EXPERIMENT No.

5
DETERMINATION OF THE DRY DENSITY OF SOIL ON SITE
ABSTRACT
The amount of compaction of a soil is measured in terms of dry density which is the
mass of solids per unit volume of soil.
Measurements of density on site are essential for proper compaction control.
They ensure that the amount of compaction has been reached in a bac!ll
and can henceforth support the load bein" imposed onto it.
METHOD USED:
#and$%one &isplacement method.
MATERIAL:
' suitable amount of closely$"rained sand was used which was clean and free from
or"anic matter.
(or e)perimental purposes the sample was oven *dried and stored for a suitable
period to allow its moisture content to reach e+uilibrium with atmospheric humidity.
APPARATUS USED:
,- ' pourin" cylinder
.- Tools for di""in" holes in the soil / a screw$ driver0 hammer0 shovels
1- ' metal tray 12 ) 12 cm. and cm deep with a ,2 cm hole.
3- ' funnel
5- ' wei"hin" balance.$Precision4.2,"-
5- ' plastic container.
EXPT: 1
DETERMINATION OF WEIGHT OF SAND IN THE CONE OF THE POURING
CYLINDER.
Fig 1
Pourin" a nown wei"ht
(w) g0 in the %ylinder
PROCEDURE:
The pourin" cylinder with the shutter closed was cleaned and placed on a plane
hori6ontal surface.
' suitable amount (w) g of sand in plastic container was wei"hed and poured in the
cylinder.
The shutter was opened and hence the sand was allowed to !ll the cone "radually
by "ravity without disturbin" until no movement of sand was observed.
Eventually0 the shutter was closed.
The cylinder was removed. The sand that was spread below on the surface was
collected into the same plastic container with a brush and was wei"hed. (w1) g
The e)ercise was done three times and the correspondin" wei"hts were noted.
(inally the wei"ht of plastic container was deducted and the avera"e wei"ht of sand
re+uired to !ll the cone was computed. (w2) g
TABLE OF RESULTS 1:
S!" #(P$%&i'
C(!&i!)*) (w1)
g
5,5..2 5,5.72 5,5.89
(P$%&i'
C(!&i!)*)g
.18.,8 .18.,8 .18.,8
S!" (w2) g .98.2. .98.9. .98.57
'vera"e wei"ht of sand re+uired/
(w2) g : .98.2.;.98.9.;.98.57
1
: 2+,.-+
EXPT 2
DETERMINATION OF THE BUL. DENSITY OF THE SAND. ( /%)
The internal diameter and hei"ht of the pourin" cylinder above the shutter cover
plate were measured.
The shutter was ept closed and the cylinder was !lled with sand.
The wei"ht of the sand re+uired was noted0 (w0)g
The e)ercise was done thrice and the avera"e was looed for.
TABLE OF RESULTS 2:
, . 1
<ei"ht of #and
;
%ontainer="
1..,.75 1..,.85 1..,.78
<ei"ht of
%ontainer="
.18.,8 .18.,8 .18.,8
<ei"ht of #and =" .781.99 .781.58 .781.82
'vera"e wei"ht of #and re+uired. (w0)g
: .781.99;.781.58;.781.82
1
: .781.95 "
CALCULATIONS 1:
T1) 23$4 3!i& w)ig1& (5 %!"6 7%
<ei"ht of sand in container (w0)g 8 .781.95 "
Internal diameter of the cylinder : ,25.1 mm
>ei"ht of cylinder above the shutter : 12. mm
?olume of cylinder0 ? : @ 4,25.1=.-. ) 12.mm1 ) ,),2
$7
: ..51 X,),2
$1
m
1
T1) 23$4 3!i& w)ig1& (5 %!"6 7% : (w0) .g 9:
: .781.91X,),2
$1
..51 X,),2
$1

: ,,13.5 "=m1
EXPT 0:
MEASUREMENT OF SOIL DENSITY
' Aat area of soil was cleaned and trimmed down to a level surface.
The metal tray was then placed on the cleaned surface and a hole was du" in the
soil usin" the hole in the tray as a pattern.
The e)cavated soil was collected and wei"hed to the nearest "ram0 (w;)g
The tray was removed and the pourin" cylinder with its shutter closed was placed
above the hole.
,522 " of the sand was then carefully poured into the cylinder and the shutter was
opened "radually.
The shutter was then closed and the sand remainin" in the cylinder was measured
to the nearest "ram.
The moisture content of the collected soil was determined by allowin" small
samples to dry in an oven at ,25 % for .3 hours

