DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING CEGR 325 GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEERING AND LABORATORY

Home Work 5

Due Wednesday April 19, at 1255PM

1. The results of a standard Proctor test are given below. Determine the maximum dry unit
weight of compaction and the optimum moisture content.

Volume of Proctor Mold (ft3) Weight of wet soil in the Moisture Content (%)
mold (lb)
1/30 3.26 8.4
1/30 4.15 10.2
1/30 4.67 12.3
1/30 4.02 14.6
1/30 3.63 16.8

2. For the soil described in problem 1, if Gs= 2.75, determine the void ratio and the degree
of saturation at optimum moisture content.
3. The in situ moisture content of a soil is 17% and the moist unit weight is 105 lb/ft3. The
specific gravity of soil solids is 2.70. This soil is to be excavated and transported to a
construction site for use in a compacted fill. If the specifications call for the soil to be
compacted to a minimum dry unit weight of 102.5lb/ft3 at the same moisture content of
17%, how many cubic yards of soil from the excavation site are needed to produce
20,000 yd3 of compacted fill ? How many-ton truckloads are needed to transport the
excavated soil ?
4. A proposed embankment fill requires 9500m3 of compacted soil. The void ratio of the
compacted fill is specified as 0.65. Four borrow pits are available as described in the
following table (next page), which lists the respective void ratios of the soil and the cost
per cubic meter for moving the soil to the proposed construction site. Make the necessary
calculations to select the pit from which the soil should be bought to minimize the cost.
Assume Gs to be same same at all pits.
 Borrow pit Void ratio Cost ($/m3)
A 0.82 8
B 1.1 5
C 0.9 9
D 0.78 12

5. Two choices for borrow soil are available:

Borrow Pit A Parameters description Borrow Pit B

115 pcf Density in place 120pcf
? Density in transport 95
0.92 Void ratio in transport ?
25% Water Content in Place 20%
$0.20/yd3 Cost to excavate $0.10/yd3
0.30/yd3 Cost to haul $0.40/yd3
2.7 Gs 2.7
112pcf Maximum Proctor Dry Density 110 pcf
Note: In place indicates when the soil was in its original, natural location.

It will be necessary to fill a 375,000yd3 depression, and the fill material must be compacted to
92% of the standard Proctor (maximum) density. A final 8% moisture content is desired in either
case.

(a) What is the minimum volume of borrow from each site needed to fill the depression?

(b) What is minimum quantity

(volume) of material from each site to haul?

(c) What soil would be cheaper to use?

6. The natural moisture content of a borrow material is known to be 6.5%. Assuming 5000g
of wet soil is used for laboratory compaction test points, compute how much water is to
be added to other 5000g samples to bring their water contents up to 9%, 13%, 14%, 20%,
and 22%.
7. Calculate the variation of dry density kg/m3) of a soil Gs=2.75 at w=10% and 20% for
degree of saturation S=80%, 90% and 100%.