DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

MINI PROJECT ECG263

NAME : Muhammad Akmal bin Md Ali

GROUP : J4EC1104B2
STUDENT’S ID :
2020818608
PREPARED FOR :
Nadia Zalikha Saifullizam
CO-PO Description
Show appropriate techniques to soil engineering problem with an awareness of the
CO2
limitations
Conduct investigations of well-defined problems; locate and search relevant codes and
PO4
catalogues, conduct standard tests and measurements

CHECKER’S
NO ELEMENTS TO ASSESS MARKS
SIGNATURE

1 INTRODUCTION /2

2 METHODOLOGY /4

3 FINDINGS /4
REPORT
4 DISCUSSION /4

5 CONCLUSION /4

6 REFERENCES /2

TOTAL MARKS
20

First Examiner:

Name:
Date:

Second Examiner:

Name:
Date:
DATE OF SUBMISSION:

©PKA, UiTM MARCH – AUGUST 2022

 Table 1 : Table of Content

NO. TABLE OF CONTENT NO. PAGE

1.0 Introduction 2

2.0 Methodology 3-5

3.0 Findings/Results 6-9

4.0 Discussion 10-11

5.0 Conclusion 12

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6.0 Reference

2
1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Aims and Objectives

The aim and objectives for this mini project is to determine whether the
experiments can be conduct without using proper laboratory equipment to obtain the
result for the experiments.

1.2 Background of study

In this mini project, there are 5 experiments that I will conduct without using
proper lab equipment which is moisture content, particle density, particle size grading
and texture, field density and permeability. The sample that was used to conduct this
experiments was taken at the nearby area from my home. It was taken at the back of
my house near a palm oil farm.

Figure 1 : site of soil sample.

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2.0 METHODOLOGY

a) Moisture content
Apparatus and material
1. Weighing scale.
2. Tray.
3. Soil sample.

Procedure
1. 3 trays was prepared to put some soil sample.
2. The mass of the trays was weighed.
3. Some soil sample was put inside the all the trays.
4. The soil sample was evenly spread.
5. The mass of the trays with the soil sample was weighed.
6. The tray with the soil was left outside for 1 to 2 days until it was fully dried.
7. The mass of the tray with the dried soil was weighed.
8. The data was recorded.

b) Particle Density
Apparatus and material
1. Small plastic bottles.
2. Stopwatch (phone).
3. Weighing scale.
4. Water.
5. Soil sample (fine aggregate).
6. Paper (as funnel).

Procedure
1. The mass of the plastic bottles was weighed.
2. A funnel was created from a paper and some soil sample was put inside the plastic bottle.
3. The mass of the plastic bottle with the soil sample was weighed.
4. Some water was put inside the bottle with the sample slowly until the soil sample submerge under
the water.
5. The bottle was swirled slowly.
6. The bottle was filled with water until full slowly.
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7. The mass of the bottle with soil sample and water was weighed.
8. The bottle was washed and fully filled with water.
9. The mass of the bottle with water was weighed.
10. Step 2 to 9 was repeated using different weight of soil.
11. The data was recorded.

c) Particle size grading and texture

Apparatus and material
1. 4 size of sieve.
2. Weighing scale.
3. Stopwatch.
4. Tray.
5. Soil sample.

Procedure
1. The mass of the tray and sieves was weighed.
2. Some soil sample was put inside the tray.
3. The mass of the tray with soil sample was weighed.
4. The soil sample was sieved using the largest (7mm) sieve.
5. The mass of the sieve with impassable soil was weighed.
6. Step 4 to 5 was repeated using different size of sieve (from largest to smallest).
7. The mass of the remaining soil sample (passed all the sieve) was weighed.
8. The data was recorded.

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d) Field density
Apparatus and material
1. Cans.
2. Weighing scale.
3. Ruler.

