Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Experiment # 04
Grain-size Analysis of soil
(Mechanical & Hydrometer Analysis)
4.1 Introduction
Grain size analysis is a process in which the proportion of material of each grain size
present in a given soil (grain size distribution) is determined. The grain size distribution
of coarse-grained soils is determined directly by sieve analysis, while that of fine-grained
soils is determined indirectly by hydrometer analysis. The grain size distribution of
mixed soils is determined by combined sieve and hydrometer analyses.
The grain size analysis is presented as a semilog plot of percent finer versus particle size,
called a grain size distribution curve. A semilog plot is used for the particle sizes to give
both small and large diameters as nearly equal weight as possible. Percent finer is always
plotted as the ordinate using an arithmetic scale.
From the grain size distribution curve, grain sizes such as D10, D30 and D60 can be
obtained. The D refers to the size, or apparent diameter, of the soil particles and the
subscript (10, 30, 60) denotes the percent that is smaller. For example, D10 = 0.16 mm
means that 10 percent of the sample grains are smaller than 0.16 mm. The D10 size is
also called the effective size of the soil.
An indication of the spread (or range) of particle sizes is given by the coefficient of
uniformity (Cu), which is defined as
D60
Cu = (1)
D10
The coefficient of curvature (Cc) is a measure of the shape of the curve between the D60
and D10 grain sizes, and is defined as
(D30)2
Cc = (2)
D60 * D10
Note: You will plot the grain size distribution curve and calculate Cu and Cc for
combined analysis (with the result of sieve and hydrometer analysis).
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Table: U. S. Sieve Numbers and Associated Opening Sizes
Sieve No. Opening Size (mm) Sieve No. Opening Size (mm)
4 4.75 35 0.500
5 4.00 40 0.425
6 3.35 45 0.355
7 2.80 50 0.300
8 2.36 60 0.250
10 2.00 70 0.212
12 1.70 80 0.180
14 1.40 100 0.150
16 1.18 120 0.125
4.1.2 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.
4.2 Standard Reference
ASTM D 422 - Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils
4.3 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.
4.4 Equipment
Balance, Set of sieves, Cleaning brush, Sieve shaker, Mixer (blender), 152H
Hydrometer, Sedimentation cylinder, Control cylinder, Thermometer, Beaker,
Timing device.
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Figure 4.1: Mechincal Method of Analysis
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Figure 4.2: Hydrometer Analysis
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
4.5 Test Procedure
4.5.1 Sieve Analysis
Write down the weight of each sieve as well as the bottom pan to be
used in the analysis.
Record the weight of the given dry soil sample.
Make sure that all the sieves are clean, and assemble them in the ascending order
of sieve numbers (#4 sieve at top and #200 sieve at bottom). Place the pan below
#200 sieve. Carefully pour the soil sample into the top sieve and place the cap
over it.
Place the sieve stack in the mechanical shaker and shake for 10
minutes.
Remove the stack from the shaker and carefully weigh and record the weight of
each sieve with its retained soil. In addition, remember to weigh and record the
weight of the bottom pan with its retained fine soil.
4.5.2 Hydrometer Analysis
Take the fine soil from the bottom pan of the sieve set, place it into a beaker, and
add 125 mL of the dispersing agent (sodium hexametaphosphate (40 g/L))
solution. Stir the mixture until the soil is thoroughly wet. Let the soil soak for at
least ten minutes.
While the soil is soaking, add 125mL of dispersing agent into the control cylinder
and fill it with distilled water to the mark. Take the reading at the top of the
meniscus formed by the hydrometer stem and the control solution. A reading less
than zero is recorded as a negative (-) correction and a reading between zero and
sixty is recorded as a positive (+) correction. This reading is called the zero
correction. The meniscus correction is the difference between the top of the
meniscus and the level of the solution in the control jar (Usually about +1). Shake
the control cylinder in such a way that the contents are mixed thoroughly. Insert
the hydrometer and thermometer into the control cylinder and note the zero
correction and temperature respectively.
