CEC503: Soil Mechanics

Module 2: Grain Size Distribution of Soil

Dr. Sushovan Dutta

(Email Id: sdutta.ce@nitdgp.ac.in, Mobile: 8657425431)
Department of Civil Engineering

National Institute of Technology Durgapur

Particle size range for different soil solid types:

Boulders > 300 mm

Cobbles 300 mm – 80 mm
Coarse 80 mm – 20 mm
Gravel
Fine 20 mm – 4.75 mm
Coarse 4.75 mm – 2.00 mm

Sand Medium 2.00 mm – 0.425 mm

Fine 0.425 mm – 0.075 mm
Silt 0.075 mm – 0.002 mm
Clay < 0.002 mm
 GRAIN SIZE/ PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS

Sieve Analysis Sedimentation/ Wet Analysis

(Dry Sieving/ Wet Sieving) (Usually Hydrometer Analysis)

[Grain Size < 75μ]
*Not applicable for D < 0.2μ

Gravel Analysis Sand Analysis

[Grain Size (D) > 4.75 mm] [75μ < Grain Size < 4.75 mm]
Introduction :
 The average representation of the sizes of particles in soils
drawn on semi logarithmic plot having diameter size on
logarithmic scale and percent finer on arithmetic scale,
represents the grain size distribution of a soil.
Three general procedure of analysis are adopted to achieve
final gradation curve:
Dry sieving: It is used for clean sand and gravels. The soil is
placed on the top sieve of the sieve rack and sieved.
Wet sieving: The soil containing silt and clay must first be
washed to remove the fine particles which pass through 75 μ
sieve. The material retained on 75 μ sieve can then be dry sieved.
Sedimentation analysis: The material passing through 75μ sieve
is collected and used for sedimentation analysis.
 Sieve Analysis

The sieve analysis is used for grain size distribution of the soil portion
that is cohesionless and grain size larger than 75μm (0.075 mm).

Apparatus and accessories required:

a. Sieve analysis:
1. Set of sieve (from 80 mm to 0.075 mm)
2. Sieve shaker
3. Balance of 0.1 gm accuracy
4. Drying oven
5. Porcelain dishes for drying sample
6. Wash bottles
 Lid Lid
19 mm 2.36 mm
16 mm 1.12 mm
13.2 mm
0.6 mm
10 mm
9.5 mm 0.425 mm
6.7 mm 0.212 mm
4.75 mm 0.125 mm
Pan 0.075 mm
Pan
Set of sieve

Sieve shaker
Wash
bottles

Porcelain dish
Weighing balance sieve
 Scoop Wooden mallet

Soil tray

spatula

Soil Processing by Pulverization

 Fully representative soil sample as received from the field is first air/ oven dried.
 Take raw dry soil to a big sized Galvanized iron tray. Pound the soil with the
rubber/wooden mallet until all the big soil clods and lumps are properly broken.
 After pounding, the overall soil is thoroughly mixed with a scoop so that proper
representative soil sample can be taken.
 Place 1000 or 500 gm of this representative sample in a small enameled tray.
This is required for gravel analysis. The hygroscopic moisture content should be
known, if the soil is air dried or kept outside oven for a long duration.
Gravel analysis (Wet Sieving):
1. The first stage is meant for gravelly soils. Soak 500 g of air-dry soil
in the tray. The hygroscopic moisture content must be known to
calculate mass of completely (oven) dry soil.
2. Add a pinch of Na2CO3 to aid dispersion (or, 2 gm/lt water solution
of Sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3)6] and mix the mixture
thoroughly.
3. Leave the mixture for soaking for at least an hour.
4. Wash the mixture on 4.75 mm sieve under the current of water and
collect the fraction retained on the sieve.
5. Transfer the fraction retained on the sieve to a porcelain dish and
keep for drying in oven for 24 hrs.
6. Pass the dried soil through the set of sieves from 38.0 mm to 4.75
mm and record the mass of soil retained on each sieve in the record
sheet.
7. Calculate the percent soil finer than various sieve sizes.
Sand analysis (Wet Sieving):
1. The soil passing through 4.75 mm sieve is subjected to sand
analysis.
2. Take 100 g of air dry soil (soil sieved from 4.75 mm sieve)
with known hygroscopic moisture content.
3. Soak the sample for an hour in water.
4. Wash the soaked sample on 75μ sieve till almost clean water
passes.
5. Keep the soil retained on the 75μ sieve in oven for 24 hrs.
6. Sieve the dried soil through the set of sieves from 2.39 mm to
75μ and record the mass of the soil retained on each sieve in
the record sheet.
Calculation Steps:
1. In order to combine results of the gravel sieve analysis
with that of sand sieve analysis, percent finer (N%)
calculated from sand sieve analysis is modified as follows:
N  N 'g
Modified percent finer, N': N ' 
100
N'g = last value of percent finer in gravel analysis

