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Database of soil physical characteristics

Soil Minimum value Maximum value
Loose sand 0.48 1.60
Average compact sand 0.96 8.00
Compact sand 6.40 12.80
Average compact clayey sand 2.40 4.80
Average compact silty sand 2.40 4.80
Compact sand and gravel 10.00 30.00
Calyey soil with qu< 2 Kg/cm² 1.20 2.40
Calyey soil with 2< qu< 4 Kg/cm² 2.20 4.80
Calyey soil with qu> 2 Kg/cm² >4.80

Approximate values ​​of Winkler's constant K in Kg/cm3

Soil Minimum value Maximum value
Dry gravel 1800 2000
Wet gravel 1900 2100
Compact dry sand 1700 2000
Compact wet sand 1900 2100
Loose dry sand 1500 1800
Loose wet sand 1600 1900
Sandy clay 1800 2200
Hard clay 2000 2100
Semisolid clay 1900 1950
Soft clay 1800 1850
Peat 1000 1100

Approximate values of the volume weight in Kg/cm3

Soil Minimum value Maximum value
Compact gravel 35 35
Loose gravel 34 35
Compact sand 35 45
Loose sand 25 35
Sandy marl 22 29
Fat marl 16 22
Fat clay 0 30
Sandy clay 16 28
Silt 20 27

Approximate values of the friction angle φ, in degrees, for soils

Soil Value
Sandy clay 0.20
Soft clay 0.10
Plastic clay 0.25
Semisolid clay 0.50
Solid clay 1
Tenacious clay 2÷10
Compact silt 0.10

Approximate values of cohesion in Kg/cm2

Soil Maximum value of E Minimum value of E
Very soft clay 153 20.4
Soft clay 255 51
Medium clay 510 153
Hard clay 1020 510
Sandy clay 2550 255
Loess 612 153
Silty sand 204 51
Loose sand 255 102
Compact sand 816 510
Clayey schist 51000 1530
Silt 204 20.4
Loose sand and gravel 1530 510
Compact sand and gravel 2040 1020

Approximate values of the  module, in Kg/cm2, for soils

Soil Maximum value of n Minimum value of n
Saturated clay 0.5 0.4
Not saturated clay 0.3 0.1
Sandy clay 0.3 0.2
Silt 0.35 0.3
Sand 1.0 -0.1
Gravelly sand commonly used 0.4 0.3
Loess 0.3 0.1
Ice 0.36
Concrete 0.15

Approximate values of the Poisson's ratio for soils

Rock Minimum value Maximum value
Pumice 500 1100
Volcanic tuff 1100 1750
Tufaceous limestone 1120 2000
Coarse sand dry 1400 1500
Fine dry sand 1400 1600
Wet fine sand 1900 2000
Sandstone 1800 2700
Dry clay 2000 2250
Soft limestone 2000 2400
Travertine 2200 2500
Dolomite 2300 2850
Compact limestone 2400 2700
Trachyte 2400 2800
Porphyry 2450 2700
Gneiss 2500 2700
Serpentine 2500 2750
Granite 2550 2900
Marble 2700 2750
Syenite 2700 3000
Diorite 2750 3000
Basalt 2750 3100

Approximate values of specific weight for some rocks in Kg/m3

Rock Minimum value Maximum value
Granite 45 60
Dolerite 55 60
Basalt 50 55
Sandstone 35 50
Calyey schist 15 30
Limestone 35 50
Quartzite 50 60
Marble 35 50

Approximate values of the friction angle φ, in degrees, for rocks

Rock E n
Maximum value Minimum value Maximum value Minimum value
Basalt 1071000 178500 0.32 0.27
Granite 856800 142800 0.30 0.26
Crystalline schist 856800 71400 0.22 0.18
Limestone 1071000 214200 0.45 0.24
Porous limestone 856800 35700 0.45 0.35
Sandstone 428400 35700 0.45 0.20
Calyey schist 214200 35700 0.45 0.25
Concrete Variable 0.15

Approximate values of the elastic module and Poisson's ratio for rocks

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