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CIE 445 Soil Mechanics Lab Lab Report 2 Sieve Analysis & Atterberg Limits
Supervised By: Eng. Omar El Masri
Elena Abboud - 201102974 Jennifer Hanna - 201101545 Stephanie Kehdy - 201104635 Joe Karam - 201102480 Nader Halabi - 201101471 Roy Fares - 201100567
CIE 445
Lab Report 2
Table of contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3 List of Equipment ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Theory of the experiment ............................................................................................................................ 5 Experimental Procedure .............................................................................................................................. 6 Data Collected ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Liquid Limit .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Plastic Limit .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Sieve Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Discussion and Interpretation ................................................................................................................... 14 Question 2 ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Question 4 ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Question 5 ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Question 6 ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Question 7 ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Error Analysis ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 20 References ................................................................................................................................................. 20
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Figure 1: Sieve Analysis Curve .................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 2: Plot of Water content (%) vs. Number of blows (log) .............................................................. 14 Figure 3: Water content (%) vs. Number of blows ................................................................................... 14 Figure 4: Cumulative particle size distribution plot on a semi log graph ................................................. 16
Table 1: Liquid Limit Data ....................................................................................................................... 10 Table 2: Plastic Limit Data ....................................................................................................................... 11 Table 3: Sieve Analysis Data .................................................................................................................... 13
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Introduction
Soil consistence provides a means of describing the degree and kind of cohesion and adhesion between the soil particles as related to the resistance of the soil to deform or rupture. In other words, it is defined as the ease to which a soil can be deformed. Hence, consistency largely depends on soil minerals and water content. The smaller the size particle with high water content, the more the consistency (fine soils are more consistent). The consistency of soils is evaluated according to Atterberg limits that represent the limits of water content that are used to define soil behavior. Based on astm D4318, atterberg limits include three different tests: 1. Liquid Limit (LL) is defined as the moisture content at which soil begins to behave as a liquid material and begins to flow. ( 15<Number of blows<35) 2. Plastic Limit (PL) is defined as the moisture content at which soil begins to behave as a plastic material. 3. Shrinkage Limit (SL) is defined as the moisture content at which no further volume change occurs with further reduction in moisture content. In addition, based on astm D2487, sieve analysis of soils will help classifying the soils into groups by determining the particle sizes characteristics and distribution. The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the material performs in use.
List of Equipment
Liquid Limit
4 moisture cans Balance Dry soil Sieve N 40 Water in a plastic squeeze bottle Pan Casagrande cup Spatula Grooving tool Paper towel Oven Porcelain evaporating dish
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Plastic Limit
Moist soil Paper towel Glass plate Balance 3 moisture cans spatula Plastic squeeze bottle Oven Porcelain evaporating dish
Sieve Analysis
Sieves N(4,10,20,40,60,100,140,200) Bottom pan Cover Mechanical sieve shaker Balance
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Of course, when the classification of a soil sample is required, the first question that arises is what standard to use. The most commonly used standards for classification of soils are the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials System (AASHTO) and The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The planned usage for the soil sample we have is the main factor which allows us to determine what standard to use. The AASHTO, just like its name suggests, classifies soils for usage only in transportation systems and facilities (rural roads, urban roads, highways, freewaysetc.). It utilizes a group classification system (A-1, A-2, A-3) which classifies soils depending on their quality for use in different types of transportation systems. Each soil sample tested is assigned a group index (GI) which is calculated according to an equation: GI= (F 35) [0.2 +0.005(LL-40)] + 0.01(F - 15) (PI-10) where F is the percentage passing the No. 200 sieve.
200 200 200
And for groups A-2-6 and A-2-7: GI= 0.01(F - 15) (PI-10)
200
However, the USCS which is a unified system is used for all engineering structures (foundations, dams, residential buildingsetc.), unlike the transportation specific AASHTO. It classifies the soils according to a grouping system depending on different parameters that specify the type of soil and assigns it a symbol which indicates this type (GW, CL, GC). This symbol is assigned using an organized naming system and is used to determine the properties associated with this type of soil to help us determine the possibility of its usage in the planned structure and whether it requires any type of treatment before application or initiation of construction project.
