Russell Silt Loam

[RFreund]

Can anyone provide a description of the soil type "Russell Silt Loam".

Any approx info regarding effective friction angle, unit weight, able to drive a duckbill anchor or helical pier into this, would be greatly appreciated.
A reference would be great too.

"Maybe you should hire a geotech."
- yes you are probably right and we probably we will. However any insight would be appreciated as we are trying to come up with some preliminary options

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[cvg]

google works
\

http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/manuscripts/IL039/0/De_Witt_IL.pdf

322C2—Russell silt loam, 5 to 10 percent slopes, eroded
Setting
Landform: Ground moraines and end moraines
Position on the landform: Backslopes and shoulders
Map Unit Composition
Russell and similar soils: 92 percent
Dissimilar soils: 8 percent
Soils of Minor Extent
Similar soils:
• Soils that have a loamy subsoil
• Soils that do not have a root-restrictive substratum
• Soils that are silty in the substratum and/or in the underlying material
• Soils that are more gray in the lower part of the subsoil
• Soils that have carbonates closer to the surface
• Soils that have a dark surface layer
Dissimilar soils:
• The poorly drained Sable soils in swales
Properties and Qualities of the Russell Soil
Parent material: Loess over till
Drainage class: Well drained
Slowest permeability within a depth of 40 inches: Moderate
Permeability below a depth of 60 inches: Moderately slow
Depth to restrictive feature: 40 to 60 inches to dense material
Available water capacity: About 8.9 inches to a depth of 60 inches
Content of organic matter in the surface layer: 0.5 to 2.0 percent
Shrink-swell potential: Moderate
Ponding: None
Flooding: None
Accelerated erosion: The surface layer has been thinned by erosion.
Potential for frost action: High
Hazard of corrosion: Moderate for steel and concrete
Surface runoff class: Medium
Susceptibility to water erosion: High
Susceptibility to wind erosion: Low
Interpretive Groups
Land capability classification: 3e
Prime farmland category: Not prime farmland
Hydric soil status: Not hydric

 

[molerat2210]

Where do I begin with the stupidity of this exercise? How about it's prepared by the USDA for agricultural use. How about it only considers the top 48 inches. How about following IBC and conducting a geotechnical evaluation as the code prescribes?

I am sorry for being mean. But, seriously. Dude, c'mon. Friction angle?

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

While I agree with the other, and suspect that you were expecting the response you got; phi angle in the range of 24 to 34 degrees and moist unit weights in the range of 100 to 125 pcf are likely. However, it could certainly be outside these ranges and as pointed out, USDA only considers the upper 48 inches. Additionally, almost all of the mapping is done via photos.


Mike Lambert

 

[cvg]

soil description is given by USDA, anything else requires sampling.
I can't believe that anybody expects to get any useful site specific geotechnical design info for a soil off of this forum. hire a stinkin geotech or guess!

 

[RFreund]

Ha, right, right. I mean I put that response in the OP for a reason. I knew that it was the 'correct' answer. However I actually ended up getting the info I was looking for via cvg and Mike, so thanks, I appreciate it.
Really I had no idea what the "Russel" part meant. I think that was throwing me for a loop. I understand now (or so I think) that it is a type of silty loam, which I still am not very familiar with. But before I had nothing to go on - is it granular, clay like, etc. But now atleast I can visualize this powdery / sandy (?) like substance.
Anyway, thanks for the responses. They will eventually get a geotech but I wanted to get an initial feel for what would be involved.

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

Russell is just a formation name, i.e. a local name for a particular soil unit.

Silt loam is an agricultural soil description and is probably a silty sand or a sandy silt. Look up USDA soil classification for a description of silty loam.

Mike Lambert