Procedure
1. The height and width of the can was measured.
2. The mass of the can was weighed.
3. The can was pressed inside the ground to fill the can with soil.
4. The mass of the can with soil sample was weighed.
5. The data was recorded.

e) Permeability
Apparatus and material
1. Plastic bottles.
2. Ruler.
3. Stopwatch (phone).
4. Scissor.
5. Compass.
6. Weighing scale.
7. Soil sample.

Procedure
1. The bottle (1.5L) was cut in approximately half of the size using scissor.
2. 4 marks was labelled with the interval of 2 cm from each of the label (H1 - H4) at the side of the
bottle.
3. The soil sample was put inside the bottle and was compressed.
4. The mass of the bottle with the soil sample was weighed.
5. 12 holes was created under the bottle using compass.
6. The bottle with the soil sample was filled with water slowly until full.
7. The stopwatch was started when the water level reached H1.
8. The stopwatch was lap when the water level reach different label ( H2-H4).
9. The data was recorded.

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3.0 FINDINGS AND RESULT

a) Moisture content
Table 1 : Moisture content data sheet
Container no. No. 1 2 3
Mass of container (g) M1 12 11 11
Mass of wet soil M2 406 313 349
+ container
(g)
After 24 Hours
Mass of dry soil M3 369 291 323
+ container
(g)
Mass of moisture (g) M2 – 37 22 26
M3
Mass of dry soil (g) M3 – 357 280 312
M1
Moisture content, % ω 10.364 7.857 8.333
Average ωave 8.851
Moisture
content

Moisture content, ω% = [M2 – M3 / M3 – M1] x

100%

b) Particle density

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 Table 2 : Particle Density
Data Sheet

Preparation Method:
Density bottle no. # 1 2 3
Mass of density bottle + stopper M1 12 12 12
(g)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + M2 52 57 62
dry soil (g)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + M3 290 295 301
soil + water (g)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + M4 268 268 268
full of water (g)

Mass of dry soil used (g) M2 - M1 40 45 50

Mass of water used (g) M3 – M2 94 94 91
Mass of water to fill density bottle M4 -M1 238 238 239
(g)
Temperature (°C) Tx 27 27 27
Particle density of soil (g/cm3) ρs 0.278 0.313 0.338
Average Particle density (g/cm3) ρs 0.31
Specific Gravity Gs 0.000278 0.000313 0.000338
Corrected Specific Gravity (at Gs’ 0.278 0.313 0.338
27°C)

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c) Particle size grading and texture (dry sieving)

Table 3 : Particle size grading texture data sheet

Initial mass of sample(g) = Method used = Dry sieving

574
Sieve Mass of the Mass of soil Corrected Percentage Cumulativ
opening size sieve (g) retained (g) mass retained (%) e
(mm) retained (g) percentage
passing (%)
4 96 239 240 41.8 58.2
2 125 168 169 29.4 28.8
1.5 123 113 114 19.9 8.9
1 48 15 16 2.8 6.1
Passing 1 35 35 6.1 0
mm
total 570 574

d) Field density
Table 4 : Field density data sheet

Volume of core cutter :

Can No. 1 2 3
Height, h (cm) 10 10 10
Diameter, d (cm) 7 7 7
Volume, V (cm3) 384.85 384.85 384.85

Sample 1 2 3
Mass of tin, M1 (g) 40 40 40
Mass of wet soil + tin, 493 512 477
M2 (g)
Mass of wet soil taken, 65 60 67
M3 (g)
Mass of dry soil, M4 (g) 60 54 62
Bulk density (g/cm3) 1.18 1.23 1.14
Water content (%) 8.33 11.11 8.06
Dry density 1.09 1.11 1.05
Maximum dry density 1.11
Compaction(%) 98.2 100 94.59
Required compaction = 97.6
100%
Result failed

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e) Permeability

Table 5 : permeability data sheet

Cross-sectional area 56.75

of the soil sample,
(Cm2)
Length of the soil 4.5
Sample, (cm)
Interval for each H, 2
(cm)