2. Coefficient of uniformity, Cu : Cu = D60/D10

D30 2
3. Coefficient of curvature, Cc : Cc 
D10  D60

Where, D represents the apparent diameter of soil particle and

subscripts denote percent smaller than D. For example, D10 = 0.15
mm means 10% of sample grains are smaller than 0.15mm
Specimen calculations of gravel analysis
(Wet/ Dry Sieving):
1. Mass of air dry soil = 500 g
2. Hygroscopic moisture content = 10.10%
3. Mass of completely (oven) dry soil = 454 g
4. Mass of water = 46 g

NOTE:
• For Dry sieving, the total soil must be oven dried before performing
the sieve analysis.
• For Wet sieving, air dry soil can be taken to wash the soil through
4.75 mm and 75μ sieves. Then the retained soil mass over 4.75 mm
and 75μ sieves are oven dried to perform gravel and sand analysis,
respectively.
The mass of initial total dry soil is calculated using
hygroscopic moisture content and that mass is used to calculate
percent finer.
Specimen calculation of Gravel analysis:
Sr. No. Sieve Mass of soil Percent Cumulative Percent
opening, retained, gm retained, percent finer, N,
mm % retained, % %
1 19 131.46 28.96 28.96 71.04
2 16 9.09 2.00 30.96 69.04
3 13.2 45.96 10.12 41.08 58.92
4 10 30.60 6.74 47.82 52.92
5 9.5 2.3 0.51 48.33 51.67
6 6.7 20.1 4.43 52.76 47.24
7 4.75 6.98 1.54 54.30 45.70
• Percent retained,% • Cumulative percent • Percent Finer, N:
= (9.09/454)×100 retained,%: = 100-30.96
= 2.00% = 28.96+2.00 = 69.04%
= 30.96%
**It should be noted from the record sheet that the last value of percent
finer in gravel analysis (N'g) is 45.70%.
Specimen calculation of sand analysis (Wet/ Dry Sieving):
1. From passing 4.75 mm sieve, taken mass of air dry soil = 100 g
2. Hygroscopic moisture content = 10.10%
3. Mass of oven dry soil = 90.83 g
Sr. Sieve Mass of soil Percent Cumulative Percent Corrected
No. opening, retained, gm retained, percent finer, N, Percent
mm % retained, % % finer, N', %
1 2.36 1.656 1.82 1.82 98.18 44.87
2 1.18 6.397 7.04 8.86 91.14 41.65
3 0.600 2.624 2.89 11.75 88.25 40.33
4 0.425 3.693 4.07 15.82 84.18 38.47
5 0.212 5.686 6.26 22.08 77.92 35.61
6 0.125 5.343 5.88 27.96 72.04 32.92
7 0.075 3.099 3.41 31.37 68.63 31.36
**N's = last value of percent finer in sand
Corrected Percent finer, analysis = 31.36%
N  N 'g
N'  = (98.18× 45.70)/100 = 44.87%
100
44.87
 Theory of Sedimentation

Settlement of particles (After Arora, 2004)

- At the commencement of the sedimentation test, the soil particles are uniformly
dispersed throughout the suspension, and the concentration of particles of different
sizes is the same at all depths.
Total mass of soil solids = Ms, Total volume of suspension = V
Initial concentration of soil solids throughout the entire depth of suspension,
Ms
ms 
V
 - After a time period, at a particular depth, only those particles remain which
have not settled. As all particles of same size have same velocity, the
remained particles of a given size will be in the same concentration as at the
beginning of sedimentation.