Experimental Procedure
Liquid Limit
1. Weight four different moisture cans using the digital balance and record the data (M1) 2. Weight 250g of an air dry soil sample passing sieve no.4 and place it in a porcelain evaporating dish 3. Pour distilled water from the plastic squeeze on the soil sample and mix them until the soil transforms into a uniform paste 4. Regulate the height of the Casagrandre cup to around 8 mm according to ASTM D4318 5. Insert a portion of the plate in the calibrated Casagrande cup 6. Smooth the surface of the cup by the help of a spatula in a way that the maximum depth of the sample does not exceed 8 mm until the soil becomes flattened with the bottom lip of the cup 7. Using a grooving tool, cut a groove along the centerline of the soil sample placed on the Casagrande cup. The grove should be perpendicular to the cup at all points of contact 6|Page
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8. Zero the number of blows instrument recording. Roll the crank of the cup at a rate of 2 blows/second until the groove closes for about 2 inch and record the number of blows
9. If the number of blows was either below 15 or above 35, the soil should either be hydrated (by adding water) or dried (by the use of paper towels and the oven) then repeat the steps 5 through 8 10. If the number of blows was between 15 and 35, remove a portion from the cup perpendicularly and across the close groove 11. Place the sample in one of the moisture sample and weight it by the use of a digital balance 12. Record the sample 13. Steps 5 through 12 should be executed four times in order to obtain four different sample for which two have a number of blows between 15 and 25 and two have a number of blows between 25 and 35 14. Place the four moisture cans containing the soil samples in a large pan and place the pan in the oven for the samples to dry 15. Remove the samples the next day from the oven, weight the mass of the moisture cans with the sample, and record the data
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Plastic Limit
1. Weight three empty moisture cans and record the data 2. Separate around 20g of the moist soil before initiating the liquid limit experiment to be aside to dry on a paper towel
3. Divide this soil sample into three equal proportions 4. Squeeze each sample on the palm of your hand with your fingers until ellipsoidal shapes are obtained 5. Roll one of the three samples at a rate of 80 strokes/minute on a glass plate using the palm of your hand until its diameter becomes around 1/8 inch. 6. A 1/8 inch diameter is reached when the specimen starts showing signs of crumbling. At that moment, stop the rolling and kneading. 7. Collect the small crumbled pieces and place it in the moisture can 8. Weight the moisture can with sample and record the data (M2) 9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for the two remaining samples 10. Place the three moisture can in a large pan and place it in the oven 11. Collect all the moisture cans from the pan the next day from the oven 12. Weight each moisture can with the soil samples and record the data (M3)
Sieve Analysis
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Weight about 500g soil sample passing sieve no.4 and record the data as Mt to the nearest 0.1g Collect sieves no. 4, 10, 20, 30, 40, 100, 140, 200 and the pan Weight each of the empty sieves collected using a digital balance and record the data Stack the sieves from the largest opening to the smallest which least to a stack of sieves in the following order: sieves no. 4, 10, 20, 30, 40, 100, 140, 200 and at the end the pan Place the soil into the top sieve and cover Place the stack full of the soil samples into the mechanical sieve shaker and turn the shaker for about 8 minutes Turn off the shaker and collect each sieve and the pan Weight each sieve as well as the pan with the soil sample on top with a digital balance and record the data 8|Page
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Data Collected
Liquid Limit
Test No. Can No. Mass of can, M (g) Mass of can + moist soil, M (g) Mass of can + dry soil M (g) Water Content, W (%) Number of blows 1 1 1.7 36.79 30.12 23 16 2 2 1.68 47 39.41 20 34
Table 1: Liquid Limit Data
Sample Calculation In order to determine the Liquid Limit (LL), first we must determine the Water Content W (%) and round it to the nearest whole number
Then after calculating the Water Content for the rest of the cans, we plot W (%) vs. Number of blows, as seen in question 2
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Plastic Limit
Test No. Can No. Mass of can, M (g) Mass of can + moist soil, M (g) Mass of can + dry soil M (g) Plastic Limit 1 1 1.68 7.14 6.29 18 2 2 1.67 7.68 6.72 19
Table 2: Plastic Limit Data
Average
25
Sample Calculation In order to calculate the Plastic Limit (PL) we use the following formula and round the answer to the nearest whole number, then average the answers of all 3 cans:
Note: The liquid limit is calculated afterwards in the discussion section, but we have used it here to facilitate calculation Since PI<0, this soil is non plastic. Or this could be due to errors in the experiment, explained later.
