DISCUSSION

In civil engineering, engineers should consider the properties of the underlying soil. Therefore classification of soil is important in civil engineering. The most commonly used characteristics for the classification are particle size distri ution and plasticity. In this practical !e consider a out particle size distri ution. "ccording to Unified Classification System, soil can e classified as follo!s.

#ravel $%.& ' (.$) mm Sand (.$) mm ' *.*$) mm

Clay + Silts , *.*$) mm In this practical !e determined particle size distri ution, y sieve analysis method !here the soil sample has particles finer than -*mm and larger than *.*$)mm and y hydrometer analysis !here the soil sample consist particles finer than *.*$)mm.

Sieve analysis
.hen the sieve analysis is performed for other the soil sample, first it should e oven dried and lumps should e ro/en in to small particles efore they pass through the sieve. In this process some soil particles may get finer than its natural size. It directly affects for the particle size distri ution curve. "nother pro lem, !hich can e arised is that, !hen !e perform a test for cohesive soil, it is very difficult to rea/ lumps in to individual particles. In that case soil should e mi0ed !ith !ater to ma/e a slurry and then !ashed through the sieves. 1ere sufficient care most e ta/en not to ma/e any overflo!. 2ortions retained on each sieves, are collected separately and should e oven dried efore their masses are measured. The results of a grain size analysis are usually e0pressed y a graph sho!ing the aggregate !eight in percent of total !eight of all grains finer than any given diameter. 3y using the graph, !e can find the uniformity coefficient criterion and the coefficient of curvature criterion. 4rom the graph and the a ove t!o values !e can classify the soil sample. Classification sym ol for our sample is S2. .hen compacted and saturated this type of soil good shearing strength and very lo! compressi ility, ut still pervious. "lso contain less percentage gravel. Therefore !e can5t use these types of soils for earth dam design. .e can use this type of soils for foundation !or/s and road !or/s. 3ecause there is no influence of clay therefore there is no s!elling and contraction. In this practical follo!ing errors may occur -. Sieving might not perfectly accurate, there !ere some errors &. .hen collecting retained + measuring !eight there !ere some errors. 6. "pparatus may have errors (. 1uman errors

1ydrometer analysis
Sedimentation analysis, !hich is ased on the principles of dispersion and sedimentation, is used for the analysis of fine grained soil. Sto/e5s la! forms the asis of sedimentation analysis,according to !hich the velocity of free fall of grains is directly proportional to the s7uare of particle5s diameter. The e0pression used to determine the particle diameter in sedimentation analysis is ased on this settling velocity. 1ence the individual soil particles must e dispersed to ena le the determination of particle size distri ution accurately. 1o!ever, the finer grains of soil carry charges on their surface and hence have a tendency to form flocs. Thus if the floc formation is not prevented the grain diameter o tained

!ould e the diameter of flocs and not of the individual grain. 1ence in sedimentation analysis, deflocculating agents are to e added. Dispersing agents can either act as a protective colloid on the solid particle or alter the electrical charge on the particle to prevent the formation of flocs. Sodium he0ametaphosphate, sodium o0alate, sodium silicate etc are some of the most commonly used dispersing agents. 1ydrometer should e ta/eout after ta/e readings to prevent sedimentation of particles on hydrometer. In the practical there are some corrections has een made to ensure the correctness of the e0periment. One is the 8eniscus correction, the other one is Dispersing "gent correction, 8eniscus correction is the correction to difference et!een the top of the meniscus and the level of the solution in the ea/er. 1ere the value is ta/en as *.). Dispersing correction is to correct the errors due to the dispersing agent !hich is that has added to the sample. In this practical there is possi ility to errors due to assumptions and other reasons. -. Soil particles are not spheres &. The fluid is not of infinite e0tent 6. The specific gravity of individual particles may vary (. Tur ulence caused y larger particles falling ). Distur ance due to insertion and removal of hydrometer %. 9vaporation of !ater $. :oss of sample during agitation ;. 1uman errors <. "pparatus may have errors.