Laboratory Manual for Geotechnical Characterization of Fine-Grained Soils

Description

This manual presents procedures for performing advanced laboratory tests on fine-grained soils. It covers characterization tests, which determine soil composition and quantify the individual components of a soil, and behavioral tests, such as the Atterberg Limits tests that demonstrate how the fines fraction of a soil reacts when mixed with water and the Linear Shrinkage Test that demonstrates how much a soil shrinks. The material goes beyond traditional evaluation of basic soil behavior by presenting more advanced laboratory tests to characterize soil in more detail. These tests provide detailed compositional characteristics which identify subtle changes in conditions and vertical variations in the soil, and which help to explain unusual behavior. A unique compilation of information on key soil tests Combines characterization tests with behavior tests The book suits graduate students in geotechnical engineering, as well as practitioners and researchers. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Part I Determination of Compositional Characteristics Chapter 1 Water Content Background Water Content by Convection Oven Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Water Content by Microwave Oven Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Water Content by Portable Carbide Gas Method – “Speedy” Moisture Meter Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 2 Phase Relationships of Soils: Determining Unit Weight, and Calculating Voids Ratio, Porosity and Saturation Background Phase Relationships in Soils Phase relationships based on mass Water Content Phase relationships based on volume Voids Ratio Porosity Phase relationships combining mass and volume Wet Density Dry Density Saturated Density Buoyant Density Determining Total Unit Weight on trimmed specimens Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Example Water Content Wet (Total) Unit Weight Dry Unit Weight Discussion Determining Total Unit Weight using the Eley Volumeter Chapter 3 Density (Unit Weight) of Solids (Specific Gravity) Introduction Standard Equipment Preparation Calibration of Pycnometer Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Unit Weight of water Unit Weight of solids Reference Chapter 4 Grain-Size Distribution Background Coarse Fraction – Sieve Analysis Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Fine Fraction – Hydrometer Analysis Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Fine Fraction – Pipette Analysis Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 5 Organic Content Background Organic Content by Loss-on-Ignition (LOI) Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Organic Content by Hydrogen Peroxide Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 6 Carbonate Content Background Carbonate Content by Rapid Carbonate Analyzer Introduction Standard Equipment Calibration of the Carbonate Analyzer Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Carbonate Content by Chittick Apparatus Introduction Equipment Setup Reservoir fluid Dilute hydrochloric acid Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 7 pH of Soils Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Discussion Reference Additional Reading Chapter 8 Cation Exchange Capacity Introduction Standard Equipment Reagents Procedure Calculations Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 9 Specific Surface Area Introduction Standard Preparation Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Kaolinite Montmorillonite References Additional Reading Chapter 10 Methylene Blue Test Introduction Standard Equipment Preparation Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 11 Pore Fluid Salinity Introduction Pore Fluid Salinity by Refractometer Standard Equipment Preparation Procedure Part 1: Extracting pore fluid Part 2: Measurement Calculations Discussion Pore Fluid Salinity by Electrical Conductivity Standard Equipment Preparation Calibration of the cell Extracting pore fluid using a soil press Extracting pore fluid using a centrifuge Procedure Calculations Discussion References Additional Reading Part II Determination of Behavioral Characteristics Chapter 12 Consistency of Fine-Grained Soils: Atterberg Liquid and Plastic Limits Background: The Atterberg Concept Liquid Limit by Casagrande Drop Cup Introduction Standard Equipment Calibration of Casagrande Drop Cup Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Liquid Limit by Fall Cone Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Plastic Limit by Rolling Thread Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Plastic Limit by Fall Cone Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion One-Point Liquid Limit tests Discussion of using Atterberg Limits Aterberg Limits and Unified Soil Classification Activity Plasticity Ratio Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 13 Shrinkage Limit Background Shrinkage Limit by Mercury Method Standard Equipment Calibration of Shrinkage Limit Dish Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Shrinkage Limit by Wax Method Introduction Standard Equipment Calibration of Shrinkage Limit Dish Procedure Calculations Discussion Shrinkage Limit by Direct Measurement Method Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 14 Linear Shrinkage Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Linear Shrinkage by Coefficient of Linear Extensibility (COLE) References Additional Reading Chapter 15 Shrink Test Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 16 Free-Swell Index Tests Background Free-Swell Index (FSI) Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Differential Free-Swell Index (DFSI) and Free-Swell Ratio (FSR) Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 17 Dispersion Background Dispersion by Double Hydrometer Test Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Dispersion by Pinhole Test Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Dispersion by Crumb Test Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 18 Initial Consumption of Lime Background Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion Reference Additional Reading Chapter 19 Lime Fixation Point Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 20 Hygroscopic Water Content Introduction Standard Equipment Preparation of Humidity Chamber Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 21 Soil Suction Using Filter Paper Introduction Standard Equipment Filter Paper Calibration Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 22 Thermal Conductivity Introduction Standard Equipment Calibration of Thermal Needle Procedure Calculations Example Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 23 Electrical Resistivity Introduction Standard Equipment Calibration Procedure – Four Electrode Method Calculations Procedure – Two Electrode Method Calculations Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 24 Index Strength Tests and Sensitivity Introduction Pocket Penetrometer Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Pocket Hand Vane (Torvane) Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Laboratory Vane Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Fall Cone Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Calculations Sensitivity Sensitivity and Liquidity Index Discussion References Additional Reading Chapter 25 Thixotropy Introduction Standard Equipment Procedure Preparation of Test Specimens Measurement of Undrained Shear Strength Calculations Discussion References Additional Reading Index