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Lab 3 Final

soil mechanics

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Mariane Joy Codaste
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73 views6 pages

Lab 3 Final

soil mechanics

Uploaded by

Mariane Joy Codaste
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LABORATORY #3

GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS


(SIEVE ANALYSIS)

Date Tested: September 20, 2023


Tested By: Mariane Joy M. Codaste
Project Name: Laboratory 3
Sample Number: B-1, ST-1, 2’-3. 5’
Visual Classification of Soil: Brown Clayey to silty sand, trace fine gravel
Weight of Container: 50.7g
Wt. Container+Dry Soil: 1031.5g
Wt. of Dry Sample: 980.8g

Purpose:
This test is performed to determine the percentage of different grain sizes contained
within a soil. The mechanical or sieve analysis is performed to determine the distribution of
the coarser, larger-sized particles, and the hydrometer method is used to determine the
distribution of the finer particles.
Standard Reference:
ASTM D 422 - Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils

Significance:
The distribution of different grain sizes affects the engineering properties of soil. Grain
size analysis provides the grain size distribution, and it is required in classifying the soil.
Equipment:
Balance, Set of sieves, Cleaning brush, Sieve shaker, Mixer (blender)

DATA AND RESULTS:


Soil Retained in Sieve and Percent Error. Compute for the mass of the soil sample retained
on each sieve by subtracting the weight of the empty sieve from the mass of the sieve +
retained soil, and record this mass as the weight retained on the data sheet.
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 = (𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 + 𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆) − (𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆)
(Equation 1)
Percent Retained. Calculate the percent retained on each sieve by dividing the weight retained
on each individual sieve by the initial sample mass.
𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 = (𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆) 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
(Equation 2)
Percent Passing (or Percent Finer). Calculate the percent passing by starting with 100 percent
and subtracting the percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative method.
For the first sieve, Sieve No. 4:
𝑷𝑭#𝟒 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎% − (𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝑵𝒐. 𝟒) (Equation 3)
For the succeeding sieves:
𝑷𝑭𝒊 = 𝑷𝑭𝒊−𝟏 − (𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅)𝒊 (Equation 4)
To be able to analyze the Grain Size Distribution, computed data are graphed to plot the
Soil Gradation Curve – by setting the Percent Passing (%) as the values for the y-axis while its
corresponding Particle Diameter (mm) of each sieves are the values for the x-axis.
With the help of the graph and calculated values of the Percent Passing (%), used linear
interpolation to determine the diameters when the percent passing of the soil sample is equal to
10%, 30% and 60% — denote the computed diameters as D10, D30 and D60, respectively
The obtained values of the diameters (indicated as D10, D30, and D60) are used to
compute the following grading characteristics:
Coefficient of Gradation or Compaction, 𝑪𝑪. It is also called as Coefficient of Curvature. It
is a measure of the shape of the particle size curve and is calculated using the following
equation:
𝑪𝑪 = ((𝑫𝟑𝟎)^2)/ (𝑫𝟔𝟎 𝒙 𝑫𝟏𝟎) (Equation 6)
Uniformity Coefficient, 𝑪𝒖. It is also called as Hazen Coefficient. It is a measure of the
particle size range and is calculated using the following equation:
𝑪𝒖 = 𝑫𝟔𝟎/ 𝑫𝟏𝟎 (Equation 7)
GATHERED DATA
Using Equations 1 to 4, the following table shows the recorded data and the computed
parameters needed to plot the Soil Gradation Curve:
Table 1. Sieve Analysis Data of the Soil Sample

Mass of Mass of Soil


Sieve Diameter Percent Percent
Empty Sieve+Soil Retained
Number (mm) Retained Passing
Sieve (g) Retained (g) (g)
4 4.75 512.2 783.7 271.5 27.68 72.32
10 2. 0 461.1 726.5 265.4 27.06 45.26
20 0.84 408.3 679.9 271.6 27.69 17.57
40 0.425 374.8 458.7 83.9 8.55 9.02
60 0. 25 358.0 417.5 59.5 6.07 2.95
80 0.18 353.3 375.1 21.8 2.22 0.73
100 0.106 343.9 346.7 2.8 0.29 0.44
200 0.075 327.0 330.0 3 0.31 0.13
Pan --- 388.8 390.1 1.3 0.13 0.0
Total Weight= 980.8
* Percent passing=100-cumulative percent retained.

From Grain Size Distribution Curve:

% Gravel= 27.68
% Sand= 72.19
% Fines= 0.13
D10= 0.472 mm
D30= 1.36 mm
D60= 3.50 mm
Cu= 7.45
CC= 1.12
Unified Classification of Soil: SW
Figure 1. Grain Size Distribution Curve of the Soil Sample

100

90

80
72.32
70
P ercen t P assin g

60

50 45.26

40

30

20 17.57
9.02
10
2.95
0 0.73
1000 100 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001
G rain Size (m m )

SOLUTION:
Solution Final Answer
% Gravel = d76.2 – d4.75 = 27.68
= 100 – 72.32
% Sand = d0.75 – d0.0075 = 72.19
=72.32 – 0.13
% Fines --- = 0.13
Cu = 𝑫𝟔𝟎/ 𝑫𝟏𝟎 = 7.45
=3.5/0.472
CC = ((𝑫𝟑𝟎)^2)/ (𝑫𝟔𝟎 𝒙 𝑫𝟏𝟎) = 1.12
= ((1.36)^2)/(3.5 x 0.472)
Conclusions
Soils can be classified according to its soil consistency. It is significant in predictingsoil
performance when used as raw material in construction. With the use of a classificationsystem,
we can classify the soil to its specific type of clay or silt by using its Atterberg Limits− liquid
limit, plastic limit and plasticity index. The state or consistency of fine-grained soils(must be
smaller or equal to 4.25 mm) can be described using these parameters. A gradualincrease of the
water content may transform a dry soil from a solid state to a semi-solid state,to a plastic state,
and after further moisture increase, into a liquid state.

For both liquid limit and plastic limit test, samples were oven dried. Masses of these
specimens were obtained before and after the process of oven drying. With these data, the
researcher can now proceed to the calculation of masses and water contents of the soil samples.

Soil characteristics should be determined to be able to correlate with the other


engineering behavior. Fine-grained soils are tested to determine its liquid and plastic limits,
which are moisture contents that define boundaries between material consistency states. These
standardized tests produce comparable numbers used for soil identification, classification and
correlations to strength. In this experiment, it presents that the test soil sample exhibits high
plasticity and with that a large range of moisture over which the soil remains plastic.
DOCUMENTATION

Photos were taken inside Soil Laboratory and USM riverside.

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