CV311 ASSIGNMENT 1

Question 1

a) Determine the percent finer than each sieve and plot a grain-size distribution curve.

Opening Sieve NO. Mass of soil % Retained % Finer

Retained (g)
4.74 4 0 0 100
2 10 18.5 4.4 95.6
0.85 20 53.2 12.6 83
0.425 40 90.5 21.5 61.5
0.25 60 81.8 19.4 42.1
0.15 100 92.2 21.9 20.2
0.015 200 58.5 13.9 6.3
Pan 26.5 6.29 0.01
Σ - 421.2 - -

% Finer vs Grain size

120

100

80
% Finer

60

40

20

0
10 1 0.1 0.01
Grain size

b) Determine D10, D30, and D60 from the grain-size distribution curve.

D 10=0.015 mm
D 30=0.22 mm
D 60=0.42mm
c) Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu.
 D 60
Cu= =28
D 10
d) Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.
2 2
D30 0.22
Cc= = =7.68
D 60∗D10 0.42∗0.015

Question 2

a) Coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of gradation foe soil A, B, and C

2
D 60 D 30
Cc= ,Cu=
D 10 D 60∗D10

For soil A:

D 10=0.55 Mmm , D 30=5.1 mm , D60=11.2 mm

D 60 11.2
Cc= = =20.36
D 10 0.55

2 2
D 30 5.1
Cu= = =4.22
D 60∗D 10 11.2∗0.55

For Soil B

D 10=0.41 Mmm , D 30=2.2 mm , D60=7.4 mm

D 60 7.4
Cc= = =18.5
D 10 0.41

2 2
D 30 2.2
Cu= = =1.59
D 60∗D 10 7.4∗0.41

For soil C

D 10=0.23 mm , D 30=0.89 mm , D 60=5.61 mm

D 60 5.61
Cc= = =24.39
D 10 0.23

2 2
D 30 0.89
Cu= = =0.61
D 60∗D 10 5.61∗0.23
b) Which one is coarser: Soil A or Soil C? Justify your answer.
Soil A is coarser

Question 3

a) Derive the equation of saturated moisture content

Se=Gsω
Full saturation S=1

e
e=Gs ⍵ sat , ⍵ sat=
Gs
Ws Gsƴw
ƴd= =
V 1+ e
Making e the subject

Gsƴw
e= −1
ƴd
Gsƴw
−1
ƴd Gsƴw 1 ƴw 1 ƴw 1
⍵ sat= = − = − = −
Gs Gsƴd Gs ƴd Gs ƴd ƴ s
ƴw
ƴw ƴw
⍵ sat= −
ƴd ƴ s
1 1
Thus; ⍵ sat= ƴw( − )
ƴd ƴs
b) Compute the degree of saturation

Gs=2.6
Weight of wet sample=250 N
Weight of dry sample=210 N
3
Volume=150 c m
Se=Gsω
Ww Ws−Wl 2.5−2.1
⍵= ∗100= = ∗100=19.05 %
Ws Ws 2.1
W 2.5 3
ƴ= = =16.67 KN /m
V 0.00015
 ƴ 16.67 14 KN
ƴd= = =
1+⍵ 1+0.19 m
3

Gs ƴ w 2.6∗9.81
e= −1= −1=0.82
ƴd 14
Gsω 2.6∗0.19
S= = =0.6024=60.24 %
e 0.82