The Islamic University of Gaza Instructor:

Civil Engineering Department Dr. Jehad Hamad

Soil Mechanics
T.A:
Second Semester
Eng. Waseem Younis

Chapter 2
Origin of soil and grain size
 Soil Particle Size
Soils generally are called gravel, sand, silt, or clay, depending on the predominant size of particles within the
soil. To describe soils by their particle size, several organizations have developed particle-size classifications.

 According to AASHTO
% Gravel = % passing 76.2mm − % passing 2mm

% Sand = % passing 2mm − % passing 0.075mm

% Silt = % passing 0.075mm − % passing 0.002mm

% Clay = % passing 0.002mm

 According to USCS
% Gravel = % passing 76.2mm − % passing 4.75mm

% Sand = % passing 4.75mm − % passing 0.075mm

% Silt & Clay = % passing 0.075mm

1
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

 Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the unit weight of a given material to the unit weight of water.

γ𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 ρ𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑
G𝑠 = =
𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

 Mechanical Analysis of Soil

Mechanical analysis is the determination of the size range of particles present in a soil, expressed as a
percentage of the total dry weight.
 Two methods generally are used to find the particle-size distribution of soil:
1. Sieve analysis — for particle sizes larger than 0.075 mm in diameter.
2. Hydrometer analysis — for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter.

a) Sieve Analysis
Sieve analysis consists of shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have progressively smaller
openings. U.S. standard sieve numbers and the sizes of openings are given in Table 2.5.

Analysis Steps:

1. Determine the mass of soil retained on each sieve.

2. Determine the total mass of the soil.
3. Determine the cumulative mass of soil retained above each sieve.
4. Determine the mass of soil passing on each sieve.
5. The percent of soil passing.
6. Plot the particle-size distribution curve on semi logarithmic graph paper.

2
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

b) Hydrometer Analysis
Will be discussed briefly in soil lab.

 Particle Size Distribution Curve

A particle-size distribution curve can be used to determine the following four parameters for a given soil
1. Effective size (D10): This parameter is the diameter in the particle-size distribution curve
corresponding to 10% finer. The effective size of a granular soil is a good measure to estimate the
hydraulic conductivity and drainage through soil.
2. Uniformity coefficient (Cu): This parameter is defined as
D60
Cu =
D10
Where D60 = diameter corresponding to 60% finer.
3. Coefficient of gradation (Cc): This parameter is defined as
D30 2
Cc =
D10 x D60

D10 , D30 and D60 can be determined as in the figure below

3
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

 Problem 2.3
The following are the results of a sieve analysis
Sieve No. Mass of soil Retained (g)
4 28
10 42
20 48
40 128
60 221
100 86
200 40
pan 24

a. Determine the percent finer than each sieve and plot the grain size distribution curve.
b. Determine D10 , D30 and D60 from the grain size distribution curve.
c. Calculate the uniformity coefficient.
d. Calculate the coefficient of gradation.

Solution:
a.
Sieve No. Sieve size (mm) Mass of soil Retained (g) Cum. Ret. (g) % Cum. Ret. % passing
4 4.75 28 28 4.54 95.46
10 2 42 70 11.35 88.65
20 0.85 48 118 19.12 80.88
40 0.425 128 246 39.87 60.13
60 0.25 221 467 75.69 24.31
100 0.15 86 553 89.63 10.37
200 0.075 40 593 96.11 3.89
pan 24 617 100.00 0.00

4
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

Grain Size Distribution

100.00

90.00

80.00

70.00

60.00
% Passing

50.00

40.00

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sieve Size (mm)

Grain Size Distribution

100.00

90.00

80.00

70.00
D60 = 0.43
60.00
% Passing

50.00

40.00
D30 = 0.28
30.00

20.00
D10 = 0.16
10.00

0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sieve Size (mm)

5
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

b.
D10 = 0.16mm
D30 = 0.28mm
D60 = 0.43mm
c.
D60 0.43
Cu = = = 2.685
D10 0.16

d.
D30 2 0.282
Cc = = = 1.1395
D10 x D60 0.16 x 0.43

6
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

 Problem 2.8
The following are the results of a sieve analysis
Grain size (mm) Percent finer than
0.425 100
0.18 96
0.09 85
0.075 80
0.04 59
0.02 39
0.01 26
0.005 15
0.0015 8

a. Draw the grain-size distribution curve.

b. Determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay according to the AASHTO system.
c. Repeat part b according to the USCS.

Solution:
a.

Grain Size Distribution

100
90
80
70
60
% passing

50
40
30
20
10
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
Grain size (mm)

7
Mechanics of Materials Eng. Waseem Younis

b.
% Passing 76.2 mm 100
% Passing 2 mm 100
% Passing 0.075 mm 80
% Passing 0.002 mm 24

% Gravel = 100 − 100 = 0

% Sand = 100 − 80 = 20
% Silt = 80 − 24 = 56
% Clay = 24

c.
% Passing 76.2 mm 100
% Passing 4.75 mm 100
% Passing 0.075 mm 80

% Gravel = 100 − 100 = 0

% Sand = 100 − 80 = 20
% Silt & Clay = 80

 Homework Problems
2.1
2.4
2.6
2.8
2.9
Deadline 20/02/2016