- After a time t, within a depth He, mass of solid particles finer than D is MD in
suspension volume VD up to that depth. All particles larger than D settled
below that depth.
 Concentration of soil solids up to depth He = mD = MD/VD

 Considering, initial mass of solids = Mi up to that depth of He in volume VD,

Mi Ms
Initial concentrat ion    ms
VD V

Percentage finer than D,

MD
M V m m
N(%)  D  100  D  100  D  100  D  100
Mi Mi Ms ms
VD V
Percentage finer than D,
m MD M
while, mD  and ms  s
N(%)  D  100 VD V
ms

After a time t, at depth He density of soil suspension (ρ),

M  Mw ρ w Vw ρ w VD  Vs 
ρ D  ρ  mD   ρ  mD 
VD VD VD

 MD   MD 
 ρ  mD  ρ w 1    ρ  mD  ρ w 1  
 VDρ s   VDGsρ w 
MD mD
 ρ  mD  ρ w   ρ  mD  ρ w 
VDGs Gs
 1   Gs 
 mD 1    ρ - ρ w  mD  ρ - ρ w  
 Gs   Gs  1 
 mD
N(%)   100
ms

 Gs  1
 N(%)  ρ - ρ w     100
 Gs  1  ms

 Gs  V
 N(%)  ρ - ρ w      100
 G s  1  Ms

R  Gs  V
 N(%)       100
1000  Gs  1  Ms
 The readings on
the Hydrometer stem
give the density (ρ) of
the soil suspension
situated at the centre
of the bulb at any
time.

 For convenience
Hydrometer reading
is recorded as,
R = (ρ- ρw) x 1000

R = (ρ-1) x 1000
 Sedimentation Analysis

 Hydrometer analysis is often performed when soil passing from

75μ is more than 5-12%.
 It is a widely used method of obtaining an estimate of the
distribution of particle sizes from 0.075 mm to around 0.001 mm.
The sedimentation analysis is based on Stoke’s law, which
gives the terminal velocity of a falling sphere settling in a fluid of
infinite extent.
When a small sphere settles in a fluid, its velocity first increases
under the action of gravity, but the drag force from fluid comes
into action, and retards the velocity of sphere.
After an initial adjustment period, steady conditions are attained
and the sphere settles with a constant terminal velocity.
 Calculation of Particle diameter, D using Stoke’s law:

- The drag force (FD) experienced by a sphere of radius ‘r’

when it falls with velocity ‘v’ through a fluid of viscosity η
is obtained as,

FD  6 πηrv (Derived by Stokes, 1851)

- The other two forces are weight of the

sphere (W) acting downwards and W
buoyant force (U) acting upwards. FD

- Form equilibrium of forces in vertical direction, U

W = U + FD
 W  U  FD
4 3 4 3
 r  s  r  w  6πηrv
3 3

2 r2
v ( s   w )
9 
2
1 D D = diameter of the sphere
v (s   w )g Gs = sp. gravity of the material of sphere
18  g = acceleration due to gravity

gD 2 (G s  1) w 18v
v D
18 gG s  1 w
 If a spherical material settles a depth ‘He’ cm in ‘t’ mint
with a constant terminal velocity ‘v’,

He
v cm/sec v in cm/sec,
60t
He in cm,
18v t in mint,
D
g G s  1 w
η in poise (Dyne-sec/cm2),
g = 981 cm/sec2,
18 He
D in cm ρ =in gm/cm3
981 60  G s  1  w t w

