1. INTERNATIONAL JOURNALEngineering and TechnologyRESEARCH IN
International Journal of Advanced Research in OF ADVANCED (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March – April (2013), © IAEME
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (IJARET)
ISSN 0976 - 6480 (Print)
ISSN 0976 - 6499 (Online)
IJARET
Volume 4, Issue 2 March – April 2013, pp. 75-80
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STUDIES ON CHEMICAL AND GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF
MARINE SAND
Sivaramulu Naidu .D1 *, Madan Mohan Reddy .K2 and Vijaya Sekhar Reddy .M2
1
Senior Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, SVUCE, Tirupati, AP, India.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SKIT, Srikalahasti, AP, India.
ABSTRACT
Present study deals with the Chemical and Geotechnical properties of Marine Sand
collected from Mypadu Beach, Nellore District, AP, India. Samples selected from two trial-
pits one at a depth of 0.5-1.0 m (Pit-1) and second at a depth of 1.2-2.0 m (Pit-2) and
conducted laboratory tests on Chemical and Geotechnical Properties. Samples are said to be
Alkaline soils and Non-Cohesive because it’s having greater than 8.5 pH and grain sizes
more than 98% range in 0.075- 1.18 mm respectively. The detailed test results and
observations are discussed sequentially in the paper.
Key words: Marine Sand, Chemical Properties, Geotechnical Properties, Maximum, Dry
Density (MDD), Optimum Moisture Content (OMC), Safe Bearing Capacity (SBC).
1.0 INTRODUCTION
A coastal plain corresponding to 0-150 meters covers almost entire coastal Andhra
with some of the best agricultural land of the state. This area falls between two major river
deltas, Krishna and Godavari and is largely composed of riverine and coastal alluvial soils
and in some places red loams. Occupying 3% of the total area of the state the coastal soils are
very deep (1.8-5mts) with coarse textured sandy subsoil. They are located all along the
eastern coast, 3-12 km from the sea. Rapidly permeable soils due to very low day content and
high amounts of sand. Neutral in reaction (pH 6.5- 7.5) with subsoil salinity due to high water
table. Saline and alkaline soils belong to one group of problem, soil the extent of which is not
precisely known as no systematic surveys were carried out to asses and map them. These
soils are estimated to occupy about 1.0 per cent of the total area. The area under salt-affected
soils in the coastal region is estimated to be 0.176 m ha [1].
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2. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March – April (2013), © IAEME
The marine sediments present in the Kerala coast between 20 and 80m water depth
carry an appreciable amount of silica sand. Systematic mapping of the seabed and
exploration in selected areas have indicated the presence of huge reserves of construction-
grade sand in different sectors. Sandy sediments in the deeper, western part India are
relatively finer and fall in the fine to medium sand category. The carbonate content is 10-
25% but in certain areas the sand bodies carry 10-15% clay and silt. In certain other
sectors clay contents exceed 25%. The sand also carries economic heavy minerals like
ilmenite, sillimanite, garnet, rutile, Zircon and monazite in small proportions [2].
The five sites chosen were submitted from moderate to high energy level of
deposition and showed depositional clean graded bedding which is diagnosite of the
presence of storm surges, reflected through storm layers. Five areas and their sedimentary
facies of the actual marine environment were chosen to apply the methodology used on
the transitional coastal sediments[3].
The pH varied from slightly acidic (5.83) to moderately alkaline (8.47) in the soils
of Sivagiri micro-watershed in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The variation in soil
pH was related to parent material, rainfall and topography. Further, the KCl-pH values
were lower than the water pH values, indicating the existence of net negative charge on
colloidal particles [4].
The electrical conductivity of the soils of Garakahalli watershed ranged from 0.02
to 0.20 dSm-1 indicating non-saline nature of the soil. However, these soils did not show
any relationship with depth. This may be due to the undulating nature of the terrain
coupled with free drainage conditions, which favored the removal of releasing bases by
the percolating and drainage water [5]. The Inceptisols and Entisols of Shahibi basin in
Haryana and Delhi were non-saline with electrolyte concentration ranging from 0.18 to
0.95 dSm-1 [6].
2.0 MATERIALS USED IN THE STUDY
The soil samples were collected 2kms from the sea waterfront on the coast near
Mypadu Beach, Nellore District, AP, India. Two trial-pits one at a depth of 0.5-1.0 m
(Pit-1) and second at a depth of 1.2-2.0 m (Pit-2) and samples were collected in wet
condition from both trial pits (Pit-1 and Pit-2). Tests on soil samples were determined by
standard methods and conducted on Chemical Properties, Geotechnical Properties and
Safe Bearing Capacity. It is mentioned here that three samples were taken at random and
the average values of various properties are taken as the test values.
3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Chemical Properties
Chemical tests were determined by the methodologies [7] suggested by Jackson
(1973) for both Pit-1 and Pit-2 samples and observed the results of Chemical Properties of
marine soil samples are tabulated in Table 1.
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3. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March – April (2013), © IAEME
Table 1. Chemical Properties of Marine Soils Samples
Electrical Total
Conductivity Dissolved
Alkalinity Hardness
Chemical Chlorides (µs/cm) Solids (ppm)
(mg/l as (mg/l as pH
Properties (mg/l)
CaCo3) CaCo3)
Wet Dry Wet Dry
Pit -1 670 1387 612 8.62 815 710 2405 2100
Pit -2 612 1220 574 8.58 702 650 1890 1760
Soils with a pH greater than 8.5 are considered alkaline [1]. Samples collected from the
source were having pH > 8.5 and these soils considered as alkaline soils.
3.2 Geotechnical Properties
Tests on soil samples were determined by standard methods and observed results are
tabulated in Table 2.
It is observed that the liquid limit, Plastic Limit, Plasticity Index and Free Swell Index
were zero because of both Pit-1 and Pit-2 samples were cohesion less sand particles.
Table 2. Geotechnical Properties of Marine Soil Samples
Natural Angle of
In-Situ Moistur Internal Bulking Silt +
Geotechnical Specific Sand
Density e Friction of Sand Clay
Properties Gravity (%)
(kN/m3) Content (φ in (%) (%)
(%) degrees)
Pit-1 10.867 25.99 29`29” 2.38 12 98.13 1.86
Pit-2 12.72 27.14 31`9” 2.35 6 99.97 0.23
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4. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March – April (2013), © IAEME
Grain size distribution
For determination of grain size distribution of marine samples, sieve analysis test was
performed. From the test data, the particle size distribution curve was plotted from which it
was found that the soil consists of more than 98% of particles range in 0.075mm-1.18mm for
both Pit-1 and Pit-2 samples. Therefore the soil samples said to be sand particles. The grain
size distribution curve is depicted in Figure 1.
Compaction test
The standard proctor compaction test was carried out with remoulded soil sample with
varying moisture content. In each test, the standard Proctor mould (size: 100 mm diameter x
127 mm height) was filled with soil-water water mixture in three equal layers, each layer
being compacted by 25 blows of a 25 N rammer with a height free fall of 300 mm. From the
test results observed Maximum Dry Density (MDD) versus Optimum Moisture Content
(OMC) is depicted in Figure 2. The value of MDD and OMC (depicted in Figure 2) for Pit-1
and Pit-2 was observed 16.68 kN/m3, 16.29 kN/m3 and 15.48%, 15.62 % respectively.
Safe Bearing Capacity
It is observed from the results Ultimate Bearing Capacity (UBC) and Safe Allowable
Bearing Capacity (SBC) for Pit-1 were found to be 190 kN/m2 and 63 kN/m2 respectively
after considering factor of safety 3.0 and the settlement of 3.80 cm.
For Pit-2, UBC and SBC were found to be 200 kN/m2 and 67 kN/m2 respectively after
considering factor of safety 3.0 and the settlement of 3.865 cm. However the SBC of
cohesion less, loose, dry and fine sand may be limited to 100 kN/m2 and allowable settlement
of 5.0 cm in accordance with the IS: 6403-1981 [8].
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5. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March – April (2013), © IAEME
4.0 CONCLUSIONS
1. The present studies explain the knowledge about the marine sand in connection with its
Chemical Properties, Geotechnical Properties and soil Safe Bearing Capacity.
2. The Soil samples are alkaline because of both Pit-1 and Pit-2 having greater pH, than the
allowable value of 8.5.
3. Grain size distribution of Marine Sand samples shows that the sediments consist of more
than 98% of sand content when sieved through 0.075 - 4.75 mm size sieves.
4. It is observed that the liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index and Free Swell Index
were zero because of both Pit-1 and Pit-2 were fine sandy particles of the Marine soil.
5. The value of Cohesion were found to be zero and hence only Direct Shear test was
conducted for finding results of the MDD and OMC in present in soil samples. The test
results of MDD and OMC for Pit-1 and Pit-2 is 16.68 kN/m3 and 16.29 kN/m3 and
15.48% and 15.62% respectively.
6. From the results the UBC and SBC of Pit-1 and Pit-2 were found to be 190 kN/m2, 200
kN/m2 and 63 kN/m2, 67 kN/m2 respectively, after considering factor of safety 3.0.
7. The settlement of foundation is observed for Pit-1 and Pit-2 were 3.80 cm and 3.865
respectively. These values are also well within the allowable settlement of 5.0 cm as per
the code.
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6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March – April (2013), © IAEME
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