Course Title: Transportation Engineering II Lab

Course code: CE 452

Traffic Volume Study
Group-02

Md.Faisal Ahmed -173-47-086

Md.Mortuza Adil -173-47-089

Md.Murshedul Islam -173-47-091

Siam Al Udoy -181-47-093

Department of Civil Engineering

Daffodil International University
Name : MD.Murshedul Islam
ID :173-47-091
Experiment no: 01
Experiment Name: Determination Of Soil Bulk Density by Field Method

Objective:
1) To determine the bulk density of soil.
2) To plot moisture content by weight and moisture content by volume and then determine
the soil bulk density from the graph.

Apparatus:
1. Core cutter
2. Dolly
3. Rammer.
4. Weight balance
5. Microwave oven
6. Wood block
7. Flat-bladed knife.

Sample Calculation:
Serial No.:1
Here,
Volume of Cylinder = 321 c.c
Weight of beaker = 5 gm
Weight of Beaker + Wet soil = 490 gm
Weight of Beaker + dry soil = 390 gm

⸫ Weight of wet soil = 490-5= 485 gm

⸫ Weight of dry soil = 390-5 = 385 gm
⸫ Moisture content by weight (%) = (385/485)*100 = 79 %
⸫ Bulk Density = 385/321= 1.20
⸫ Moisture content by volume (%) = 79*1.20 =95 %

Table:
Weight
Weight Moisture Moisture
of Weight Weight
Volume Weight of content content
Serial Beaker of of Bulk
of of Beaker by by
No + Wet Dry Density
Cylinder beaker + weight volume
Wet soil soil
drysoil (%) (%)
soil
1 321 5 490 485 390 385 79 1.20 95
2 321 5 488 483 384 379 78 1.18 92
3 321 5 489 484 376 371 76 1.16 88
4 321 5 491 486 366 361 74 1.12 83
5 321 5 489 484 360 355 73 1.11 81
 Qualitative Curve
96.00
94.00
Moisture Content by 92.00
Volume(%)
90.00
88.00
86.00
84.00
82.00
80.00
73.00 74.00 75.00 76.00 77.00 78.00 79.00 80.00

Moisture Content by Weight (%)

Figure.1: Moisture content by volume Vs moisture content by weight

Result :
Sample-01 is very perfecr for irrigation and crops growth.

Discussion :
This experiment is to determined the soil bulk density by field method .It helps to measure
soil moisture content which is very helpful for irrigation and the growth of crops.in this
experiment , I have calculated moisture content and found that the hightest value is 95%,
so it is perfecr for irrigation and crops growth. On the other hand , lowest moisture content
is 81%,so it is imperct for irrigation and crop,s growth.
Assignments :
1) Prove that ρb= ρs (1-n/100)
ρb= ρs (1+e)
Where, ρs= density of soil, n = porosity,e= void ratio
Solution:
n = 1 - (ρb / ρs) ……….. (1)
(ρb / ρs)= 1-n
ρb= ρs (1-n/100)
ρb= ρs (1+e)
Where,
ρs= density of soil, n = porosity, e= void ratio

2)Prove that moisture content by volume is the product of moisture content by

weight and bulk density?
Solution:
From the experiment, I have found that,
Volume of Cylinder = 321 c.c

⸫ Weight of wet soil = 490-5= 485 gm

⸫ Weight of dry soil = 390-5 = 385 gm
⸫ Moisture content by weight (%) = (385/485)*100 = 79 %
⸫ Bulk Density = 385/321= 1.20
⸫ Moisture content by volume (%) = Moisture content by weight (%)* Bulk Density
= 79*1.20 =95 %

So it is proven that, moisture content by volume is the product of moisture content by

weight and bulk density.

3)“Soil with high bulk density will have low hydraulic conductivity”—explain
Solution:
Hydraulic conductivity, symbolically represented as K, is a property of vascular plants,
soils and rocks, that describes the ease with which a fluid (usually water) can move through
pore spaces or fractures.
Hydraulic conductivity is dependent on factors such as soil texture, particle size
distribution, roughness, tortuosity, shape, and degree of interconnection of water-
conducting pores. Density of soil also effects the hydraulic conductivity because
conductivity decreased with depth, whereas bulk density increased with depth. So high
density of soil have low hydraulic conductivity.