18 He
D  10  in mm **Assuming soil particles
981 60  G s  1 w t as sphere, D is calculated
Preparation of Soil Suspension:
1. 50 gm oven dried soil passing 75μ IS sieve is taken in a porcelain dish.
2. 33 gm Sodium hexameta-phosphate and 7 gm Sodium Carbonate are
mixed in required quantity of distilled water to make 1000 ml solution. 100
ml of that dispersing solution is added to the oven dried soil.
3. The mixture is warmed gently for about 10 mints.
4. The mix is transferred to a mechanical mixture and distilled water is
added to make the cup of mixture about three-fourth filled.
5. The suspension is stirred for about 15 mints.
6. After that transfer the entire mix into a 1000 ml measuring cylinder and fill
the remaining volume with distilled water to make volume of suspension
1000 mm.
7. Turn the measuring cylinder upside-down 3-4 times keeping palm of hand
firmly on the top of cylinder to make a uniform density initial suspension
and put the measuring cylinder immediately on the test table and start the
stop watch.
8. The dispersing agent was added to neutralise the charges on the smaller
grains and the soil solids do not form soil clods/lumps in the suspension.
Note:
 Take the hydrometer reading at total elapsed times
of ½, 1 and 2 minutes without removing the
hydrometer.
 After the 2 minute reading, remove the hydrometer
gently without disturbing the suspension and place it
in the neighbouring cylinder containing only distilled
water, rinse it by a twisting motion to remove any soil
particle that may have settled on it. After taking each
reading hereafter, the same needs to be followed.
Just before taking readings, the hydrometer is
gently inserted into the soil suspension.
 After first 2 minutes, readings are usually taken at
5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 1440 minutes.
 Determine the meniscus correction (Cm),
dispersing agent correction (Cd), and temperature
correction (Ct).
  h V  V
He   H   h   h
h Vh
 He  H  
 2 2A  A 2 2A
Immersion correction:
Immersion correction = -Vh/2A
Vh = volume of hydrometer
A = cross sectional area of jar containing
suspension
 Corrections to hydrometer reading:
1. Meniscus correction, Cm:
 Since the soil suspension is not
transparent enough, the scale has to be R
read at the upper rim of meniscus. Rh
 This correction is always additive to the
reading because density readings on the
hydrometer stem increases downwards.
 If at the upper rim of meniscus, the
hydrometer reading is R, the actual reading
after applying meniscus correction (Rh),

Rh = R + Cm
This ‘Rh’ value is used to calculate the
effective height (He) of fall at time t.
 Calibration of hydrometer:

 Hydrometer reads the specific gravity at approximately the depth

in the liquid where the centre of volume of hydrometer floats.

 The effective depth He from the centre of the hydrometer bulb

corresponding to the hydrometer reading (Rh) with applied
meniscus correction,
He = H + h/2 – Vh/2A
(H varies with time, while h and Vh are constant for a hydrometer, A
is constant for a measuring cylinder)
Where, H = distance from the neck of bulb to hydrometer reading, h =
height of hydrometer bulb, Vh = volume of hydrometer, A = cross sectional
area of measuring cylinder containing the soil suspension

 Since H is varying with time, it is required to have a calibration

curve between He and Rh.
 Calibration procedure
 Measure with scale the distances from the neck of hydrometer bulb (H) =
d1, d2, d3,..d7 corresponding to different hydrometer readings (Rh) marked
on the hydrometer
Example Solution:
 Volume of hydrometer = 72 cm3,
 Height of bulb (h) = 16.6 cm
 Sectional area of jar or measuring cylinder containing soil
suspension (A) = 30 cm2

h V (H varies with time, while h and Vh are

He  H   h constant for a hydrometer, A is constant
2 2A for a measuring cylinder)

16.6 72
 He  H  
2 2  30

 He  H  7.1 cm

 A calibration curve is plotted to obtain He for different values of H

that varies with time corresponding to different Rh values.
 Hydrometer Height of Hydrometer Effective depth,
reading (Rh)/ or, reading from neck He (cm)
Density reading (ρh) (lowest mark) of = (H + h/2 - Vh/2A)
hydrometer bulb, H (cm) He  H  7.1 cm
30 1.030 1.8 8.9
25 1.025 3.6 10.7
20 1.020 5.4 12.5
15 1.015 7.3 14.4
10 1.010 9.2 16.3
5 1.005 11.1 18.2
0 1 13 20.1
-5 0.995 14.9 22

