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FAMU-FSU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SOIL PROPERTIES

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1- PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

* Used to describe the soil. They are incorporated with the soil classification systems, and in some cases they are related to the mechanical properties.

- Color
- Odor
- Grain Size
- Grain Shape
- Specific Gravity
- Unit Weight
- Water Content
- Void Ratio
- Degree of Saturation
- Porosity

II- INDEX PROPERTIES:

* Used to classify the soil or to correlate with the mechanical properties.

- Atterberg Limits or Consistency Limits
- Moisture Content-Unit Weight Relationship
- Grain Size Distribution (USDA Soil Classification System)
- Relative Density Dr
- CBR

- LBR

III- HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES:

* Used for seepage and discharge analysis & to determine seepage force and pore water pressure.

- Permeability (k)

IV- MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:

* Used to determine settlement, bearing capacity, pavement thickness, friction, cohesion or adhesion.

- Stress - Strain Relationship
- Consolidation or Compressibility (Cc , Cs Cv , Pc , mv
- Soil Strength (t)