ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF RESIDUAL SOILS

Anuar Bin Ibrahim

Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

(Civil Engineering)

2010

Faculty of Engineering

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS *

JUDUL: ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF RESIDUAL SOIL.

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2009 / 2010

Saya ANUAR BIN IBRAHIM

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis * ini disimpan di Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia

Sarawak dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Tesis adalah hak milik Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

2. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat salinan

untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja.

3. Membuat pendigitan untuk membangunkan Pangkalan Data Kandungan Tempatan.

4. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat salinan

tesis ini sebagai pertukaran antara institut pengajian tenggi.

5. ** Sila tandakan ( ∕ ) di kotak yang berkenaan

SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan

Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972).

TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh

organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan).

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan Oleh:

_______________________ ________________________

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat Tetap: LOT. 124, JLN. KUBUR RENDAH, CIK DAYANGKU SALMA BT AWG ISMAIL

KG. LADANG, 81560 GELANG

PATAH, JOHOR Nama Penyelia

Tarikh : _________________ Tarikh : __________________

√

CATATAN : * Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah, Sarjana dan Sarjana

Muda.

** Jika tesis ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa /

organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu

dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD

“ I hereby declare that I have read this report and in my opinion this report is

sufficient in terms of scope and quality for the purpose for award of the Degree of

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with Honours ”.

Signature : ………………...…………………...............

Name of Supervisor : MISS DAYANGKU SALMA BT AWG. ISMAIL

Date : ...........................................

“I hereby declare that this report is prepared personally with my own effort unless

references that have been cited accordingly in any part of the report”.

Signature : .……………………………...........................

Name of Author : ANUAR BIN IBRAHIM

Date : .........................................

APPROVAL SHEET

This project report attached here to, entitles “ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF

RESIDUAL SOIL” prepared and submitted by ANUAR BIN IBRAHIM (15975) as

a partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with

Honours in Civil Engineering is hereby read and approved by:

________________________________________ ............................

MISS DAYANGKU SALMA BT AWG. ISMAIL Date

SUPERVISOR

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF RESIDUAL SOIL

ANUAR BIN IBRAHIM

This Thesis Is Propose To

Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

For Fulfilment of The Requirements for Bestowal

The Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

(Civil Engineering)

2010

ii

Especially

To My Dearest Father, Ibrahim B. Atan,

Mother, Rukiah Bte.Samin, and Family

Also Fellow Friends

For their never ending care and support

Thank you for everything.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to ALLAH the Almighty (SWT) for

His blessings that enrich me with more health and wisdom throughout my lifetime.

With the most respect, I am also would like to grab this opportunity to deliver a

thousand thanks to my final year project advisor, Miss Dayangku Salma Bt Awg.

Ismail for her advice and the consultations along the way in completing this final

year project. Special thanks to the lab technicians, Haji Affandi for his unwavering

assistance in using the apparatus and preparing the materials during the laboratory

works.

Finally, thousand thanks to my father, Ibrahim B. Atan, my mother, Rukiah

Bte. Samin, my brothers and sisters Abd. Razak, Norhidayah, Ahmad Nur Misuari

and Nur Aqilah also to my friends Ahmad Khabir Md. Sidek and Mohd. Ikram Uzir.

I am grateful to my beloved family and friends who have always support me in my

studies. Last but not least, a lot of thanks to those who love, care, and help me

iv

ABSTRACT

The residual soils are earthen formed of weathering process on rock and

remained at the place where it was formed. Many studies were made to determine the

engineering properties of residual soil in Malaysia but until now in Sarawak not

much data can be found for the engineering properties of residual soil. Thus, the

main objectives are to determine index properties and to investigate on engineering

properties of residual soil in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. Varies of physical and

engineering properties tests have been conducted for three samples which taken from

three different locations. The three locations are for the Institut Latihan Perindustrian

Kota Samarahan, Vista Aman housing area, and Samarahan Expressway near the

UiTM Samarahan roundabout represented with sample A, B and C respectively.