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In Order to facilitate our work and continue with our interpretation of the experiment, we shall disregard the value of 36, hence the plastic limit of our experiment turns out to be: 18.5%, Hence PI=3
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Sieve Analysis
M = 500.83 g Sieve Opening, D(mm) 4.75 2 0.85 0.6 0.425 0.26 0.106 0.075 Mass of sieve and retained soil (g) 475.21 1001.18 696.08 624.13 588.57 564.81 535.41 315.07 285.57 Mass of retained soil on each sieve, Mn (g) 0.95 295.01 78.65 18.27 15.93 49.06 23.55 14.24 4.94 500.6 % of mass retained on each sieve, Rn 0.190 58.931 15.711 3.650 3.182 9.800 4.704 2.845 0.987 100 Cumulative % retained, Rn 0.190 59.121 74.832 78.482 81.664 91.464 96.169 99.013 100.000
Mass of Sieve (g) 474.26 706.17 617.43 605.86 572.64 515.75 511.86 300.83 280.63
% finer, 100-Rn 99.810 40.879 25.168 21.518 18.336 8.536 3.831 0.987 0.000
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23
22
21
20
19 1 10
Figure 1: Plot of Water content (%) vs. Number of blows (log)
100
In order to measure the Liquid limit, it is better to use a non logarithmic scale.
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Question 3
This part was already done previously, we have found out that: PL= 18.5% PI= 3
Question 4
In order to determine the type of our fine grained soil by the use of the Casagrende chart found in ASTM D 2487-06 we need to determine PI, the plasticity index, and the liquid limit known as LL. According to the previous calculations, PI was found to be equal to 3 and LL was found to be equal to 21.5. The Casagrande chart indicates that for a PI=3 and LL=21.5, the fine-grained soil can be classified as ML or OL. M stands for Silt, O stands for Organic, and L stands for Low Plasticity.
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Question 5
10
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Question 6
80.000
60.000
40.000
20.000
From the curve above we can determine: D: The sieve opening at which we have 60% passing = 2.86 mm D: The sieve opening at which we have 10% passing = 0.175 mm D: The sieve opening at which we have 30% passing = 1.15 mm ( ( Cu > 4 and 1< Cc < 3 therefore the soil is well graded. )
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Question 7
In order to use the USCS flow charts we need to calculate the PI of the soil sample, the distribution of the particle sizes among the soil, the coefficient of uniformity, and the coefficient of curvature. The following properties have all been measured and calculated. Since more than 50% of the soil was retained on No.200 sieve, the flow chart for Classifying Coarse grained Soils should be used. The chart
Hence, the soil is well graded sand according to USCS flow charts.
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Error Analysis
No experiment is ever made without errors. This time our error led to a major error in the output of the experiment, leading to a negative plasticity index thus ruining our whole interpretation of the classification of the soil. However, the errors are mainly due to:
Sieve Analysis:
Mass determination in this experiment might now be as accurate as needed, mainly due to soil separation through phases. However this error is very minor and the results retrieved are very close to perfect.
Liquid Limit
The soil placed on the cup isnt exactly 8mm thick, it was made using an approximation The cutting of the centerline wasnt exactly precise The rate of blows wasnt exactly at about 2 blows/second The closure of the centerline wasnt exactly at about 0.5 in There was a little bit of soil moist remaining in the cup before the complete removal of soil We have also added a little too much water at the beginning and then put the soil in the oven in order for it to dry up. This might have caused some distortion of the real result.
Plastic Limit
The shape at the beginning isnt quite ellipsoidal because we have gotten it using our hand, which isnt quite accurate. The rate isnt quite accurate (80 strokes per minute) When we have reached a diameter of 1/8 in, we might not have completely reached it, because it was mainly due to eye inspection Using the screw to have a diameter, wasnt quite precise and accurate
Note: All these errors have summed up to lead to a negative plasticity index which have discarded some results of the whole experiment.
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Conclusion
In our experiment we have basically a couple of conclusions that we got: The liquid limit of our soil was 21.5%, the plastic limit turned out to be 18.5%, and the Plasticity index hence equal to 3. Based on the Casagrende chart, the fine-grained soil can be classified as ML or OL. M stands for Silt, O stands for Organic, and L stands for Low Plasticity. Based on the sieve Analysis, we have concluded that our soil is well-graded. According to USCS flow charts, we can also conclude that our soil is well graded.
References
Eng. Omar El Masri, Handout 2 ASTM D 422-63 (Reapproved 2007) ASTM D 2487-06 ASTM D 4318 - 05
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