Solution 1

We classify this soil by recording the percentage and mass retained in each sieve and according to BS
EN ISO 14688-2 through tracing the PSD graph in which we can define parameters of grading in Table
2:

-Uniformity coefficient Cu

- Coefficient of curvature Cc

Sieve size Mass retained (g) % Of weight Cumulative % % Passing (%

(mm)or(µm) retained retained finner)
4.76 7 3 3 97 (100-3)=97
2 16 7 10 90 (97-7)=90
425 125 53 63 37 (90-53)=37
150 78 33 96 4 (37-33)=4
63 8 3 99 1 (4-3)=1
Pan 2 1 100 0 (1-1)=0
Total 236

For the 1st raw:

% of wight retained :
236 g →100 %
7 g ( mass retained ) →? ( % of eight retained )
7∗100
% of mass retained= =2.97 ≅ 3 %
236
% passing :
Lot of methods can be used, one of them for example:

For 1st raw → 100 %−% of mass retained which is 3% = 97% (as shown in table)
 D 60 0.8
Cu= = =4
D 10 0.2

D 3 o2 0.232
Cc= = =0.33
D 10∗D60 0.2∗0.8

30 % GRAVEL 30 % SAND=MEDIUM GRADED SOIL

PSG GRAPH
100

90

80

70

60
PERCENT PASSING

50

40

30

20

10

0
10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001

SIEVE SIZES DIAMETERS

Solution 2

According to Atterberg limits, at 20 mm of cone penetration the corresponding value or percentage

of moisture content represents the LIQUID LIMIT, a point at which a soil stops acting as a liquid solid
and starts acting as a plastic one.

Tracing a graph using Excel:

Sample No 1 2 3 4 5
Cone 15.6 16.5 18.5 21.2 25.3
penetration
(mm)
Moisture 51 52.1 53.8 55.6 58.3
content %
At 20mm of cone penetration the moisture content w=54,7 % ,therefore:

W L =54,7 %

From data collected of plastic limit of that soil it is mentioned that W p =18 %

Calculating our plasticity index I P :

Plasticity index=liquid limit −plastic limit

I P =W L −W P=54.7−18=36.7 %

According to the following BS EN ISO 14688-2 this soil is classified as CLAY WITH HIGH PLASTICITY

Test Number 1 2
Length of core cutter (mm) 130 130
Diameter of core cutter (mm) 100 100
Volume of core cutter (mm3) π d2 π∗102 1021.1
or(cm3) . h= ∗( 13 )=1021.1
4 4

Mass of core cutter (g) 1045 1045

Mass of core cutter and wet soil (g) 2945 2960
Mass of wet soil (g) 2945-1045=1900 2960-1045=1915
Calculation of Bulk Density 1900 1915
=1.86 =1.875
Mass of wet soil / Volume of wet 1021.1 1021.1
soil
 Average Bulk Density ρb (Mg/m3) 1.86+1.875
=1.87
2

Mass of wet soil = Mass of core cutter∧wet soil−mass of core cutter

π d2
Volume of core cutter in cm3 = ∗h
4
PS: 1g/cm3 = 1Mg/m3

Specific Gravity (Gas Jar Method) measurement

Test number 1
(M1) Mass of gas jar and plate 880
(M2) Mass of gas jar, plate and dry sand 1326
(M3) Mass of gas jar, plate, soil and water 2416
(M4) Mass of gas jar, Plate and water 2138
Calculation of Specific gravity (Gs)
M 1−M 2
[ ( M 4−M 1 )−( M 3−M 2 ) ] 1326−880
[ ( 2138−880 )−( 2416−1326 ) ]
Specific Gravity (Gs) 2.65
Moisture content measurement

Test No 1 2
Container No
(M1) Mass of wet soil and container (g) 66 70
(M2) Mass of dry soil and container (g) 64 68
(M3) Mass of container (g) 31 32
Calculation of moisture content (%) 66−64 70−68
( ¿∗100 ( )∗100
M 1−M 2 64−31 68−32
( )∗100
M 2− M 3
Moisture content (%) 6.1 5.5
Average moisture content (%) 6,1+ 5.5
=5.8
2
Calculation of Dry unit wight

