GEOTECH 1 — Geotechnical Engineering 1 UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

College of Engineering and Architecture

Module 3 — Grain Size Distribu on of Soil, Mechanical Analysis
OBJECTIVES, CLO’s & TLO’s the flow of water through soils.
CLO 3: The student is able to describe and reflect the texture or more As above mentioned, there are several bodies that classify soil

Figure M3—1: Stack of Sieves, Taken from Budhu (2003)

specifically the particle size distribution of soil. according to texture or essentially the distribution of particle sizes.

Figure M3—2: Hydrometer test apparatus, taken from

MTTLO 3: The student is able to compute values pertinent and related to A summary of these can be seen in Figure M3—3.
the particle size distribution of soil.

Budhu (2003) Strictly for Educa onal Purposes

OUTLINE
1. Short Recall
2. Key Points

Strictly for Educa onal Purposes

2.1 Relevance of Determining Particle Size Distribution of Soils
2.2 Difference Between Coarse Grained and Fined Grained Soils
3. Particle Size Distribution of Soils, Mechanical Analysis
3.1 Particle Size Distribution of Coarse Component of Soils
3.1a Sieve Analysis and plotting of Particle Size Distribution
3.1b Delineation of soil according to particle size distribution plot
3.1c Cu, Cc & S0
3.2 Particle Size Distribution of Fine Component of Soils Figure M3-3: Classifica on system to Grain Size defini ons. (Budhu, 2003)
3.2a Hydrometer Test
SHORT RECALL PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF SOILS, MECHANICAL ANALYSIS
1. Constituents of soil The procedure for the sieve analysis of soils are dependent on D10; D25; D30; D60 etc. are the diameters corresponding to 10%
2. Index properties of soils the stipulation in ASTM D 422. In summary however, sieve analysis is passing, 25% passing, 30% passing and 60% passing respectively.
3. Unit weight of soil computations done as follows: These values are essentially taken from the graph by methods of
KEY POINTS 1. A known weight or mass of dry soil is placed on the largest projection and/or interpolation.
In the interest of civil engineering, soils are not usually represented or sieve, obviously located at the top of the stack. It must be recalled that the selection of soil for a particular pur-
classified in terms of their mineral content but instead of their texture. In 2. The stack of sieves is subjected to shaking using a sieve shaker pose may depend on the assortment of grains it contains. The val-
this sense of “texture” a soil may either be fine or coarse. Two terms that to facilitate effective passing of particles into the sieves corre- ues, particularly Cu and Cc established from the results of sieve
may not, at the moment, seem important under the context of civil en- sponding to their size. analysis are good indicators of this.
gineering. With further discussions however, these would make more 3. Once satisfied, the stack of sieves are dismantled and Cu is defined as the uniformity coefficient while Cc is defined as
sense. weighed to establish the weight or mass retained in each sieve. the coefficient of curvature or coefficient of concavity. Refer-
As mentioned, soil texture or feel is the basic basis of classifying soil. Understand that, like the determination of water content, the in- ences have varying interpretation of the values of these parame-
This is usually determined by the distribution of particle size of the soil of terest here is the weight of the soil only. ters but essentially all are governed by the following concepts.
interest. Mechanical analysis is the process of doing this. Mechanical 4. The cumulative mass/weight is computed. Cumulative mass If the uniformity coefficient is low (<=4 for gravels, <=6 for sand)
analysis of soil is the process of determining and delineating the range for each sieve means the sum of all the soil mass/weight above the coarse component of the soil consists of grains or particles of
of sizes for soils. This process usually involves sieve analysis and the hy- the current sieve of interest and the mass retained at that sieve as the same size. The mini-
drometer analysis and is standardized by ASTM D 422. well. mum value of the uni-
It is important to understand that a soil may consist of coarse and fine 5. The cumulative mass/weight is then used to solve for the mass formity coefficient is one
particles. The terms “coarse grained” or “fine grained” constitute to the passing. Essentially, the mass/weight passing a sieve would be the constituting to a soil with
soil having more of its mass as coarse or fine with differing values of ba- total mass/weight of the sample minus the cumulative mass re- only particles of the
sis for classification dependent on the classification system. tained. same size. Higher values
For soils, the sieve analysis is enough to determine the grain size distribu- 6. The mass/weight passing is then used to compute for the per- therefore of the uniformi-
tion of its coarse component. For the fine component however, hy- centage passing or also called the percent finer for each sieve. ty coefficient (<=4 for
drometer tests must be done. 7. The result of 6 is then plotted as ordinate of a semilogarithmic gravels, <=6 for sand)
Under engineering materials, the coarse component would constitute graph in an arithmetic scale and the grain diameter is plotted on constitute to a soil with
those grains that have sizes passing through sieves number 4 (4.75 mm the abscissa under in a logarithmic scale. wide varying grain or