Rh ρh
 24
22
20
18
Ehhective depth (He), cm

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Rh: -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
ρh: 0.995 1 1.005 1.010 1.015 1.020 1.025 1.030
Hydrometer reading (Rh)/ or, (ρh)
Calibration curve for the hydrometer
Note: The calibration curve for hydrometer always plots a straight line.
 Other Corrections to Hydrometer reading:
2. Dispersion correction, Cd:
 The addition of dispersing agent results in the
density of liquid in which sedimentation takes
place, being greater than that of water.
 To obtain the dispersion correction, 100 cc of
dispersing agent solution is taken in standard
measuring cylinder and the volume is made
equal to 1000 cc by adding distilled water.
 Hydrometer is inserted and reading is taken.
Similarly hydrometer is inserted in standard
measuring jar filled with water and reading is
taken. The difference between the two readings
gives the dispersing agent correction
 ‘Cd’ is always subtracted from the hydrometer
reading, already corrected for meniscus.
 The corrected hydrometer reading after applying
meniscus and dispersion correction (Rc'),

Rc' = Rh - Cd
3. Temperature correction, Ct:
 Hydrometer is calibrated at 27⁰C.
 To apply temperature correction, take cool water and
note the hydrometer reading corresponding to
temperature at interval of 2⁰C up to 33⁰C.
 If the temperature is more than 27⁰C, the suspension is
lighter, and the correction is positive.
 If the temperature is less than 27⁰C, the suspension is
denser and the correction is negative.
 ‘Ct’ is always applied to the hydrometer reading,
already corrected for meniscus and dispersion agent.
 The corrected hydrometer reading after applying meniscus,
dispersion agent and temperature correction (Rc),

Rc  R'c  Ct

 Rc  Rh - Cd  Ct  Rc  R  Cm - Cd  Ct

Composite correction, C = Cm - Cd ± Ct

 The corrected hydrometer reading after applying all

corrections can also be calculated as,

Rc  R  C
 The percent finer (N) is calculated using the corrected
hydrometer reading (Rc) value as follows:

R c  Gs  V
N(%)       100
1000  Gs  1  Ms

 The hydrometer is also marked with density readings.

The percent finer (N) can also be calculated using the
corrected density (ρc) value as follows:

 Gs  V
N(%)  ρ c - ρ w      100
 G s  1  Ms

ρc  ρ  Cm - Cd  Ct
Sample Calculations:
Hydrometer analysis:
1. Particle diameter, D

18 He
D  10  in mm
981 60  G s  1 w t

He in cm,
t in mint,
η in poise (Dyne-sec/cm2) = 0.00836 poise at test temperature,
ρw in gm/cm3 = 0.996 gm/cm3 at test temperature
Gs = specific gravity of soil solids = 2.6
2. Percent finer, N (%)

 Gs  V
N(%)  ρ c - ρ w      100 ρc  ρ  Cm - Cd  Ct
 G s  1  Ms
Where,
Gs = specific gravity of soil solids = 2.6
V = volume of soil suspension = 1000 ml
Ms = mass of oven dry soil taken = 50 gm
ρc = corrected hydrometer density reading
ρw = density of clean water at test temperature = 0.996 gm/cm3

3. To combine the results of the gravel and sand sieve

analysis with hydrometer results, percent finer N
computed from hydrometer analysis is modified to N'.
N  N's
N'  Ns' = last value of percent finer in sand analysis
100 = 31.36%
Specimen calculation of sedimentation analysis:
1. Meniscus correction, Cm = 0.0004 5. Gs = 2.6
2. Dispersion correction, Cd = 0.0034 6. Ms = 50 gm
3. Viscosity of water (η) = 0.00836 poise 7. V = 1000 ml
4. Hydrometer reading in clear water, Rw = ρw = 0.996
Time, Hydrometer Rh (or, He Rc (or, ρc) ρc – ρw D Percent Corrected
t reading, R ρh) = (cm) = Rh- Cd (gm/cm3) (mm) finer, N percent
(mint) (or, ρ) R + Cm (%) finer, N' (%)

0.5 1.016 1.0164 13.75 1.013 0.017 0.066 55.25 17.33

1 1.0145 1.0149 14.5 1.0115 0.0155 0.048 50.38 15.80
2 1.0135 1.0139 14.58 1.0105 0.0145 0.034 47.13 14.78

5 1.012 1.0124 15.58 1.009 0.013 0.022 42.25 13.25

15 1.01 1.0104 16.25 1.007 0.011 0.013 35.75 11.21
30 1.0085 1.0089 16.55 1.0055 0.0095 0.009 30.88 9.68
60 1.0075 1.0079 17.2 1.0045 0.0085 0.007 27.63 8.66
120 1.0065 1.0069 17.5 1.0035 0.0075 0.005 24.38 7.64
1440 1.0035 1.0039 18.5 1.0005 0.0045 0.001 14.63 4.59
Showing calculations at t = 15 minute,