ρb
We have the formulae ρd =
1+ w
This sample of soil is the same collected from Question 3 on which In situ bulk density experiment
was conducted, it means that:
3
ρ b =1.8 Mg / m
1 .8
ρd = =1.7 Mg /¿ m ¿ 3
1+ 0.058
γ (1.7∗9.81)
So, we have dry unit weight γ d = 1+bw = 1=0.058
=16.68 KN / m
3

PS: γ b= ρb∗9.81(unit is KN/m3)

Calculation of porosity n:

e
I prefer to use the following formulae : n=
1+ e
Let us calculate first the void ratio e

We have the formulae: e= ( Gsρ ∗(1+w))−1

b

e= ( 2,65
1.8
∗(1+0,058) )−1=0.56

0.5 6
So: n=
1+0.56
=0.36

Calculation of void ratio e:

We calculated void ration in previous question e=0.56

n 0.36
Or we can calculate it from the formulae: e= = =0.56
1−n 1−0.36
Test No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mass of mould & 2783 3059 3246 3281 3245 3171
wet soil (g)
Mass of mould (g) 1130 1130 1130 1130 1130 1130
Mass of wet soil 1653 1929 2116 2151 2115 2041
(g)
Volume of mould 1 1 1 1 1 1
( L)
Bulk density ( 1653 ) 10−6 ( 1929 ) 10−6 ( 2116 ) 10−6 ( 2151 ) 10−6 ( 2115 ) 10−6 ( 2041 ) 10−6
(Mg/m3) −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3
1∗10 10 10 10 10 10
=1.653 =1.929 =2.116 =2.151 =2.115 =2.041
Moisture content
determination
Dish No 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mass of dish & wet 59.01 57.5 60.06 58.88 58.66 58.89
soil (g)
Mass of dish & dry 58.03 56.46 58.55 56.39 56.85 56.90
soil (g)
Mass of dish (g) 45.99 45.99 45.99 45.99 45.99 45.99
Moisture content 59.01−58.03 57.5−56.46 60.06−58.55 58.88−56.39 58.66−56.85 58.89−56.9
.100 .100 ∗100 ∗100 ∗100 ∗10
Mw 58.03−45.99 56.46−45.99 58.55−45.99 56.36−45.99 56.85−45.99 56.9−45.99
(%)
Ms
=8.14 =9.93 =12 =14.3 =16.1 =18.2

Dry density 1.653 1.929 2.116 2.151 2.115 2.041

ρb 1+ 0.0814 1+ 0.0993 1+ 0.12 1+ 0.143 1+ 0.161 1+ 0.182
(Mg/m³)
1+ w =1.53 =1.75 =1.89 =1.88 =1.82 =1.73

Details about calculations

Mass of mould∧wet soil

For Bulk density:
Mass of mould
Mass of water
For moisture content: ∗100
Mass of soil
bulk density
For dry density:
1+ water content
Compaction curve is represented in Excel graph bellow including 0% and 10% air void lines

{ }
1−Av
ρd =ρ w
We have the formulae 1
+w
that we will manipulate in order to calculate Av
Gs

Ps: water dry density =1Mg/m3

Moisture 8.14 9.93 12 14.3 16.1 18.2
Content %

Av= 0% 1−0 1−0 1−0 1−0 1−0 1−0

ρd = ρd = ρd = ρd = ρd = ρd =
1 1 1 1 1 1
+0.0814 +0.0993 +0.12 +0.143 +0.161 +0.182
2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65

=2.18 =2.1 =2 =1.92 =1.86 =1,79

 Av= 10% 1−0.1 1−0.1 1−0.1 1−0.1 1−0.1 1−0.1
ρd = ρd = ρd = ρd = ρd = ρd =
1 1 1 1 1 1
+0.0814 +0.0993 +0.12 +0.143 +0.161 +0.182
2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65

=1.96 =1.89 =1.81 =1,73 =1.67 =1,61

compaction curve including air void lines

2.5
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
2
dry sensity Mg/m3

1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Moisture content percentage

Woptimum=At 12.4% moisture content and its ρdmax =1. 90 Mg / m 3

Orange line represents 0% Air voids line. Blue curve is dry density vs moisture content
Green line represents 10% Air voids line.
 Sample diameter (mm) 75
Area of sample (mm²) A 2
π d π (75)
2
= =4417 .9
4 4
Distance between piezometer tapping's (mm) l 100
Quantity of water collected (ml) 400
Quantity of water collected (mm3) Q 400*103=400000

