Phase Diagram of Soil

Define:
Air VA
Dry unit weight
Saturated unit weight
Ww Water VW Solid Volume
WT
VT % void
Absorption
Bulk specific gravity
Ws VS
Solid Apparent specific gravity

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Strength of Aggregates

Aggregates transmit compression load via friction

and interlocking which is characterized via friction
angle ().

Rounded: Angular:
Poor interlocking good interlocking
Smooth surface Rough surface high
low friction friction

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 Two Methods of Grain Size Analysis

Sieve/Mechanical Analysis generally used for

coarse grained soil by allowing a given soil
sample pass through a set of sieves of different
size either by manual shaking or by mechanical
means.

Hydrometer Analysis generally used for fine grained

soil by allowing a given soil sample settle in
water for a certain period of time.

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PROB
Following are the results of sieve analysis. Make the necessary calculations and
draw the particle distribution curve.

Sieve No. Opening (mm) Mass of soil retained (g)

4 4.75 66
10 2.00 73
20 0.85 88
40 0.425 159
60 0.250 220
80 0.180 102
200 0.075 56
Pan 36

1. Determine the effective particle size 5. % of fines

2. Compute the Uniformity coefficient 6. % of gravel
3. Find the coef. of gradation 7. % sand
4. Determine the average particle size 8. Sorting Coefficient

Dx = Diameter of an imaginary sieve wherein x% of sample passes through it

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SieveNo. Opening(mm) Massofsoil Percent Cumulative% Cumulative%

retained(g) Retained Retained Passing

4 4.75 66 8.25 8.25 91.75

10 2 73 9.125 17.375 82.625
20 0.85 88 11 28.375 71.625
40 0.425 159 19.875 48.25 51.75
60 0.25 220 27.5 75.75 24.25
80 0.18 102 12.75 88.5 11.5
200 0.075 56 7 95.5 4.5
Pan 36 4.5 100 0

800 100
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 Sieve# Sievesize MassRetained %Retained Cumulative%Retained Cumulative%Passing
4 4.75 66
10 2 73
20 0.85 88

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 1.30
0.21
0.24

0.40

0.57
0.13

1. D10 = 0.13mm
A large CU represents large range in grain sizes,
therefore the soil is regarded as well graded
D60 0.57
2. CU = = = 4.38 A value of CU near unity represents sizes of the
D10 0.13 same magnitude and if CU is less than 4.
the soil is uniform
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 D302
3. Cc =
(D10) (D60)
0.242
=
(0.13) (0.57)
= 0.78
4. D50 = Ave. part. size
= 0.40 mm
5. % of fines = 4.5%

6. % of gravel = 8.25%

7. % of sand = 87.25%
A large coefficient of curvature or concavity It is the mass retained in the # 200
or gradation (CC) measures the shape of the sieve but passing the # 4 sieve
GSD When CC is close to 1, soil is well D75
graded. If CC is much much less or greater 8. S0 = = 2.5
D25
than 1, soil is poorly graded.

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 a. D10 = 0.13 mm

Dx = Diameter of an iaginary sieve wherein x% of sample passes through it

ogie 2011
PROB
Following are the results of sieve analysis. Make the necessary calculations and
draw the particle distribution curve.

Sieve No. Opening (mm) Mass of soil retained (g)

4 4.75 66
10 2.00 73
20 0.85 88
40 0.425 159
60 0.250 220
80 0.180 102
200 0.075 56
Pan 36

1. Determine the effective particle size 5. % of fines

2. Compute the Uniformity coefficient 6. % of gravel
3. Find the coef. of gradation 7. % sand
4. Determine the averate particle size 8. Sorting Cofficient

Dx = Diameter of an iaginary sieve wherein x% of sample passes through it

ogie 2011