Soil Friction Angle Correlation

Soil friction angle
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 for different soils according to USCS
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.
Soil friction angle [°]

Description USCS Specific Reference
min max
value
Well graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or no
GW 33 40 [1],[2],
fines
Poorly graded gravel, sandy gravel, with little or
GP 32 44 [1],
no fines
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
SW 33 43 [1],
no fines
Well-graded clean sand, gravelly sands -
SW - - 38 [3 cited in 6]
Compacted
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
SP 30 39 [1], [2],
no fines
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
ML 27 41 [1],
slight plasticity
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
CL 27 35 [1],
plasticity
Clays of low plasticity - compacted CL 28 [3 cited in 6]
Organic silts and organic silty clays of low
OL 22 32 [1],
plasticity
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],
ML, OL,
Loam 28 32 [7],
MH, OH
ML, OL,
Silt Loam 25 32 [7],
MH, OH
ML, OL,
Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam CL, MH, 18 32 [7],
OH, CH
OL, CL,
Silty clay 18 32 [7],
OH, CH
CL, CH,
Clay 18 28 [7],
OH, OL
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 Relative Density Friction angle
Soi packing
[Blows/0.3 m - 1 ft] [%] [°]
<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
REFERENCES
1. 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

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Soil friction angle

Soil friction angle [°]

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

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