Department of Civil & Structural Engineering

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

LABORATORY REPORT
SEMESTER 1, SESSION 2017/2018

KKKH 2113 GEOLOGY AND SOIL MECHANICS

Title of Experiment : CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL

Demonstrator (s) : PN SHAHIRAH Lecturer : DR. MOHD SYAZWAN BIN MD RAHIM

Date : 24 OCT 2017 Date of Submission : 7 NOV 2017

TEAM MEMBERS

NO NAME MATRIC NO.

1 LOH WAI ONN A160949
2 AZMAN BIN AMIR A159228
3 SYAZANA LIYANA BINTI AZHAR A161491
4 AFIQ FAHMIN BIN AHMAD ZAMRI A160717
5 NURUL AIDA AISHAH BINTI MOHD AYOB A160794

DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS

ITEM (S) TOTAL (%) MARKS (%)

Introduction 10
Calculation and Result 40
Discussion and Suggestion 30
Conclusion 15
Neat and Orderly 5
TOTAL 100
Introduction
There are several soil classification systems available to weld the ground. The main purpose of
this classification system is to set up a system that all engineers can understand. One of them is
the size distribution of the soil. The ground in the mechanics is defined as comprising the
following components:
a. Clay
b. Silt
c. Sand
d. Gravel
e. Tongster
meanwhile, the particles are defined as separate mineral grains in the mass of the soil.
In 1947, Casagrande created a way to weld the ground, called the 'Unified Classification System'.
In this system, particle sizes are divided into 3 parts as listed below.
Gravel : particle size greater than 2 mm
Sand : particle size is smaller than 2 mm but larger than 0.06 mm
Clay silt : particle size is smaller than 0.06 mm
Normally, the soil does not consist of a separate component but is a mixture of two or three
components. Examples of sandy clay, muddy clay, sandy clay and so on.
Coarse size particles is a definition of soil comprising particles of size in gravel and sand. While
fine-grained soil is a soil composed of silt-sized particles and clay.
From the experience it is found that gravely soils are, in certain classes have the same
characteristics, depending on the size of the particles and the way the particles are scattered.
However, for fine-grained soils (clay and silt), clay minerals and soil moisture content play an
important role in determining the soil's behavior.
moisture content will determine the nature and condition of fine-grained soil. Fine gravy soils
can be in liquid, plastic, half solid. The volume of soil decreases if the moisture content
decreases.
Liquid Limit ( LL) :the moisture content of the soil changes from liquid to plastic state.
Plastic Limit (PL) : the moisture content of the soil changes from half solid to plastic state.
Shrinkage Limit (SL) : the level at which the soil will be in a volatile state even if the moisture
content of the soil decreases.
This classification test is important for selecting the suitable soil in any engineering project. One
of the commonly used welding systems is the Unified Classification System.

1.2 LIQUID LIMIT AND PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

INTRODUCTION
This test is to determine the liquid limit of the soils that has been dried by the air in its original
state.

1.3 DETERMINATION OF LIQUID LIMITS BY CONE PENETRATION METHOD

INTRODUCTION
According to BS 1377, this method is more favorable.

1.4 PLASTIC LIMIT DETERMINATION

INTROUCTION
this test is to determine the lowest moisture content for which the soil is plastic.

1.5 LINEAR SHRINKAGE TEST

INTRODUCTION
The test is to determine the ground lineage. For some soils, especially those containing relatively
low clay mineral percentages, the plastic and liquid limits of the soils are probably to be
determined. For such soils the estimated plasticity index can be made using the following
equation:

The plasticity index = 2.13 x linear shrinkage

Where both plasticity index (PI) and linear shrinkage (LS) are expressed in percentages.
Objective

1.2 The test was conducted to determine the liquid limit of the soil that has been dried by air
from its original form.

1.5 The test was conducted to determine the contraction of the linear soil .For certain soil,
especially, soil that contained low percentage of the clay minerals, plastic and liquid limit
which hard to specify.