mesh) but will not pass through sieve number 200 (0.075 mm mesh), see 8. The plot is then used to determine parameters of interest such particle sizes and is to be Figure M3-4: Grada on curves, Das 2014
Figure M3—1. The fine component would therefore be defined as those as the following: considered as a well-graded soil. For one, soils of varying grain
passing through sieve number 200 (0.075 mm mesh) these are subse- sizes are easier to compact. The coefficient of curvature of values
quently used in the hydrometer test, see Figure M3—2. ranging from 1-3 (Budhu, 2003) indicates a well graded soil as well.
Particle size distribution characteristics have wide implications towards Outside these values, soils may be termed as gap graded, see
the purposes of civil engineering. To name a few, gradation of sand has Figure M3-4. It is also of interest that the gradation of soils may be
an effect on the overall strength of concrete; gradation gives infor- dependent on the geological process of their transportation.
mation regarding the compactibility of soil; D10 can be related to
GEOTECH 1 — Geotechnical Engineering 1 UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS
College of Engineering and Architecture
Module 3 — Grain Size Distribu on, Mechanical Analysis of Soil
Example Solu on. A B C D E F G H I J
Refer to Table M3—1, Column A contains the sieve num-
bers, Column B contains the sieve mesh opening sizes Col- Mass of Soil Re- Percent Retained Cum. Percent Re- Cum. Mass Re- Cum. Percent
Sieve Number Opening Size (mm) Mass of Sieve + Soil (g) Mass of Sieve (g) % Finer
umn C contains the mass of each sieve and soil retained and tained (g) (%) tained tained Retained
Column D contains the mass of the sieve without the soil. 1 4 4.750 468.5 468.5 0 0.00% 0.00% 0 0.00% 100.00%
Column A, B, C and D are all resul ng informa on of the
sieve analysis. 2 8 2.360 451.3 441.2 10.1 3.82% 3.82% 10.1 3.82% 96.18%
As an example, 451.3 g (cell C-2) is the total mass of sieve
3 10 1.180 472.3 433.21 39.09 14.77% 18.59% 49.19 18.59% 81.41%
number 8 (cell A-2) and the mass that remained or the mass
that did not pass through that sieve. This means that this 4 40 0.425 522.33 424.6 97.73 36.93% 55.51% 146.92 55.51% 44.49%
mass has sizes bigger than the opening of that sieve (2.360
mm, cell B-2) 5 80 0.180 455.32 412.7 42.62 16.10% 71.61% 189.54 71.61% 28.39%
Column E would therefore be the result of subtrac ng the 6 100 0.150 403.5 388.27 15.23 5.75% 77.37% 204.77 77.37% 22.63%
mass of the sieve, Column D, from the combined mass of the
soil retained and the sieve, Column C; values in Column E = 7 200 0.075 410 374.66 35.34 13.35% 90.72% 240.11 90.72% 9.28%
values in Column C—values in Column D. The total of these
masses is then taken as shown in cell E-9. Percentages are 8 Pan 0 374.21 349.65 24.56 9.28% 100.00% 264.67 100.00% 0.00%
therefore established and shown in Column F. The values in 9 Sum 264.67 100.00%
Column F are established by dividing each of the values in
Table M3—1: Sieve Analysis Results
Column E by the value of Cell E-9 and expressing the results
in terms of percentages. The values in Column G are estab-
lished by taking the cumula ve sum at each sieve. This is
done by simply taking the sum of the percentage retained at
the current sieve of interest and the percentage retained in
all the sieves above it. i.e. at sieve number 40, the cumula-
ve percent retained is the sum of cells F-1 to F-4 (36.93 +
14.77 + 3.82 + 0.00) totaling to 55.51 %. The cumula ve
percent retained can also be established by first considering
the cumula ve mass retained (Column H) and having each
value divided by the total soil mass and presen ng the result
in percentages (Column I, observe that the results are the
same as those in Column G) The percent finer, Column J, is 2. With the POINT OF INTERSECTION
then established by having each cumula ve percent retained between the GRADATION CURVE and
subtracted from 100 percent.
previously drawn HORIZONTAL LINE,
The percent finer (Column J) is then plo ed on the Y axis
a VERTICAL LINE is plo ed to cross
on arithme c scale while the opening size (Column B) is the abscissa.
plo ed on the X axis on a logarithmic scale. With the grada-
on curve, parameters of interest previously discussed can
be established. 1. To es mate/establish the value of
To determine D60, D10, D30 and other diameters of interest, D60 , a HORIZONTAL LINE is first plo ed
recall the defini on of these diameters. These are the grain at 60% on the Y-axis.
diameters at which 60%, 10%, 30% of the soil are, respec-
vely, finer. With this, intersec on between the grada on
curve and the percentages corresponding to the diameters
of interest are then plo ed, the corresponding values in the
X axis would be the diameters of interest (see Figure M3—5).
With the diameters of interest established, the uniformity 3. The diameter that is crossed by the VERTICAL LINE
and concavity coefficients can be established. will then be the value of D60. In this case, an es mate
ranging from 0.65 mm to 0.67 mm seems logical.
The same process is done to establish the other di-
ameters of interest. D30 can be es mated to be
around 0.197 mm or 0.2 mm and D10 can be es -
mated at 0.076 mm to 0.077 mm.
For sands, Cu equal or more than 6 AND Cc ranging from 1
to 3 indicates a good grada on usually called “well-graded”.
For gravels, the same will be true for the same range of Cc
but for a Cu equal or more than 4.
The current soil therefore should be considered since the
value of its Cc is outside 1 to 3.
Figure M3—5: Grada on Curve