

800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250

0.31496 0.3346 0.3543 0.3740 0.3937 0.4134 0.43307 0.45276 0.47244 0.49213

0.099379 0.105576 0.111792 0.118007 0.12422 0.13044 0.136646 0.142858 0.149068 0.15528

4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.5 5.5

0.5932 0.5932 0.5932 0.5932 0.7415 0.7415 0.7415 0.7415 0.8156 0.8156

2.274536 2.290295 2.306323 2.322575 2.339052 2.355784 2.372717 2.389913 2.407354 2.425658

37.55526 37.29685 37.03766 36.77849 45.64926 45.32504 45.00157 44.67778 48.78651 48.41837

mm

Specimen Deformation = L (in.)

Vertical Strain = L/L

Proving Ring Dial Reading

Applied Axial Load (lbs)

Corrected Area Ac = Ao/(1 ) (in2)

Stress (psf)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 1050

0 0.01969 0.03937 0.05906 0.07874 0.09843 0.11811 0.1378 0.1575 0.1772 0.1969 0.2165 0.2362 0.2556 0.2756 0.2953 0.31496 0.3346 0.3543 0.3740 0.3937 0.4134

0 0.006213 0.012422 0.018635 0.024845 0.031057 0.037264 0.043479 0.049696 0.055912 0.062127 0.068312 0.074528 0.080649 0.086959 0.093175 0.099379 0.105576 0.111792 0.118007 0.12422 0.13044

0 5 8 11 14 17 19 21 22 24 26 27 28 30 30 32 33 34 35 35 35 36

0 0.7415 1.1864 1.6313 2.0762 2.5211 2.8177 3.1143 3.2626 3.5592 3.8558 4.0041 4.1524 4.449 4.449 4.7456 4.8939 5.0422 5.1905 5.1905 5.1905 5.3388

0 2.061302 2.074262 2.087394 2.100687 2.114154 2.127785 2.141610 2.155621 2.169814 2.184192 2.198692 2.213459 2.228196 2.243596 2.258975 2.274536 2.290295 2.306323 2.322575 2.339052 2.355784

0 51.8003 82.3622 112.5361 142.3214 171.7179 190.6907 209.4028 217.9485 236.2068 254.2061 262.2423 270.1408 287.5221 304.5853 311.9651 319.2198 326.3475 324.0793 331.0065 337.8046 335.4054

Unconfined compressive strength test (above water table)

Stress
Strain

Liquid Limit results (above water table) Can No. Weight can, W1 (g) of Weight of can Weight of can Moisture + weight of + weight of content, w wet soil, W2 dry soil, W3 (g) (g) (%) = Number blows of

1 2 3 4 5

6.7 6.3 6.9 6.1 7.0

23.8 26.9 30.0 33.0 35.8

16.6 18.1 20.0 20.8 22.0

72.727 74.576 76.336 82.993 92.000

35 28 17 11 7

Liquid Limit results (above water table) Cans No. Weight can, W1 (g) 1 2 3 6.7 6.3 6.9 of Weight of can Weight W2 (g) 28.2 31.3 35.0 of Moisture Number blows of

+ moist soil, can + weight content, w of dry soil, W3 (g) 18.1 19.4 21.1 (%) 88.596 90.840 97.887

35 26 16

4 5

6.1 7.0

39.7 43.6

22.2 23.8

108.696 117.857

10 5

Plastic limit (above water table) Can No. Weight of can, Weight of can W1 (g) + Wet soil, W2 (g) 1 2 3 15.2 15.4 15.3 18.5 19.8 19.1 Weight of can + Dry soil, W3 (g) 17.7 18.8 18.2 32.0 29.412 31.0345 30.8155 Water Content (%) Plastic Limit = Average moisture contents of

Plastic limit (below water table) Can No. Weight of can, Weight of can W1 (g) + Wet soil, W2 (g) 1 2 15.2 15.4 25.7 27.4 Weight of can + Dry soil, W3 (g) 22.3 24.2 47.887 36.364 Water Content (%) Plastic Limit = Average moisture contents of

15.3

25.6

23.1

32.051

38.767

Shrinkage limit (Above water table) 1 Weight of coated shrinkage limit dish, W1 Weight of dish + wet soil, W2 Weight of dish + dry soil, W3 Original length of cylinder with wet soil Original diameter of wet sample (cylindrical) Change in length of sample (dry) Change in diameter of dry sample Volume of cylinder with wet 38.250 cm3 35.250 cm3 22.36 mm 22.36 mm 122.49 mm 122.49 mm 26.39 mm 26.39 mm 304.6 g 285.0 g 139.86 mm 304.4 g 284.4 g 139.86 mm 252.5 g 2 251.5 g

sample (V) Change in volume of (Dry) sample (Vo) Shrinkage Limit 16.765 % 15.478 % 24.0498 cm3 23.735 cm3

