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by M. P. P. d o s S a n t o s , C hief Engineer, Laboratorio de Ensaios de M aterials e M ecanica do Solo (C.P. 2 6 8 ), Lourenço Mar
ques, Portuguese East Africa
Summary Sommaire
The use of a new soil constant, related to the sand fraction of the Dans cette communication sont présentés les premiers résultats
grain-size distribution curve, has proved itself a valuable tool so far de recherches portant sur l’application d’une nouvelle constante des
as some classical soil mechanics problems are concerned. This paper sols, liée au diagramme granulométrique. Cette constante a permis
presents preliminary results related to the correlation between Atter- le traitement de quelques problèmes classiques de la mécanique des
berg limits and the grain-size distribution curve, the mixture of soils, sols, tels que la corrélation entre les limites d’Atterberg et la granulo-
the identification and classification o f soils, and the specifications métrie, le mélange des sols, l’identification et la classification des
for granular stabilisation. différentes classes de sols et les spécifications concernant la stabili
sation des sols.
47
P / = — 0.026 + 0.097 / + 0 .2 4 0 /2 (5)
It follow s that
P L = 0.093 + 0.206 t + 0.069 z 2 ...................................... ( 6)
A statistical study o f the frequency o f discrepancies between
theoretical and experim ental values is summarized in Figs. 3
and 4, for L L and PI, respectively. It may be pointed out that
87.7% o f the L L determ inations show a difference < 10 from
the values given by (4); in the case o f the PI, 84.1 % show a
difference < 6 from the values given by (5).
The correlation factor o f the curve fitting has been found to
be R = 0.988 for the L L , and R = 0.983 for the P I. (The cor-
U
relation factor has been taken as defined by R 2 = 1 --------
no2
LL
120 ---------- - |------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------
110 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
100
30
80
E R R O R S
0 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.00 0.50 0,60 0.70 0.80 0,90 1,00 | = X / 3
t=x/a
E R R O R S
48
where U represents the sum o f the squares o f the residuals, From equations (4) and (5), a quadratic relation o f the form
n the number o f observations and a the standard deviation.) f ( L L , P I) = 0
All the soils showing residuals larger than 10 for the L L, and
may easily be derived.
than 6 for the P I were found to have a high organic con
If we plot this relationship in Fig. 5, we obtain a line that
tent. Other pertinent factors have not so far been investigated,
is but slightly different from line “A " o f the Plasticity Chart.
but the next step o f the research programme will take them into
In the research to be carried out, it will be examined whether
account. It is not unlikely that the introduction o f correction
the superposition o f the effects o f factors affecting L L and P I
factors may account for the observed discrepancies.
can account for the different types o f soils listed in the chart.
Soil M ixtures
In the everyday work o f a laboratory dealing with granular
stabilisation o f soils, the determ ination o f L L and P I o f m ix
tures o f soils has a broad field o f application.
The problem was solved in previous works by the author
(dos Santos, 1950, 1951, in press), with an approxim ation belie
ved to be sufficient for practical purposes. The L L , P L , S L ,
P I or F M E o f a mixture o f tw o soils are given by
-f- A 2a2K 2
K = (7)
A + A 2a2
where K = characteristic o f the mixture;
K x and K 2 = corresponding characteristics o f the soils
LIQUID LIMIT (L L )
to be mixed;
A l and A 2 = percentage by weight (divided by 100) o f Fig. 5 R elation B etw een L L and P I y after C asagrande and as D e d u c e d
from E quations (4) and (5)
the soils in the mixture;
R elation entre L L et IP d ’après C asagrande et dédu ite des éq u a
a t and a 2 = the «-constants, as given by equation ( 1 ). tion s (4) e t (5)
The quadratic equation (7) is believed to represent a first
approximation to the problem. A s a matter o f fact, it holds
T h e C la ssifica tio n o f S oils
only if the correlations (3) assume a linear form. A s this is not
the case, we have There are many systems o f soil classification, none o f them
LL or P I = entirely sa tisfa cto ry . It was claimed by several investigators
(see, for instance, Turnbull, 1948) that the grain-size distribu
A x1 1+ A x 22 1 1+ A 2x 2)2
(A x
— b 1 + è 2 ----- 1~ ¿3"T — ¿ 1 + -------------------1- ¿>3------------------- tion curve w ould provide a good basis for such a classification.
