03-Sept-2020

Experiment - 3
Aditya Verma
18CE02029
Sem - 5 / SIF

Aim: Grain Size Analysis by Mechanical Method.

A - Dry Sieve Analysis.

Record Data Sheet & Calculations:

Sr. No. Parameter Value

1 Weight of Air Dry Soil Taken [grams] 500

2 Hygroscopic Water Content [%] 0.01

3 Weight Of Oven Dry Soil Taken [grams] 500

4 Weight Of Gravel / Sand [grams]

5 Percentage Of Gravel / Sand [%]

6 Organic Matter Content Observed

From Trendline Equation

D Sieve Size Cu Cc
D10 0.128
D30 0.195 2.484375 0.934183
D60 0.318

The values of Sieve Size corresponding to specific D values (%Fines) is obtained

from the logarithmic trendline.

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Dry Analysis

Sieve Retained
Sieve Percentage Cumulative Percentage
Opening Mass Percent Finer
No. Retained Retained
Size Of Soil

d a b N

(mm) (grams) (%) (%)

4 4.75 19.04 3.808 3.808 96.192

10 2 48.88 9.776 13.584 86.416

20 0.85 43.1 8.62 22.204 77.796

40 0.425 40.74 8.148 30.352 69.648

60 0.25 75.62 15.124 45.476 54.524

100 0.15 207.68 41.536 87.012 12.988

200 0.075 60.11 12.022 99.034 0.966

Pan 0 4.45 0.89 99.924 0.076

Sum 499.62 99.924

Graphs:
Formulae Used:

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Results:
C= 2.484375 & C = 0.9341833726. the given sample is an Uniform / Well Graded Soil.
U C

Observations & Conclusions:

Dry and Wet Sieve Analysis is carried out to quantitatively determine the Particle/Grain Size
Distribution for soil particles of size 75 micron and bigger. For soil particles of size 4.75mm and bigger, dry sieve
analysis is done and for soil particles of size above 75 micron and below 4.75mm, wet sieve analysis is also needed if
the soil particles are coated by clay/silt. We conclude that sieve analysis is the simple and easy way to determine the
particle size distribution of aggregate and this sieve analysis procedure can be used by people who are working in the
laboratory like government laboratory and private independent laboratory.

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B - Wet Sieve Analysis.

Record Data Sheet & Calculations :

Sr. No. Parameter Value

1 Weight of Air Dry Soil Taken [grams] 500

2 Hygroscopic Water Content [%] 0.01

3 Weight Of Oven Dry Soil Taken [grams] 500

4 Weight Of Gravel / Sand [grams]

5 Percentage Of Gravel / Sand [%]

6 Organic Matter Content Observed

From Trendline Equation

D Sieve Size Cu Cc
D10 1.14
D30 2.31 2.666666667 1.539
D60 3.04

The values of Sieve Size corresponding to specific D values (%Fines) is obtained from the logarithmic
trendline.

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Wet Analysis

Sieve Sieve Opening Retained Mass Percentage Cumulative Percentage

Percent Finer
No. Size Of Soil Retained Retained

d a b N

(mm) (grams) (%) (%)

4 4.75 0.12 0.024 0.024 99.976

10 2 36.74 7.348 7.372 92.628

20 0.85 66 13.2 20.572 79.428

40 0.425 256.77 51.354 71.926 28.074

60 0.25 107.77 21.554 93.48 6.52

100 0.15 25.24 5.048 98.528 1.472

200 0.075 6.96 1.392 99.92 0.08

Pan 0 0.44 0.088 100.008 -0.008

Sum 500.04 100.008

Graphs :

Formulae Used :
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Results :
C = 2.666666667 & C = 1.53973338. Therefore the given sample is an Uniform / Well Graded Soil.
U C

Observations & Conclusions :

Dry and Wet Sieve Analysis is carried out to quantitatively determine the Particle/Grain Size
Distribution for soil particles of size 75 micron and bigger. For soil particles of size 4.75mm and bigger, dry sieve
analysis is done and for soil particles of size above 75 micron and below 4.75mm, wet sieve analysis is also needed if
the soil particles are coated by clay/silt. We conclude that sieve analysis is the simple and easy way to determine the
particle size distribution of aggregate and this sieve analysis procedure can be used by people who are working in the
laboratory like government laboratory and private independent laboratory.

