CHAPTER 3

BASIC CHARACTERISTIC
OF SOIL
 2.1 UNDERSTAND THE BASIC CHARACTERISTIC OF
SOIL
 Mechanical analysis of soils.

The geological processes by which soils are formed, the description of the soil-particle
size limits, and the mechanical analysis of soils.
The mechanicals analysis of soils is the determination of the size range of particles
present in a soil, expressed as a percentage of the total dry weight (or mass).
Two methods are generally used to find the particle-size distribution of soil:
(1) sieve analysis—for particle sizes larger than 0.075 mm in diameter, and
(2) hydrometer analysis—for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter

 In natural occurrence, soils are three-phase systems consisting of soil solids, water, and
air. We will discusses the weight–volume relationships of soil aggregates, their
structures and plasticity, and their engineering classification.

. Solid, liquid and gas, soil is, in general, referred to as a “Three-phase system”.
 Solid and liquid is in general, referred as a “Two phase – Saturated phase”
 Solid and gas is In general, referred as a “Two phase – Dry phase”
2.2 UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTIC OF SOIL
 In natural occurrence, soils are three-phase systems consisting of soil solids, water, and
air. We will discusses the weight–volume relationships of soil aggregates, their structures
and plasticity, and their engineering classification.
. Solid, liquid and gas, soil is, in general, referred to as a “Three-phase system”.
The use of these quantities in predicting the engineering behavior of soil will be
demonstrated in later chapters.
  Total volume: V = Vs +Vv = Vs +Vw + Va Vs = volume of soil solids
Vv = Vw + Va Vv = volume of voids
Vw = volume of water in the voids
Va = volume of air in the voids
 Total of weight : M = Ms + Mw  Ms = Mass of soil solids
Mw = Mass of water
Gs = Specific Gravity
 Density : Bulk , kg/m3 ρw =1000

Dry , kg/m3 𝛾w= 9.81

 Unit weight : Bulk, kN/m3

Dry, kN/m3

 Moisture content : x 100%

 Void Ratio :

Porosity :


From equation

Simplified the equation ,

and


Specific Gravity ,


Degree of Saturation

S = 0 (0%), the soil is dry


S = 1.0 (100%), the soil is fully saturated

0 < S < 1.0, the soil is partially saturated
EXAMPLE 1:
 A soil sample has a volume of 0.0095 m3 and weighs 180 N. The soil is dried in an oven. The dry
weight is 160 N. If the specific gravity of the soil is 2.7, calculate the moisture content, moist unit
weight, void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation.

Solution
a) Moisture content: m x 100 = x 100 = 11.1%

b) Moist Unit weight

c) Void ratio , , from equation Gs ,

d) Degree of Saturation ,
Exercise :
1. A sample of moist soil has a volume of 41.6 cm3 and mass of 60.2g. The sample is
then oven dried. The mass of soil after drying is 48.5g. If s G = 2.70, calculate S, w, n
and e for the soil in its natural state. Determine the void ratio and porosity of a dry soil
whose bulk density is 1680kg/m3 and Gs = 2.76.

2. The moist mass of 2.8 103 m3 of soil is 5.53 kg. If the moisture content is 10% and the
specific gravity of soil solids is 2.72, determine the following:
a. Moist density
b. Dry density
c. Void ratio
d. Porosity
e. Degree of saturation
2.3 LEARN THE FOLLOWING METHODS FOR SOIL CLASSIFICATION
 Mechanical analysis is the determination of the size range of particles present in a soil, expressed as
a percentage of the total dry weight (or mass). The precise boundaries between different soil types are
arbitrary. Nevertheless, the following scale is now acceptable and currently in use worldwide
 Two methods are generally used to find the particle-size distribution of soil:
(1) sieve analysis—for particle sizes larger than 0.075 mm in diameter, and
- Sieve analysis is used to determine the distribution of coarse-grained soil larger than 0.075 mm
in diameter. The soil sample is first oven-dried and all lumps are broken into small particles. It is
then passed through a series of standard test sieves having progressively smaller openings.
The weight retained on each sieve is determined and the cumulative percentage by weight is
calculated.

(2) hydrometer analysis—for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter

-Hydrometer analysis is based on the principle of sedimentation
of soil grains in water. When a soil specimen is dispersed in water,
the particles settle at different velocities, depending on their shape,
size, and weight
2.3.1 SIEVE ANALYSIS
 ‘Sieving’ is the most direct method for determining particle sizes, but there are practical
lower limits to sieve openings that can be used for soils. This lower limit is approximately
at the smallest size attributed to sand particles (75μ or 0.075 mm).

 Sieving is a screening process in which coarser fractions of soil are separated by means of
a series of graded mesh. Mechanical analysis is one of the oldest test methods for soils.

A series of sieves having different-size openings are stacked with the larger sizes over
the smaller. A receiver is kept at the bottom and a cover is kept at the top of the
assembly. The soil sample to be tested is dried, clumps are broken if necessary, and the
sample is passed through the series of sieves by shaking. The fractions retained on and
passing 2 mm IS Sieve are tested separately. An automatic sieve-shaker, run by an
electric motor, may be used; about 10 to 15 minutes of shaking is considered adequate.
Larger particles are caught on the upper sieves, while the smaller ones filter through to
be caught on one of the smaller underlying sieves. The material retained on any
particular sieve should naturally include that retained on the sieves on top of it,
since the sieves are arranged with the aperture size decreasing from top to bottom.
 The shape and position of the grading curves are used to identify some characteristics
of the soil.

Typical grain size distribution curves of well graded (soil A), gap
graded (soil B) and uniform soils (soil C)
 Three basic properties can be obtained from the curve above. They are:
(a) Effective size;
(b) Uniformity coefficient or coefficient of uniformity; and
(c) Coefficient of gradation or coefficient of curvature.
 The effective size is defined as the particle size corresponding to 10% finer (D10).
 The uniformity coefficient is given by the relation:

 The coefficient of gradation is given by the relation:

 These relationships are important for classifying soil which will be presented later in the
topic. To calculate the above relations, we need to understand the meaning of D10, D30
and D60.
EXAMPLE
Sieve analysis was carried out on a soil sample obtained from a construction site. The result is
Shown below :

Sieve size (mm) Mass retained (g) % retained (g) % passing (g)

5.0 11 11 100 − 5.4 = 94.6

𝑥 100 = 5.4
205

2.36 18 8.8 94.6 – 8.8 = 85.8

1.18 24 11.7 74.1

0.6 21 10.2 63.9

0.3 41 20 43.9

0.212 32 15.6 28.3

0.15 16 7.8 20.5

0.063 22 10.7 9.8

Panci 20 9.8 0

 = 205
Calculation :
% Sand = % passing sieve size 2.35mm - % passing sieve size 0.06 mm
= 83 % – 10 %
= 73 % > 50% (Sand)
D10 = 0.63, D30 = 0.22, D60 = 0.52
Uniformity Coefficient , Cu = =

= 8.25 > 6

Coefficient of gradation, Cc= =

= 1.5 ( 1 < Cu < 3)

hence, the soil is Well Graded Sand
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. A type of soil in which most of the soil grains are the same size is called
poorly graded soil. 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 termed gap graded.