32 Chapter 2 Soil Deposits and Grain-Size Analysis

2.13 Effective Size, Uniformity Coefficient, and Coefficient

of Gradation
The particle-size distribution curve (Figure 2.15) can be used to compare different
soils. Also, three basic soil parameters can be determined from these curves, and
they can be used to classify granular soils. The three soil parameters are:
1. Effective size
2. Uniformity coefficient
3. Coefficient of gradation
The diameter in the particle-size distribution curve corresponding to 10% finer
is defined as the effective size, or D10. The uniformity coefficient is given by the relation

D60
Cu  (2.7)
D10

where
Cu  uniformity coefficient
D60  the diameter corresponding to 60% finer in the particle-size distribution
curve
The coefficient of gradation may be expressed as

D 230
Cc  (2.8)
D60 D10

100

80

60
Percent finer

40

30

20

10 Figure 2.15
D60 D30 D10 Definition of D10,
0 D30, and D60
10 5 1 0.5 0.1 0.05
Particle size (mm)
 2.13 Effective Size, Uniformity Coefficient, and Coefficient of Gradation 33

100

80
Percent finer by weight
60

40
I II III
20

0
2 1 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.01 0.005
Particle diameter (mm)

Figure 2.16 Different types of particle-size distribution curves

where
Cc  coefficient of gradation
D30  diameter corresponding to 30% finer
The particle-size distribution curve shows not only the range of particle sizes
present in a soil, but also the distribution of various size particles. Three curves are
shown in Figure 2.16. Curve I represents a type of soil in which most of the soil grains
are the same size. This is called poorly graded soil. Curve II represents a soil in which
the particle sizes are distributed over a wide range and is termed well graded. A well-
graded soil has a uniformity coefficient greater than about 4 for gravels, and 6 for
sands, and a coefficient of gradation between 1 and 3 (for gravels and sands). A soil
might have a combination of two or more uniformly graded fractions. Curve III rep-
resents such a soil, termed gap graded.

Example 2.1

Following are the results of a sieve analysis. Make the necessary calculations and
draw a particle-size distribution curve.
Mass of soil retained
U.S. sieve size on each sieve (g)

4 0
10 40
20 60
40 89
60 140
80 122
100 210
200 56
Pan 12
34 Chapter 2 Soil Deposits and Grain-Size Analysis

Solution
The following table can now be prepared.
Opening Mass retained Cumulative mass retained Percent
U.S. sieve (mm) on each sieve (g) above each sieve (g) finera
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

4 4.75 0 0 100
10 2.00 40 0  40  40 94.5
20 0.850 60 40  60  100 86.3
40 0.425 89 100  89  189 74.1
60 0.250 140 189  140  329 54.9
80 0.180 122 329  122  451 38.1
100 0.150 210 451  210  661 9.3
200 0.075 56 661  56  717 1.7
Pan — 12 717  12  729  M 0

a 兺M col.4 729 col.4

100  100
兺M 729
The particle-size distribution curve is shown in Figure 2.17.
100

80

60
Percent finer

40

30
D60 = 0.27 mm
20 D30 = 0.17 mm
10
D10 = 0.15 mm
0
10 5 3 1 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.05
Particle size (mm)

Figure 2.17 Particle-size distribution curve

Example 2.2

For the particle-size distribution curve shown in Figure 2.17, determine

a. D10, D30, and D60
b. Uniformity coefficient, Cu
c. Coefficient of gradation, Cc
 Problems 35

Solution
a. From Figure 2.17,
D10  0.15 mm
D30  0.17 mm
D60  0.27 mm
D60 0.27
b. Cu    1.8
D10 0.15
D230 10.172 2
c. Cc    0.71
10.27 2 10.152
■
D60 D10

Example 2.3

For the particle-size distribution curve shown in Figure 2.17, determine the per-
centages of gravel, sand, silt and clay-size particles present. Use the Unified Soil
Classification System.
Solution
From Figure 2.17, we can prepare the following table.
Size (mm) % finer

76.2 100
4.75 100 100 100  0% gravel
0.075 1.7 100 1.7  98.3% sand
— 0 1.7 0  1.7% silt and clay ■

Problems
2.1 Following are the results of a sieve analysis:
Mass of soil retained
U.S. sieve No. on each sieve (g)

4 0
10 21.6
20 49.5
40 102.6
60 89.1
100 95.6
200 60.4
pan 31.2

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