2.

0 BASIC CHARACTERISTIC OF SOIL

Method For Soil Classification

PREPARED BY;
NORHAZIZI BIN ABDUL MUTHALIB
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
POLIMAS
 Objectives
To learn the methods for soil classification
To learn a systematic way to describe and
classify soils and
To group soils of similar geotechnical
characteristics
2
 INTRODUCTION
 The grain size analysis is widely used in classification of soils.
 The data obtained from grain size distribution curves is used
in the design of filters for earth dams and to determine
suitability of soil for road construction, air field etc.
 Information obtained from grain size analysis can be used to
predict soil water movement although permeability tests are
more generally used.

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 Soil Particle Analysis

 Classification of soil is important in

geotechnical engineering. Through soil
classification, we determine whether the soil is
sandy clay or vise versa. In code of practise for
site investigation BS 5930: 1981, Grain sized
classification system as shown below.
 Major Soil Groups
Cohesive Granular soils or
soils Cohesionless soils
Clay Silt Sand Gravel Cobble Boulder

0.002 0.075 AS 2.36 63 200

0.06 BS Grain size (mm)

Fine grain Coarse grain

soils soils
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 SIEVE TEST
• A sieve analysis (or gradation test) is a practice or procedure used to
assess the particle size distribution (also called gradation) of a granular
material.
• The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the
material performs in use.
• A sieve analysis can be performed on any type of non-organic or
organic granular materials including sands, crushed rock, clays, granite,
feldspars, coal, soil, a wide range of manufactured powders, grain and
seeds, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method.
 Types of Soil Sizes Range (mm)

Grain Sizes Analysis Boulders

Cobbles
-

-
> 200

60 – 200

Coarse 20 – 60

In the analysis of grain sized, there are Gravel Medium 6 – 20

two test performed that are sieve test for Fine 2–6
coarse grained soil sample and Coarse 0.6 – 2
sedimentation test for fine grained soil Sand Medium 0.2-0.6
sample. Sieve tests consist of two types of
Fine 0.06 – 0.2
wet test and dry test. There are two
methods for sedimentation test : Coarse 0.02 – 0.06

Silt Medium 0.006 – 0.02

Hydrometre methods Fine 0.002 – 0.006
Pipette methods
Clay - < 0.002
 Grain Sizes Analysis
– 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
sedimentation method is used to determine the distribution of
the finer particles.
– Grain size analysis provides the grain size distribution, and it is
required in classifying the soil

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 Grain Size Distribution
Determination of GSD:
• In coarse grain soils …... By sieve analysis
• In fine grain soils …... By sedimentation analysis

hydrometer
stack of sieves
sieve shaker
soil/water suspension

Sieve Analysis Sedimentation Analysis 9

 100

80
hydrometer sieve
% Passing
60
fines sands gravels

40

D10 = 0.013 mm
20
D
30
D30 = 0.47 mm
D60 = 7.4 mm
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

Grain size (mm)

Grain Size Distribution Curve

can find % of gravels, sands, fines

define D10, D30, D60.. as above. (D10 = Effective size)
 Data analysis
• The Graphs
Graph for BS 1377: Part 2 1990:

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 Well or Poorly Graded Soils

Well Graded Soils Poorly Graded Soils

Wide range of grain sizes present Others, including two special cases:
Gravels: Cc = 1-3 & Cu >4 (a) Uniform soils
– grains of same size
Sands: Cc = 1-3 & Cu >6
(b) Gap graded soils
– no grains in a Specific size
range

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 Sieve analysis

• Sieve analysis consists of 2 type:

