BAA2513 SOIL MECHANICS & GEOLOGY
Revision on Soil Classification
Figure 2.29 Different types of particle-size distribution curves
Example 2.1
The following are the results of a sieve analysis:
U.S. sieve no. Mass of soil retained on each sieve (g)
4 0
10 21.6
20 49.5
40 102.6
60 89.1
100 95.6
200 60.4
Pan 31.2
a. Perform the necessary calculations and plot a grain-size distribution
curve.
b. Determine D10, D30, and D60 from the grain-size distribution curve.
c. Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu.
d. Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.
Solution
Part a
The following table can now be prepared for obtaining the percent finer.
Cumulative mass
Mass retained retained above
U.S. sieve Opening (mm) on each sieve (g) each sieve (g) Percent finera
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
4 4.75 0 0 100
10 2.00 21.6 21.6 95.2
20 0.850 49.5 71.1 84.2
40 0.425 102.6 173.7 61.4
60 0.250 89.1 262.8 41.6
100 0.150 95.6 358.4 20.4
200 0.075 60.4 418.8 6.9
Pan — 31.2 450 5 S M
SM 2 col.4 450 2 col.4
a
3 100 5 3 100
SM 450
The particle-size distribution curve is shown in Figure 2.30.
100
80
Percent finer
60
40
20
D60 D30 D10
0
10.0 3.0 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.06
Particle diameter (mm) — log scale
Figure 2.30
Part b
From Figure 2.30,
D60 5 0.41 mm
D30 5 0.185 mm
D10 5 0.09 mm
Part c
Uniformity coefficient,
D60 0.41
Cu 5 5 5 4.56
D10 0.09
Part d
Coefficient of gradation,
D230 (0.185)2
Cc 5 5 5 0.93
D60 3 D10 (0.41)(0.09)
Example 2.2
The results of sieve analysis of two sandy soils (A and B) are given below. Now,
6000 kg of Soil A is thoroughly mixed with 4000 kg of Soil B. Determine the
uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc) of the mixture.
Mass retained, Mass retained,
U.S. sieve no. Soil A, MA (g) Soil B, MB (g)
(1) (2) (3)
4 36.0 45.0
10 100.2 78.6
20 50.8 120.8
40 66.4 100.7
60 110.4 60.4
100 61.0 39.5
200 43.0 30.0
Pan 32.2 25.0
S MA 5 500 g S MB 5 500 g
Solution
The total mass of soil in the mixed soil is 10,000 kg.
6000
Percent of Soil A in the mixture 5 3 100 5 60%
10,000
Percent of Soil B in the mixture 5 100 2 60 5 40%
For the mixture, if a sieve analysis is conducted with the sieves listed in
Column (1), the mass of soil retained on each sieve (M
MM) can be calculated as
1SMM 2 1SMM 2
MA MB
MM (%) 5 0.6 3 100 1 0.4 3 100
A B
MA 5 500 g
SM MB 5 500 g
SM
The following table can now be prepared.
Sieve opening Percent passing for
U.S. sieve no. (mm) MM (%) the mixture
(1) (2) (3) (4)
4 4.75 7.92 92.08
10 2.0 18.32 73.76
20 0.850 15.76 58.0
40 0.425 16.02 41.98
60 0.250 18.08 23.90
100 0.150 10.48 13.42
200 0.075 7.56 5.86
Pan — 5.86 0
Figure 2.31 shows a plot of the percent passing for the soil mixture versus the
particle size. From the plot, D60 5 1 mm, D30 5 0.3 mm, and D10 5 0.13 mm.
D60 1
Cu 5 5 5 10
D10 0.1
(D30)2 (0.3)2
Cc 5 5 5 0.69
(D60)(D10) (1)(0.13)
100
80
Percent passing
60
40
30
20
10
0
10.0 5.0 3.0 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.05
Particle size, mm (log scale)
Figure 2.31
Example 2.3
Following are the results of a sieve analysis and a hydrometer analysis on a
given soil. Plot a combined grain-size distribution curve. From the plot, de-
termine the percent of gravel, sand, silt, and clay based on the ASSHTO
Classification System (Table 2.3).
Sieve Analysis
U.S. sieve no. Sieve opening (mm) Percent passing
4 4.75 100
10 2.0 92
20 0.850 80
30 0.600 75
40 0.425 68
60 0.250 62
100 0.106 43
200 0.075 31
Hydrometer Analysis
Grain diameter (mm) Percent finer
0.08 38
0.05 31
0.025 21
0.013 16
0.004 11
0.0017 9
Solution
Figure 2.32 shows the plot of percent passing versus the particle size: passing
2 mm 5 92%; passing 0.075 mm 5 31%; passing 0.002 mm 5 10%. So,
Gravel: 100 2 92 5 8%
Sand: 92 2 31 5 61%
Silt: 31 2 10 5 21%
Clay: 10%