Time, t K, (cm/sec)
(sec)
H1 - H2 12.49 0.16
H2 - H3 11.17 0.18
H3 - H4 15.35 0.13
Avg 13 0.16

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4.0 DISCUSSION

The 5 experiment that was conducted will produce some or many error for the
data as the experiment was conduct without using proper equipment but still the data
was able to obtained by using items that can work similarly to the lab equipment. As
example, one of the apparatus that will affect most of the experiment’s data such as
moisture content lab is the weighing scale. The weighing scale that was used to
weigh the apparatus and material does not have decimal point on its reading (in
grams) while the proper weighing scale used in laboratory has decimal point up to 3
decimal point. This will nonetheless affect the accuracy of the data even though it
seem that the value will not affect much.

For moisture content, the sample of soil was taken from the site to the college
and was keep for few days before the experiment was conducted. Thus, some part of
the soil maybe dried for a little bit thus will affect the data obtained.

For particle density, the experiment was conduct by changing the density
bottle and stopper with a plastic bottle (8 oz). This experiment was conducted for only
more or less than 1 hour while the actual experiment was conduct for few days by
leaving the density bottle with the stopper and soil or sand sample inside vacuum
container to remove any air bubble inside the density bottle. The soil sample also was
not dried before conducting this experiment. This will also affect the accuracy of data
obtained.

For particle size grading and texture (dry sieving), the size of sieve was not
same as the British standard (BS) or American standard (AS) so the data may be
different if it was conducted using proper equipment but still can be obtained.

For field density test, the mould (can) that was used to pressed into the ground
is not strong enough thus there was deficiencies while conducting this experiment as
the mould start to dent when pushed inside the soil. The data obtained was not
accurate as the soil that was inside the mould (can) wasn't compact enough.

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 Last but not least, for the permeability, the size of the hole under the plastic
bottle is may be various and not same as it was poked using compass. Thus the flow
of water may be various and so do the data obtained.

For precaution, the experiments can be conduct few times using different
weight of sample to get more accurate value by getting the average data. Other than
that, use the size of sieve similar to the (AS) or (BS). Last but not least, get a mould
that was strong enough to be pressed into the soil.

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5.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, there are lots of deficiencies when doing the experiment

without proper tools and equipment as the data obtained will not be as accurate as
possible but still can be obtained by using a similarly function equipment.

For the precaution, for the moisture content, the soil sample can be taken at the
middle part or the inner part as that part is hard to dried up. Other than that, make sure
that the weather is good to conduct this experiment so that the water will dried up
fully from the soil sample.

For the particle density test, the plastic bottle filled with water and soil sample
can be leave for 1 day before weigh the mass. Other than that, dried the soil sample
before conducting this experiment.

For the size grading and texture (dry sieving), use the size of sieve that are
closest to the standard size of either AS or BS. Next, make sure that there are no left
over of the soil sample on the tray when you want to start a new sieve.

For field density test, use a mould that strong enough to be pressed inside the
ground. Other than that, put some of the soil sample at the hollow if there’s any
hollow when the mould was pressed inside the ground.

For permeability, do few experiment with different length of interval for each
H to get an average value. Other than that, ensure that the stopwatch was pressed
exactly when that water level reach the first H.

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6.0 REFERENCES

-U. Johnson Alengaram, in Handbook of Sustainable Concrete and Industrial Waste

Management, 2022
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/particle-density

-Roberts, F.L.; Kandhal, P.S.; Brown, E.R.; Lee, D.Y. and Kennedy, T.W. (1996).
Hot Mix Asphalt Materials, Mixture Design, and Construction. National Asphalt
Pavement Association Education Foundation. Lanham, MD
https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/testing/aggregate-tests/gradation-test/

-Properties and Behavior of Soil - Online Lab Manual by MD Sahadat Hossain,

Ph.D., P.E.; Md Azijul Islam; Faria Fahim Badhon; and Tanvir
https://uta.pressbooks.pub/soilmechanics/chapter/permeability-test/

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