Sample Calculations

Moisture content

w= ​moisture content%
W​w​= Weight of water(g)
W​s​= Weight of Solids(g)
Average moisture content of moist soil

Average moisture content of air-dried soil

Given by TA(Parham) - 6%

W=

Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity of soil solids
Given by TA(Parham) - 2.83

Particle Size Distribution

Percent passing = =

Percent retained =

Percent Gravel

Percent Sand
Perc ent Silt =

Percent Clay =
Percent fines(silt + Clay) =

D60 .52
Uniformity coefficient = Cu = D10 = .13 =​ 4
2 2
D30 .24
Concavity coefficient​ = Cc = (D10x60) = (.13x.52) = 0.0852
Atterberg Limits and Soil Classification
Liquid limit(%) - w @ 25 blows on flow curve = (-2.965)Ln(25) + 38.293 = 28.75
Plastic limit(%) - w @ 1/8in diameter
Avg PL = ( 26.70 +28.50+30.10
3 ) = 28.43%
Plasticity index = LL - PL = 28.75 - 28.43 = 0.32
Liquidity index ​=(W-PL)/(LL-PL) =

0.32
Clay activity = = 19.445 = ​0.0165
Classification by AASHTO system(include group index)
More than 35% of sample passing No. 200, Liquid Limit of less than 40, Plasticity Index of
less than 10 so A-4
GI = (F 200 − 35)(0.2 + 0.005(LL − 40)) + 0.01(F 200 − 15)(P I − 10)
= (50.33-35)(0.2 + 0.005(28.75-40))+0.01(50.33-15)(0.32-10)
= -1.22 so treated as 0

Classification by Unified Soil Classification System - (from pseudocode) -