COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS & GEOLOGY
BAA2513
WORK BASED PROJECT
PROJECT LOCATION: F
LECTURER: TS. DR. YOUVENTHARAN DURAISAMY
PHOTO NAME MATRIX NO
MOHAMAD
QAMARUZZAMAN
AA20110
FAKHRULLAH BIN
RUSLAN
SUBMISSION DATE: 15th JANUARY 2022
EMAIL:
[email protected] INTRODUCTION
The project needs to implement fundamental engineering concept of soils mechanics
in railway track subgrade design. We also need to design a suitable filter material for
proposed East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) railway track in Gambang, kuantan. Aim of sieve
analysis are determines the gradation (the distribution of aggregate particles, by size, within a
given sample) in order to determine compliance with design, production control
requirements, and verification specifications. Hydrometer test needs to be conduct because if
sieve analysis data shows that your soil sample consist of more than 10% of fines, we
mandatory needs to carry out hydrometer test. So, we totally need to do sieve analysis and
hydrometer test. The particle size distribution of a fine-grained soil can be determined by
hydrometer analysis, which is used for classification of soil. It also utilized in the part of
specification of soil for airfields, roads earth dames, and other soil embarkment.
The objective of the test by this project 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 course, larger-sized particles, and the hydrometer method is
used to determine the distribution of the finer particles. A hydrometer analysis is a
measurement method used to determine soil particle size in a sample. Hydrometer analysis is
specifically for soil particle sizes that are less than approximately 0.75 mm in diameter.
Functions of Sub-Ballast is to provides levelled bed or support for the railway sleepers. It
transfers the load from sleepers to subgrade and distributes the load uniformly on subgrade. It
holds the sleepers in a firm position while the trains pass by. It prevents the longitudinal and
lateral movement of sleeper.
METHODOLOGY
Procedure
Take exactly 50 gm passing No. 200 sieve of oven dry well pulverised soil sample
and mix it with 125 ml of dispersing agent solution (the solution was prepared by
dissolving 40 gm of dry dispersing agent in one litter distilled water).
The mixer could stand for about one hour. The soil mixer was transfer to the
dispersing cup of the mixer. Be sure to wash all the soil from the dish into the mixer
cup. If necessary, water was added until the cup is two thirds full and mix it for 10
minutes.
All the content of the cup was transferred into the 1000 ml cylinder and make sure to
take care not to lose any material. The water was added to fill the cylinder to
1000𝑐𝑚3 mark. Using the palm of the hand over the open end of the cylinder or the
rubber stopper, the cylinder was turned upside down and back for a period of one
minute to complete the agitation of the slurry.
The hydrometer readings were taken at the following intervals of time (1, 2, 4, 8, 15,
30 minutes, 1, 2, 4 hours along with the temperature readings. After each reading the
hydrometer should be removed and placed in the control jar for the dispersing agent
correction. Hydrometer readings will be taken at the top of the meniscus.
After 4 hours of sedimentation, the readings can be taken after 24 hours.
There are several methods in designing the best suitable filter of geotextiles materials that can
applied from our design,
1. Terzaghi’s method
2. Selig and water method
Terzaghi’s Method
The water moving to flow from base soil through the filter should not result in loss of fines
from the soil (piping) or any if any fine soil particles pass through, they should not clog the
filter during the life time and permeability of the filter supposedly be high.
