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Cohesive soils are clay type soils. Cohesion is the force that holds
together molecules or like particles within a soil.
Cohesion, c, is usually determined in the laboratory from the Direct
Shear Test.

Unconfined Compressive Strength, Suc, can be determined in the

laboratory
using the Triaxial Test or the Unconfined Compressive
Strength Test.

There are also correlations for Suc with shear strength as estimated
from the field using Vane Shear Tests.

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c = Suc/2

Where:

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c = cohesion, kN/m2 (lb/ft2), and

Suc = unconfined compressive strength, kN/m2 (lb/ft2).

Guide for Consistency of Fine-Grained Soil, NAVFAC 7.02

SPT
Penetration Estimated
(blows/ foot) Consistency Suc (tons/ft2)
<2
2-4
4-8
8 - 15
15 - 30
>30

Very Soft
Soft
Medium
Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard

<0.25
0.25 - 0.50
0.50 - 1.0
1.0 - 2.0
2.0 - 4.0
>4

Empirical Values for Consistency of Cohesive Soil, (from Foundation Analysis, Bowels)
SPT
Penetration Estimated
(blows/ foot) Consistency Suc (kips/ft2)
0-2
2-4
4-8
8 - 16
16 - 32
>32

PP Geotextile: up
to 175kN/m,
PET
Geotextile:over
1000kN/m

Very Soft
Soft
Medium
Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard

0 - 0.5
0.5 - 1.0
1.0 - 2.0
2.0 - 4.0
4.0 - 8.0
>8

Typical Strength Characteristics (from Lindeburg, Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the
PE
Exam, 8th ed.)

http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/cohesion.html[7/1/2016 4:03:57 PM]

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Cohesion on the Geotechnical Information Website

USCS Soil c, as compacted

(lb/ft2)
Group
GW
GP
GM
GC
SW
SP
SM
SM-SC
SC
ML
ML-CL
CL
OL
MH
CH

0
0
1050
1050
1550
1400
1350
1800
1500
2150

c, saturated
(lb/ft2)
0
0
420
300
230
190
460
270
420
230

Other soil and soil related properties are listed below:

Angle of Internal Friction

Bearing Capacity Factors

Cohesion

External Friction Angle

Factor of Safety

Lateral Earth Pressure Coefficients

Modulus of Vertical Subgrade Reaction

Soil Unit Weights

Young's Modulus or modulus of elasticity

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