- Wet Sieving
- Dry Sieving
 Wet Sieving
• Most sieve analyses are carried out dry. But there are
some applications which can only be carried out by wet
sieving
• This is the case when the sample which has to be
analysed is e.g. a suspension which must not be dried; or
when the sample is a very fine powder which tends to
agglomerate (mostly < 45 µm) – in a dry sieving process
this tendency would lead to a clogging of the sieve
meshes and this would make a further sieving process
impossible.
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 Wet Sieving
• A wet sieving process is set up like a dry process: the sieve stack is
clamped onto the sieve shaker and the sample is placed on the top
sieve
• Above the top sieve a water-spray nozzle is placed which supports
the sieving process additionally to the sieving motion
• Above the top sieve a water-spray nozzle is placed which supports
the sieving process additionally to the sieving motion.
• The rinsing is carried out until the liquid which is discharged
through the receiver is clear.
• Sample residues on the sieves have to be dried and weighed
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 Dry Sieving

1) Weigh about 250 grams of soil was dried in an oven.

2) Detach the ground in a mortar with a 'pastel' rubber so that all soil particles
separately.
3) Weigh all the sieves and trays (pan) accurate to 0.1 grams. Arrange the sieves
and trays in the order specified.
4) Sift the soil that has been provided through a series of sieves using a
machine vibrator for 5 minutes
 Dry Sieving

5) Weigh each sieve and the contents accurate to 0.1 grams. Calculate the weight
soil particles retained on each sieve. Sum of all heavy particles above ground. If
the amount is less than 1.0 grams of total weight of the original, please repeat
the above experiment
6) Plot graph of the percentage of transparency against the sieve size on semi-log
graph paper.
7) Determine the percentage of gravel, sand, clay / silt, the effective size, the
Coefficient of uniformity and curvature of the tested soil.
DATA & ANALYSIS : PARTICLES OF SIZE DISTRIBUTION (SIEVE ANALYSIS)
DATA OF EXPERIMENTS
Weight: 250 gram
Sieve weight Retain Percentage
Sieve size Sieve weight Percentage
and soil weight of soil of passing
(mm) (gram) retain (%)
(gram) (gram) (%)
10.00 480 440 40 16 84
5.000 500 455 45 18 66
2.360 425 385 40 16 50
1.180 405 355 50 20 30
0.600 455 425 30 12 18
0.425 420 405 10 4 14
0.300 305 290 15 6 8
0.212 290 280 10 4 4
0.150 280 275 5 2 2
0.075 270 265 5 2 0
pan 245 245 0 0 0

Total of passing soil (gram) 250

Example calculation:

Percentage Retain (%) Percentage of passing (%)

Weight Retain
(sieve size : 10.00mm) (sieve size : 10.00mm)
(sieve size:10.00 mm)
= 40 × 100 =16 % = 100 – 16 = 84%
480g – 440g = 40g
250
(sieve size: 5.000mm) (sieve size : 5.000mm)
(sieve size : 5.000 mm)
= 45 × 100 = 18% = 84 – 18 = 66%
500g – 455g = 45g
250
(sieve size : 2.360mm) (sieve size : 2.360mm)
(sieve size : 2.360mm)
= 40 × 100 = 16% = 66 – 16 = 50%
425g -385g = 40g
250
(sieve size : 1.180mm) (sieve size : 1.180mm)
(sieve size :1.180mm)
= 50 × 100 = 20% = 50 – 20 = 30%
405g-355g=50g
250
(sieve size : 0.600mm) (sieve size : 0.600mm)
(sieve size:0.600mm)
= 30 × 100 =12% = 30 – 12 =18%
455g – 425g = 30g
250
SEDIMENTATION TEST :

HYDROMETER
&
PIPETTE METHOD

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 Hydrometer test

• A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity (or

relative density) of liquids; that is, the ratio of the density of the liquid to
the density of water.
• A hydrometer is usually made of glass and consists of a cylindrical stem
and a bulb weighted with mercury or lead shot to make it float upright.
The liquid to be tested is poured into a tall container, often a graduated
cylinder, and the hydrometer is gently lowered into the liquid until it floats
freely. The point at which the surface of the liquid touches the stem of the
hydrometer is noted. A variety of scales exist, and are used depending on
the context.