𝑑15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
Retention criteria: ≤ 5 (to prevent piping)
𝑑85 (𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙)
𝑑15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
Permeability criteria: 𝑑 > 5 – 20
15 (𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙)
Selig and Water Method
The filter and base material constructed by following the sub-ballast design parameter
established by Selig and Water Method. There are the criteria of the method,
𝑑15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) ≤ 5 𝑑85 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑑50 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) ≤ 25 𝑑85 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑑15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) > 4 𝑑15 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒)
Hazen Empirical Formula
We supposed to estimate the k value by applying the Hazen Empirical Formula for the
subgrade. The effective diameter used in the formula to for the k of saturated loose sand. The
formula is as follows,
2
𝑘 = 𝐶𝐷10 ,
C is constant while 𝐷10 is effective diameter of grain
RESULT
Terzaghi’s Method
𝑑15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
Retention Criteria: > 5 – 20, where 𝑑85 (𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙) = 0.10417 𝑚𝑚
𝑑50 (𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙)
𝑑15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
≤5
0.1047
𝑑15(𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) = 0.52 𝑚𝑚
𝑑50(𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
Permeability Criteria: > 5 − 20, 𝑑50 (𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙) = 0.054 𝑚𝑚
𝑑50 (𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙)
𝑑50 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
> 20
0.054
𝑑50(𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) = 1.08 𝑚𝑚
Selig and Water Method
𝐷15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟),
𝐷15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) ≤ 5𝑑85 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒) , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐷85 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 0.10417 𝑚𝑚
𝐷15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) ≤ 5 (0.10417 𝑚𝑚)
𝐷15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) = 0.52085 𝑚𝑚
𝐷50 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
𝐷50 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) ≤ 25 𝑑85 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒) , where 𝑑85 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 0.10417 𝑚𝑚
𝐷50 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) ≤ 25 (0.10417 𝑚𝑚 )
𝐷50 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟) = 2.60425 𝑚𝑚
Hazen Empirical Formula
2
𝑘 = 𝐶𝐷10 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐷10 = 0.0103 , k=coefficient of permeability
𝑘 = 10−3 (0.0103)
𝑘 = 0.00012
Apparent Opening Size
The condition is steady-state flow and formation used major sand that less than 50%
𝑐
passing 0.0075 mm. The criteria 2 < 𝑐𝑢 ≤ 4 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑜95 ≤ ( 2𝑢) 𝐷85 . From the graph particle
size distribution curve, the 𝑐𝑢 = 6.3215 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷85 = 0.10417 𝑚𝑚.
𝑐
𝑂95 ≤ ( 𝑢) 𝐷85
2
6.3215
𝑂95 ≤ ( ) 0.10417 𝑚𝑚
2
𝑂95 = 0.3293 𝑚𝑚
DISCUSSION
We need to conduct the project from location F at Gambang, Kuantan told us that the
type of base soil is poorly graded sand. From the graph that have been conducted, we know
that the percentage value of gravel is 0.0%, percentage sand is 16% and percentage fines is
84%. The coefficient of uniformity value is 6.3215 and coefficient of curvature is 1.5485
while the USCS soil coefficient is poorly graded sand. A poorly graded gravel is classified as
GP while a poorly graded sand is classified as SP. Poorly graded soils are more susceptible to
soil liquefaction than well graded soils. A gap-graded soil is a soil that has an excess or
deficiency of certain particle sizes or a soil that has at least one particle size missing.
For the sub-ballast, we know that the main function of it is to provide a transition
zone between the ballast and the subgrade to prevent soil migration into the ballast and to
lessen the stresses imparted to the subgrade. On other hand, geotextiles functioned as
separators, filters, and sealers. Geotextiles are mostly used in road construction, especially to
fill gaps between the roads to improve soil structure and it widely used in railway.
CONCLUSION
In this project by sieve analysis and hydrometer test, I have been conclude that if to
know if an Aggregates are good to be used in a construction of structures and buildings is that
we have to sieve an amount of gravel and sand from coarse down into fine pieces wherein
different sizes will be separated and we will see if the sieved aggregates are well balanced
wherein our graphs with percentage of each sieve size will show which have more and less
amount while hydrometer test involved in consist of more than 10% of fines. Lastly, the most
important thing we needs to implementation of geotextiles material sub-ballast as a filter.
REFERENCE
Clyde, W. (August 2019). How to Perform a Test Sieve Analysis (Preparation, Steps, & Tips
+ Video)? w.s. tyler.
Suryakanta. (November 18, 2015). HYDROMETER ANALYSIS OF SOIL – WHAT, WHY
& HOW? Geotechnical, Materials, Soil, Tests on Soil.