Apparatus

1.2

a) A piece of glass plate

b) Two pallet blades

c) Groovers

d) Tools for determining moisture content

e) A bottle of distilled water

f) Stainless and airproof storage with payload 200-250g

g) Casagrande’s tool

h) Oven with controlled temperature

i) Sieve BS m 425
1.5

a. A piece of glass plate

b. Two pallet blades

c. Copper mold

d. Oven with controlled temperature

e. Measuring tool (ruler)

Procedure

1.2

1. Soil samples weighing at least 250g are taken from the sifted. The sample is then placed on a
glass plate, poured in distilled water and mixed wit a pallet knife.

2. Then, a part of mixed soil sample put in a casagrande tool bowl and flattened in accordance
with the tool base. By using grooves, the grooves are stranded along the central line of
casagande bowls through the axis of soil. The grooves must held upright with surface of tool
bowl. By using the rotor, the bowl is raised and dropped by two round per second. When
two parts of the ground at the bottom of the groove are re-assembled by 13mm, the amount
of impact is recorded.

3. A little bit of mixed soil is mix again into the bowl.

4. Steps 2 and 3 is repeated until both trial give same amount of impact.

5. About 10g of soil sample from the casagrande tool bowl is been taken and placed in a
container for moisture content test.

6. The remaining soil sample is mixed with distilled water and mix well.
7. Steps 2 until 6 were repeated at least four times. Volume of distilled water added is equal
dan amount of impact must between 50 and 10. This test must carried out from the soil
sample condition is dry to more damp.

1.5

1. About 150 g of soil that had been sieved (BS 425 m) mixed up with distilled water for
shaped the homogenous mixture .The moisture content of the soil mixture should
approximately with the soil liquid limit.

2. The soil mixture then placed into a semicircle copper mold shape in the cross-section , 140
mm length x 12.5 mm radius. Air trapped being removed by vibrate the mold slowly.

3. The soil sample should dried in room temperature until it contract in the mold. Then ,it must
dry in the oven with temperature of 60 -65 . After the contraction done, the oven temperature
increased to 105.The sample dried until the sample mass remained constant.

4. After cooled, the length of the sample was measured.

Result

1.2

Number of test 1 2 3 4
Number of impact 34 24 21 19
Number of container 1 2 3 4
Weight of damp soil and 37.60 30.10 35.90 41.69
container (W1)(g)
Weight of dry soil and 31.92 25.74 30.35 33.82
container (W2)(g)
Weight of container 4.10 4.00 3.30 3.90
(W3)(g)
Weight of water, 5.68 4.36 5.55 7.87
WW=W1-W2 (g)
Weight of dry soil, 27.82 21.74 27.05 29.92
WS=W2-W3 (g)
Moisture content, 0.204 0.201 0.205 0.263
w=WW/WS (%)

1.5

Length of soil after drying, L = 135mm

Percentage of Linear Shrinkage, Ls = 1 –( Length after drying/ Length before drying) x 100

= 1 – (135/140) x 100

= 3.57 %
Calculation

1.2

Calculation

1) 2)

Number of Hits = 34 Number of Hits = 24 (liquid limit)

Moist Soil + Container (W1) = 37.60 g Moist Soil + Container (W1) = 30.10 g

Dry Soil + Container (W2) = 31.92g Dry Soil + Container (W2) = 25.74 g

Container Weight (W3) = 4.10g Container Weight (W3) = 4.00 g

Weight of Water, Ww =W1 – W2 Weight of Water, Ww =W1 – W2

= 37.60 g – 31.92 g = 30.10 g – 25.74 g =

5.68 g = 4.36

Weight of Dry Soil, Ws =W2 – W3 Weight of Dry Soil, Ws =W2 – W3

= 31.92 g – 4.10 g = 25.74 g -4.00 g

= 27.82 g = 21.74

Ww Ww
Moisture Content w = x 100% Moisture Content w = x 100%
Ws Ws

5.68 4.36
= x 100% = x 100%
27.82 21.74

= 20.42 % = 20.10 %
3) 4)

