UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

ECI 171 Soil Mechanics
MEMORANDUM
To:
ECI 171 Students
From: Arash Khosravifar

Date: April 2, 2015

Subject: Homework Assignment # 1 (Due April 14, 4pm in HW Box in Ghausi Hall)
Problem 1. (Problem 2.35 in textbook) A sample of natural glacial till was taken from
below the ground water table. The water content was found to be 52%. Estimate the wet
density, dry density, buoyant density, porosity, and void ratio. Clearly state any
assumptions made.
Problem 2. (Problem 2.36 in textbook) A 1 m3 sample of moist soil weighs 2000 kg. The
water content is 10%. Assume density of solids of 2.70 Mg/m3. With this information
completely fill in a phase diagram (see textbook figure P2.36).
Problem 3. (Problem 2.38 in textbook) The void ratio of clay soil is 0.6 and the degree of
saturation is 75%. Assuming the density of the solids is 2710 kg/m3, compute (a) the
water content and (b) the dry and wet densities in both SI (Mg/m3) and standard (pcf)
units.
Problem 4. Develop a formula for (a) the total density and (b) the buoyant density in
terms of saturation, water content, the density of the soil solids and the density of water.
Show all steps necessary to derive your equations.
Problem 5. A sample of sand was taken from the toe of a levee in West Sacramento to
determine the relative density. The wet density of the sand was measured in the field at
2.0 Mg/m3 and the field water content was 15%. The sample was taken to a local soils
laboratory where the density of the solids was found to be 2.66 Mg/m3, and the maximum
and minimum void ratios were 0.73 and 0.40, respectively. Calculate the relative density
of the sand in the field. Is this sand considered loose or dense? (Hint: See Section 5.5.1 in
textbook)
Problem 6. Two samples were collected from the embankment of the levee to assess the
soils susceptibility to internal erosion. The results of the mechanical sieve analysis and
hydrometer test are shown below for both soils. On a single five-cycle semi-logarithmic
graph, plot the grain size distribution curves for each soil. Determine the effective size
(D50) as well as the coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and the coefficient of curvature (Cc).
Also determine the percentage of gravel, sand, and silt/clay according to the USCS
standards. Note: if information provided is insufficient to compute Cu or Cc then it is
appropriate to state that value is NA (not applicable).
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US Standard
Sieve Size

#4
#10
#20
#40
#60
#100
#140
#200

Opening Size
75 mm
38 mm
19 mm
9.5 mm
4.75 mm
2.0 mm
0.85 mm
0.425 mm
0.250 mm
0.150 mm
0.106 mm
0.075 mm
40 m
20 m
10 m
5 m
2 m
1 m

Percent Passing By Weight

Soil 1
100
91
87
81
70
49
35
32
27
22
18
14
11
10

Soil 2

100
88
82
80
78
74
65
55
31
19
13
10
2

Problem 7. The soils in Problem 6 have the following Atterberg limits and natural water
contents. Determine the PI and LI for each soil.
Property
wn, %
LL
PL

Soil 1
14
35
18

Soil 2
32
35
29

Problem 8. Given the information in the previous two problems, classify each soil
according to the USCS classification system. Make sure to explain the logic as you work
through the classification table.

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