SOIL

LABORATORY
REPORT
Feb2,2017
SOIL LAB REPORT

HYDRO METER ANALYSIS

Objectives-to determine particle size distribution of soil particles smaller than
0.75mm (passing number 200 sieve)
Theory-soil particles sizes smaller than 0.075mm (passing 200 mesh sieve) are
determined by the so Called hydrometer method and it’s based on the
determination of soil particles in water by Gravity. Sedimentation by gravity is the
separation of particles of various sizes by their velocity Depends up on its specific
gravity, weight, diameter, density and viscosity. Coarse soils in the Suspension
settles out more rapidly than finer ones of the same specific gravity. At the
beginning of the hydrometer the hydrometer floats deeper in the suspension. Its
assumed that a Hydrometer actually indicated the density of the suspension at the
center of the bulb.
Apparatus
 100ml water
 1000ml jar
 stirrer
 50 gm of soil
 4gm soda (distributing agent)
 thermometer
 hydrometer
 shaker (electrical)
 balance
 oven
 Five different sieves

Procedures

1. Take 50g oven dry well pulverized soil in beaker.

2. Prepare 4g deflocculating agent.
3. Take 250ml of the mixture prepared in step 2 and add it to take the soil in
step 1. This should be allowed to sock for about (8-12) hours.
4. Take 1000ml graduated cylinder and add 875ml of deflocculating agent to it.
Mix the solution well.
5. Put the cylinder (from step 4) on the constant to bath.

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6. Put the hydro meter in the cylinder ( in step 5 ) record the reading which can
be positive or negative.
7. Using spatula mix the soil prepared in step 3 thoroughly. Pour it in to the
mixer cup.
8. Add diluted water to the cup to make it 2/3 full mix for about 2 minuet using
the mixer.
9. Pour the mix to the second graduated 1000ml cylinder make sure that all of
the soil solids washed out of the mixer cup.
10.Secure a number of rubber striper to the top cylinder in step 9. Mix the soil
with water well.
11.Put the cylinder in to the constant temperature both next t the cylinder
described in step 5. Record the time immediately. This is cumulative time
t=0. Insert the hydrometer in to the cylinder containing the soil water
suspension.
12.Take hydro meter reading at cumulative t=0.25, 0.5,1,2 minute. Always read
the upper level of meniscus.
13.Take the hydrometer out after 2 minute and put it into the cylinder next to it.
Which is described on step 5.
14.Hydrometer reading are to be taken at times t = (4, 8, 15, 30) minute, (1, 2,
4,8,24 and 48 hours.)

Calculation
aRcp
Percent finer = Ms
*100 where Ms = dry mass of soil for hydrometer analysis

a = correction factor for specific gravity (Gs =2.65)

Gs∗1.65
a= Ms ( Gs−1 )∗2.65

a = 1.6

# corrected hydrometer reading (Rcp)

Rcp = R+ Ft - Fz
aRcp
# Percent finer = Ms *100 where Ms = 50g

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 SOIL LAB REPORT

# Fr = -4.85 +0.25T, but T = 20

Fr = -4.85 +0.25(20)

Fr = 0.15
Hydrometer Analysis Data Sheet
Specific Gravity 2.65
Weight of Soil for Hydrometer 50 gm
Meniscus correction 1
Zero correction factor 0

Rm
Elapsed R (Meniscu
time (Actual s Zero Ps
(minute) Hydromete Correctio Correction (Particl wt
T oC r Reading) n reading) Factor e size) retained
0 20 18 1 0 4.75 0
0.47 20 16.5 1 0 2 0
0.0275 20 15 1 0 0.85 10
0.107 20 14.2 1 0 0.425 15.7
0.375 20 13.5 1 0 0.25 3.2
0.75 20 13 1 0 0.15 1.1
1 20 12 1 0 0.075 1.2
2 20 11.5 1 0 Pan  
4 20 10.5 1 0 Pan  
8 20 9.9 1 0 Pan  
15 20 9 1 0 Pan  
30 20 8 1 0 Pan  
60 20 7.2 1 0 Pan  
120 20 6.5 1 0 Pan  
1440 20 5 1 0 Pan  