Review & Conceptual Questions :

1. Usually, sieving processes are carried out with dry material. However, when dry sieving cannot produce an
adequate degree of separation between the individual fractions and the sieving quality cannot be improved by sieving
aids, wet sieving is called for. Dry, or traditional, sieving is used to determine the particle size of dry, free- flowing
material. These sieves are used by shaking or vibrating the sieve which allows the particles to seek the openings in the
wire mesh. The particles are able to separate on their own. Industries like chemical, food and beverage, pharmaceutical,
all use “dry” test sieves. Wet sieving is used where there is a high concentration of fine particles that tend to stick
together and won't separate using just mechanical shaking.If the particles being sieved are mixed with materials like
clay or silt they can clump together and not fit through the openings. Particles may seem to be solid and the correct size,
but they are really made up of smaller particles clumped together. In our experience, wet wash sieving is used most
often for quality control in the aggregate industry. However, this does not mean wet wash sieves are restricted for this
use. If those particles are used for a structure or a road, over time the particles may start to separate into their true size
causing things to fall apart or crumble. Wet wash sieves were created for these situations. Wet wash sieves have higher
frames to them. This creates more Volume for the sample.

2. The shape of the grain-size distribution (GSD) curve, is one of the more important aspects in a soil classification
system for coarse-grained soils. The shape of the gradation curve can be characterized by a pair of “shape” parameters
called the coefficient of uniformity, Cu, and the coefficient of curvature, Cc, to which numerical values may be
assigned. Slope of the gradation curve: The shape of the curve could be defined relative to an arbitrary slope of a
portion of the gradation curve.The slope between the D60 and the D10 can then be related to the degree of uniformity of
the sample through a parameter called the “Coefficient of Uniformity”. Curvature of the gradation curve: The second
“shape” parameter is used to evaluate the curvature of the gradation curve between the two arbitrary points. By use of
the two “shape” parameters, Cu and Cc, the uniformity of the coarse-grained soil (gravel and sand) can now be
classified as well-graded (non-uniform), poorly graded (uniform), or gap graded (uniform or non-uniform).

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3. From Dry Analysis : Gravel = 3.808%, Coarse Sand = 9.776%, Medium Sand = 16.768%, Fine Sand =
68.682%, Silt = 0.89%.

4. Wet sieving is a procedure used to evaluate particle size distribution or gradation of a granular material. It’s also
used to prepare a granular material for particle size analysis by removing fines that may impede the separation
process. Wet sieving can be used to remove fines of materials that may be difficult to sieve, prior to drying and
testing a sample normally. The wet sieving procedure applies to solids with the following properties: Practically
insoluble in water, Not affected by water; for example: solids that expand when wet would not work., Remain
unchanged by heat up to 110°C. Wet-sieving methods are generally considered to represent separation of aggregate
classes that are stable to physical disaggregation in water, a condition considered favorable for protecting soil
structure over time.

5. The CU & CC values obtained from Dry Analysis are: CU = 2.484375 & CC = 0.9341833726. The CU & CC
values obtained from Wet Analysis are: CU = 2.666666667 & CC = 1.53973338. CU is defined as “a numerical
expression of the variety in particle sizes in mixed natural soils”. The difference in CU Values suggests that the
slope of the graph increases, which indicates an increase in the uniformity of the soil sample due to elimination of
impurities. The difference in CC Values suggest the curvature of the PSD Curve increases, increasing the grading
parameter.

6.

Wet Content Dry Content

(%)
Gravel 0.024 3
Coarse Sand 7.348 9
Medium Sand 64.554 1
Fine Sand 27.994 6
Silt 0.088
Total 100.008 9

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7. Soil gradation is very important to geotechnical engineering. It is an indicator of other engineering properties
such as compressibility, shear strength, and hydraulic conductivity. In a design, the gradation of the in situ or on site
soil often controls the design and ground water drainage of the site.

8.

9. Specific gravities of samples with small particles is higher at all times than those of samples with large particles.
Particle size influences the rate of change of specific gravity.

10. The bentonite clay & kaolin clay have particle sizes less than 75microns. The surface area of Bentonite depends
on the smectite percentage and grain size. Smectite crystals range in size between 2 microns and 0.2 microns with
an average size of about 0.5 microns. The particle size distribution shows that kaolin particles are mainly in the
range of 25–35 µm, while few particles have size distribution between 0.4–0.75 μm. So, dry sieve analysis can’t be
performed on this mixture of soils. Sedimentation analysis is used only for the soil fraction finer than 75 microns.
Soil particles are allowed to settle from a suspension. The decreasing density of the suspension is measured at
various time intervals. The procedure is based on the principle that in a suspension, the terminal velocity of a
spherical particle is governed by the diameter of the particle and the properties of the suspension. In this method, the
soil is placed as a suspension in a jar filled with distilled water to which a deflocculating agent is added. The soil
particles are then allowed to settle down. The concentration of particles remaining in the suspension at a particular
level can be determined by using a hydrometer. Specific gravity readings of the solution at that same level at
different time intervals provide information about the size of particles that have settled down and the mass of soil
remaining in solution.