Name: Dion Greg B.

Reyes

Experiment No. 5 - Determination of Water Content, Unit Weight, Void Ratio & Degree of Saturation of a Soil Sample

Course and Year: BS Civil Engineering IV

Date Performed: July 23, 2013 Date Submitted: July 25, 2013

I.

Objectives This experiment primarily aims: 1. to identify the basic properties (water content, unit weight, void ratio and degree of saturation) of a soil sample

II.

Discussion There are different kinds of properties of soil, but this experiment is done to determine soil properties which can be used in applications of geotechnical engineering water content, unit weight, void ratio and degree of saturation. These properties are obtained most importantly to know the suitability of soil in a particular project. Accuracy of this experiment is of utmost importance to properly identify the values of soil properties.

III.

Apparatus Container/pan Triple beam balance Oven Graduated cylinder Metal cans Paraffin

IV.

Set-up

The soil samples for the unit weight were prepared. Weight was not definite.

The samples were placed in separate clean cans so it will be easy to be oven-dried.

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To obtain oven-dried weight, the sample inside the can was placed inside the oven for 24 hours.

Given an initial volume, the soil sample with paraffin wax was placed inside the cylinder to get the displaced volume.

V.

Procedures
a. Water Content Determination 1. Weigh the empty cans. 2. Put the sample (two or three kinds of soil sample) in the empty cans and weigh. 3. Place them in the oven for about 24 hours. 4. Weigh the oven-dried sample. 5. Get moisture content ( ) of the sample given the formula

b. Unit Weight Determination 1. From a previous experiment, there was an undisturbed soil sample which was weighed but was then covered with paraffin. Weigh that soil sample covered with paraffin. 2. Given an initial volume of water, put the sample into the graduated cylinder. 3. Record the volume displaced by the soil sample by subtracting the final volume to the initial volume. c. Void Ratio and Degree of Saturation Determination 1. Given the following formulas, the void ratio (e) and degree of saturation (S) can be identified from the values obtained in Part A and Part B.
( )

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VI.

Data and Analysis A. Water Content Determination

Weight of Can + Soil (g) 134.62 123.7 Weight of Soil (g) 124.07 113.77

Weight of Empty Cans (g) 10.55 10.02

Weight of Oven Dried + can (g) 10.55 10.02

Weight of Oven Dried Soil (g) 107.92 93.92

Using formula W w = W - Ws W w1 = 124.07 107.92 = 16.15 g W w2 = 113.77 93.92 = 19.85 g

B. Unit Weight Determination

Weight of undisturbed = 177.83 g Weight w/ paraffin = 194.45 g Volume by displacement: Volume of water = 300 ml Volume w/ sample = 418 ml Volume of soil = 118 cm3 Soil without paraffin: Diameter = 35 mm = 3.5 cm Height = 85 mm = 8.5 cm ( ) ( )

a) By measurement:

b) By displacement:

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( (

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) )( )

( (

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) )( )

VII.

Observations 1. Why is that oven-drying of soil covers 24 hours? Oven-drying takes 24 hours because it is the minimum time where the weight of the soil being dried in the oven is already constant. Leaving it in the oven for more than 24 hours will still produce the same oven-dried weight.

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2. Discuss the importance of the determination of moisture content, void ratio, unit weight and degree of saturation in soils. How does each affect the shear strength of soils? Moisture content and degree of saturation are important in determining the bearing capacity and settlement of soil. Void ratio is used to know the required compaction for the soil. Unit weight is for the soils ability to hold weight per unit volume. The shear strength of soils is related to each property. Moisture content is inversely proportional to strength of soil; unit weight is directly proportional to strength of soil. The compaction of soil, which is also influential in the soil strength, is also dependent on void ratio and degree of saturation. 3. Which is more reliable, determination of unit using measurements or by displacement method? Explain. Displacement method is more reliable, easier. As the soil sample is of irregular shape, determination of volume using measurements is roughly estimation. Compared to displacement, where the change of water volumes will determine the volume of the soil sample, which can determine the volume regardless of shape. VIII. Conclusion This experiment further established the proper procedures of determining the different soil properties - water content, unit weight, void ratio and degree of saturation. It was found out that a small variation in the results could mean that the values obtained can no longer be that of the sample. Also, important methods were compared whether which will show the desired results.

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