A 1a 1 + A 2a2 (A 1a 1+ A 2a 2)2
A number o f systems use together som e grain-size distribution
AxXi+A^n data and the values o f L L and PI. W ithin this type falls the
b1(A 1a1+A 2a2) + b2(A ^ + A 2x 2) + b3(A ^ -i-A2x 2)‘
A 1a 1+ A 2a2 H .B .R . classification, one o f the m ost widely used for road
= engineering purposes.
/il£7l + A 2Q2
In order to illustrate the possibilities that arise from the cor-
A 1a l (b1+ b 2----- b b3— ) A 2a2(b1 + b 2-----b b3— )
d-\CL Cl2 Cl^Cl
A^Qi -\-A2a 2
This w ould only be the sam e result as derived from (7) if we
, , *1 , x\ . , „ XiX , X2X , ._
had —t and —r instead o f ----- a n d -------. The difference:
fli «2 a& a 2a
h
A = — [ A ^ i t — t j + A 2x 2(t - Q] (8)
a
is generally negligible in the face o f (7). For instance, with
«i = 0.57, x 1 = 0.12, = 0.21, a 2 = 0.73, x 2 = 0.94, t2 = 0.78,
we obtain:
L L A = 0.03 = 3%
P I 11 = 0.02 = 2 %
The expressions obtained allow the analytical construction
of Bonnenfant’s diagrams (1948), and provide an efficient tool
for the study o f sandy mixtures o f soils and for the indirect
determination o f the Atterberg characteristics o f non-plastic
types o f soils.
49
relation between Atterberg characteristics and grain-size data o f utilisation o f soils according to the A .S.T .M . specifications
the diagram shown in Fig. 6 has been drawn tentatively. for surface-courses (types A and B, quoted as S C -A and
Taking axes a and x and remembering that t = x ja , it is S C -B , respectively), and for base courses (types A and B,
possible to place the boundaries o f the various groups o f soils. quoted as B C -A and B C -B , respectively).
A more fluid condition takes place with the four groups If we superimpose the diagrams on the diagram shown in
A -2 -5 , A - 2 -6 , A - 5 and A - 6 , which show contradictory values Fig. 6 , it will be seen that soils suitable for granular stabili
for L L and P I as derived from (4) and (5): The line t = 0.61 sation fall within the limits o f the A - l - a , A - l - b , A -3 , A - 2 -4
is a purely arbitrary line drawn as a mean between t = 0.55 and A -2 -5 groups.
and t = 0.67. There is close agreement between the boundary a-values, as
In spite o f the preliminary character o f the correlations (4) deduced both from Atterberg limits and grain-size distribution
and (5), it must be emphasised that the performance o f this curves, in the B C -B type only. The agreement is good enough
diagram for som e hundreds o f soils tested is stimulating. for the higher a-value in the S C -A and B C -A types, for which
the lower a-value has been taken from the limiting grain-size
distribution curves, in order to assure better com pactibility. For
T h e S ta b ilisa tio n o f S oils
the S C -B type, both a-limits must be deduced from the grain-
It must be borne in mind that the main purpose o f the pro size distribution curves. So far as the /-values deduced both
gramme o f research that led to the above results is its possible from the L L and P I specifications are concerned, they are coin
application to soil stabilisation problems. In the section deal cident for base-course values, and close enough for surface-
ing with soil mixtures, som e o f there applications were outlined. course values. It appears, therefore, that is unnecessary to
M oreover, it is hoped that better understanding o f empirical specify both o f them.
rules, like those used in American practice (namely, the The subject will be submitted to a deeper analysis in more
A .S.T .M . specifications (A .S.T .M ., 1949) (W artime R oad Pro advanced stages o f research, for the above results seem worthy
blems)) may be achieved through the link form ed between Atter o f careful consideration.
berg limits and grain-size data. The condition o f low organic
content, generally im posed for granular stabilisation, simpli
A ck n o w led g m en ts
fies the problem so far as this perturbing factor is concerned.
Figs. 7 and 8 show , in the diagram x — a, the boundaries The present work has been carried out as a part o f the re
search programme o f the “ Laboratorio deE nsaios de Materiais
X e M ecanica do S o lo ” , Lourenço Marques, Portuguese East
0.70 -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Africa.
50