Use of Mechanical Properties for Evaluating Engineering Behaviour of Soils with Different Textural Classes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine mechanical behaviour and engineering capability of soils with different textures. Surface and subsurface soil samples with different textural classes collected from 17 various locations were analysed for determining their mechanical characteristics. Heavy textured soils (C and SiC) belong to moderately plastic or highly plastic inorganic clays group according to the Casagrande plasticity chart are placed into the group A-7-6 (12-18) according to the AASHO classification system, and in the group CL or CH according to the USCS. Moderately fine textured soils (CL and SCL) within the moderately plastic inorganic clays group according to the Casagrande plasticity chart are placed into the group of A-7-6 (6-13) and A-6 (5-10) according to the AASHO classification, and into the group of CL according to the USCS. Moderately textured soils (L) within the moderately plastic inorganic clays group according to the Casagrande plasticity chart are placed into the A-7-6 (8-10) andA-6 (6-9) according to the AASHO classification and into the CL group according to the USCS. Moderately heavy textured soils (SL) within the moderately plastic inorganic clays and cohesionless soils group are placed into the A-2-4 (1-2) and A-2-6 (1) according to the AASHO classification and into the SC group according to the USCS class. Moderately coarse-textured soils (S and LS) are classified within the cohesionless soils group according to the Casagrande plasticity chart, and placed into the A-3(0) according to the AASHO classification and into the SM or SP-SM group according to the USCS.