Fig 2
&i""in" the soil and
collected in the tray.
Fig 0
Pourin" sand to replace the
e)cavated soil.
DESCRIPTION OF SOIL
The e)cavated soil was as follows/
%olour Reddish Brown
(eel $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
#oil Type #ands0 "ravels
Coose0 can be easily e)cavated with a screw$driver
without too much eDort.
TABLE OF :ALUES 0:
Initial <ei"ht of #and=" ,522
<ei"ht of #and=" remainin" in %ylinder 997.27
<ei"ht of #and !llin" >ole and %one=" 9.2.7,
<ei"ht of #and !llin" %one=" i.e (w2)
g
.98.39
<ei"ht of #and !llin" >ole=" 4W1)g 33..33
<ei"ht of E)cavated #oil=" (w) g 598.5,
CALCULATIONS 2:
B3$4 3!i& w)ig1& (5 w)& %(i$ 6 7 : W9W1 X 7% "=m1
< : <ei"ht of du" soil
<h : <ei"ht of sand re+uired to !ll hole in
sand
Es : Bul &ensity of #and.
B3$4 3!i& w)ig1& (5 w)& %(i$6 7 : 2.597 X ,,13.5
2 .33.
: 1-,<.1- 4g9=
CALCULATIONS 0:
D)&)*=i!&i(! (5 &1) M(i%&3*) C(!&)!& (5 &1) S(i$6>6
: wei"ht of water evaporated
<ei"ht of dry soil
:<w ) ,22 F
<s
TABLE OF :ALUES -:
Ti! N(.
M%% (5
Ti!9g
M%% (5 Ti!
# S=?$)9g
M%% (5 Ti!
# S=?$)9g
DRY
M%% (5
S=?$)9g
DRY
W%
M%% (5
W&)*
C(!&)!&9g
Ww
1;< ,8.59 88.5. 95.,. 59.55 ,..5
1<, ,9.19 88.51 95.77 58.5. ,..53
1@- ,8.39 85.52 93.55 55.27 ,,.73
AA)*g)9g 59.3. ,..15
M(i%&3*) C(!&)!& (5 &1) S(i$6 >6 : ,..15 ) ,22
59.3.
: 21.B0 C
CALCULATIONS -:
T1) "*7 3!i& w)ig1& (5 &1) %(i$6 7" : ,22 7
,22 ; >
7 : Bul unit wei"ht of wet soil.
G : Moisture %ontent.
: ,22 ) ,385.,3
,22 ; 4.,.51-
: 1222.,< 4g9=0
SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
The bul unit wei"ht of sand0 ys : ,,15 "=m1
Bul unit wei"ht of wet soil0 y : ,385 "=m1
Moisture %ontent of the #oil0 G0 : .,.51 F
The dry unit wei"ht of the soil0 yd : ,..1 "=m1
FINDINGS !" CONCLUSIONS
The soil under investi"ation is situated at the bac of the #oil Cab. This re"ion is
rarely fre+uented and hence is not subHected to any forms of compaction0 be it the
simple action of people walin" over there. >ence the dry unit wei"ht is e)pected to
be low.
The value of the yd is acceptable0 and is within the limit of e)pectation.
(rom the results it is obvious that the dry density is less than the wet density and at
the same time hi"her than that of the oven dried sand.
E I yd I ys
The oven$dried sand was looser than the soil resultin" in a lower density.
PRECAUTIONS
The sand should be poured "ently into the cylinder so as not to allow a lar"e
amount of !ne particle to escape.
The pourin" cylinder and the surroundin" area should not be vibrated when the
shutter is opened and sand allowed runnin" into the hole.
<hile collectin" the e)cavated soil0 the tray should be !rmly !)ed to the "round to
avoid any slidin".
The e)cavated soil should be carefully collected0 leavin" no loose material in the
hole.
RE(EREN%E#
%rai"0 R. (. 4,779-. #oil Mechanics0 5th Edn0 E J (N #PKN0 New Eor.
British #tandard ,199 4,772- Methods of Test for #oils for %ivil En"ineerin"
Purposes0 British #tandards Institution0 Condon.