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5

Manometer A 148 200 300 402 506
Manometer B 64 102 156 225 290
Head Loss (mm) 148-64 200-102 300-156 402-225 506-290
=84 =98 =144 =177 =216
Time (s) 85 55 45 33 25
Ql 400000∗100 400000∗100 400000∗10 400000∗100 400000∗100
K= tAh (mm/s) 85∗4417.9∗8 4 55∗4417.9∗98 45∗4417.9∗144 33∗4417.9∗177 25∗4417.9∗216
=1.27 =1,68 =1.40 =1.55 =1.68
Average K (mm/s) 1.27+ 1.68+ 1.4+1.55+1.68
=1.516
5
−3
Average k (m/s*10-n) 1. 516∗10
Sample diameter (mm) 105.5
Area of sample A (mm2 π d 2 π (105.5)
2
= =8741.7
4 4
Sample length l (mm) 130
Standpipe diameter (mm)10
Standpipe area a (mm π d 2 π (10)
2
= =78.54
4 4
Scale zero height (mm) 300
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5
Time t (s) 4.0 8.0 13.0 18.0 21.0
Start Height (mm) 900 900 900 900 900 900
Stop Height (mm) 800 700 600 500 400

h1 h2 h2 h2 h2 h2
Scale height + Scale 900=300 800+300 700+300 600+300 500+300 400+300
zero height (mm) =1200 =1100 =1000 =900 =800 =700

K = 2.3 al*log (h1/h2) / At (mm/s) 0.025 0.027 0.026 0.026 0.030

K Average (mm/s) 0.025+0.027+0.026 +0.026+0.030
=0.027
5
K Average (m/s*10-n) 2. 7∗10
−5
Value for K (M3/sec) 0.00152
Total Head Loss h = H1 – H2 (mm) 50
Number of flow channels Nf 5
Number of equipotential drops Nd 8
Total flow per unit length
(m /s)
3
q = Kh (Nf / Nd) 0.00152∗0.05∗( 58 )=4.75 ¿10
−6
m3 /s

Flow meter reading F Litres / minute 0.3

Width of Model W Millimetres 105
(F/W x 1000) to Litres / minute/Meter 2.857 litres/min/m
(/1000) convert unit to Meters 3/ minute/Meter 2.857*10-3 m3/min/m
(/60) convert unit to Meters 3 / Second/Meter 4.762*10-5 m3/s/m
10.explanation of plastic limit test
On the glass plate, 20g of soil are mixed with just enough water to fully hydrate it and make
it flexible enough to roll immediately into a ball, which rolled out between the hand and to
create a thread, use the glass. When crumbling merely starts at a thread diameter of 3mm,
the soil is said to be at its plastic limit.
removed to determine the water content. It is recommended to conduct the test at least
once more.

11.
a. Type of health and safety issues were raised during laboratory compaction tests:
Lifting and storing weights safely and eventually equipment, for example imagine a mould or
a core cutter falls on the ground or on student`s feet, it would lead then to serious damages.
(Lab shoes are necessary).
Personally, I saw the tutor cleaning the specific area of experiment and wash jars and
moulds after use it is necessary too to clean floor to prevent slipping when soil is wet.
b. List of the relevant British standards followed when conducting laboratory compaction
test and constant head parameter tests:
for compaction tests
British Standards Institution (1990).BS 1377-4: Soil for civil engineering purposes:
Compaction related tests. London: British Standards Institution.

For permeability tests

British Standards Institution (1990).BS 1377-5: Soil for civil engineering purposes:
Compressibility, permeability and durability tests. London: British Standards Institution.

12.
Bulk density is a measurement of soil weight in a specific volume, it provides information on
the soil's capacity for structural support, water and solute movement, and soil aeration, bulk
density has a significant impact on the productivity of the soil in the future, eventually the
more the soil is compacted the more bulk density it has with decrease of moisture content
representing the amount of water contained in that soil which is a significant factor in soil`s
compaction as we need an ideal moisture content within a soil to get the benefits in
structure specially in a flood embankment project , it is important also to determine the
specific gravity which tells us the density of those particles to the density of water, and how
much porous is that soil after a compaction for example ,a necessary need in flood
embankment project