Common use of Consistency of Cohesive Soils Clause in Contracts

Consistency of Cohesive Soils. May be estimated using simple field tests, or described in terms of a strength scale. In the field, the undrained shear strength (su) can be assessed using a simple field tool appropriate for cohesive soils, in conjunction with the relevant calibration. Refer to AS 1726-1993, Table A4. Consistency - Essentially Cohesive Soils Term Field Guide Symbol SPT “N” Value Undrained Shear Strength su (kPa) Unconfined Compressive Strength qu (kPa) Very soft Oozes between fingers when VS 0-2 <12 <25 Stiff Not possible to mould with fingers. St 8-15 50-100 100-200 Very stiff VSt 00-00 000-000 200-400 Hard Can be indented with difficulty by thumb nail. H >30 >200 >400 Soil Particle Sizes Term Size Range BOULDERS >200 mm COBBLES 63-200 mm Coarse GRAVEL 20-63 mm Medium GRAVEL 6-20 mm Fine GRAVEL 2.36-6 mm Coarse SAND 0.6-2.36 mm Medium SAND 0.2-0.6 mm Fine SAND 0.075-0.2 mm SILT 0.002-0.075 xx XXXX <0.002 mm Note: SPT - N to qu correlation from Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx, 1967. (General guide only).

Consistency of Cohesive Soils. May be estimated using simple field tests, or described in terms of a strength scale. In the field, the undrained shear strength (su) can be assessed using a simple field tool appropriate for cohesive soils, in conjunction with the relevant calibration. Refer to AS 1726-1993, Table A4. Consistency - Essentially Cohesive Soils Term Field Guide Symbol SPT “N” Value Undrained Shear Strength su (kPa) Unconfined Compressive Strength qu (kPa) Very soft Oozes between fingers when VS 0-2 <12 <25 Stiff Not possible to mould with fingers. St 8-15 50-100 100-200 Very stiff VSt 00-00 000-000 200-400 Hard Can be indented with difficulty by thumb nail. H >30 >200 >400 Soil Particle Sizes Term Size Range BOULDERS >200 mm COBBLES 63-200 mm Coarse GRAVEL 20-63 mm Medium GRAVEL 6-20 mm Fine GRAVEL 2.36-6 mm Coarse SAND 0.6-2.36 mm Medium SAND 0.2-0.6 mm Fine SAND 0.075-0.2 mm SILT 0.002-0.075 xx XXXX <0.002 mm Note: SPT - N to qu correlation from Xxxxxxxx Terzaghi and Xxxx, 1967. (General guide only).