unit weight of typical soils

huangyhg

unit weight of typical soils
i'm looking for average unit weights (guidelines) for typical soils.
i.e. saturated and unsaturated unit weight of sand, silt, clay
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if the geotech doesn't tell me, i use 120 pcf - fairly conservative for non-gravel soils.
however, the unit weights are all over the spectrum so an actual insitu test is best.
i have dense compacted saturated sand.  i need an conservative estimate of weight.  i believe 22kn/m^3 should be conservative.  any conflicting thoughts?
22 is conservative.  i think 20 kn/m^3 is conservative enough.  i normally use 19.
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mike mccann
mmc engineering
one thing you need to consider is using bounyant unit weight if you are dealing with a saturated sand, and depending on what type of analysis you are doing.  one example of when you need to use a bouyant weight is if you are calculating vertical stress on a footings in sand under water (like for a bridge abutment)in order to calculate base friction.
a reasonable bouyant unit weight for sand is 70 pcf.
mineral sand ore and ilmenite can weigh up to 2.7t/cu.m just some food for thought.   
when in doubt, just take the next small step.

msquared48 - they are!  i think you want "american"!! 10 kpa about 60 pcf (within about 3%).  i hate it when they start using kg/m3 instead of kn/m3 for unit weights . . .
i always rememebered it as 28 dynes/tablespoon...
  
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mike:
c a n   i   t a l k   s l o w l y,  t o o?
dik
thanks rowing eng.  that is helpful