SPECIFIC GRAVITY PURPOSE To determine the apparent specific gravity of the solid grains which make up a soil. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 1. Balance, capacity 100 g, sensitive to + 0.01 g 2. Thermometer, 0 to 40 °C range 4. Three 50 ml or 100 ml density bottles 5. Wash bottle 5. Plastic fiunnel to use with density bottle 6. ‘Vacuum source 7. De-aired, distilled water SOIL 1 Medium sand DISCUSSION ‘The specific gravity of the solid grains of a soil is defined as the ratio of the density of the soil solid grains to the density of water. If the volume occupied by the soil solid grains is the same as that occupied by water, then the specific gravity of the soil solid grains is simply the ratio of the mass of the soil solid grains to the mass of an equal volume of water (Figure 1). PROCEDURE 1. 2. Record the test data as indicated in Form 1. Weigh a density bottle with stopper on the balance to the nearest 0.01 g, making sure that the bottle and stopper are completely clean and dry. Place about 10 g of sand in a 50 ml density bottle (20 g if 100 ml bottle is used). Re-weigh the whole to the nearest 0.01 g and record. Add sufficient de-aired distilled water to each density bottle to completely cover the sand. Remove the stopper and connect the bottle to a vacuum source. Subject the sample to a partial vacuum and gentle shaking for about 10 minutes to remove any entrapped air in the soil. Page I10. Add enough de-aired distilled water to almost fill the density bottle and leave it for several minutes to adjust to room temperature. Monitor the temperature of water inside the density bottle until it remains stable, Record the temperature. Add de-aired distilled water to completely fill the bottle, while making sure that the capillary space of the stopper is also filled up. Dry the exterior of the bottle and weigh the bottle with sand and water to the nearest 0.01 g and record the data. Empty the content of the density bottle into a waste pan and wash each bottle thoroughly with de-aired distilled water. Add enough de-aired distilled water to almost fill the bottle and leave the bottle for several minutes to adjust to room temperature. Monitor the temperature of the water until it is within 1 °C of that measured in Step 6. Add de-aired distilled water to completely fill the bottle, while making sure that the capillary space of the stopper is also filled up. Dry the exterior of the bottles and weigh the bottle full of water to the nearest 0.01 g and record the data. Repeat Steps 2 to 8 for two more times. Complete the calculations shown in Table 1, Form 1. Page 2©-O- va cane oo owas get “oF Ma My M3 Ma (te =) - (4s + Ma) Mass of water to fill bottle - Mass of vater on top of soil = Mass of a volume of water equal to the volume of the soil Hass of soil Specific Gravity (Gs) = Hazy "oF equal voluse OF vate> Figure t. Determination of Specific Gravity of Soil Solids in a Soil. Page 3Specific Gravity Form 1 Sample No.: Specimen No... Borehole No.:____Depth:__Date Sampled: Soil Description: Date Tested: Tested By. Table 1. —_, Specific Gravity Test Results Results Test No. I 2 3 Mass of bottle, Mi (a) Massof botile + Soil, Mz (e) Mass of bottle + soil + water, Ms (@) ‘Mass of bottle + water, My (@) Temperature of water, T (°C) Specific Gravity, G,, at T°C o Specific Gravity, G,, at 20°C Goo (My - M,)/[(My -M 1) - (Ms -Mo)] a = PrP aoe Gyaore) = a Garey ‘Temperature Density Temperature Density CQ) (glem*) CQ. w/e’) i 0.999633 21 0.998023 12 0.999525 22 0.997802 13 0.999404 23 0.997570 14 0.999271 24 0.997329 15 0.999127 25 0.997077 16 0.998971 26 0.996816 7 0.998803 27 0.996545 18 0.998624 28 0.996265 19 0.998435 29 0.995976 20 0.998234 30 0.995678 Page___of___PagesCONSISTENCY TESTS PLASTIC LIMIT PURPOSE To determine the plastic limit of a fine-grained soil for explicit purpose of classification. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES Glass plate Spataula 2 numbered water content dishes Balance, capacity 100g, sensitive to + 0.01 g Oven set at 105 °C Distilled water avRyNn SOIL 1. Clay soil (Kaolinite) DISCUSSION The plastic limit of a soil is arbitarily defined as the maximum watet content below which a soil can be rolled into a thread of approximately 3 mm in diameter without breaking. It is the limit at which a soil mass changes from a plastic state to semi-solid state. PROCEDURE 1. Record the test data as indicated in Table 1, Form 4.1. 2. Take some supplied soil sample and obtain two moisture content values. Take the average as the natural moisture content of the soil sample. 