Experimental results show that the natural moisture content is in range of 22 to

32.3%. The specific gravity (Gs) of the residual soil samples tested ranges from 2.65

to 2.67. The liquid limit of the soil varies from 43 to 58%. Sample A has the lowest

value of liquid limit as compared to sample B and sample C. The Optimum Moisture

Content (OMC) and maximum dry density for residual soil are varying from 20.0 to

26.5% and 1.47 to 1.60 Mg/m3, respectively. The value of compression index (Cc)

and coefficient of consolidation (Cv) for the residual soil vary from 0.133 to 0.232

and 2.314 to 6.941 m2/year respectively. Then, the shear strength parameters, value

of angle of internal friction (υ) vary from 10.94° to 17.14° and the cohesion (c) vary

from 8.83 to 18.64 kN/m2. Next, the initial void ratio (e) for the residual soil tested is

in a range of 0.786 to 1.0199.

v

ABSTRAK

Tanah baki ialah tanah yang terbentuk dari proses luluhawa ke atas batuan

dan tetap di tempat ia terbentuk. Banyak kajian dilakukan untuk menentukan sifat

kejuruteraan tanah baki di Malaysia tetapi sehingga kini masih sukar untuk

memperolehi data-data berkaitan dengan sifat kejuruteraan tanah baki di negeri

Sarawak. Oleh itu, objektif utama kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan ciri-ciri indeks

dan juga mengkaji sifat kejuruteraan tanah baki di Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.

Beberapa ujian ciri-ciri fizikal dan ciri-ciri kejuruteraan telah dijalankan ke atas tiga

jenis sampel tanah yang diambil dari tiga lokasi berbeza. Lokasi-lokasi tersebut

adalah di Institut Latihan Perindustrian Samarahan, kawasan perumahan Vista Aman

dan Lebuhraya Samarahan, berhampiran dengan bulatan UiTM Samarahan, diwakili

dengan sampel A, B dan C tiap satunya. Keputusan ujian makmal yang diperolehi

menunjukkan kandungan lembapan semulajadi tanah berjulat di antara 22 hingga

32.3%. Graviti tentu tanah baki (Gs) yang diuji berjulat di antara 2.65 hingga 2.67.

Had cecair tanah bernilai dari 43 sehingga 58%. Sampel A mempunyai nilai had

cecair paling rendah berbanding dengan sampel B dan sampel C. Kandungan air

optimum dan ketumpatan kering maksimum bagi tanah baki berjulat dari 20 ke

26.5% dan 1.47 ke 1.60 Mg/m3, tiap satunya. Nilai indeks mampatan (Cc) dan pekali

pengukuhan (Cv) tanah baki berjulat antara 0.133 ke 0.232 dan 2.314 ke 6.941

m2/tahun tiap satunya. Seterusnya untuk parameter kekuatan ricih, nilai sudut

geseran ricih (υ) berjulat antara 10.94° ke 17.14° dan kejelekitan tanah (c) berjulat

antara 8.83 ke 18.64 kN/m2. Akhir sekali, nisbah lompang asal sampel tanah baki

yang diuji berjulat antara 0.786 ke 1.0199.

