Soil Mechanics

Question 1

How is the grain size distribution of coarse-grained soil generally determined?

Answer 1

Sieve Analysis

Question 2

How is the grain-distribution determined for a fine-grained soil?

Answer 2

Hydrometer Analysis

Question 3

What two parameters can be determined from the grain-size distribution curves of coarse-grained soils?

Answer 3

Cu-The uniformity coefficient. Cc the coefficient of gradation of coefficient of curvature.

Question 4

What is the equation for Cu?

Answer 4

Cu=D60/D10

Question 5

What is the equation for Cc?

Answer 5

Cc=D30^2/D60*D10

Question 6

In what system are the Cc and Cu parameters used?

Answer 6

In the Unified Soil Classification System

Question 7

What law can help determine the largest diameter of the soil particles still in suspension in a hydrometer?

Answer 7

Stokes Law

Question 8

what are clay size particles?

Answer 8

Minerals such as quartz and feldspar may be present in soil in particle sizes as small as clay minerals. This particles do not have the cohesive property of clay minerals.

Question 9

What are the prominent clay minerals evident in clays?

Answer 9

kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite.

Question 10

Define the volume of voids.

Answer 10

is the ratio of the volume of voids divided by the volume of soil solids.

Question 11

Define porosity, n.

Answer 11

Is the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of the whole soil specimen.