3. Place approximately 10 g of soil on the glass plate and mix it in sufficient water , if necessary, so that the soil can be formed into a ball. The soil should then be in the plastic state. 4, Place the ball of soil on the glass plate and roll the ball gently with the palm of the hand. Use just sufficient pressure to roll the ball into a thread without letting it stick to the hand or to the plate. Page 1When the thread of soil is approximately 3 mm in diameter and does not break, remoulld the soil into a ball again and repeat the rolling procedure asin Step 3 above. Continue the process of rolling and remoulding until the soil thread breaks or crumbles at a thread diameter of 3 mm. ‘When the thread breaks at a diameter of 3 mm, the soil is at the lower limit of the plastic state. Put the broken pieces in a dish and determine the water content. Take another 10 g of soil and sepeat the test, ic., steps 3 to 7 above. The two plastic limit tests should yield values of water content, i.e., plastic limits, that are within + 0.5 % of each other. Finish the calculation as shown in Table 1, Form 4.1. Page 2LIQUID LIMIT (CONEPENETRATION METHOD) PURPOSE To determine the liquid limit of a fine-grained soil for explicit purpose of classification. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ‘Cone penetrometer apparatus 4 numbered water content dishes Spatula Glass plate Balance, capacity 100g, sensitive to + 0.01 g ‘Oven set at 105 °C Distilled water ROVERS sou. 1. Clay soil (kaolinite) DISCUSSION The liquid limit of a soil is defined as the maximum water content above which the behaviour of the soil when remoulded changes from that of a plastic material to that of a liquid material. This transition from a plastic state to a liquid state does not occur abruptly but is a gradual change. Consequently, it is necessary to arbitrarily standardize the point of change as being the water content which prevails when a standard cone penetrates 20 mm into a soil sample, Standardized equipment must be used as well as standardized procedures for performing the test. PROCEDURE, 1. Record the test data as indicated in Table 2, Form 4.2. 2 Place the soil on the glass plate, add water and mix with the spatula uatil there is a stiff paste. 3. Fill up the penetration tin with the soil sample. When filling, press the soi] paste against the tin to avoid trapping air. Smooth off level the top surface with the rim of the tin using a straight edge. 4 Lower the cone and its support down carefully, without exerting any force on the stem, until the tip of the cone just touches the surface of the Page 3soil. Adjust the dial gauge at a vertical position until it touches the top of the cone and record the reference reading to the nearest 0.1 mm (R,). Release the cone using the release button. The cone must be held in position for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, release the button so as to lock the cone in place. Move the dial gauge until it touches the top of the cone again and record the new reading to the nearest 0.01 mm (R,). The difference between R, and R, represents the penetration of the cone. Lift up the cone and clean it carefully. Add a little more wet soil, without entrapping air, to the tin. Smooth off and repeat steps 5 and 6. If the second cone penetration differs from the first by less than 0.5 mm, the average value of the two penetrations is reocrded and the moistue content taken. When determining the mositure content, take about 10 g of the soil from the penetrated area. If the second penetration is 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm different from the first, a third trial is required. Provided that any two penetrations from the three trials do not differ by more than 1 mm, the average of the three penetrations is recorded and the moisture content taken. Otherwise the whole series of test has to be repeated. This complete the penetration measurement for one value of moisture content. Repeat steps 2 to 6 for three more times, with increasing moisture content each time. Ideally a range of penetrations from 15 mm to 25 mm should be covered. After the water content specimens have been oven dried, complete the calculation as indicated in Table 2, Form 4.2. Plot a graph of cone penetration vs. water in the graph provided in Form 4.2 to obtain the flow curve and the liquid limit. Page 4Consistency Test Sample No.: Specimen No... Borehole No. Depth: Date Sampled: Soil Description: Date Tested: Tested By, Table 1 Natural moisture content and plastic limit tests results Form 4 ‘Natural Moisture Content Plastic Limit Trial no, 1 Dish no. ‘Mass of dish (g) Mass of wet soil + dish @ ‘Mass of dry soil + dish (g) | Mass of dry soil (g) Mass of water (g) ‘Water content (%) ‘Natural Water Content (%): Plastic Limit (2%): Table 2 Liquid limit test results (cone penetration method) Trial no. I Initial dial gauge reading mm) Final dial gauge reading (mm) Penetration (mm) | ‘Average penetration (mm) _| T Dish no. ‘Mass of dish (g) Mass of wet soil + dish (g) Mass of dry soil + dish (g) Mass of water (g) Mass of dry soil (g) Water content (%) Liquid limit (%),__ Page___of___PagesConsistency Test Form 4 and Platic Limit Test Results: Plasticity Index (%), Liquidity Index (%),STANDARD COMPACTION TEST PURPOSE To establish the relationship between the dry density of a soil and its water content using a standardized method. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES SOIL iG x Saab e 1 Standard Proctor mould with base plate and extension collar (1,000 cc, 105 mm diameter, 115.5 effective height) Standard 2.5 kg rammer (50 mm diameter circular face, controllable drop of 300 mm) Balance, sensitive to + 0.1 g Palette knife Large metal tray Metal straight edge Sample extruder (optional) Five numbered moisture content dishes 5 kg dry soil sample passing through 20 mm B.S. sieve DISCUSSION The compactive effort in the laboratory must be related to the envisaged field compactive effort if the tests are to be relevant, as the optimum amount of water required for good compaction depends on the effort applied in compacting the soil. The compactive effort in this test is standard for Proctor test. The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content achieved for the soil sample are under the specified conditions for the Standard Proctor test. In order to obtain the relevant results a minimum of five tests is required, each with different values of water content. The following table is a guide to the amount of water that is required to add to the soil each time for the whole test. Table 1: Suggested Sequence of Water Increment (for 5 kg Soil) Test No. Moisture Weight Volume Water added Content of water ofwater cumulatively (%) (s) added (em3) (cm3) 1 6 300 300 300 2 10 500 200 500 2 13 650 150 650 4 16 800 450 800 3 20 950. 150 950 Page IPROCEDURE 10. Record the test data as indicated in Table 1, Form 5. Weigh the mould with base plate (but not with the extension collar) to the nearest 1 g. Place the soil in the tray. Add about 300 cm3 of water to the dry soil and mix thoroughly for several minutes. Break up any lumps of soil but being careful not to break any individual soil particles. Place the mould on the floor with collar attached. Form the mould of soil by three layers of approximately equal mass. Each layer should be formed by twenty-seven evenly distributed blows of rammer on the soil surface, with each blow corresponding to a free fall of 300 mm of rammer. The top of each of the first two layers should be scored to provide a key for the next layer. At the end of compaction there should not be more than 6 mm of soil clearing the mould. Level off the soil surface in the mould using the straight edge. Weigh the compacted soil and the mould with baseplate attached. Record the mass. Remove the baseplate and remove the compacted soil from the mould, using the soil extruder. Break open the compacted soil and remove about 20 g to 30 g of soil for moisture content determination, Return the surplus soil to the metal tray and re-mix with the rest of the soil, breaking up any large lumps. Repeat steps 3 to 6 four more times, with more water added each time as shown in Table 1. Calculate the dry densities with known wet densities and water contents as shown in Table 1, Form 5. Plot the graph of dry density vs. water content. Determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content. On the same graph, plot the 0, 5 and 10 % air void curves and determine the air-void ratio at the optimum moisture content. (Assume Gs = 2.67). Page 2Standard Compaction Test Form 5 Sample No.: Specimen No.: Borehole No.:____Depth:_____Date Sampled: Soil Deseription: Date Tested:_______ Tested By. Table ‘Standard compaction test results Trial No. i 2 3 a 3 | Mass of mould (g) | Mass of mould + wet soil () Mass of wet soil (g) bulk density (g/em’) ‘Dry density (g/cm*) Dish no. Mass of dish (g) Mass of wet soil + dish (g) Mass of dry soil + dish (2) Mass of water (g) ‘Mass of dry soil (g) ‘Water content (%) Maximum dry density (g/cm’): Optimum water content (% Figure 1 Water Content-Dry Density Relationship Page__of__PagesIN-SITU SOIL DENSITY PURPOSE To determine the in-situ density of a soil. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES Sand-pouring cylinder apparatus (Figure 1) Digging tools (Figure 2) Recovery can with lid Salvage bag Standard sand wenn SOIL 1. Completely decomposed granite DISCUSSION Once compaction criteria are established for the soil to be used at a particular site, generally with both moisture and density limitations, some means of verification of the results must be used. One of the common methods is the san¢-youring cylinder method. The principle is that one obtains a known mass of damp-tc-wet soil from a small excavation of a hole in the ground and determine the volume of the hole and the wet density of the excavated soil. Knowing the water content of the excavated soil the dry density can be determined. PROCEDURE Field Work 1. Obtain the masses of the sand-pouring cylinder full of sand and the sample recovery can. At the place of excavation, carefully smooth out an area and position the template, making sure there are no visible voids between the inner template ring and the ground, 3. Carefully excavate the hole and place all of the removed soil into the recovery can. Leave the can open while digging the hole but put the lid back on the can after finishing digging to avoid any further loss of moisture. Page 1Check and close the sand-pouring cylinder valve and then tum the cylinder upside down and place into the grooved ring of the template. Open the valve and allow the sand to fall and fill the hole. When the sand ceases to fall, close the valve and lift off. Salvage the sand from the hole and template, and place them in the sack provided. Laboratory Work i 6. Weigh the can of damp soil obtained from the field and record the mass in Form 6. Obtain the moisture content of the excavated soil by usual procedures. Weigh the partially empty sand-pouring cylinder and record the mass. Calibration of Equipment Density of standard sand: 7 Weigh a standard compaction mould with base piate attached and record in Table 1, Form 6.1. Pour standard sand into the mould from the same approximate height as the sand falls into the hole in the field. Strike off the top of the mould with a steel edge. Weigh and record the mass of mould full of sand in Table 1, Form 6.1 Repeat step 7 and 8 until two mass values agree within 10 g. Average the two masses and divide the result by the volume of the mould to obtain the density of the standard sand. ‘Mass of sand in cone: 10. Place the template on a flat surface. Weigh the sand-cone with the pouring cylinder attached full of sand and record the mass in Table 2, Form 6.1. Tum the sand-pouring cylinder upside down with the valve closed and place it on the template. Open the valve and let the sand pour until it stops; then close the valve. Re-weigh and record the sand-pouring cylinder and the remaining sand in Table 2, Form 6.1. The difference between the masses obtained in steps 10 and 11 is the mass of the sand to fill the cone and template groove. Repeat this series of steps for a second mass value. Average the two values. Complete the calculations as shown in Form 6.1. Page 2Calibrating container 150 mm Metal tray “740 mm 500 mm Stee! dibber 100 mm Scraper Pouring cylinder Figure 1 Sand-Pouring Cylinder Apparatus and Accessories Page 3In-situ Density Test Form 6.1 finsitu.doc Sample No.: Specimen No. Borehole No.. Depth: Date Sampled: Soil Description:__ Date Tested: Tested By: Field Data Desnsity of sand, psanq (from calibration):_ Mass of (cylinder + sand) before filling cone and hole, My: Mass of (cylinder + sand) after filling cone and hole, Mz: Mass of sand in hole and cone, Myc = (My ~ Mg): Mass of sand in cone (from calibration), Me: Mass of sand in hole, My = Me - Mg: Volume of hole, Vy = Miy Psand:. Laboratory Data Mass of recovery can, M3: Mass of (recovery can + wet soil), M4: Mass of wet soil, Mys = Mg — M3: Mass of (recovery can + dry soil), Ms Mass of dry soil, Mgs = Ms -M3: Mass of water, My = Mws ~ Mqs*. Water content, m = Mw / Mds: Bulk density, pp = Mus / Vn: Dry density, pg = Mas / Vn: Page__of___PagesIn-situ Density Test Form 6.2 finsitu.doc Mass of Sand to Fill Cone Mass of (pouring cylinder + sand) before filling cone, Mg: Mass of (pouring cylinder + sand) after filling cone, M7: Mass of sand in cone, Mc = Mg ~Mz: Sand Density Determination Volume of calibration cylinder, Veal: ‘Mass of (pouring cylinder + sand) before filling cone and calibration cylinder, Mg: Mass of (pouring cylinder + sand ) after filling cone and calibration cylinder, Mg: Mass of sand in cone and calibration cylinder, Mee= Mg -Mo Mass of sand in calibration cylinder, Meal Mec — Me __-—___ Density of sand, Psand = Meal / Veal: Page__of__Pages