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 Hydrometer test

 A hydrometer analysis is the process by which fine-grained soils, silts

and clays, are graded. Hydrometer analysis is performed if the grain
sizes are too small for sieve analysis.
 The basis for this test is Stoke's Law for falling spheres in a viscous
fluid in which the terminal velocity of fall depends on the grain
diameter and the densities of the grain in suspension and of the fluid.
 The hydrometer also determines the specific gravity (or density) of
the suspension, and this enables the percentage of particles of a
certain equivalent particle diameter to be calculated

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 Hydrometer Analysis
Equipment :
 Mixer (blender),
 152H Hydrometer,
 Sedimentation cylinder,
 Control cylinder,
 Thermometer
 Beaker,
 Timing device.

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HYDROMETER

Apparatus for grain size

distribution by hydrometer
analysis.
 Procedure
1) 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
2) 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.
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3) 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.
4) Immediately transfer the soil slurry into the empty sedimentation cylinder. Add
distilled water up to the mark.
5) 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.)
6) 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).
7) 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.
8) Take hydrometer readings after elapsed time of 2 and 5, 8, 15,
30, 60 minutes and 24 hours
 Result
1) Apply meniscus correction to the actual hydrometer reading.
2) From Table 1, obtain the effective hydrometer depth L in cm (for meniscus
corrected reading).
3) For known Gs of the soil (if not known, assume 2.65 for this lab purpose),
obtain the value of K from Table 2.
4) Calculate the equivalent particle diameter by using the following formula:
D = KL
t
Where t is in minutes, and D is given in mm.
5) Determine the temperature correction CT from Table 3.
6) Determine correction factor “a” from Table 4 using Gs.
7) Calculate corrected hydrometer reading as follows:
Rc = RACTUAL - zero correction + CT
8) Calculate percent finer as follows:
P = Rc×a x 100
Ws
Where WS is the weight of the soil sample in grams.

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9) Adjusted percent fines as follows:

PA = P x F200
100

F200 = % finer of #200 sieve as a percent

10) Plot the grain size curve D versus the adjusted

percent finer on the semilogarithmic sheet.

