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Classification of soil
The soil classification according to the size of particles.
The soil which diameter of soil less than 0.067 mm called cohesive soil and
consists of clay and silt.
The soil diameter of particles more than 0.067 called cohesion less soil and
consists of sand, gravel and stone
Soil separate size limit as:
Stone > 60 mm
Gravel
Coarse gravel 20 60 mm
Medium gravel 6 20 mm
Fine gravel 2 6 mm
Sand
Coarse sand 0.6 2 mm
Medium sand 0.2 0. 6 mm
Fine sand 0.06 0.2 mm
Silt
Coarse silt 0.02 0. 06 mm
Medium silt 0.006 0.02 mm
Fine silt 0.002 0.006 mm
Clay < 0.002
Sketch the classification of soil according to the size of Diameter shown in fig. (1)
The Soil Consists of two kinds of soil
I. Organic Soil
II. Inorganic Soil which consists of cohesive soil (clay - silt ) and cohesive less soil (sand
- gravel - stone)
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Properties of Soil:
Between the soil particles there are the internal forces that the soil can be offer to
resist failure and sliding a long any plane inside it. One of there is cohesive strength (C)
and the other is angle of internal friction ().
The cohesive strength appear clearly in cohesive soil, more than the cohesion less soil
is called by this forces ..
Cohesive soil called C soil and
Cohesion less soil called soil
But the soil in general called C soil.
Determination of soil properties (shear strength):
The shear strength parameters of soil can be determined in the laboratory
primarily by three types of tests. Direct shear test, triaxial test and unconfined
compression test.
1. Direct shear test:
This is the oldest and simplest form of shear test. The test equipment consist of a
metal shear box in which the sample is placed as shown in fig. (2).
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The box is split horizontally into two halves. Normal force on the sample is
applied from the top of the shear box by dead weight. Shear force is applied to the side
of the top half of the box to cause failure in the soil sample. For the given test. The
normal stress can be calculated as:-
= normal
stress =
=
and shear stress can be calculated as :
= shear stress
=
=

1
=

1
=
The test repeated more than 3 time with different value for force P (normal force).
Followed that the difference value for force T (shear force).
Put the results in table and sketch as shown in fig. (3).
Test Number
=
1
1

1
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2
2

2
3
3
3
Fig (3) A : The results in table shear stress
The shear strength value can be determined as shown, where
= Angle of internal friction.
C = Cohesive stress or adhesion stress
The equation for the average line obtained from experimental results called
coulomb law.
S = C + tan
Where :
S : Shear strength
C : Adhesion stress
: Friction angle
: Normal stress
1. Triaxial Compression Test:
Triaxial compression test is one of the most common method for
determination the shear strength parameters or C and for soil.
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The sample dimensions are 1.5 in and 3 in diameter and length, As shown in
fig (4) the sample is encased by a thin rubber membrane and placed inside
plastic cylindrical chamber that is usually filled with water which is under
pressure, the sample is effected with axial load which caused axial stress. The
axial stress increment until the sample fails, and the axial deformation is
measured by a dial gauge , as shown in fig (5), the soil sample is subjected
to an all around confining pressure
3
.
Where :

3
= Pore water pressure on confining stress

1
= Total axial stress at failure

3
=
3
+ C
1
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Fig (5) : Stress Application
Where:

3
: Pore water pressure on confining stress

1
: Total axial stress at failure

1
=
3
+
in triaxial test
1
is the major principle stress and
3
is the minor stress several
test on similar samples can be conducted by varying the confining pressure, with the
major and minor principle stress at failure for each envelop can be obtained the
following relation show fig. (6) and fig. (7)
Fig. (6) : Mohr's Circle
Test Number (1) (2) (3)
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3
"
3
"
3
" "

1
"
1
"
1
Fig (7) : The table of the results
As shown in fig (6) the plan of failure inclination with the major principle plane.
= 45
+
Where:
: An angle of internal friction
And the shear strength equation can be written as
S = C + tan
Example:
The triaxial compression test was carried and the results were as follow.
Determine the shear strength parameters of soil.
300 200 100 Cell Pressure
3
KN/m
2
280 205 130
Deviator Stress at failure
Solution:
300 200 100
3
KN/m
2
280 205 130
KN/m
2
580 405 230
1
=
3
+
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Fig (8) : From the curve we can measure C and Q
3 . Unconfined Compression Test:
This special type of test used for clay sample as shown in fig (9) , where
= 0 in that test the confining pressure
3
is zero, axial load is rapidly applied to
cause failure, at failure the minor principal stress
3
=

0 and the major principal
stress is
1
, the relation between stresses, shear and normal as shown in fig. (10).
So unconfined cohesive strength is (Cu).
Fig. (9) : Unconfined Compression Test
Cu
=
= =

Where:

1
= minor stress called unconfined stress q
u
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Fig. (10) : stresses relations for unconfined compression test.