 Hydrometer reading: R = 1.01

 Applying meniscus correction:
Rh = 1.01+0.0004 = 1.0104 (Cm = 0.0004)
 Determining He using calibration curve (Next slide):
He = 16.25 cm
 Applying dispersion correction:
Rc = 1.0104 – 0.0034 = 1.0070 (Cd = 0.0034)
 24
22
20
18
Ehhective depth (He), cm

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Rh: -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
ρh: 0.995 1 1.005 1.010 1.015 1.020 1.025 1.030
Hydrometer reading (Rh)/ or, (ρh)
  Particle diameter, D

18 He
D  10  in mm
981 60  G s  1 w t

18  0.00836 16.25
D  10    0.013 mm
981 60  2.6  1 0.996 15

Viscosity of Relative
Temperature
water ‘η’ in density
η = 0.008360 (from table ᵒC
poise of water (Rw)
for viscosity of water at
26 0.008737 0.9968
28ᵒC temperature) 27 0.008545 0.9965
28 0.008360 0.996
29 0.008139 0.99597
30 0.008007 0.99567
 Percent finer (N %),

 Gs  V
N(%)  ρ c - ρ w      100
 G s  1  Ms

 2.6  1000
N  (1.007  0.996)    100
 2.6  1  50
 35.75%

 Modified Percent finer (N %),

N  N's 35.75  31.36

N'  N'   11.21%
100 100
Combined Grain Size Analysis (Sand +
Gravel + Sedimentation Analysis)
and
Grain Size Distribution Curve
Specimen calculation of Gravel analysis:
Sr. No. Sieve Mass of soil Percent Cumulative Percent
opening, retained, gm retained, percent finer, N,
mm % retained, % %
1 19 131.46 28.96 28.96 71.04
2 16 9.09 2.00 30.96 69.04
3 13.2 45.96 10.12 41.08 58.92
4 10 30.60 6.74 47.82 52.92
5 9.5 2.3 0.51 48.33 51.67
6 6.7 20.1 4.43 52.76 47.24
7 4.75 6.98 1.54 54.30 45.70
• Percent retained,% • Cumulative percent • Percent Finer, N:
= (9.09/454)×100 retained,%: = 100-30.96
= 2.00% = 28.96+2.00 = 69.04%
= 30.96%
**It should be noted from the record sheet that the last value of percent
finer in gravel analysis (N'g) is 45.70%.
Specimen calculation of sand analysis (Wet/ Dry Sieving):
1. From passing 4.75 mm sieve, taken mass of air dry soil = 100 g
2. Hygroscopic moisture content = 10.10%
3. Mass of oven dry soil = 90.83 g
Sr. Sieve Mass of soil Percent Cumulative Percent Corrected
No. opening, retained, gm retained, percent finer, N, Percent
mm % retained, % % finer, N', %
1 2.36 1.656 1.82 1.82 98.18 44.87
2 1.18 6.397 7.04 8.86 91.14 41.65
3 0.600 2.624 2.89 11.75 88.25 40.33
4 0.425 3.693 4.07 15.82 84.18 38.47
5 0.212 5.686 6.26 22.08 77.92 35.61
6 0.125 5.343 5.88 27.96 72.04 32.92
7 0.075 3.099 3.41 31.37 68.63 31.36
**N's = last value of percent finer in sand
Corrected Percent finer, analysis = 31.36%
N  N 'g
N'  = (98.18× 45.70)/100 = 44.87%
100
Specimen calculation of sedimentation analysis:
1. Meniscus correction, Cm = 0.0004 5. Gs = 2.6
2. Dispersion correction, Cd = 0.0034 6. Ms = 50 gm
3. Viscosity of water (η) = 0.00836 poise 7. V = 1000 ml
4. Hydrometer reading in clear water, Rw = ρw = 0.996
Time, Hydrometer Rh (or, He Rc (or, ρc) ρc – ρw D Percent Corrected
t reading, R ρh) = (cm) = Rh- Cd (gm/cm3) (mm) finer, N percent
(mint) (or, ρ) R + Cm (%) finer, N' (%)