Number of Hits = 21 Number of Hits = 19

Moist Soil + Container (W1) = 35.90 g Moist Soil + Container (W1) = 41.69 g

Dry Soil + Container (W2) = 30.35 g Dry Soil + Container (W2) = 33.82 g

Container Weight (W3) = 3.3 g Container Weight (W3) = 3.9 g

Weight of Water, Ww =W1 – W2 Weight of Water, Ww =W1 – W2

= 35.90 g – 30.35g = 35.90 g – 30.35g

= 5.5 g = 7.87 g

Weight of Dry Soil, Ws =W2 – W3 Weight of Dry Soil, Ws =W2 – W3

= 30.35 g – 3.3g = 33.82 g – 3.9 g

= 27.05 g = 29.92 g

Ww Ww
Moisture Content w = x 100% Moisture Content w = x 100%
Ws Ws

5.5 7.87
= x 100% = x 100%
27.05 29.92

= 20.5 % = 26.3 %
1.5

Length of soil after drying, L = 135mm

Percentage of Linear Shrinkage, Ls = 1 –( Length after drying/ Length before drying) x 100

= 1 – (135/140) x 100

= 3.57 %

Graph

1.2

30

25
Moisture content, w (%)

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Number of impact, N
Discussion

1.2

The liquid limit is defined as the moisture content in which the soil changes from the plastic state
to the liquid state. It measures the soil with shear resistance when mixed with water. In this
experiment, the Casagrande method is used because it ensures uniformity of results and meets
International Standards.

The relationship between the moisture content and the N log (the amount of impact) is a straight
line. This line is known as flow curve. The flow arch curve is known as the flow index and is
written in the form

IF = ω1-ω2log N2N1

where IF = flow index

ω1 = soil moisture content, in percentages, corresponds to the impact of N1

ω2 = moisture content corresponds to the impact of N2

Through the hundreds of times the soil liquid limit test, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (1949) in
the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, has introduced an empirical
equation in shape

LL = ω N (N25) tan β

where LL = liquid limit

N = the amount of impact in the liquid limit of the Casagrande liquid apparatus

ω N = corresponding moisture content

tan β = 0.121 (see the same β tan value for different soil)

This equation gives satisfactory results for impact (N) between 20 to 30 times. This procedure is
known as a one-point method and adopted by ASTM under the position of D-4318. One of the
main reasons one-point method gets satisfactory results is that this method involves a small
difference in moisture content when N = 20 to N = 30.

Hence, the percentage of moisture corresponding to 25 impacts is taken as a liquid limit of the
soil. According to the graphs plotted, the percentage of soil moisture is 22.1%.
LL = ω N (N25) tan β

= 22.10x (25/25) ^ tan 0.121

= 22.1%

By counting, the result is much the same as the result of the graph, 22.1%.

1.5

The percentage of shrinkage can be found using the formula:

Ls = 3.57%

From the value above, plastic index calculated by using the following formula:

PI = 2.13 x Ls

= 2.13 x 3.57

= 7.6

Conclusion

1.2

Through this experiment, the liquid limit obtained is 22.1%. In other words, the moisture content
corresponding to 25 impacts is 22.1%.

1.5

So that we can see that the difference between PI obtained in experiment 1.2 and 1.5. This is
probably due to some experimental error. During this experiment, more volume of water is added
to the soil sample which will cause the error of the plastic index.

As a final conclusion, we can determine the plasticity index by knowing the value of liquid limit
and plastic limit of the soil .The plasticity index can be obtained by calculating the difference
between the liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil which the formula is PI =LL-PL. Some of
error may occur due to the human error and surrounding error. We concluded that the experiment
is success.