Shrinkage limit (Below water table) Weight of coated shrinkage limit dish, W1 Weight of dish + wet soil, W2 Weight of dish + dry soil, W3 Original length of cylinder with wet soil Original diameter of wet sample (cylindrical) Change in length of sample (dry) Change in diameter of dry sample 22.79 mm 22.80 mm 123.76 mm 123.77 mm 26.39 mm 26.39 mm 306.1 g 286.4 g 139.86 mm 311.1 g 290.6 g 139.86 mm 254.8 g 256.6 g

Volume of cylinder with wet sample (V) Change in volume of (Dry) sample (Vo) Shrinkage Limit Time (min) Hydrometer Reading, R

38.250 cm3 25.276 cm3

38.250 cm3 25.279 cm3

25.599 % Density g/L FZ (g/L)

22.141 %

0.25 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 40 80 160 320 640 1280 2560 5120 10240 20480

1.030 1.029 1.027 1.025 1.023 1.022 1.021 1.019 1.017 1.015 1.012 1.010 1.009 1.007 1.004 1.002 1.000

1030 1029 1027 1025 1023 1022 1021 1019 1017 1015 1012 1010 1009 1007 1004 1002 1000

998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 998 Hydrometre test (below water table)

Analysis of results
Moisture content of sample increased as the strata depth increased. The moisture content of soil sample collected below the water table was observed to be the maximum. This moisture content was determined to be 81.056315%. this determines that the soil has a very high moisture content The specific gravity of the soil was found to be a 2.94 for the sample above the water table and for below the water table specific gravity was found to be 2.04. the values were found to be in the range of silty clays.() The soil can be classified according to the values found by the plastic Atterberg limit tests. Using the Unified Classification System it was shown that the soil falls above the A-line on the graph and thereby indicates that the soil is inorganic and from the graph it also shows it is a clayey soil

with a high plasticity indicating moderate strength characteristics and the ability to deform like a plastic2. Shrinkage limit tells of the soils characteristic change in volume when water content exceeds the shrinkage limit of 23.87% for below the water table and 16.12% for above the water table.The variation between the values of the liquid limit and the moisture content give an indication as to the degree of the soil settlement.

Summary of results
Below water table results Liquid Limit (LL) Plastic Limit (PL) Plasticity Index (PI) = LL PL Shrinkage Limit (SL) Liquidity Index (LI) = (w PL)/PI Specific Gravity Compressive strength 94% 37.8% 54.4% 23.87% 0.795 2.94 48.78651 lb/ft3

Above water table results

2 As seen in the appendix (fig 2)

Liquid Limit (LL) Plastic Limit (PL) Plasticity Index (PI) = LL PL Shrinkage Limit (SL) Liquidity Index (LI) = (w PL)/PI Specific Gravity Compressive strength

76% 30.82% 45.18% 16.12% 0.36 2.04 342.0119 lb/ft3

Conclusion
Moisture content of soil from the tested site increases with the increase of depth as is shown in research. The maximum moisture content was found to be at the water table. The maximum moisture content was found to be 81.0526%. Soil was found that the soil samples from the top layer had high organic content and also appeared as though it was used for a dump site momentarily. The depth of such soil was only found to be about 1 foot (1ft) depth. The secondary layer was a thick light brown soil. The final observed layer was a thick grey coloured soil which was determined to be the water table at a depth of 1.65m. Based on The Unified Classification System, the collected soil sample was classified as CH Inorganic Fat Clayey Soil with high Plasticity and low compressive strength characteristics. The soil is also normally consolidated and has a very soft consistency.

References
Bell, F.G. Engineering Geology. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd., 2007. docstoc.com documents for small buisnesses. Unconfined Compression Test. n.d. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23528558/Unconfined-Compression-Test (accessed 04 28, 2011). Holtz, Robert D. "An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering." In An Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, by Robert D. Holtz. EngleWood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1981. P.A.Snidjers. The demerara Formation. Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Soil Report, n.d. Queens University Faculty of Engineering and applied sciency and engineering. n.d. http://www.civil.queensu.ca/people/faculty/raymond/Notes/3412UndergradCourseNotes/05-CLASS.PDF (accessed 4 27, 2011). The University of Akron . n.d. gozips.uakron.edu/~mcbelch/documents/SpecificGravityofSoils.ppt (accessed 4 27, 2011).

Appendix

Figure 1 Acquired by using Google Earth

Figure 2 http://www.civil.queensu.ca/people/faculty/raymond/Notes/3412UndergradCourseNotes/05-CLASS.PDF

Appendix

Apparatus unconfined compression Test 14-3-2011 compression test 14-3-2011

set up for unconfined

Measuring Diametre for UC test

Sieving crushed soil for Atterburg Limit 1 test 1

De-airing water for Atterburg Limit

Liquid limit apparatus with soil test

Mixing wet soil for Atterburg Limit

Preparation for Hydrometre test 1

Preparation for Hydrometre test 2

Preparation for Hydrometre test 3

Preparation for Hydrometre test 4

Taking readings Hydrometre test