0.5 1.016 1.0164 13.75 1.013 0.017 0.066 55.25 17.33

1 1.0145 1.0149 14.5 1.0115 0.0155 0.048 50.38 15.80
2 1.0135 1.0139 14.58 1.0105 0.0145 0.034 47.13 14.78

5 1.012 1.0124 15.58 1.009 0.013 0.022 42.25 13.25

15 1.01 1.0104 16.25 1.007 0.011 0.013 35.75 11.21
30 1.0085 1.0089 16.55 1.0055 0.0095 0.009 30.88 9.68
60 1.0075 1.0079 17.2 1.0045 0.0085 0.007 27.63 8.66
120 1.0065 1.0069 17.5 1.0035 0.0075 0.005 24.38 7.64
1440 1.0035 1.0039 18.5 1.0005 0.0045 0.001 14.63 4.59
 Grain size, mm Percent finer, N, %

Combined 19 71.04
16 69.04
results from 13.2 58.92
Sieve and 10 52.92

Sedimentation 9.5 51.67

6.7 47.24
analyses: 4.75 45.70
2.36 44.87
1.18 41.65
0.600 40.33
0.425 38.47
0.212 35.61
0.125 32.92
0.075 31.36
0.066 17.33
0.048 15.80
0.034 14.78
0.022 13.25
0.013 11.21
0.009 9.68
0.007 8.66
0.005 7.64
0.001 4.59
Grain size distribution curve
From grain size distribution curve,

 Coefficient of uniformity, Cu : Cu = D60/D10

 Coefficient of curvature, Cc : Cc 
D30 2
D10  D60
Where, D represents the apparent diameter of soil particle and
subscripts denote percent finer than D. D10 = 0.01 mm means 10%
of sample grains are smaller than 0.01 mm
 D10 size is also known as the effective size.

From present grain size distribution curve,

D60 = 14 mm D30 = 0.075 mm D10 = 0.01 mm

Cu 
D 60

14
 1400 Cc 
D30 2 
0.075
2
 0.04
D10 0.01 D10  D60 0.0114
 Gradation characteristics based on Cu and Cc

Soil types Soil gradation Cu Cc

Well-graded >4 1 < Cc < 3

Gravel
(% finer 75μ
< 12%) Not meeting the above
Poorly graded
requirements

Well-graded >6 1 < Cc < 3

Sand
(% finer 75μ
< 12%) Not meeting the above
Poorly graded
requirements

 If %finer 75μ > 12% for gravel and sand, the soil is clayey
or silty gravel and sand.
Grading of Soils (After Arora 2004)
Example 3.2: A dry soil sample of mass 50 gm is mixed with distilled
water to prepare a soil suspension 1000 mm for hydrometer analysis.
The reading of the hydrometer taken after 5 minutes was 28 and the
depth of the centre of the bulb below the surface with meniscus
correction was 150 mm. Volume of the hydrometer was 62 ml. Cross-
sectional area of the jar was 55 cm2. G = 2.68, η = 9.81 millipoise, Cm
= 0.4, Cd = 3.4. Determine the coordinates of the point corresponding
to above observation.

Solution:
1. Meniscus correction, Cm = 0.4 4. Gs = 2.68
2. Dispersion correction, Cd = 3.4 5. Ms = 50 gm
3. Viscosity of water (η) = 0.00981 poise 6. V = 1000 ml

A = 55 cm2; Vh = 62 ml = 62 cm3 H + h/2 = 150 mm = 15 cm.

h Vh 62
He  H    15   14.436 cm
2 2A 2  55
Rc = 28 + 0.4 - 3.4 = 25
  Particle diameter, D
18 He
D  10  in mm
981 60  G s  1 w t

18  0.00981 14.436
D  10    0.023 mm
981 60  2.68  11 5
 Percent finer (N %),

R c  Gs  V
N(%)       100
1000  Gs  1  Ms

25  2.68  1000
N    100  79.76%
1000  2.68  1  50
The coordinate of the point on particle size distribution curve
is (0.023 mm, 79.76%).