GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING FORMULAS

A handy reference for use in geotechnical analysis and design

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

1.

SOIL CLASSIFICATION ...............................................................................3

1.1
USCS: Unified Soil Classification System..........................................3
1.1.1
Relative Density of Cohesionless Soils: .....................................4
1.1.2
Fine Grained(Cohesive) Soil Charts using the USCS System:..4
1.1.3
Consistency of Fine Grained Soils: .............................................5
1.2
USDA Soil Classification System ........................................................5
1.3
AASHTO Soil Classification System:..................................................6
2. PHASE RELATIONSHIP EQUATIONS: .......................................................7
2.1
Shear Strength of Soils ........................................................................7
2.2
Bearing Capacity of Soils ....................................................................7
3. STRESSES IN SOILS ...................................................................................9
3.1
Various Loading Conditions:...............................................................9
..........................................................................................................................9
..........................................................................................................................9
4. SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS .......................................................................10
4.1
Conventional Footings.......................................................................10
4.11Geotechnical Analysis........................................................................10
4.12 Structural Design:..............................................................................10
4.2 Strap or Cantilever Footings: .................................................................11
4.3 Trapezoidal Footings: .............................................................................12
5. SOIL CONSOLIDATION EQUATIONS .......................................................14
5.1
Instant Settlement of footings:..........................................................14
5.2
Primary Consolidation: ......................................................................14
5.3 Overconsolidated Soils ..........................................................................14
5.4 Time rate of settlement ..........................................................................15
5.41 Coefficient of consolidation..............................................................15
6. RETAINING STRUCTURES: ......................................................................16
6.1 Horizontal Stresses: Active, At Rest and Passive................................16
6.2 Basement Wall with surcharge: .............................................................17
6.3 Braced Excavations: ...............................................................................17
6.4 Forces on Struts:.....................................................................................18
6.5 Cantilever Sheetpiles in Sand ................................................................20
6.6 Cantilever Sheetpiles in Clay .................................................................21
6.6 Anchored Sheetpiles in Sand (Also called Bulkheads) .......................22
6.7 Anchored Sheetpiles in Clay (Also called Bulkheads).........................24
7. PILE FOUNDATIONS .................................................................................25
8. Post Tensioned Slabs: ..............................................................................28
9. Asphalt Mix Design: ..................................................................................30
10.
Concrete Mix Design:.............................................................................33

1.
1.1

SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS: Unified Soil Classification System

Coarse Grained soils have less than 50% passing the # 200 sieve:
Symbol

Passing
the #200

D
D

Cu=

Cc =

Soil Description

60

(D

30

10

30

)2

60

GW

< 5%

4 or higher

1 to 3

Well graded gravel

GP

< 5%

Less than 4

1 to 3

Poorly graded gravel

GW-GM

5 to12%

4 or higher

1 to 3 but with
<15% sand

Well graded gravel with

silt

GW-GM

5 to12%

4 or higher

1 to 3 but with
15% sand

Well graded gravel with

silt and sand

GW-GC

5 to12%

4 or higher

1 to 3 but with
<15% sand

Well graded gravel with

clay or silty clay

GW-GC

5 to12%

4 or higher

1 to 3 but with
15% sand

Well graded gravel with

clay and sand

GC

>12%

N/A

N/A,<15%sand

Clayey Gravel

GC

> 12%

N/A

N/A,>15%sand

Clayey Gravel with sand

GM-GC

>12%

N/A

N/A,<15%sand

Clayey Silt with gravel

GM-GC

>12%

N/A

N/A,15%sand

Clayey Silt with sand

SW

< 5%

6 or higher

1 to 3

Well graded sand

SP

< 5%

Less than 6

1 to 3

Poorly graded sand

SM

>12%

N/A

N/A

Silty Sand or Sandy Silt

SC

>12%

N/A

N/A

Clayey Sand or Sandy

Clay

SC-SM

>12%

N/A

N/A

Silty Clay with Sand

Where:
Cu = Uniformity Coefficient; gives the range of grain sizes in a given sample. Higher Cu means well graded.
Cz = Coefficient of Curvature is a measure of the smoothness of the gradation curve. Usually less than 3.
D10, D3, & D60 are the grain size diameter corresponding to 10%, 30% and 60% passing screen.

1.1.1 Relative Density of Cohesionless Soils:

SPT or N value

Relative Density

% Relative Density

03

Very loose

0 15

4 10

Loose

15 35

11 30

Medium dense

35 65

31 50

Dense

65 -85

> 50

Very dense

85 - 100

1.1.2 Fine Grained(Cohesive) Soil Charts using the USCS System:

1.1.3 Consistency of Fine Grained Soils:

SPT or N value

Cohesion, C or Su

Consistency

<2

< 500 psf

Very soft

24

500 1000 psf

Soft

58

1000 2000 psf

Firm

9 15

2000 4000 psf

Stiff

16-30

4000 8000 psf

Very stiff

>30

> 8000 psf

Hard

1.2

USDA Soil Classification System

The percent SAND,SILT,and CLAY lines are drawn and their intersection gives the
soil classification.