Taking the above data and other standards the values of particle diameter and
percent finer are filled in the following table;-
Rcp 18.15 16.63 15.1 14.35 13.65 13.15 12.1 11.65 10.63 10.05 9.15 8.15 7.35 6.65
5 5

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 SOIL LAB REPORT

Percent 58.08 53.28 48.4 45.92 43.68 42.08 38.8 37.28 34.08 32.16 29.2 21.18 23.54 21.28
finer 8 8 8

70

60

50

40
percent finer

30 Series2

20

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Seive Size

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SOIL LAB REPORT

DETERMINATION OF ATTERBERG LIMITS

Liquid limit test
Objective-to determine the liquid limit of fine grained soil particles.
Theory-the physical properties of fine grained soils greatly differ in different
water contents. Soil that is soft at a higher percentage of water content becomes
hard with the decrease of water content. Atterberg developed a method of
quantitatively the effect of varying water content on the consistency of fine grained
soils. The four states of soil consistency are liquid, plastic, semi-solid and solid
states and the boundaries between these states are the liquid limit, plastic limit and
the shrinkage limit.

Each boundary is determined by the water content that produces a specified

consistency.

The liquid limit is produced when fine grained soil is mixed with a large quantity
of water. In such state the soil behaves like a liquid. That is it flows like a liquid
and it has no resistance to deformation. However, if its water content is gradually
reduced it will begin to show a small shearing strength. The limit at which soil
suspension passes from no strength to a very small strength is the liquid limit and
its defined by the moisture content of the soil at that point” Wl”

Apparatus
 liquid limit device
 steel container
 balance
 oven
 Knife
 spatula

Procedure
1. Take 100gm of soil sample passing sieve number 40.
2. Mix the sample thoroughly with distilled water to form a uniform paste
3. A portion of the paste is placed in the cup and leveled.
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SOIL LAB REPORT

4. A groove is cut at the center of the soil pat using the standard grooving tool.
5. The handle is next turned at a rate about two revolutions per second and the
number of Blows necessary to close the groove along the bottom for a
distance of 12 mm is counted
6. Take the sample to the oven after we a groove closed along the bottom for
12 mm
7. Remix the sample and add some water to alter water content and number of
blow and Tabulate as follows.

TEST Liquid LIMIT Plastic LIMIT

NO
Variable 1 2 3 4 1 2
Var. Units
Number of Blows N blows 33 27 21 16    
Container Number --- --- 91 81 157 147 177 96
Mass of Empty
MC (g) 33.30 33.20 33.50 33.30 33.50 33.40
Container
Mass of Container &
MCMS (g) 56.10 57.80 58.80 54.40 47.00 45.80
Soil (Wet)

Mass of Container &

MCDS (g) 52.10 52.90 53.00 49.30 45.20 43.60
Soil (Dry)
Mass of Soil MS (g) 18.80 19.70 19.50 16.00 11.70 10.20
Mass of Water MW (g) 4.00 4.90 5.80 5.10 1.80 2.20
Water Content w (%) 21.28 24.87 29.74 31.88 15.38 21.57

Liquid Limit (LL or wL) (%): 26.52%

=0.73(LL-20)
Plasticity Index (PI) (%): =0.73(26.52-20)
=4.75 %
=LL-PI
Plastic Limit (PL or wP) (%):
=26.52-4.75
=21.77% 

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SOIL LAB REPORT

35.00

30.00

25.00
Moisture content

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00
14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
Number Of Blows

UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

Objective: - To determine the unconfined compression strength of the soil
Theory: - The unconfined compression strength is determined by applying an
axial stress to a cylindrical soil specimen with no confining pressure and observing
the axial strains corresponding to various stress levels. The stress at which failure
in the soil specimen occurs is referred to as the unconfined compression strength.
For saturated clay specimens ,the unconfined compression strength decreases with
the increase in moisture content .For unsaturated soils ,with the dry unit weight
remaining constant ,the unconfined compression strength decreases with the
increase in the degree of saturation.

