PHYSICAL SOIL PARAMETERS

(Experimental Determination of Properties of Soil)

I. DETERMINATION OF PARTICLE SIZE OF SOILS

A. PARTICLE SIZE OF COARSE-GRAINED SOILS

The particle sizes or average grain diameter of course
grained soils –(Gravel and Sand) is obtain by a screening
process called SIEVE ANALYSIS

% RETAINED on the ith sieve = W1 x 100

W

% FINER at ith sieve = 100 – Σ (% Retained on ith sieve)

A. PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE
B. PARTICLE SIZE OF FINE-GRAINED SOILS
Sieve analysis process cannot be use for measuring
particle size of fined-grain soil – (Silts and clay)
due to its extremely small size. Common method is
HYDROMETER TEST .

From STOKE’s LAW, diameter D of the particle at time tD

Is computed as
D= 18μZ
Gs-1 Υw tD
μ = viscosity of water (10.09 millipoises at 20º C,
Z = is the depth
Υw = is the unit weight of water
Gs = specific gravity
B. CHARACTERIZATION OF Soils based on PARTICLE SIZE
The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) categorizes
two soil sample into two.
B.1 Coarse-Grained soil
B.2 Fine-Grained soil
Two coefficients have been defined to provide
guidance on distinguishing soils based on the distribution
of the particles.
1. UNIFORMITY COEFFICIENT (Cu)

Cu = D60
D10
Where
D60 is the diameter of the soil particles for which 60%
of the particles are finer
D10 is the diameter of the soil particles for which 10%
of the particles are finer
 2. COEFFICIENT OF CURVATURE (Cc)
(Coefficient of gradation/ concavity)
Cc = (D30) 2
D10D60
Where
D30 is the diameter of the soil particles for which 30%
of the particles are finer
Cu = 1, minimum, corresponds to an assemblage
of particles of the same size, almost vertical in graph.
(POORLY GRADED SOIL).
Cu >4, wider assortment of particle sizes, almost
flat curve. The coefficient of curvature Cc is between 1
and 3 for well graded soil. (WELL- GRADED SOIL).
Cc, outside the range of 1 and 3 and sudden
change of slope is termed as GAP –GRADED and also
with absence of certain grain size.
 D50 = Average grain size diameter of the soil
D10 = the effective size of the soil, established by
Allen Hazen(1893)
The effective size is an important value in
regulating flow through soils and can significantly
influence the mechanical behavior of soils

Particle size analysis play an important role in

engineering. They are used to select aggregates for
concrete, soils for the construction of dams and
highways, soils as filters, and material for grouting and
chemical injection.
Example
Interpreting Sieve analysis Data:

A sample of a dry coarse-grained material

of mass 500 grams with the following results
were obtained:

Sieve No. Opening (mm) Mass Retained

(grams)
4 4.75 0
10 2.00 14.8
20 0.85 98
40 0.425 90.1
100 0.15 181.9
200 0.075 108.8
Pan 6.1
 Determine the ff.:
(a.) Plot the particle size distribution curve.
(b.) Determine
(1) the effective size
(2) the average particle size
(3) the Uniformity coefficient
(4) Coefficient of Curvature
(c)Determine the textural composition of the soil.
TABULATION
Sieve No. Mass % Retained S(% % FINER
Retained (Mr / M) X 100 RETAINED)
(grams)
Mr
4 0 0 0 100 – 0 = 100
10 14.8 3.0 add 3.0 100 – 3.0 = 97.0
20 98 19.6 22.6 100 – 22.6 = 77.4
40 90.1 18.0 40.6 100 – 40.6 = 59.4
100 181.9 36.4 77.0 100 – 77 = 23.0
200 108.8 21.8 98.8 100 – 98.8 = 1.2
Pan 6.1 1.2
Check
Total 100
mass M =
499.7
The Particle Size Distribution Curve

(a)
(b) Effective size D10
from the graph
D10 = 0.1mm
Cu = D60 = 0.45 = 4.5
D10 0.1
2
Cc = (D30) 2 = 0.18 = 0.72
D10D60 0.1 x 0.45
(c) Textural Composition
Gravel
Sand
Silt and Clay
II. PHYSICAL STATES AND INDEX PROPERTIES OF
FINE GRAINED SOILS

A. 4 DISTINCT STATE
(1) SOLID – final state, soil continues to dry
(2) SEMISOLID –high strength, brittle, sudden fracture is
expected.
(3) PLASTIC – intermediate strength, soil deforms like a
plastic material
(4) LIQUID – low strength, soil deforms like a viscous fluid
B. PLASTIC LIMIT (PL) = the water content at which the
soil changes from plastic to semisolid.

C. PLASTICITY INDEX (PI) = The range of water contents

over which the soil deforms plastically.

D. SHRINKAGE LIMIT (SL) = the water content at which

the soil changes from semisolid to solid. It is useful for
the determination of the swelling and shrinking
capacity of soils.
E. ATTERBERG LIMIT = The boundaries of the four distinct
states and is measured in terms of its moisture content.
It was named after Swedish soil scientist, A. Atterberg
(1911)

F. LIQUIDITY INDEX (LI) = a measure of soil strength using

Atterberg Limits

PI = LL - PL LI = w - PL
PI
A = PI
clay fraction % (particles less than 2 μm)

A = a term called activity w/c describes importance of clay fraction

to plasticity index by Skempton (1953)
III. DETERMINATION OF THE LIQUID, PLASTIC AND
SHRINKAGE LIMITS

A. CASAGRANDE CUP METHOD

A standard test to determine the liquid limit of a sample.
The standard liquid limit test apparatus was designed by
Arthur Casagrande in the 1930s based on the procedure
developed by Albert Atterberg; therefore, the liquid limit
test is sometimes called the Casagrande test.
A. CASAGRANDE CUP METHOD
A. CASAGRANDE CUP METHOD
EXAMPLE 1.0

A liquid limit test conducted on a soil sample gave the

ff result.

Number of blows 10 19 23 27 40
Water content 60 45.2 39.8 36.5 25.2

Two determination for the plastic limit gave water

contents of 20.3% and 20.8%.
Determine
(a) Liquid limit and plastic limit,
(b) plasticity index
(c)Liquidity index if the natural water content is 27.4%
(d) the void ratio at the liquid limit, if Gs=2.7
DATA PLOT BY CASAGRANDE CUP METHOD
DATA PLOT at EXCELL Sheet
SOLUTION:
(a) From the graph
LL = 38%
PL = 20.3 + 20.8 = 20.6%
2
(b)
PI = LL – PL = 38 – 20.6 = 17.4 %
LI = w – PL = 27.4 – 20.6 = 0.39
PI 17.4
(c)Se =wGs, assuming sample is saturated at LL
e = 0.38 x 2.7 = 1.03
B. FALL CONE METHOD
PL = c (2) m
Where c = the water content at a depth of 1mm
m = slope of best fit straight line
B. FALL CONE METHOD
EXAMPLE 2.0

The result of a fall cone test are as follows.

Parameters 80 gram cone

Penetration (mm) 5.5 7.8 14.8 22 32
Water content (%) 39 44.8 52.5 60.3 67

Determine
(a)Liquid limit
(b) plastic limit,
(c) plasticity index
(d)Liquidity index if the natural water content is 46%.
DATA PLOT at EXCELL Sheet
SOLUTION:
(a) From the graph
LL = 60%
(b)
0.3
Best fit straight line equation Y=23.6X
0.3
PL = C(2)
= 23.6(2)0.3 = 29%

(c) PI = 60 -29 = 31%

(d) LI = w – PL = 46 -29 = 0.55

PI
THANK YOU