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Transfer the soil slurry into a mixer by adding more distilled water, if necessary,
until mixing cup is at least half full. Then mix the solution for a period of two
minutes.
Immediately transfer the soil slurry into the empty sedimentation cylinder. Add
distilled water up to the mark.
Cover the open end of the cylinder with a stopper and secure it with the palm of
your hand. Then turn the cylinder upside down and back upright for a period of
one minute. (The cylinder should be inverted approximately 30 times during the
minute.)
Set the cylinder down and record the time. Remove the stopper from the cylinder.
After an elapsed time of one minute and forty seconds, very slowly and carefully
insert the hydrometer for the first reading. (Note: It should take about ten seconds
to insert or remove the hydrometer to minimize any disturbance, and the release
of the hydrometer should be made as close to the reading depth as possible to
avoid excessive bobbing).
The reading is taken by observing the top of the meniscus formed by the
suspension and the hydrometer stem. The hydrometer is removed slowly and
placed back into the control cylinder. Very gently spin it in control cylinder to
remove any particles that may have adhered.
Take hydrometer readings after elapsed time of 2 and 5, 8, 15, 30, 60 minutes and
24 hours
4.6 Data Analysis
4.6.1 Sieve Data Analysis
Obtain the mass of soil 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. The sum of these retained masses should be
approximately equals the initial mass of the soil sample. A loss of more than two
percent is unsatisfactory.
Calculate the percent retained on each sieve by dividing the weight retained on
each sieve by the original sample mass.
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Calculate the percent passing (or percent finer) by starting with 100 percent and
subtracting the percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.
For example: Total mass = 500 g
Mass retained on No. 4 sieve = 9.7 g
Mass retained on No. 10 sieve = 39.5 g
For the No.4 sieve:
Quantity passing = Total mass - Mass retained = 500 - 9.7 = 490.3 g
The percent retained is calculated as; % retained = Mass retained/Total mass = (9.7/500)
X 100 = 1.9 %
From this, the % passing = 100 - 1.9 = 98.1 %
For the No. 10 sieve:
Quantity passing = Mass arriving - Mass retained = 490.3 - 39.5 = 450.8 g % Retained =
(39.5/500) X 100 = 7.9 %
% Passing = 100 - 1.9 - 7.9 = 90.2 %
(Alternatively, use % passing = % Arriving - % Retained
For No. 10 sieve = 98.1 - 7.9 = 90.2 %)
Make a semi logarithmic plot of grain size vs. percent finer.
Compute Cc and Cu for the soil.
4.6.2 Corrections to Hydrometer Readings
Zero Correction (Fz): If the zero reading in the hydrometer (in the control
cylinder) is below the water meniscus, it is (+), if above it is (–), if at the meniscus
it is zero.
Meniscus Correction (Fm): Difference between upper level of meniscus and
water level of control cylinder.
Temperature correction (Ft): The temperature of the test should be 20C but
the actual temperature may vary.
4.6.2 Hydrometer Data Analysis
Apply meniscus correction to the actual hydrometer reading.
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
From Table 4.1, obtain the effective hydrometer depth L in cm (for meniscus
corrected reading). For known Gs of the soil (if not known, assume 2.65 for this
lab purpose), obtain the value of K from Table 4.2.
Calculate the equivalent particle diameter by using the following formula:
Where t is in minutes, and D is given in mm.
Determine the temperature correction CT from Table 4.3.
Determine correction factor “a” from Table 4.4 using Gs.
Calculate corrected hydrometer reading as follows:
Rc = RACTUAL - zero correction + CT
Calculate percent finer as follows:
Where WS is the weight of the soil sample in grams.
Adjusted percent fines as follows:
F200 = % finer of #200 sieve as a percent
Plot the grain size curve D versus the adjusted percent finer on the semi
logarithmic sheet.
