January 20, 2021
CE 401 – CE31S6 Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)
Laboratory Report
PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS OF SOILS
Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the basic concepts, significance and procedures for conducting the
determination of moisture content, which will be used for the specification for field gravity of soil.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Apply laboratory equipment with ease and precision suiting the objectives of the
experiment.
2.2 Determine the particle size analysis of soils.
APPARATUS
Balance, sensitive to 0.01g
Mechanical stirring apparatus with a metal and dispersion cup
Hydrometer as shown in Fig. 4
Thermometer accurate to 0.5 c
Set of standard sieve; 75.0 mm, 50.0 mm, 25.0 mm, 9.5mm, 4.75mm,2.0mm 0.425mm, 0.075mm
Graduated cylinder, 1 liter capacity
Complete set of water bath
Oven with temperature control
beaker, 250ml capacity
Timer
PROCEDURE
The test sample for mechanical analysis shall be prepared in accordance with the preparation of
disturbed soil samples for test.
A. Sieve Analysis of fraction, retained in 2.00 mm
1. Pass the sample through a series of standard sieves, 4.75 mm ang bigger openings. Use of
mechanical shaker is preferred
2. Sieving operation shall be conducted by means of lateral and vertical motion of the sieve
accompanied by jarring action to keep the sample moving continuously on the surface of the
sieve. Sieving shall be continued until not more than 1% by weight of the residue passes any
sieve within 1 minute.
3. Weigh and record for the quantity retained on each sieve.
4. Compute for the % passing for each sieve.
B. Hydrometer & Sieve Analysis of Fraction Passing 2.00 mm sieve:
1. Hygroscopic moisture. Weigh about 10 g of the air-dried sample passing No. 2.00 mm sieve,
dry to constant weight/mass in an oven at 105 to 110oC, cool to room temperature, weigh the
oven-dried material, and record results.
2. Dispersion of sample. Weigh 50 g of the air-dried sample (100 g for sandy soils), place in a
beaker, fill with distilled water to about half the depth and allow to soak for at least 18 hours.
After soaking, add 20 ml of (sodium silicate, calgon, polyphosphate) deflocculating agent, then
washed the contents into the dispersion cup. Add distilled water until it is about 50.8 mm from
the brim and disperse the contents for 1 minute in the mechanical stirring apparatus.
3. Transfer the mixture to the graduated cylinder and add distilled water to bring the water level
to the 1000 ml mark. Place the cylinder in the constant temperature bath. Stir the suspension
frequently to avoid settlement of particles.
4. Remove the cylinder from the water bath as soon as the temperature of suspension and the
water bath are the same. Shake thoroughly the mixture for 1 minute by turning the cylinder
upside down and back, using the palm of the hand as stopper. The soil should not stick the
bottom of the cylinder when upside down.
5. Replace the cylinder in the water bath, insert carefully the hydrometer in the suspension and
start the timer.
6. Take hydrometer readings after ½, 1 and 2 minutes without removing the hydrometer from the
top of the meniscus formed around its stem. Repeat the shaking and reading procedure until a
consistent set of readings are obtained.
7. Re-start the test but this time take readings after 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 1440 minutes. Insert
carefully the hydrometer about 15 to 20 seconds before each of these readings. Dry the stem
before insertion. It should be removed carefully and placed in a cylinder of distilled water after
each reading. Take the temperature of the suspension immediately following each hydrometer
reading and record. Between hydrometer readings, the top of the cylinder should be covered
to minimize evaporation and prevent collection of dust or dirt from the air.
8. After the final reading, wash the suspension on a 0.075 mm sieve. Dry the fraction retained
and perform the sieve analysis using a 0.425 mm, and 0.075 mm.