1.3

AASHTO Soil Classification System:

CLASSIFICATION OF HIGHWAY SUBGRADE MATERIALS
(With suggested subgroups)

General Classification

Silt-Clay Materials (More than 35%

passing #200)

Granular Materials (35% or less passing No. 200)

A-1

A-2

Group Classification

A-7

A-3
A-1-a

A-1-b

0-50
0-30
0-15

0-50
0-25

A-4

A-5

A-6

A-7-5
A-7-6

A-2-4

A-2-5

A-2-6

A-2-7

0-35

0-35

0-35

0-35

36-100

36-100

36-100

36-100

0-40
0-10

41+
0-10

0-40
11+

41+
11+

0-40
0-10
0-8

41+
0-10
0-12

0-40
11+
0-16

41+
11+
0-20

Sieve Analysis,
Percent Passing:
No. 10
No. 40
No. 200

51-100
0-10

Characteristics of
fraction passing # 40:
Liquid Limit
Plasticity Index
Group Index
Usual Types of
Significicant Constituent
Materials
General Rating as
Subgrade

0-6
0

N.P.
0

Stone Fragments,
Gravel and Sand

Fine
Sand

Excellent to Good

0-4

Silty or Clayey Gravel and Sand

Silty Soils

Fair to Poor

Cohesive soils classification in AASHTO System:

Clayey Soils

2.

PHASE RELATIONSHIP EQUATIONS:

Dry Unit
Weight, d

Bulk or Wet or Total

Unit Weight, m or
w or t or

2.1

Shear Strength of Soils

2.2

Bearing Capacity of Soils

Hansen B.C. Factors:

Saturated Unit
Weight, s or sat

Terzaghi B.C. Factors

Note:If Df/B > 1, terzaghis B.C. factors do not apply. Use Hansens B.C. factors.
For example, if depth of footing (Df) is 3 ft but footing width (B) is 2.75 ft.

3.
3.1

STRESSES IN SOILS

Various Loading Conditions:

Strip

4.

SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS
Q

4.1 Conventional Footings

4.11Geotechnical Analysis
qall = Q / Bx1 for Continuous Footings
qall = Q / BxL for Rectangular Footings
qall = Q / BxB for Square Footings
qall < qu / 3 from Bearing Capacity Calculations
e < B/6, where e=eccentricity
Df > 1.0 ft minimum
Df > frost depth
Df > setback distance for footings on slope
Df > scour depth
Df > high moisture variations depth(expansive soils)

Df

q all
B

Layer 1
1B

1
2

Layer 2

Cc
C= ___
1+Eo
2B

Layer 3
GWT

3B

4.12 Structural Design:

Given: A Continuous footing with m = 100 pcf, Df = 5 ft, qall = 4,000 psf, D.L=22 k/ft,
L.L.=12 k/ft, fc=3 ksi, fy= 60 ksi. Design the footings using the ACI code:

4.2 Strap or Cantilever Footings:

Strap Footing with varying beam thickness

Strap Footings with constant beam thickness

4.3 Trapezoidal Footings:

5.
5.1

SOIL CONSOLIDATION EQUATIONS

Instant Settlement of footings:

or

5.2

Primary Consolidation:
or

5.3 Overconsolidated Soils

or

or

5.4 Time rate of settlement (i=immediate, c=consolidation, & s=secondary)

5.41 Coefficient of consolidation, Cv:

6.

RETAINING STRUCTURES:

6.1 Horizontal Stresses: Active, At Rest and Passive

6.2 Basement Wall with surcharge:

6.3 Braced Excavations:

6.4 Forces on Struts:

Bottom Heave Calculations:

6.5 Cantilever Sheetpiles in Sand

6.6 Cantilever Sheetpiles in Clay

6.6 Anchored Sheetpiles in Sand (Also called Bulkheads)

6.7 Anchored Sheetpiles in Clay (Also called Bulkheads)

7.

PILE FOUNDATIONS

7.1 Single Piles Equations:

7.2 Group capacity of piles:

Example:

7.3 Settlement of Group Piles:

8.
Edge Lift:

Post Tensioned Slabs:

Center Lift:

The Structural Engineer also needs Kv (given in immediate settlement section), effective PI(pp
138 of Geotechnical DVD book) and other climatic constants that are from building codes(given).

9.

