GG 454 January 18, 2002 1 SOILS (06) I Main Topics A Pedologic classification schemes B Engineering classification schemes C Behavior of soils and influence of geologic history II Pedologic classification schemes A Soils: the part of the regolith that can support rooted plants 1 Soils contain organic material 2 Factors influencing soil development (Hans Jenny) a Climate b Organic factors c Topography d Parent material e Time (Soils are in many senses non-renewable resources) B Master soil horizons O horizon (surface accumulation of organic material) A horizon (mixture of organic material and mineral soil) a Zone of clay loss (zone of leaching of iron and aluminum) b Moderately dark color E horizon a Less organic material than A (so lighter color) b Less iron, aluminum, and clay than B B horizon a Zone of clay accumulation, ped development b Clay can develop in place or be transported in c Red color (iron and aluminum accumulation) d Concentration of insoluble elements K horizon (Carbonate horizon; desert soils) C horizon (zone of weathered rock) R horizon bedrock) III Engineering classification schemes A Rock: requires blasting or heavy earth-moving equipment B Soils: can excavate by hand or with light earth-moving equipment C Soils as solid particles and fluid-filled voids (multiphase system) IV Behavior of engineering soils (preview of consolidation theory) Stephen Martel 1-1 University of Hawaii
GG 454 January 18, 2002 2 A Properties of sands, silts, and clays Particle Grain size Comments Gravel > 2 mm Hurts toes. Gritty Sand 1/16 mm - 2 mm Visible to unaided eye. Beware quick sands Silt 1/256 mm - 1/16 mm Invisible to unaided eye. Gritty. Washes off fingers easily. Loess can fracture and collapse Clay < 1/256 mm Invisible to unaided eye. Gives soil cohesion. Sticks to fingers when wet. Beware quick clays and expansive clays (montmorillonite) B Effective stress, Pore, and total stress (see handout) 1 Effective stress: normal stress born by the solid skeleton 2 Pore : normal stress born by the pore fluid 3 Total stress: effective stress + normal stress C Consolidation (volume loss) of unconsolidated materials During consolidation porosity (void ratio) and water content decrease and strength increases. Usually soil strength increases with depth. Time for consolidation primarily controlled by the time it takes water to flow from material. 1 Soil memory and preconsolidation stress (see handout) The mechanical behavior of an unconsolidated material hinges varies depending on the past s imposed on it. Stephen Martel 1-2 University of Hawaii
GG 454 January 18, 2002 3 2 Influence of geologic history on soil behavior a Normally consolidated soil: soil has been consolidated by a equivalent to that of the existing overburden b Overconsolidated soil: soil has been consolidated by a greater than that of the existing overburden i Erosion of overburden ii Desiccation c Underconsolidated soil: soil has been consolidated by a less than of the existing overburden d Effect of moisture on soil color i Wet conditions = reducing environment: blue or black color ii Dry conditions = oxidizing environment: yellow or red color Stephen Martel 1-3 University of Hawaii
GG 454 January 18, 2002 4 for Consolidation (from Lambe and Whitman, 1969) Initial water surface Porous A piston Piston Soil closed Physical Example open; water flows B C D initial state level open; water flow stops rises to support is not compressed drops compresses is hydrostaic supports Load applied, valve closed open, water flows Equilibrium Load Variation of Loads in and In spring In water Applied t B t C t D Time Stephen Martel 1-4 University of Hawaii
GG 454 January 18, 2002 5 REPRESENTATIVE SOIL CONSOLIDATION CURVE 1.8 0.64 1.6 Virgin Compression Curve 0.62 Void Ratio = n/(1-n) 1.4 Recompression Preconsolidation Stress 0.58 Porosity = n 1.2 Decompression 0.55 1.0 0.50 0.8 0.44 10 100 1000 Vertical effective stress (kn/m 2 ) (Note logarithmic scale) Stephen Martel 1-5 University of Hawaii