CALCULATION
1. Hygroscopic Moisture (%)
Wt .∨mass of air−dried soil−Wt .∨mass of oven−dried soil
= ×100
Wt .∨mass of oven−dried soil
2. To correct the mass of the air-dried sample for hygroscopic moisture, the given value shall be
100
multiplied by the expression:
100+% Hygroscopic Moisture
3. The percentage of coarse material shall be calculated from the weights of fractions retained on
2.00 mm sieve (recorded from the sieve analysis) and the total mass of sample.
From the total mass of sample, subtract the mass of the fraction retained on 2.00 mm
sieve. The difference is assumed to equal the mass of the air-dried fraction passing the 2.00 mm
sieve. The mass fraction passing the 2.00 mm sieve shall be corrected for hygroscopic moisture.
The total test sample corrected for Hygroscopic moisture is the corrected mass passing
2.00 mm sieve plus the mass retained on 2.00 mm sieve.
4. The percentages passing the different sieves are calculated on the basis of total dry mass of
sample. Percentage of Soil in Suspension, P.
5. Hydrometer readings made at temperature other than the calibration temperature are corrected by
appropriate correction factors. A typical correction factor curve for Hydrometer A. Temperature
correction curves at this type should be prepared for each hydrometer used.
6. The percentage of soil in suspension is represented by the different corrected hydrometer
readings, and is calculated as follows:
For Hydrometer A (152 H)
Ra
P= ×100
WS
For Hydrometer B (151 H)
1606 ( R−1 ) a
P= ×100
Ws
where:
P = percentage of soil in suspension based on dry weight/mass of soil dispersed
R = corrected hydrometer reading.
Ws = dry weight/mass of soil dispersed.
a = a constant depending on the density of the suspension. It varies with the specific gravity,
Gs, of the the suspended particles.
In routine tests, it will be sufficiently accurate to use the constant opposite the nearest specific
gravity, from the following table:
7. To convert percent of soil in suspension, P, into percent of total sample, multiply P by the
percentage passing 2.00 mm sieve.
Diameter of Particle in Suspension, D.
8. The maximum diameter, D, of the particle in suspension, corresponding to each hydrometer
reading, is calculated from Stokes’ equation.
30 n L
where:
D=
√ 980 ( G s−Gm ) T
D = maximum particle diameter, mm
n = coefficient of viscosity of suspending medium, poise
It varies with temperature of medium
L = distance from surface of suspension to center of volume of the
Hydrometer, cm. For convenience draw a hydrometer calibration curve
to get the value of L for every hydrometer reading.
T = period of sedimentation, minutes
Gm= specific gravity of suspending medium at time of test.
Gs= specific gravity of Soil Particles
Sieve Analysis Hydrometer Analysis
Sieve Size, Percent Smaller Percent
mm Passing Than’s
75 0.02 mm
50
0.002 mm
25
4.75 0.01 mm
2.00
0.425
0.075
WORK SHEET FOR HYDROMETER ANALYSIS
Lab. No. _____
Air-dry sample dispersed, g _____ Deflocculating agent, ml _____
Hygroscopic Moisture, % _____ Specific Gravity _____
Dry sample dispersed, g _____ Constant, a1/ _____
Dry washed sample, g _____ Original time _____
Dispersing agent, ml _____ Hydrometer No. _____
A B C D E G H KL KG KN J K
2 .040
5 .026
15 .015
30 .010
60 .0074
250 .0036
440 .0015
A – Time G - % Passing, P’
B – Elapsed Time (min.) H – Max. Grain Dia., d’ (mm)
C – Hydrometer Reading I – Dia. Correction Factor
D – Temperature (oC) J – Corrected Grain Dia., d2/ (mm)
E – Temp. Correction K – Corrected % Passing, p3/
F - Corrected Hydrometer Reading , R
Gravel, (+) 2 mm ______________________ %
Sand, (-) 2mm to (+) 0.075 mm ______________________ %
Silt, (-) 0.075 mm to (+) 0.002 mm ______________________ %
Clay, (-) 0.002 mm ______________________ %
sfcdsf
