Unit 2: Soil

classification
Geomechanics
Harinder

1. Introduction:
Earth, or soil, in the engineering sense, is defined as any unconsolidated
material that is the product of weathering and mechanical disintegration
of rocks, composed of discrete particles with gases and liquids
interspersed between them.

2. Aim:
Over a period of several weeks we have to determine several elements in
order to classify a soil. In the first prac session, soil samples must be
prepared for testing. This essentially involves dividing the soil sample into
a coarse fraction and a fine fraction. The next task is to perform a
mechanical (sieve) analysis on the coarse fraction and plot its particle size
distribution. The last week is to perform several soil index tests on the fine
fraction to determine the Atterberg limits. Together, these results can be
used to classify the soil according to AS1726.

3. Equipment/ materials:
Spatula
Grooving tool
Soil Sample
Casagrande Liquid Limit apparatus
Empty Tins
Glass plate
4. Prac Procedure:
4.1

Determination of Liquid Limit

The liquid limit (LL) is essentially the moisture content of a soil when it
starts to behave like a liquid.

Sift the soil sample through a 425m sieve to remove coarse

particles(sand and gravel)
Separate Silt and clay particles by observing its behaviour with
varying moisture content( liquid and plastic limit)
Take rough amount of soil and place on a glass plate
Add water to the particles thus making it moist and knead
appropriately to form a uniform smooth paste texture similar to a

Monier Efat 6335357

Group: Thursday 2:30

cake icing. The quantity of water added is varied depending on the

required consistency in texture required.
Weigh the mass of some empty moisture tins and record the
respective data ie the tin weight and numbers on the data sheet
Using the grooving tool carefully cut a clean straight groove down
the centre of the cup. Ensure the tool is perpendicular to the surface
of the cup as the groove is made
Place the wet soil sample in the cup raised to a standard height say
10mm (see fig 1 below) and divide into two halves by a grooving
tool
Tap the cup by turning the handle ,twice a second and ensure the
number of taps required to bring the 2 halves together until the
open groove is closed is recorded usually the 25th tap and the
respective moisture content determined
The soil sample attains its liquid limit on the 25th blow/tap (drop)
since at this point the two soil halves flow together and the gap
closes by a length of 0.5inch or 12mm
If the soil is unable to be brought to its exact plastic limit, the
procedure can be repeated for different water contents and a semilogarithmic graph is plotted of water content against the number of
taps. Hence the water content corresponding to 25taps on the graph
is taken as the liquid limit of the soil
Using the spatula, take the soil sample from the edge of the soil pat.
This soil sample should include soils on both sides where the soil
came into contact.
Place the soil into the moisture tin and cover it. Weigh the mass
immediately and record the data prior to placing it into the oven to
determine the shrinkage limit
Depending on the nature of the soil sample , leave the moisture tin
for roughly 16hrs
Wash up and dry all apparatus used

4.2 Determination of Plastic Limit

The plastic limit (PL) is the moisture content of a soil when it starts to
behave like a plastic material or when it starts to become easily
mouldable.

Weigh the empty moisture tins and record the data appropriately
Add appropriate quantity of water to of the original soil sample
while ensuring you roll the ball of wet soil between the palm of your
hand and a glass plate to produce a thread of 3.2 mm / 1/8 inch

Monier Efat 6335357

Group: Thursday 2:30

thick before it starts to crumble. This is done by applying sufficient

pressure of about 90 strokes per minute. Estimated time may range
to about 2-3 mins
Break the thread into several pieces. Knead and reform these pieces
into sphere masses and re-roll them. This series of alternate rolling,
gathering together, kneading and re-rolling is continued until the
thread crumble on the required pressure for rolling & can be no
longer rolled into a 3.2mm diameter thread
Gather these portions of the crumbled thread together and transfer
the contents to moisture tin. Immediately weigh the moisture
containing the soil sample and record the appropriate data. Then
place into an oven and heat for roughly about 16hrs
The water content /Moisture content of the soil in this state is taken
as its plastic limit.
Compute the plastic index = Liquid Limit Plastic Limit

4.2

Determination of Shrinkage Limit

Place the remaining soil sample close to its liquid limit into a lightly
greased half cylindrical mould (Length = 250mm and internal
diameter 25mm)
Depending on the type of soil sample allow it to dry at room
temperature for 12 -24 hrs(clayey soil) before placing in the mould
to allow for complete permeation of water through the soil
Transfer into a drying oven (105C-110C).
Once Shrinkage has stopped simply measure the shrinkage.

5. Sieve Analysis
Shake for roughly 10 minutes at a slight angle
Remove each individual sieve and record the mass retained on the
respective sieve size.
Calculate the % passing for a given sieve size by adding together
amounts retained on sieves above the given size, and to subtract
that from the total weight of the sample. This is the mass passing
sieve
Express this figure obtained as a % of the sample weight to obtain
the % passing sieve or the Cumulative Passing %

Monier Efat 6335357

Group: Thursday 2:30

6. RESULTS/ CALCULATIONS (sample)

Liquid Limit (LL)
Mass of wet soil + tin =21.65g
Mass of dry soil + tin=13g
Mass of tin = 14.05g
Mass of moisture = (Mass of wet soil + tin)(Mass of dry soil + tin)
=21.65-13
=8.65g
Mass of dry soil = Mass of dry soil + tin Mass of tin
= 18.5-14.05
=4.45g
Moisture Content= (mass of dry soil)/ (mass of moisture) *100
=4.45/8.65*100
=51%
Therefore the liquid limit is 51%

7. DETERMINATION OF % PASSING SIEVE / CUMULATIVE

PASSING %
For 13.2mm sieve size, Mass retained on each sieve (g) =24.47g
% retained on each sieve=

Monier Efat 6335357

Mass retained on eac h sieve ( g )

24.47
=4.9
=
500
Mass of soil sample ( g )

Group: Thursday 2:30

Cumulative Passing (%) 13.2mm

6.7 mm sieve retained on each sieve B=100 4.9 =95.1
Cumulative Passing A

8. Determination of Shrinkage Limit(Ls)

Ls( )=

Recorded S h rinkage
Lengt h of mouldLengt h of soil
=
=
Initial lengt h of soil sample
Lengt h of soil

(254 mm225 mm)

100 =12.9
225 mm

9. Classification of soil
o % of fine grain particles (silt, clay){particles < 75 mm} =
55.76%
o % of coarse grain particles (Gravel, Sand) {particles between
75 mm and 63mm) =100% 55.76% = 44.24%
o Gravel component of Coarse fraction (particles between
2.36mm and 63mm)
=100% 81.2 %( Cumulative passing at sieve size 2.36mm)
= 18.8%
o Sand component of Coarse fraction (particles between 75
mm and 2.36mm)
55.76 +
=100%
18.8%)= 25.44%

Soil 18.8% Gravel

25.44% Sand
55.76% Fines (Silt and Clay)

Therefore the soil sample is Clay with Gravel, Sand present.

Monier Efat 6335357

Group: Thursday 2:30