Ch 5. Gradation and Atterberg Limits

When soil moves from a semi-solid to a plastic state, the volume? A. increases B. decreases C. stays the same D. increases during this stage, but decreases when moving from a plastic state to a liquid state

A. increases

The liquid limit is? A. the percent of water content necessary to make soil behave like a liquid B. the point at which soil moves from a semisolid state to a plastic state C. the solid state minus the plastic state D. defined as the limit in which soil can take no more water

A. the percent of water content necessary to make soil behave like a liquid

To perform Atterberg Limits, you must pass _____ grams of material through a No. _____ sieve. A. 500 / 4 B. 500 / 200 C. 200 / 40 D. 200 / 200

C. 200 / 40

All of the following sieves are considered a full set of sieves to have on-hand, except: A. No. 20 B. No. 40 C. No. 50 D. No. 60

C. No. 50

Given: a soil sample has a liquid limit of 58 and a plastic limit of 42. The plastic limit was determined by? A. the groove measured on the Casagrande test B. the sieve analysis results C. the worm test D. LL/PI

C. the worm test

Given: the following material shows these gradation results - 95% passing the 3" sieve; 70% passing the 3/4" sieve; 40% passing the No. 4 sieve; and 12% passing the No. 200 sieve. This material can be classified as? A. Coarse gravel with fines B. Coarse-grained sand material C. Coarse-grained gravel material D. Coarse sand with fines

A. Coarse gravel with fines

According to ASTM D422, when conducting a gradation on the portion of material retained on a No. 10, the following sieves should be used? A. Numbers 10, 4, the 3/8", 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", and 3" B. Numbers 4, the 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", and 3" C. Numbers 10, 4, the 3/8", 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", and 3" D. Numbers 4, the 3/8", 3/4", and 3"

A. Numbers 10, 4, the 3/8", 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", and 3"

Soil classified as ML or CL A. are silts and clays with low plasticity B. will fall below the A-Line C. have liquid limits greater than 50 D. have more than 50% of material larger than the No. 200 sieve

A. are silts and clays with low plasticity

Sand that passes the No. 10 sieve but retained on the No. 40 is? A. coarse sand B. medium sand C. fine sand D. silty sand

B. medium sand

Nonplastic soil will? A. have small amounts of clay B. not roll into an 1/8-inch diameter worm C. have no traces of clay present D. will not roll into a worm when dried back

B. not roll into an 1/8-inch diameter worm

According to ASTM D4318, consistency is defined as? A. the ratio of the plasticity index to the percent mass of particles in a given sample B. the relative ease with which a soil can be deformed C. the undrained shear strength of soil D. the range of water content over which a soil behaves plastically

B. the relative ease with which a soil can be deformed

Given: a scale is used to weigh and test a sieve analysis. For material passing the No. 10 sieve, the scale should be capable of weighing the sample to the _____ gram. A. 0.001 B. 0.0001 C. 1.0 D. 0.01

D. 0.01

Given: a sample is brought into the laboratory for a gradation with the largest material in the sample measuring 1-1/2" in nominal diameter. The sample should be at least ______ grams. A. 500 B. 1000 C. 2000 D. 3000

D. 3000

Given: a soil sample with particles nearly all the same size contains 70% of material passing the No. 4 sieve, 55% retained on the No. 200 sieve and 15% passing. This material classifies as? A. SM B. SW C. SW or SP D. SM or SC

D. SM or SC

Given: a soil sample has a liquid limit of 62 and a plastic limit of 39. The plastic index is determined by? A. performing the worm test B. performing the Casagrande test C. subtracting the liquid limit from the plastic limit D. subtracting the plastic limit from the liquid limit

D. subtracting the plastic limit from the liquid limit

In order to determine the amount of clays versus silts in a soil sample, you should? A. run a sieve analysis B. perform a proctor C. determine the liquid limit D. use a hydrometer

D. use a hydrometer