B.S.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

1 SOIL MECHANICS
LABORATORY EXERCISE

PERFORMED BY/ NAME OF STUDENT:

 CEDRIC R. PITA

YEAR &BLOCK/ SECTION:

 BSCE-3C

DATE RECEIVED (Do not fill this up):

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Experiment No. 01

Visual Classification and Identification of Soil

Discussion:

The identification and classification of soil by visual methods is an important

method of determining the type of soil. This method is a combination of both field and
laboratory tests and is an accurate method of determination. This test should be done
by one who is familiar with the criteria used in visual description and classification of
soil.

Apparatus: None

Procedure:
1. Obtain four different soil samples.
2. Examine each sample for particle size, color, moisture status, consistency or relative
density and texture.
3. Tabulate results of examination.
4. Classify soil according to Visual – Manual Procedure.
5. Determine the relative quality of soil sample for use in a specific engineering project.

Visual Description and Classification of Soil

The visual description and classification of soil is important as most minor structures
and occasionally some major structures are designed solely on the information obtained
in this manner.

A. Description
Preliminary identification or logging of a borehole is usually made on small slightly
disturbed samples which are taken at 1’-0’ intervals by the drilling contractor and
stored in sealed plastic bags. The engineer can then determine the number and
nature of tests on representative undisturbed samples which are also taken during
drilling operations. The preliminary log may be modified as the undisturbed samples
are opened for testing and by the results of the soil test.

1. General description, consisting of Color, Moisture Status, Consistency, Texture

and Relative Density.

Particular characteristics (minor details)

a. Color
Color is important as it enables correlation to be made between different
boreholes and it is a pointer to the geological and sedimentation history of the
soil. Some details are given below.
Black Soils – generally due to organic matter, black minerals on sulfides or
iron (ferric), which have been formed under reducing conditions (i.e. no-
oxygen) below water level, e.g. marine on swamp deposits. Most of these
soils oxidize if sampled and allowed to dry. The soils are generally soft and
have a high plasticity. Black clay soils are also formed as residual soils from
the weathering of limestones present in the materials.

Grey Soils – generally formed under reducing conditions below water, i.e.
marine or freshwater deposits. However, reduction has not been as severe
and the colorless ferrous sulfides have been formed. Silts are often grey
because of the presence of mica particles.

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

White Soils - generally beach deposits, calcareous material or salty soils.

Green Soils - generally due to the mineral glauconite which requires reducing
conditions.

Yellow and Red Soils - generally due to oxidation of iron compounds to

yellow limonite first then red hematite. Generally hard.

Brown Soils – generally alluvial soils as iron compounds are oxidized when
carried by the river waters.

Mottling – generally indicates impeded drainage and the probable formation

of a perched water table in the wet season. It is often important to know this.
Described as “grey, mottled red and yellow…”

Mixtures – soils often consist of two or more colors, described as “brown,

white and yellow…”

b. Moisture Status
Use terms dry, moist and wet. In sands, there is not much difficulty in
classifying. In clays, an approximate classification is

Dry I1 < 0.2

Moist 0.2 < I1 < 0.5
Wet I1 > 0.5

c. Consistency, Relative Density (strength)

For clays, use consistency classification as follows:

From Laboratory tests
From Visual classification
Undrained cohesion (psf)
Very soft 250 Easily penetrated by fist
Soft 250-500 Easily penetrated by thumb
Firm 500-1000 Penetrated by thumb
Stiff 1000-2000 Penetrated by thumb with great effort
Very stiff 2000-4000 Indented by thumb nail
Hard 4000 Indented by thumb nail with great
effort

For sands, use relative density classification as follows:

Field Standards
Relative Density (%) Penetration Tests
Blows/ft
Very loose To 15% 04
Loose To 35% 4-14
Medium To 65% 10-30
Dense To 85% 30-50
Very dense To 100% 750

The classification from the blows per foot is only valid for sands at depth.
Corrections (Alpan 1964) are necessary for sand at shallow depths.

d. Texture

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Generally use gravel, sand (fine, medium or coarse), silt and clay. All
variations can be used with dominant material being placed at the end in
capitals e.g.

Clayey fine Sand

Silty Clay

It is often necessary to determine the percentage of sand and silt in clay soil
very accurately or this markedly affects soil behavior. Use adjectives slightly,
as, very, e.g.

Slight silty CLAY slight silty CLAY

Very sandy CLAY very sandy CLAY

If it is not possible to determine the dominant particle size then describe as

SAND-CLAY, SILT-SAND, etc.

The textural description is usually based on the feel of the soil. Gravel can be
seen and felt and sand can be identified by its gritty feel. Clay soils can be
identified by the soil being capable of rolling into a ribbon (when the content is
moistened to be above the plastic limit). If the soil is mainly clay then it will
feel smooth and will develop a shiny surface when cut with a knife. If the soil
contains silt it will be much rougher and will be more friable, i.e., it can be
broken into smaller particles more easily.

The presence of silt can also be determined by the dilatancy or shaking test.
The soil is moistened, shaken and hit in the palm. If water comes to the
surface quickly, then it is sand. If it arrives after a period of time, it contains
silt. Clay does react because of the lower permeability and the slower pore
water movement.

The grain size distribution can also be determined approximately by shaking

a sample in a test tube. The sand proportion settles in about 30 sec., the silt
in about 90 minutes. This is very rough but is particularly useful to determine
the percentage of fine-grained soil (silt and clay) required in the classification
system.

If the soil consists of a mixture of two distinct soils which are separated from
one another then both soils are generally described. Example: Grey moist,
stiff clay and brown, dry dense sand. However, if one soil is minor and will not
appreciably influence the soil behavior, then it is described as an inclusion
under particular characteristics.

Particular Characteristics

These minor characteristics are appended to the general description so that

they do not detract from the main description but will provide further
information. Common minor details are:

Structural features - fissures, slicken sides, root holes, bedding planes, e.g.,
with numerous slicken sides at 30 dip.

Inclusions – modules (often lateritic or calcareous) organic remains, shells,

(indicate percentage), e.g., with occasionally white, soft, calcareous modules
at 45 (5%).

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Plasticity – use terms low, medium, high and very high, e.g., with very high
plasticity.

Cements – e.g., with weak calcareous cement binding grains.

Odor – local or geological name, e.g., padi clay, Bangkok clay

Small changes of textures or color – it is often clearer in the bore log to

describe minor variations of texture or color within the one strata as particular
characteristics, rather than draw a separate strata, e.g., with red, moist, silty-
sand layer between 44’-0 and 44’-6’’

B. Classification

G – Gravel W – Well graded P – Poorly graded

S – Sandy M – Silt L – Low plasticity
C – clay Pt – Peat H – High plasticity

Experiment No. 01

Title: _______________________________

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Objective:

 Gain the ability to visually classify and identify different soil types.
 Develop skills in observing and interpreting soil characteristics.
 Understand the significance of soil properties in various applications.
 Learn the limitations of visual classification and when further testing is
necessary.

Data:

VISUAL SOIL CLASSIFICATION DATA SHEET

Soil Number A B C D
Classified by
Color
Odor
Texture
Major soil
constituent:
Minor soil
constituents
Approx. % by
Type weight

For coarse-
grained soils:

Gradation:

Particle
Shape:
For fine-grained
soils:
Dry Strength

Dilatancy
Plasticity
Toughness
Soil Symbol
Moisture Condition
CLASSIFICATION

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Figure: (Sketch the set-up of the Apparatus)

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

 B.S. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Analysis/Conclusion: (State the findings and conclusion based on the analysis of the test
results)

CE 322 – Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)