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‘Shrinkage limit (SL) is the water content at which asoil changes from a solid to a semisolid state without further change in volume. Hydraulic conductivity (K) is a proportionality constant to determine the flow of water through soils. Maximum dry unit weight (yamay) is the maximum unit weight that a soil can attain using a specified means of compaction. Optimum water content (Wop) isthe water content required to allow asoil to attain its maximum dry unit weight. Compaction is the densification of a soil by expelling air from the soil pores. Consolidation is the time-dependent settlement (densification) of fine-grained soils resulting from the expulsion of water from the soil pores. Porewater pressure (u) is the water pressure in the soil pores. .2_ ENGINEERING GEOLOGY ——_——— Importance Soils are notoriously variable. You need to understand the geological setting of your rojectsite and the soils that exist there to provide a qualitative understanding of their possible use and potential problems. In this section, basic information on soil formation is reviewed. 1.21 Soil Formation Soils are geological materials formed from the physical and chemical weathering of rocks. Physical weathering involves reduction of size without any change in the original composition of the parent rock. The main agents responsible for this process are exfoliation, unloading. erosion, freezing, and thawing. Chemical weathering causes both reductions in size and chemical alteration of the original parent rock ‘The main agents responsible for chemical weathering are hydration, carbonation, and oxidation. Often, chemical and physical weathering take place in concert. Soils that remain at the site of weathering are called residual soils. These soils retain many of the elements that comprise the parent rock. Alluvial soils, also called fluvial soils, are soils that were transported by rivers and streams. 1.2.2 Soil Fabric ‘The composition of these soils depends on the environment under which they were transported and is often different from the parent rock. The environment under which deposition occurs influences the structural framework that is formed. In-particular, the electrochemical environment has the greatest influence on the kind of soil fabric that is formed during deposition 7 ‘The two common types of soil fabrics are flocculated and dispersed, A flocculated structure, formed under saltwater environment, comprises many particles that tend to orient parallel to each other. A flocculated structure, formed under freshwater environment, comprises many particles that tend to orient perpendicular to each other. A dispersed structure comprises a majority of the particles orienting parallel to each other. Any loading (tectonic or otherwise) during ot after deposition permanently alters the soil fabric or structural arrangement in a way that is unique to that particular loading condition. Consequently, the history of loading and changes in the environment are imprinted in the soil fabric. The soil fabric is the brain; it retains the memory of the birth of the soil and subsequent changes that occur,

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