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Acknowledgement iii

Abstract iv

Abstrak v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables x

List of Figures xii

Abbreviation xiv

List of Appendices xvi

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Problem statement 2

1.3 Objective 3

1.4 Scope of work 3

1.5 Outline of the Thesis 4

1.5.1 Introduction 4

1.5.2 Literature Review 5

1.5.3 Methodology 5

1.5.4 Result and Discussion 5

1.5.5 Conclusion and Recommendation 6

vii

Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 General overview 7

2.2 Depth of residual soil 11

2.3 Physical characteristic of residual soil 12

2.3.1 Moisture content 13

2.3.2 Specific gravity 14

2.3.3 Particle size distribution 15

2.3.4 Atterberg limit 18

2.4 Compressibility of residual soil 20

2.5 Shear strength 20

2.6 Consolidation 23

2.6.1 Principle of Consolidation 24

2.6.2 Types of Consolidation 24

2.6.3 One-Dimensional Consolidation Test 25

2.6.4 Oedometer Test 25

Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 28

3.2 Methodology of study 28

3.2.1 Data collection 29

3.2.2 Sampling and Sample Preparation 29

3.2.3 Laboratory Test 30

3.3 Index Properties Analysis 30

3.3.1 Sieve Analysis 31

viii

3.3.2 Atterberg Limit 32

3.3.3 Specific Gravity 34

3.3.4 Moisture Content 34

3.4 Engineering Properties Classification 35

3.4.1 Standard Proctor Compaction Test 35

3.4.2 Direct Shear Test 37

3.4.3 One-Dimensional Consolidation Test 38

3.5 Data Analysis 40

3.6 Conclusion and Recommendation 41

Chapter 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction 43

4.2 Soil Classification 44

4.2.1 Moisture Content 44

4.2.2 Specific Gravity 44

4.2.3 Atterberg Limit 45

4.2.4 Particles Size Distribution 46

4.3 Results for Engineering Classification 49

4.3.1 Standard Proctor Compaction Test 49

4.3.2 Direct Shear Test 51

4.3.3 One-Dimensional Consolidation Test 56

ix

Chapter 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion 58

5.3 Recommendation 60

References 62-70

Appendices

Appendix A 71-75

Appendix B 76-80

Appendix C 81-88

Appendix D 89-97

Appendix E 98-121

Appendix F 122-138

Appendix G 139

x

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE

PAGES

2.1 Results on engineering properties of residual soil by

previous researchers.

10

2.2 Weathering agencies and their description. 11

2.3 Natural moisture content of residual deposits,

Kuching area.

13

2.4 Specific gravity of residual deposits, Kuching area. 15

2.5 Sediment-types and grain sizes of residual deposits,

Kuching area.

17

2.6 Atterberg limits and moisture content of residual

deposits, Kuching area.

19

3.1 Samples location. 30

3.2 Classification by particle size 31

4.1 Value of natural moisture content and specific

gravity.

45

4.2 Summarized of liquid limit, plastic limit and plastic

index.

46

4.3 Particle size distribution of residual soil. 48

4.4 Compaction test result. 50

xi

TABLE

PAGE

4.5 The maximum shear stress for each sample. 54

4.6 Cohesion and friction angle for each sample. 56

4.7 Consolidation test results for residual soil. 57

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE

PAGE

2.1 Typical section of residual deposits, Kuching

area.

12

2.2 Typical particle-size curve for residual soils. 16

2.3 Different consistency limit 18

2.4 (a) Mohr’s failure criteria 21

2.4 (b) Element at failure showing principal stresses 21

2.5 Mohr failure envelopes 22

2.6 Analysis of Square-Root-time/Settlement

Curve

27

3.1 A stack of sieves with a pan at the bottom

and a cover on the top

32

3.2 The cone penetrometer method 33

3.3 Standard Proctor test apparatus 36

3.4 Direct shear apparatus 38

3.5 (a), (b),

3.5 (c)

(a) Concolidometer; (b) Fixed-ring container;

(c) Floating – ring container

39

39

3.6 Step Loading Procedure for Oedometer Test 40

xiii

FIGURE

PAGE

3.7 Flow chart of the study 42

4.1 Plasticity chart. 48

4.2 Grading curves of residual soil from Kota

Samarahan area.

49

4.3 Graph for moisture content against dry

density

50

4.4 (a) Shear stress against percentage of strain for

Sample A

52

4.4 (b) Shear stress against percentage of strain for

Sample B

53

4.4 (c) Shear stress against percentage of strain for

Sample C

53

4.5 Shear strength envelopes for residual soil

sample

55

4.6

Void ratio (e) - Pressure (Log P) relationship

for residual soil.

