HOW TO CALCULATE SAFE BEARING CAPACITY OF SOIL ON SITE?

How to calculate safe bearing capacity of soil on site

This simple and quick field test will give you a rough idea of bearing capacity of soil. Procedure Excavate a pit of required depth. (preferably equal to the depth of foundation) Take a solid ball or square cube of known weight and dimension. Drop the ball or square cube several times, from a known height … Read more

HOW TO DECIDE DEPTH OF SOIL EXPLORATION?

Depth of soil exploration

Depth of Soil Exploration Exploration, in general, should be carried out to a depth up to which the increase in pressure due to structural loading is likely to cause perceptible settlement or shear failure of foundation. This depth is known as depth of exploration, which depends upon the following factors. Type of structure Load on … Read more

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF SITE INVESTIGATION WORK?

Site Investigation

The knowledge about the site forms a vital role in the safe and economical development of a site. A thorough investigation of the site is an essential preliminary to the construction of any civil engineering works. Objectives of Site Investigation Work To access the general suitability of the site. To achieve safe and economical design … Read more

MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST OR HEAVY COMPACTION TEST (IS-2720-PART-8)

Objective To determine moisture content and dry density relationship using heavy compaction or modified compaction method as per IS-2720-Part-8. Apparatus • Metal mould (volume = 1000 cm3) • Balance (capacity = 10 kg, least count = 1g) • Oven (105 to 1100C) • Sieve (19 mm) • Metal rammer (weight = 4.9 kg) Procedure Dry … Read more

Triaxial Shear Test-UU (IS-2720-Part-11)

Aim To determine shear strength parameters of the given soil sample by conducting unconsolidated undrained (UU) triaxial shear test. Theory And Application Triaxial testing is a test used to measure the shear parameters of a given soil. The test is performed on a cylindrical soil/rock samples. This test is considered to be the most conveniently … Read more

DETERMINATION OF RELATIVE DENSITY OR DENSITY INDEX OF SAND (IS-2720-Part-15)

Realtive Density Test

Aim To determine the relative density or density index of cohesionless soil Theory Relative density is also known as density index. It is defined as the ratio of difference between the void ratio of a cohesionless soil (i.e. sand) in the loosest state and any given void ratio to the difference between its void ratios … Read more

DETERMINATION OF FIELD DENSITY OF SOIL BY SAND REPLACEMENT METHOD (IS-2720-PART-28)

Sand Replacement Method

Aim To determine the field density of soil at a given location by sand replacement method Reference IS-2720-Part-28-Determination of dry density of soils in place, by the sand replacement method Apparatus Sand pouring cylinder Calibrating can Metal tray with a central hole Dry sand (passing through 600 micron sieve) Balance Moisture content bins Glass plate … Read more

DETERMINATION OF FIELD DENSITY OF SOIL BY CORE CUTTER METHOD (IS-27270-PART-29)

Core cutter, Dolly & Rammer

Aim To determine the field density of soil by core cutter method Reference IS-2720-Part-29-Determination of dry density of soil in place by the core-cutter method Apparatus Cylindrical core cutter Steel rammer Steel dolly Balance Steel rule Spade or pickaxe Straight edge Knife Procedure Measure the height (h) and internal diameter (d) of the core cutter … Read more

160+ Most Commonly Used Terms in Geotechnical Engineering or Soil Engineering

Absorbed water Water held mechanically (by surface tension) in a soil mass Activity Ratio of the plasticity index to the clay fraction Adhesion Shearing resistance between soil and another material under zero externally applied pressure Adsorbed water Water in a soil mass, held by physio-chemical forces, having physical properties are substantially different from absorbed or … Read more