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 Pipette Test
• Dry samples in oven at 100-105° C.
• Gently break up sample fine enough to pass through a 2 mm sieve (use a wood
mortar and pestle). If there are clay/silt agglomerates, repeat process several
times.
• If there is a significant amount of gravel-size material, follow the steps outlined
below. If not, skip to step 4.
• Remove any pebbles that are anomalously large for the overall size distribution.
The presence of such should be noted in your descriptions, but their abundance
can not be evaluated quantitatively by weight percentage (although, you can make
an estimate of their percent volume if you desire.
• Weigh out at least 100.00 g of dried sample on a pan balance (or analytical
balance). Record weight to nearest .005g.
• Pass the material through a 2mm sieve. Weigh the greater than 2.0-mm fraction
and record both the weight and the percent gravel in the sample by weight.
• Using the analytical balance, weigh out 20.0000 g of sample.
• Transfer the sample to a baby bottle and add 10 ml of 30% H2O2
(WARNING!! H2O2 is a strong oxidizer and will readily react with
hair, skin, eyeballs, clothes, etc.) Record the number of the baby
bottle on data sheet.
• When the reaction diminishes, add approximately 50-ml of distilled
water and bring to a boil for 15 – 20 minutes. Watch carefully to
prevent boil over.
• Remove from heat source and let cool.
• Add 20 ml of sodium hexametaphosphate (i.e. Calgon), put caps on
bottles, check for leaks, and put on the shaker. Be sure that the
bottles on the shaker are counterbalanced. Use water-filled blanks,
if necessary. Leave samples on shaker overnight (or at least 6
hours).
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• Place a 62.5m m sieve over a large funnel and set in a 1000 ml cylinder (be
careful, it may unsteady). Record the number of the cylinder on your data
sheet. Remove the samples from the shaker and gently pour the sample
through the sieve. Use caution not to lose any of the sample by spillage.
Thoroughly wash all silt and clay through the sieve using distilled water.
The entire sand fraction (very fine – very coarse) is now in the sieve.
Carefully transfer all of the sand to a 50-ml beaker. Dry the sand and
weigh. If necessary, the dried sand fraction can be run through a nest of
sieves to determine sand size distribution.
• The cylinder should now contain only the silt and clay fractions of the
sample. Fill cylinders to the 1000-ml mark with distilled water.
• Obtain 7 beakers (for each sample) and record their numbers and tare
weights on the data sheet. These will be used for pipette "pulls" of the
different size fractions …vcs silt, cs silt, med silt, fn silt, vf silt, cs clay, vf
clay. These guidelines for a detailed particle size analysis. If doing basic
particle size, that is measuring only the amounts of sand, silt, and
clay…only 2 beakers are necessary for pipette withdraw of the silt and clay
fraction
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• Measure and record the temperature of the water in the cylinder.
Consult the settling time chart to determine the time and depth oat
which "pulls" must be made for the various size fractions.
• Agitate the sample vigorously for 20 seconds. Immediately after you
cease stirring the sample, begin the time count for the first settling
time.
• At the required time, "pull" the fraction form a depth of 10 cm (use
depths as instructed on settling time chart) using a 20 ml pipette.
• Dispense the sediment sample from the pipette into the 50-ml
beaker designated for that size fraction.
• Wash pipette into beaker with distilled water
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• Obtain 7 beakers (for each sample) and record their numbers and
tare weights on the data sheet. These will be used for pipette
"pulls" of the different size fractions …vcs silt, cs silt, med silt, fn silt,
vf silt, cs clay, vf clay. These guidelines for a detailed particle size
analysis. If doing basic particle size, that is measuring only the
amounts of sand, silt, and clay…only 2 beakers are necessary for
pipette withdraw of the silt and clay fraction.
• Measure and record the temperature of the water in the cylinder.
Consult the settling time chart to determine the time and depth oat
which "pulls" must be made for the various size fractions.

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• Agitate the sample vigorously for 20 seconds. Immediately after you
cease stirring the sample, begin the time count for the first settling
time.
• At the required time, "pull" the fraction form a depth of 10 cm (use
depths as instructed on settling time chart) using a 20 ml pipette.
• Dispense the sediment sample from the pipette into the 50-ml
beaker designated for that size fraction
• Wash pipette into beaker with distilled water.
• Place sample in drying oven.
• When dried, place is dessicator to cool, and weigh immediately.
• Repeat steps 12-18 for remaining size fraction.
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Result
• Depths for successive draws should be measured from the actual
(declining) surface of the suspension; these depths are given by Stoke’s
law without modification, regardless of whether a subsequent draw is
made at lesser, equal, or greater depth than the preceding draw.
• If you repeat a draw without restirring, you will have to correct your draw
depth for the thickness of suspension removed during the original draw, as
well as during any other intervening draws.
• Restirring between draws does not affect subsequent draws, or a repeat of
the draw that immediately preceded restirring. However, it does affect the
weight of any other previous draws that may be repeated.

44
• It is very important to record the times and depths of all draws, and
any restirring. If errors occur, you can back-calculate to determine
the limiting particle diameter that you actually sample.
• Avoid blunders by allocating sufficient time to prepare for each
group of draws, including the time to temporarily re-mark the
pipette if you use non-standard depths, and to double-check that
you have inserted the pipette to the correct depth.
• Allow ~10 minutes to calculate and prepare if you must change any
draw times. Draws may be taken at any convenient depth/time
combination, however to eliminate confusion the above table
should be employed.
 Summary
Sieve analysis – for coarse grain soils
Hydrometer analysis - for fine grain soils
Classify coarse by GSD and fines from Atterberg
limits (PI-LL chart)

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