Asphalt Mix Design:

AC Mix design Formulas:

When weighing in Water:

When weighing in Air:

Open Graded Mixtures:

10. Concrete Mix Design:

Fineness modulus:

Yield:

Relative Yield:

Modulus of Rupture:
= (7.5fc) or

Conversion Factor Table

D
E
F

Multiply
by
To Get
inch
2.54
cm
This can also be written as: 1 inch = 2.54 cm
acre
43,560
ft2
amperehr (Ah)
3,600
coulomb (C)
m
ngstrm ()
1x10-10
atm (atmosphere) 1.01325
bar
atm, std
76.0
cm of Hg
atm, std
760
mm of Hg at 0C
atm, std
33.90
ft of water
atm, std
29.92
in of Hg at 30F
atm, std
14.696
lbf/in2 abs (psia)
atm, std
101.325
kPa
atm, std
1.013x105
Pa
atm, std
1.03323
kgf / cm2
atm, std
14.696
psia
bar
0.9869
atm, std
bar
1x105
Pa
Btu
778.169
ftlbf
Btu
1055.056
J
Btu
5.40395
psiaft3
Btu
2.928x10-4
kWh
therm
Btu
1x10-5
Btu / hr
1.055056
kJ / hr
Btu / hr
0.216
ftlbf / sec
hp
Btu / hr
3.929x10-4
Btu / hr
0.2931
W
Btu / lbm
2.326*
kJ / kg
Btu / lbm
25,037
ft2 / s2
Btu / lbmR
4.1868
kJ / kgK
Btu / lbmF
4.1868
kJ / kgC
Btu / lbmolR
4.1868
kJ / kmolK
Btu
cal (g-calorie)
3.968x10-3
hphr
cal
1.560x10-6
cal (IT calorie)
4.1868
J
Calorie (Cal)
4.1868
kJ
cal / sec
4.1868
W (watt)
cm (centimeter)
0.03281
ft
cm
0.3937
in
cP (centipoise)
0.001
Pasec
m2 / sec
cSt (centistokes)
1x10-6
degree
/180
radian
N (micronewton)
dyne
10
eV (electronvolt) 1.602x10-19
J
J
erg
1x10-7
ft (feet)
0.3048*
m
ft
30.48
cm
2
-5
ft
2.2957x10
acre
ft2
144
in2
ft2
0.09290304*
m2
3
ft
7.481
gal (U.S.)
0.02832
m3
ft3
ft3
28.317
L
ft3 / lbm
0.062428
m3 / kg
ftlbf
1.285x10-3
Btu
ftlbf
1.35582
J
kWh
ftlbf
3.766x10-7
ftlbf
1.35582
Nm
ftlbf
0.324
calorie (g-cal)
hp
ftlbf / sec
1.818x10-3
ft / s2
0.3048*
m / s2
U.S. gallon (gal)
0.13368
ft3
gal
3.7854
L
gal
3.7854x10-3
m3
gal
231
in3
gal (U.K.)
1.201
gal (U.S.)
gal (U.K.)
277.4
in3
gal / min (gpm)
0.002228
ft3 / sec
-9
1x10
tesla (T)
gamma (,)
gauss
1x10-4
T
lbm
gram (g)
2.205x10-3
g / cm3
1
1 kg / L
1000
kg / m3
g / cm3
g / cm3
62.428
lbm / ft3
g / cm3
1.940
slug / ft3
g / cm3
0.036127
lbm / in3
hectare
1x104
m2
hectare
2.47104
acres
hp (horsepower)
42.41
Btu / min
hp
0.7068
Btu / sec

http://vertex42.com/edu/kinematics.html

hp
hp
hp
hp
hp
hphr
hphr
hphr
in
in of Hg
in of Hg
in of Hg
in of water
in of water
in of water
J (joule)
J
J
J
J
J/s
kg (kilogram)
kg
kg
kg / m3
kgf
kip
kip
kJ
kJ
kJ
kJ
kJ / kg
kJ / kg
kJ / kgK
kJ / kgC
kJ / kgC
kJ / kgC
kJ / kgC
km
km
km/hr
km/hr
km/hr
kPa (kilopascal)
kPa
kW
kW
kW
kW
kWh (kW-hour)
kWh
kWh
L (liter)
L
L
L
L/s
L/s
lbf (pound force)
lbf
lbf
lbf / in2 (psi)
lbf / in2
lbf / in2
lbf / in2
lbm
lbm
lbm / in3
lbm / ft3
lbm / ft3
m (meter)
m
m
m2
m2
m3
m3
m3
m3
m3 / kg
m/s

