Experiment No.

01
SOIL SPECIMEN PREPREPARATION AND SOIL
DESCRIPTION BY VISUAL PROCEDURE
[Referenced Standard: ASTM D D2488]

A Laboratory Report
Presented to Engr. Miller Cutora
Department of Civil Engineering
Gokongwei College of Engineering
De La Salle University

In Partial Fulfillment of
The Requirements for the Subject
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory 2
(LBYCVG2)

Submitted by:
TEJADA, Jonathan Ilano Jr.
LBYCVG2 – EJ2
Group No. 03
January 19, 2018

CRITERIA RATING
Ability to work well with other
1)
members of the group. (5%)
Ability to start and finish the
2)
experiment promptly. (5%)
Ability to follow experimental
3)
procedures. (10%)
Ability to gather and analyze
4)
data correctly. (40%)
5) Laboratory Report. (40%)

TOTAL:
 Page 2 of 3

I. OBJECTIVES

 To provide a preliminary assumptions on the specifications of the soil sample.

 To determine which tests are appropriate based on the preliminary findings by visual
procedure
 To prepare fine grained sample to be used for future testing

II. DATA PRESENTATION

Description
Course-grained soil
1. Angularity Subrounded
2. Shape Flat and Elongated
3. Color Black and Dark Brown, mixed with some Gray and Bluish
4. Odor Organic
5. Moisture Condition Moist
Fine-grained soil
1. Consistency Very Soft
2. Dry Strength Medium
3. Dilatancy None
4. Toughness Medium
5. Plasticity Medium

Course Grain and Fine Grained Sample

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results of the experiment on the course grained sample where surrounded, flat and elongated,
black and dark brown, mixed with some gray and bluish, organic and moist. The angularity and
shape test provide a 'feel' of the soils internal angle of friction. Odor and Colour test lets you
know the chemical composition of the soil and whether it's organic or not which is important and
 Page 3 of 3

moisture content is important because soil water regulates soil temperature which affects concrete
and rebars if for example the land the soil is from would be used for road and such.

The results of the experiment on the fine grained sample where very soft consistency, medium
toughness, plasticity, dry strength , and no dilatency.

IV. CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary results from this simple ASTM test is very useful for describing soil especially when
analyzing soil in site. These test are part of soil appraisal. In real life, some test might not be
immediately available and contractors would be unable to 'appropriately' move forward with their
foundation design without these test results which makes visual classification convenient

However, this test should not be the final data used for a project. Appropriate testing should still
be conducted. This would make sure the foundation design is good.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

There is really not much to improve based on the simplicity of the experiment. I recommend
taking pictures while in the process of conducting the experiment for revisiting purposes. DO
NOT add too much water to the kaolin clay because you wouldn't achieve that desired 'doughy'
feel need in the container.

VI. REFERENCE

LBYCVG2 LAB MANUAL. Experiment No. 1 Soil Specimen Preparation & Soil Description by
Visual Method.pdf
GEOENG2 Lecture notes.