57

xiv

ABBREVIATION

ε - Strain

ºC - Degree Celsius

% - Percent

BS - British Standard

C - Apparent Cohesion

f (x) - Function of (x)

Gs - Specific Gravity

H - Height

PI - Plasticity Index

PL - Plasticity Limit

LL - Liquid limit

K - Coefficient of Permeability

kN/m2

- Kilo Newton Per Meter Square

m - Meter

m/s

-

Meter per second

MS - Mass of Soil / Solid

xv

N - Newton

UNIMAS - Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Vs - Volume of Solid

w - Moisture content / Water Content

wL - Liquid Limit

wP or PL - Plastic Limit

ρw - Unit Weight of Water

σn or σf - Normal Stress

υ - Angle of Friction

τf - Shear Strength

xvi

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE

A Results of Moisture Content & Specific Gravity

B Results of Atterberg Limit Test

C Results of Particle Size Distribution

D Results of Standard Proctor Test

E Results of Shear Box Test

F

G

Results of Oedometer Test

Map of Research Area

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background.

Although many study were made on engineering properties of residual soil,

but until now still no universally accepted definition of residual soils. Different

researchers gave different definitions. However, the common phenomenon in all

such definitions is that the residual soils are earthen formed of weathering process on

rock and remained at the place where it was formed. For example, one such

definition says “residual soils are those that form from rock or accumulation of

organic material and remain at the place where they were formed” (MacCarthy,

1993). The Public Works Institute of Malaysia defined it as “a soil which has been

formed in situ by decomposition of parent material and which has not been

transported any significant distance” and residual soil as “a soil formed in situ under

tropical weathering conditions” (IKRAM, 1996). In Malaysia, tropical residual

deposits are found in abundance and because the climate is hot and humid the

2

formations are intense with a predominance of chemical weathering over other

processes of weathering, thus resulting in deep weathering profiles and soil mantles

often exceeding 30 m.

This study mainly involved determination of residual soil properties so that

with the result of this study the future researchers can refer and make comparison. At

the same time engineers can use result of these soil properties of residual soil to

predict the characterisation and soil engineering behaviours based on the analysis

that will be conducted.

1.2 Problem Statement.

In the recent years backward, the main concern by the geotechnical engineers

on residual soil especially in Malaysia are associated with high rainfall and water

effect on the residual soil. This factor have resulted many incidents as big natural

disaster in Malaysia mostly are soil erosion and landslide whether in natural slope or

engineering slope (man-made). “Rainfall is considered the cause of majority of slope

failures and landslides that happened in regions experiencing high seasonal

rainfalls”. (Brand, 1984 & Shaw-Shong, 2004). Residual soils will lose strength

when in the wet periods. Nevertheless when it is in dry periods, soils are partially

saturated and have relatively high shear strength, allow them to remain stable.

3

In Sarawak the research for this particular problem is insufficient. Thus, the

reason for this study been conducted to gives understanding of characteristic and

features of the residual soil.

1.3 Objective.

The main concern in doing this particular study is to understand the

engineering properties of residual soil. Only sedimentary residual soil will be

focused in this study. To achieve project goal for developing some engineering

properties of residual soil, some objectives has been forms such as following:

i. To determine index properties of residual soil in Kota Samarahan area.

ii. To investigate on engineering properties of residual soil.

1.4 Scope of Work.

To achieve the objectives, the scope of study for this research had been

planned. Only sedimentary residual soil will be focused in this study. “The

sedimentary residual soil is a residual soil in which its particles are derived from

sedimentary rocks” (Md. Humayun, and Mohd Raihan, 2004). Laboratory tests will

be conducted for remoulded sample where soil samples are collected from the field

site around Kota Samarahan and British Standard procedures is used for soil testing,

in one area three samples will be collect. All the related tests will be performed at

Geotechnical Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak