<span ">Soil friction angle is a shear strength parameter of soils. Its definition is derived from the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and it is used to describe the friction shear resistance of soils together with the normal effective stress.Soil friction angle is a shear strength parameter of soils. Its definition is derived from the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and it is used to describe the friction shear resistance of soils together with the normal effective stress.

In the stress plane of Shear stress-effective normal stress, the soil friction angle is the angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal axis of the Mohr-Coulomb shear resistance line.

Typical values of soil friction angle


Some typical values of soil friction angle are given below for different USCS soil types at normally consolidated condition unless otherwise stated. These values should be used only as guidline for geotechnical problems; however, specific conition of each engineering problem often needs to be considered for an appropriate choice of geotechnical parameters.

Description USCS Soil friction angle [°] Reference
min  max Specific value
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines GW 33 40   [1],[2],
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no fines GP 32 44   [1],
Sandy gravels - Loose (GW, GP)     35 [3 cited in 6]
Sandy gravels - Dense (GW, GP)     50 [3 cited in 6]
Silty gravels, silty sandy gravels GM 30 40   [1],
Clayey gravels, clayey sandy gravels GC 28 35   [1], 
Well graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines SW 33 43   [1], 
Well-graded clean sand, gravelly sands - Compacted SW - - 38 [3 cited in 6]
Well-graded sand, angular grains - Loose (SW)     33 [3 cited in 6]
Well-graded sand, angular grains - Dense (SW)     45 [3 cited in 6]
Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands, with little or no fines SP 30 39   [1], [2],
Poorly-garded clean sand - Compacted SP - - 37 [3 cited in 6]
Uniform sand, round grains - Loose (SP)     27 [3 cited in 6]
Uniform sand, round grains - Dense (SP)     34 [3 cited in 6]
Sand SW, SP 37 38   [7],
Loose sand (SW, SP) 29 30   [5 cited in 6]
Medium sand (SW, SP) 30 36   [5 cited in 6]
Dense sand (SW, SP) 36 41   [5 cited in 6]
Silty sands SM 32 35   [1], 
Silty clays, sand-silt mix - Compacted SM - - 34 [3 cited in 6]
Silty sand - Loose SM 27 33   [3 cited in 6]
Silty sand - Dense SM 30 34   [3 cited in 6]
Clayey sands SC 30 40   [1], 
Calyey sands, sandy-clay mix - compacted SC     31 [3 cited in 6]
Loamy sand, sandy clay Loam SM, SC 31 34   [7], 
Inorganic silts, silty or clayey fine sands, with slight plasticity ML 27 41   [1], 
Inorganic silt - Loose ML 27 30   [3 cited in 6]
Inorganic silt - Dense ML 30 35   [3 cited in 6]
Inorganic clays, silty clays, sandy clays of low plasticity  CL 27 35   [1], 
Clays of low plasticity - compacted CL     28 [3 cited in 6]
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity OL 22 32   [1], 
Inorganic silts of high plasticity  MH 23 33   [1], 
Clayey silts - compacted MH     25 [3 cited in 6]
Silts and clayey silts - compacted ML     32 [3 cited in 6]
Inorganic clays of high plasticity  CH 17 31   [1], 
Clays of high plasticity - compacted CH     19 [3 cited in 6]
Organic clays of high plasticity  OH 17 35   [1], 
Loam ML, OL, MH, OH 28 32   [7], 
Silt Loam ML, OL, MH, OH 25 32   [7], 
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam ML, OL, CL, MH, OH, CH 18 32   [7], 
Silty clay OL, CL, OH, CH 18 32   [7], 
Clay CL, CH, OH, OL 18 28   [7], 
Peat and other highly organic soils Pt 0 10   [2], 

 

Correlation between SPT-N value, friction angle, and relative density


 

Correlation between SPT-N value and friction angle and Relative density (Meyerhoff 1956)
SPT N3 
[Blows/0.3 m - 1 ft]
Soi packing
Relative Density [%]
Friction angle
[°]
< 4
Very loose
< 20
< 30
4 -10
Loose
20 - 40
30 - 35
10 - 30
Compact
40 - 60
35 - 40
30 - 50
Dense
60 - 80
40 - 45
> 50
Very Dense
> 80
> 45

Refrences


  1. Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers Swiss Standard SN 670 010b, Characteristic Coefficients of soils, Association of Swiss Road and Traffic Engineers 
  2. JON W. KOLOSKI, SIGMUND D. SCHWARZ, and DONALD W. TUBBS, Geotechnical Properties of Geologic Materials, Engineering Geology in Washington, Volume 1, Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Bulletin 78, 1989, Link
  3. Carter, M. and Bentley, S. (1991). Correlations of soil properties. Penetech Press Publishers, London. 
  4. Meyerhof, G. (1956). Penetration tests and bearing capacity of cohesionless soils. J Soils Mechanics and Foundation Division ASCE, 82(SM1). 
  5. Peck, R., Hanson,W., and Thornburn, T. (1974). Foundation Engineering Handbook. Wiley, London. 
  6. Obrzud R. & Truty, A.THE HARDENING SOIL MODEL - A PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK Z Soil.PC 100701 report, revised 31.01.2012 
  7. Minnesota Department of Transportation, Pavement Design, 2007

 

Additional Info

  • Citation: Geotechdata.info, Angle of Friction, http://geotechdata.info/parameter/angle-of-friction.html (as of September 14.12.2013)
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