Apparatus:-
 unconfined compression testing device
 specimen trimmer and accessories(if undisturbed field specimen is used)
 Harvard miniature compaction device and accessories(if a specimen is to be
molded for classroom work)
 scale
 Balance sensitive to 0.01g
 oven
 porcelain evaporating dish

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SOIL LAB REPORT

Procedure:-
1. Obtain a soil specimen for the test. if it is an undisturbed specimen ,it has to
be trimmed to the proper size by using the specimen trimmer
2. Measure the diameter (D) and length (L) of the specimen and determine the
mass of the specimen.
3. Place the specimen centrally between the two loading plates of the
unconfined compression testing machine. Move the top loading plate very
carefully just to should be attached to the unconfined compression testing
machine to record the vertical upward movement of the bottom loading
plate. Set this dial gauge to zero.
4. The machine on. Record loads and the corresponding specimen’s
deformation. During the load application, the rate of vertical strain should
be adjusted to ½%to 2% per minute.at the initial stage of the test, readings
are usually taken every 0.01 in.
5. continue taking readings until
 Loads reaches a peak and then decreases;
 Load reaches a maximum value and remains approximately constant
thereafter(take about 5 readings after it reaches the peak value) or
 Deformation of the specimen is past 20% strain before reaching the
peak.
6. Unload the specimen by lowering the bottom loading plate
7. Remove the specimen from between the two loading plates.
8. Put the specimen in a porcelain evaporating dish and determine the moisture
content (after drying it in an oven to a constant weight).

Calculation
For each set of reading from the table

1. Calculate the vertical strain (column 5) ԑ = ΔL/L

Where, ΔL – Total vertical deformation of the specimen
L – Original length of the specimen

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SOIL LAB REPORT

2. Calculate the vertical load on the specimen (column 7)

LOAD = (proving ring dial reading, i.e. column 3)*(calibration
factor, i.e. 1.34)
3. Calculate the corrected area of the specimen (column 6)
Ac = Ao/1- ԑ
4. Calculate the stress ,σ , on the specimen (column 8)
σ = Load/Ac = column7/column6

Unconfined Compression Data

Force reading factor (N/div)=    

  1.34 Initial volume (mm3)= 86149.04

Defor. Reading factor (mm)=    

0.01 Initial total weight (gm)= 168.9

Initial Diameter (mm)=    

38 Bulk density (gm/cm3)= 1.961

Initial Height (mm)=    

76 Dry density (gm/cm3)= 1.236

Initial Area (mm2)=    

1133.54 Moisture Content(%)= 58.6

Strain rate(mm/min)=    
0.8    
 
  
               
Unit
Deform. Load dial Sample strain Total load Sample
Elapsed time dial read. reading deform. (L/Lo Corrected on stress
(sec) (0.01mm) (units) (mm) ) Area(mm2) sample(N) (KPa)
  0 0 0 0.0000 1133.54 0 0.00
  20 31 0.2 0.0026 1136.53 41.54 0.04
  40 47 0.4 0.0053 1139.54 62.98 0.06

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  60 71 0.6 0.0079 1142.56 95.14 0.08

  80 84 0.8 0.0105 1145.60 112.56 0.10
  100 95 1 0.0132 1148.65 127.3 0.11
  120 107 1.2 0.0158 1151.73 143.38 0.12
  140 118 1.4 0.0184 1154.81 158.12 0.14
  160 126 1.6 0.0211 1157.92 168.84 0.15
  180 133 1.8 0.0237 1161.04 178.22 0.15
  200 142 2 0.0263 1164.18 190.28 0.16
  220 150 2.2 0.0289 1167.33 201 0.17
  240 156 2.4 0.0316 1170.50 209.04 0.18
  260 161 2.6 0.0342 1173.69 215.74 0.18
  280 166 2.8 0.0368 1176.90 222.44 0.19
  300 167 3 0.0395 1180.12 223.78 0.19
  320 163 3.2 0.0421 1183.37 218.42 0.18
  340 159 3.4 0.0447 1186.63 213.06 0.18
  360 155 3.6 0.0474 1189.90 207.7 0.17
  380 151 3.8 0.0500 1193.20 202.34 0.17
  400 146 4 0.0526 1196.51 195.64 0.16

0.20

0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12
Stress (Kpa)

0.10

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.00
0.0000 0.0100 0.0200 0.0300 0.0400 0.0500 0.0600

Strain

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SOIL LAB REPORT

COMPACTION TEST
Objective: - For construction of airport and other structure its quit necessary to
compact soil to improve the strength.