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Table 4.1: Variation of L with Hydrometer Reading
Hydrometer L Hydrometer L Hydrometer L Hydrometer L
Reading (cm) Reading (cm) Reading (cm) Reading (cm)
0 16.3 13 14.2 26 12 39 9.9
1 16.1 14 14 27 11.9 40 9.7
2 16.0 15 13.8 28 11.7 41 9.6
3 15.8 16 13.7 29 11.5 42 9.4
4 15.6 17 13.5 30 11.4 43 9.2
5 15.5 18 13.6 31 11.2 44 9.1
6 15.3 19 13.2 32 11.1 45 8.9
7 15.2 20 13 33 10.9 46 8.8
8 15 21 12.9 34 10.7 47 8.6
9 14.8 22 12.7 35 10.6 48 8.4
10 14.7 23 12.5 36 10.4 49 8.3
11 14.5 24 12.4 37 10.2 50 8.1
12 14.3 25 12.2 38 10.1 51 7.9
Table 4.2: Values of k for Use in Equation for Computing Diameter of Particle in
Hydrometer Analysis
Temperature (C)
Gs 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
2.5 0.0149 0.0147 0.0145 0.0143 0.0141 0.0140 0.0138
2.55 0.0146 0.0144 0.0143 0.0141 0.0139 0.0137 0.0136
2.6 0.0144 0.0142 0.0140 0.0139 0.0137 0.0135 0.0134
2.65 0.0142 0.0140 0.0138 0.0137 0.0135 0.0133 0.0132
2.7 0.0140 0.0138 0.0136 0.0134 0.0133 0.0131 0.0130
2.75 0.0138 0.0136 0.0136 0.0133 0.0131 0.0129 0.0128
2.8 0.0136 0.0134 0.0134 0.0131 0.0129 0.0128 0.0126
Temperature (C)
Gs 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2.5 0.0137 0.0135 0.0133 0.0132 0.0130 0.0129 0.0128
2.55 0.0134 0.0133 0.0131 0.0130 0.0128 0.0127 0.0126
2.6 0.0132 0.0131 0.0129 0.0128 0.0126 0.0125 0.0124
2.65 0.0130 0.0129 0.0127 0.0126 0.0124 0.0123 0.0122
2.7 0.0128 0.0127 0.0125 0.0124 0.0123 0.0121 0.0120
2.75 0.0126 0.0125 0.0124 0.0122 0.0121 0.0120 0.0118
2.8 0.0125 0.0123 0.0122 0.0120 0.0119 0.0118 0.0117
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Table 4.3: Temperature Correction Factors CT
Table 4.4: Correction Factors a for Unit Weight of Solids
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
DATA SHEET: Sieve Analysis
Description of soil: _______________________________
Date: _______________________________
Location: _______________________________
Tested By (Group): _______________________________
Sample No: _______________________________
Mass of oven dry sample (W): _________________g
Table: Observations and Calculations
Sieve No. Sieve Mass of Mass of soil Percent of Cumulative Percent
opening Empty Sieve retained on mass retained percent finer,
(mm) each sieve on each sieve retained, 100 - Rn
(Wn) (Rn) Rn
Bottom Pan
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
DATA SHEET: Hydrometer Analysis
Description of soil:___________________________ Dispersing Agent: ____________________________
Location: ___________________________________ Weight of Soil Sample: ________________________
Group No.: _________________________________ Zero Correction: ______________________________
Weight of Soil Sample (Ws):________________________ Meniscus Correction: __________________________
Specific Gravity of Solids: _________________ Date: _________________________________________
Time Elapsed Hyd. Temp ‘L’ ‘K’ CT ‘a’ *Corr. **Percent % ***D
Time Readin . from from from from Hydr. Rdg. finer Adjusted (mm)
(t, g OC Table Table Tabl Table Rc Finer
min.) 4.1 4.2 e 4.3 4.4 PA
(Ra)
1
2
4
8
16
30
60
24hr
*Rc = Ra - zero correction + CT+ Meniscus Correction **A x RCP x 100 / Ws
***k L (cm.) / t (min.)
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Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Grain Size Distribution Data (Semilog Graph)
Sieve / Particle Size (mm) % Finer
X-Axis (Log) Y-Axis (Normal)
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Geo-Technical Engineering-I Lab
Figure 4.3: Grain Size Distribution Curve
By: Engr. Asim Abbas
