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Soil Classification Practice Question

1) The soil sample was sieved and the particle size distribution curve plotted. The soil was described as uniformly graded based on the uniform shape of the curve. The effective grain size was found to be 0.21 mm. The uniformity coefficient was calculated to be 3.24, agreeing with the uniformly graded description. 2) Liquid limit and plastic limit tests were performed on an inorganic soil sample. The liquid limit was 45.5% and plastic limit was 33%, giving a plasticity index of 12.5. On the Casagrande plasticity chart, this classified the soil as an organic silt of intermediate plasticity.

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420 views4 pages

Soil Classification Practice Question

1) The soil sample was sieved and the particle size distribution curve plotted. The soil was described as uniformly graded based on the uniform shape of the curve. The effective grain size was found to be 0.21 mm. The uniformity coefficient was calculated to be 3.24, agreeing with the uniformly graded description. 2) Liquid limit and plastic limit tests were performed on an inorganic soil sample. The liquid limit was 45.5% and plastic limit was 33%, giving a plasticity index of 12.5. On the Casagrande plasticity chart, this classified the soil as an organic silt of intermediate plasticity.

Uploaded by

Vado Prince
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

1) The resultings of a sieving analysis of a soil were as follows:

Retained on
0.18
sieve size 20 12.5 10 6.3 5.6 2.8 2.0 1.4 0.5 0.355 0.063
0
(mm)
Weight
retained 0 1.7 2.3 8.4 5.7 12.9 3.5 1.1 30.5 45.3 25.4 7.4
(g)

The total weight of the sample was 147.2 g.


a) Plot the particle-size distribution curve and describe the soil.
b) State the effective grain size.
c) Find the uniformity coefficient. Does the description of the soil according to the
uniformity coefficient agree with your description in ‘a’.

2) A liquid limit test carried out on a sample of inorganic soil taken from below the
water table gave the following results:

Penetration (mm) 15.5 18.2 21.4 23.6


Moisture content (%) 34.6 40.8 48.2 53.4

A plastic limit gave a value of 33%.


What is the Casagrande classification of this soil?

SOLUTION:

(a)

Retained
on sieve 0.35
20 12.5 10 6.3 5.6 2.8 2.0 1.4 0.5 0.180 0.063
size 5
(mm)
Weight
retained 0 1.7 2.3 8.4 5.7 12.9 3.5 1.1 30.5 45.3 25.4 7.4
(g)
Weight
145. 134. 116. 111.
passing 147.2 143.2 129.1 112.7 81.1 35.8 10.4 3
5 8 2 6
(g)
Percent
passing 100 98.8 97.3 91.6 89.9 78.9 76.6 75.8 55.1 24.3 7.1 2.0
(%)

Using the sieve size and percent passing we plot the particle size distribution on the particle
size distribution graph.
Based upon the shape of the graph I would describe the soil as uniformly graded (refer to
page 10 of word document ‘Soil classification’).

(b) From graph effective grain size D10 = 0.21.

D 60 0.68
(c) Uniform coefficient Cu = = = 3.24
D 10 0.21

Base upon value of uniform coefficient soil is described as uniformly graded (refer to page 11
of word document ‘Soil Classification’).

2) From graph liquid limit = 45.5%.


Plasticity index = L.L – P.L = 45.5 – 33 = 12.5%

Using liquid limit and plasticity index locate point on Casagrande’s plasticity chart.

Based upon its location it is an organic silt of intermediate plasticity.

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