3.

4 State the objective of a soil classification, and describe briefly one

of the classification methods that is normally used in soil mechanics.
• Objective of soil classification is the prediction of engineering
properties and behavior of a soil based on few simple laboratory or
field tests.
• The results of these tests are then used to identify the soil and put
it into a group of soils that have similar engineering characteristics.
• One of the methods that is normally used in soil mechanics is
particle size distribution analysis.
• Particle size distribution analysis include sieve and sedimentation
analysis.
• Sieve analysis – coarser materials (gravel and sand)
• Sedimentation analysis – finer soils (silt and clay)
 Sieve analysis
• A set of sieves of various opening sizes is stacked, the sieves
of largest opening size being at the top with a lid and the
smallest at the bottom with a pan.
• A dried soil sample is placed on the top sieve and the sieves
are shaken to separate the particles according to size.
• The mass retained in each sieve is then determined.
• A particle size distribution curve of sieve opening vs percent
passing is plotted in a semi-logarithmic graph paper.
Sieves for sieve analysis
Particle size distribution
 Sedimentation analysis
• The most common methods of sedimentation are the pipette
and hydrometer test.

Pipette Method:
Hydrometer method: