3. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
2- Grain size Analysis
The knowledge of sizes of solid particles
comprising a certain soil type and their
relative proportion is useful because it is used
in;
Soils classification
Soil filter design
Predictions the behavior of a soil with respect
to shear strength, settlement and permeability
4. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Grain size Analysis (Continue)
Two types of grain size analyses are typically
performed
Mechanical analysis also know as sieve
analysis
Hydrometer analysis
5. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Sieve Analysis
ASTM D 421
Applicable for soils that are mostly granular
with some or no fines
The U.S. No. 200 sieve (0.074mm or
0.0029in) is the smallest sieve size typically
used in practice
Small size is 500g (why?)
7. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Sieve Analysis (Cont.)
3/8”, ¼” sieves is the size
of the opening
No.10 sieve …. has 10
apertures per linear inch
Use sieves No.3/8”, No.4,
No.10, No.40, No.140 &
No.200
8. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Grain Size Distribution Curves
D60
D30
D10
0.8 mm
0.4 mm
0.15 mm
0.15 mm
0.8 mm
5.3
0.4
0.15 0.8
1.33
9. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Sieve Analysis (Cont.)
D60 - the diameter corresponding to 60% finer in the
particle-size distribution curve
D10 – effective size
Cu – coefficient of gradation,
Cc – coefficient of curvature,
10
60
D
D
cu
1060
2
30
DD
D
cc
Note:
If cu is relatively large, it indicates a well graded soil. Cu = 1 indicates
that the soil grains are of approximately equal sizes.
10. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Hydrometer Analysis
ASTM D422
This method is generally used to determine the particle-
size distribution for soils with small grain sizes < 0.075
mm (No. 200)
The lower limit of the particle size determined by this
procedure is about 0.001mm
In the lab we will use ASTM 152-H Hydrometer (?)
This method is based on Stoke’s law “The larger the
grain size, the greater its settling velocity in a fluid”
The sample size is 50g passing #10 (why?)
waterofityvisDv ws
cos:;
18
)( 2
12. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Hydrometer Test (Cont.)
A Hydrometer reading of 30 means that there
are 30 g of soil solids in suspension per
1000cc of soil-water mixture at a temperature
of 200C
Take reading at 15, 30, 60 seconds then at 2,
5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes
13. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Composite Corrections
Fm – Meniscus Correction
Zero Correction, Fz
Accounts for the effect of using a deflocculating agent
Temperature Correction, FT
FT = - 4.85 + 0.25T (T between 15 – 280C)
Composite Correction = Fm + Fz + FT
Fm
14. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Hydrometer Test (Procedure)
1. Prepare a deflocculating (dispersing) agent
Use a 4% solution of Sodium
hexametaphophate (Calgon)
Add the 40g of Calgon in 1000cc of distilled
water and mix thoroughly
2. Use 45±5g of soil passing #10
3. Take 125cc of the mixture prepared in (1)
and add it to the soil in (2) and let it soak for
about 8 – 12hours
15. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
Hydrometer Test (Calculation - pp 30)
R – Hydrometer reading (col 2)
Rcp – corrected hydrometer reading for calculation of
percent finer (col 3)
Rcp = R + FT – Fz
Percent finer (col 4) =
RcL - Corrected reading for determination of effective
length (col 5) & Find L from Table 5-1 pp 26
RcL = R + Fm
Determine D =
s
cp
W
Ra a = correction for Gs see
Table 5-3 pp 30
Assume Gs = 2.65
(min)
)(
t
cmL
A