2544.5
745.70
0.74570
33,000
550
2544
1.98x106
2.68x106
2.54*
0.0334
13.60
3.387
0.0736
0.0361
0.002458
9.4782x10-4
6.2415x1018
0.73756
1
1x107
1
2.2046226
0.068522
1x10-3
0.062428
9.80665
1000
4448
1
1000
0.94782
737.56
1000
0.42992
0.23885
1
1
0.23885
0.23885
3280.8
0.6214
0.6214
0.2778
0.9113
9.8693x10-3
0.14504
3412.14
0.9478
737.56
1.341
3412.14
1.341
3600
0.03531
61.02
0.2642
0.001
2.119
15.85
32.174
4.44822
32.17
0.06805
2.307
2.036
6894.757
0.45359237*
0.031081
1728
0.016018
16.018
3.28083
1.0926
39.370
1550
10.764
1x106
35.315
264.17
1000
16.02
196.8

Btu / hr
W (watt)
kW
ftlbf / min
ftlbf / sec
Btu
ftlbf
J
cm
atm
in of water
kPa
in of Hg
lbf / in2 (psi)
atm
Btu
eV
ftlbf
Nm
ergs
W
lbm (pound mass)
slug
metric ton
lbm / ft3
newton (N)
lbf
N
1 kPam3
Nm
Btu
ftlbf
m2 / s2
Btu / lbm
Btu / lbmR
kJ / kgK
J / gC
Btu / lbmF
Btu / lbmR
ft
mi
mi / hr (mph)
m/s
ft/s
atm
lbf / in2 (psi)
Btu / hr
Btu / sec
lbfft / sec
hp
Btu
hphr
kJ
ft3
in3
gal (U.S.)
m3
ft3 / min (cfm)
gal / min (gpm)
lbmft / s2
N
poundals
atm
ft water
in Hg
Pa
kg
slug
lbm / ft3
g / cm3
kg / m3
ft
yard
in
in2
ft2
cm3 (cc)
ft3
gal (U.S.)
L
ft3 / lbm
ft / min

Copyright 2005 Jon Wittwer

R
S

T
W

m/s
3.60
km / h
m/s
3.2808
ft / s
m/s
2.237
mi / h (mph)
m / s2
3.2808
ft / s2
metric ton
1000
kg
mil
0.001
in
mi (mile)
5280
ft
mi
1.6093
km
acres
mi2 (square mile) 640
mph (mile/hour)
1.6093
km / hr
mph
88.0
ft / min (fpm)
mph
1.467
ft / s
mph
0.4470
m/s
m
micron
1x10-6
atm
mm of Hg
1.316x10-3
mm of Hg
0.1333
kPa
-5
atm
mm of water
9.678x10
N (newton)
1
kgm / s2
N
1x105
dyne
N (microN)
0.1
dyne
N
0.22481
lbf
Nm
0.7376
ftlbf
Nm
1
J
Pa (pascal)
1
N / m2
Pa
1.4504x10-4
lbf / in2 (psia)
Pa
0.020886
lbf / ft2
Pa
9.869x10-6
atm
Pas
10
poise
psi (pounds per square inch) --- see lbf / in2
radian
180/
degree
short ton
2000
lbm
short ton
907.1847
kg
slug
32.174
lbm
slug
14.5939
kg
0.5154
g / cm3
slug / ft3
stokes
1x10-4
m2 / s
Btu
therm
1x105
ton of refrigeration 200
Btu / min
W (watt)
3.4121
Btu / hr
W
0.7376
ftlbf / sec
hp
W
1.341x10-3
W
1
J/s
1x104
W / m2
W / cm2
W / cm3
1x106
W / m3
W / m2
0.3171
Btu / (hft2)
W / m3
0.09665
Btu / (hft3)
W / mC
1
W / mK
W / mC
0.57782
Btu / (hftF)
1
W / (m2K)
W / (m2C)
0.17612
Btu / (hft2F)
W / (m2C)
weber / m2
10,000
gauss
* The exact conversion between metric and English.
TEMPERATURE
T(K) = T(C) + 273.15
T(R) = T(F) + 459.67
T(F) = 1.8 T(C) + 32
SOME IMPORTANT CONSTANTS
Atomic Mass Unit (u)
=
1.66054x10-27 kg
6.02213x1023 particles/mol
Avogadros number (NA) =
Boltzmanns constant (kB)=

1.38065x10-23 J / K

electron charge (e)

electron mass (me)

-1.6022x10-19 C
9.10939x10-31 kg

=
=

proton mass (mp)

=
Gas Constant (R)
=
Gravitational Constant (G)=
Gravity (mean)
=
Plancks constant (h)
=
Speed of Light (c)
=

1.6726x10-27 kg
8314 J / kmolK
6.672x10-11 Nm2 / kg2
9.8067 (9.81) m / s2
6.6260x10-34 Js
2.99792458x108 m/s (exact)

SI PREFIXES
yocto (10-24), zepto (10-21), atto (10-18), femto (10-15), pico
(10-12), nano (10-9), micro (10-6), milli (10-3), centi (10-2),
deci (10-1), deka (101), hecto (102), kilo (103), mega (106),
giga (109), tera (1012), peta (1015), exa (1018), zetta (1021),
yotta (1024)