Theory: - Two type of compaction test

A standard proctor compaction- it is reformed to as the standard proctor
compaction is loss on the compaction of the soil friction passing by number 4 sieve
size

Procedure
1) Obtain about 45g of air dry soil on which the compaction test to be
conducted of leave all the soil lumps.
2) sieve the soil on number 4 sieve collect all of minuses material in large pass
3) Add enough water to the moisture content up above 5.5.
4) Determine the weight of proctor mold bore plate.
5) Now attain the attention to the top mold
6) pour to moist soil in to the mold in three equal layers each layer should be
compacted uniformly by the standard proctor hammer is time before the
next layer of loose soil is poured in to the mold at the end of the three layer

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SOIL LAB REPORT

compaction the soil should external slightly above the top of the rim of
compaction mold.
7) Remove the top attachment from the mold be care full not to breaking any
of the compaction soil inside the mold while the top attachment.
8) Using strength edge firm the excess soil above the mold now the top of the
compacted soil will be even with the top of the mold.
9) Determine the weight of the mold, large plate and compacted moist soil in
mold (ws)
10) remove the base plate from the mold
11) take a moisture can and determine its mass (ms)
12) from the moist soil extruded in step 10.
13) place the moisture can with the moist soil in oven to dry to a constant
weight
14) break the rest of the compacted soil by hand and mix it with the legt
over moist soil in the plan.
15) repeat step 6 through step 12 in its process the weight of the mold and
base plate and moist soil (w2) will first increase with the increase in
moisture content and then decrease.
16) the next day determine the mass of the moisture can and soil sample
ms (g) from step 13

Calculation
1
Dry unit weight and moisture content of compaction 30

weight of compactionmoist soil

ᵞ= volume of mold

w 2−w 1
ᵞ= 1 ( H 1) =30(Ib)(H3)(no 3)
30

w( %)=m 4−m 5∗500

=
ms−m3

ᵞ
Dry unit weight = w +1
100

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SOIL LAB REPORT

line 4
Dry unit weight = line 9 +1
100

Wt.of Soil + Mould (gm)

  6125.80 6214.60 6470.20 6405.10 6395.30
Wt.of Mould (gm)
  4576.7 4576.7 4576.7 4576.7 4576.7
Diam. of mould (cm)
  10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5
Height of mould (cm)
  11.6 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.6
Volume of Mould (cm3)
  1003.9 1003.93 1003.93 1003.93 1003.93

Bulk Unit wt. (g/cm3) 1.540 1.630 1.890 1.820 1.810

                       

Moisture Content

Test Number 1 2 3 4 5
Container Number
  99 799 141 177 96
Wt.of Wet soil + container
  170.5 160.3 183.6 224.2 215.6
Wt.of Dry soil + container
  158.04 147.56 166.9 200.34 189.57

Wt.of Water 12.46 12.74 16.7 23.86 26.028

Weight of container
  33.4 32.9 33.3 33.4 33.4

Wt.of Dry soil 124.64 114.66 133.6 166.93 156.17

Moisture content (%)   10.00 11.11 12.50 14.30 16.67

Dry density (g/cm3) 1.400 1.470 1.680 1.600 1.550

                       

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SOIL LAB REPORT

compaction test
1.8
1.6
1.4
Dry Density (g/cm3

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Moisture Content (%)

4. MOISTURE CONTENT
Objective; - the objective of the test is to determine the moisture content of a
soil sample.
Theory;-the physical properties of fine grained soil greatly differs at various
water contents. Therefore determination of water content is very essential in the
study of soil mechanics.
The water content of a soil mass defined as the ratio of the weight of water in a
given mass to the weight of mass of soil of solids in the same mass. It’s expressed
as a percentage of the dried sample.
By nature every soil particle is surrounded by water. A soil gets water through
different mechanisms. Among this common ones are by absorption, action of
gravity or capillary forces.
Apparatus
 balance
 -oven
 -dish (container)

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SOIL LAB REPORT

Procedure
1. weigh the sample and container
2. Oven dry the sample for about 24 hours at a temperature of 105 degree
Celsius.
3. Remove the sample from the oven and weigh it.
4. Calculate moisture content.

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