CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOY
3.1 Research Design
The method that will be used in the test is the Sieve Analysis, Specific gravity Test, and
Atterberg Limits Test.
3.2 Research Location
The soil sample that will be tested will come from the three barangays on the North-
eastern part of Balindong, Lanao Del Sur particularly the Barangay Dado, Barangay Lumbac
Lalan, and Barangay Pagayawan.
3.3 Data Gathering Procedure
The data will be gathered from the soil sample Two (2) meters below the surface in Three
(3) random areas in Barangay Dado, barangay Lumbac Lalan, and Barangay Pagayawan. Thus,
the Nine (9) soil samples that will be put on sack bags. Each soil sample will be a half of the
volume of that sack bag and will be taken to the Mindanao State University Marawi City,
College of Engineering building for laboratory testing.
3.4 Research Instruments
The tests will be done on the laboratory of Mindanao State University College of
Engineering, Marawi City following the following standards:
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3.4.1 Physical Properties
A. Specific Gravity Test
Apparatus:
Special
1.5 cc volumetric Flask
General:
1. Distilled Water
2. Heat Source
3. Balance, sensitive to 0.01 gram
4. Thermometer, sensitive to 0.01 degrees Celsius
5. Oven, set to controlled temperature of 105 degrees Celsius
6. Frying Dishes, spatula
Procedure:
1. Mix 100 -120g (exact weight is not important at this point) of air-dry soil with
water in an evaporating dish to form a creamy paste. If a malt mixture is not
used, soak soil 20 to 30 minutes. (ASTM suggest 12 hours for oven dried
samples).
2. Weigh the dry volumetric flask, and then carefully fill to the volume mark de-
aired water. Use care not to reintroduced air into the water by splashing.
Alternatively, apply vacuum for a few minutes after filling the flask about
three-quarters full. With the water level at the volume mark (Not meniscus)
and the neck inside above the volume mark dry, weigh the flask and record
the weigh as Wbw. Take a temperature reading so the soil water mixture will
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be at the same temperature ±1 degree Celsius. Do this while waiting for the
soil to soak or while your soil is being mix in the mechanical mixer. Omit this
step if a combination curve for the flask is available.
3. After 15 to 30 minutes, transfer the soaked soil from the evaporating dish to
the volumetric flask. Wash all the soil into the flask. Add sufficient
temperature-stabilized water to fill the flask two-thirds to three-quarters full.
Do not dill into the flask neck as the vacuum efficiency will be markedly
reduced.
4. Attach the flask to a heigh vacuum for at least10 min. during this time, gently
agitate the mixture by carefully shaking and turning the flask. Observe that the
reduced air pressure in the flask causes water to boil. If the air has not been
sufficiently removed, let the flask stand for a few minutes so that the top water
clears, then pour out enough water as that a vacuum can be efficiently applied.
This step can take several hours. However, for the student’s laboratories,
check with the instructors after reasonable amount of time for next step.
5. When the de-airing process is complete, carefully add water until the bottom
of the meniscus is exactly at the volume mark. Be very carefully not to
reintroduce air into the flask when completing the filling operations. Use
water from the de-aired, temperature stabilized supply.
6. Weigh the flask and its contents to the nearest 0.1g to obtain Wwb. Be sure the
temperature is within 1 degree Celsius of the temperature used for obtaining
Wwb.
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7. Empty the flask and its contents into a deep evaporating dish or other
container and oven dry. Be careful not to lose any soil at this point. Weigh the
oven dry soil to obtain Ws.
8. Compute Gs . compare the density of water used with that of distilled water
and write in your report on the effect of using tap water.
9. Repeat the sequence outline (step 1-8) for additional values of G s until you
have two values that are within 2% of each other, defined as follows:
Largest value of Gs < 1.02
Smallest value of Gs
B. Grain Size Analysis – Mechanical
Apparatus:
1. Set of Sieves
2. Mortar and Pestle or a mechanical soil pulveriser
Procedure:
1. Obtain exactly 500g oven-dry soil from the container of soil. Be sure the
sample is representative by using a sample splitter or by randomly spooning
the soil from the container and regularly remixing the stock until you obtain
the necessary quantity.
2. If the sample contains appreciable gravel, very few d=fines, or if washing is to
be omitted, go to step 4. Otherwise, place the test sample on the no. 200 sieve
and carefully wash the material through the sieve using tap water until the
water is clear. Be careful in this process not to damage the sieve or lose any
soil by splashing the material out of the sieve.
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3. Carefully pour the residue, using backwash, into larger weigh dish, and let it
sit for a short period of time until the top of the suspension becomes clear. Por
off as much of the clear tap water as possible, then place the dish and
remaining soil-water suspension in the oven for drying.
4. On the following day, return to the laboratory and weigh the oven-dry residue.
Run the sample through a stack of sieves varying from larger to smaller sizes
for top to down.
5. If a mechanical shaker is not available, shake by hands for about 10 minutes.
Alternate the mode of shaking so that the grains are being continually moved
across the sieve screens.
6. Remove stack of sieves and obtain the weight of material remaining on each
sieve. Sum these weighs and compare with the weight obtained in Step 4.
7. Compute the percent retained on each sieve by dividing the weight retained in
each sieve by the original sample weight Ws used in step 1.
8. Compute the percent passing by starting with 100% and subtracting the
percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.
3.4.2 Atterberg Limits Determination
Apparatus:
1. Balance sensitive to 0.1g
2. Evaporating dish
3. Drying container
4. Spatula
5. Glass plate or sheet paper
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6. Straight edge
7. Oven, set to controlled temperature of 105 degrees Celsius
A. Liquid Limit
The liquid limit is the minimum water content at which the soil just begins to
exhibit shearing strength. Using a standard liquid limit is defined as the moisture content
at which 25 blows in this apparatus will just close a standard groove in the sample of the
soil.
Procedure:
1. Adjust the liquid limit device so that the cup falls exactly 1cm as measured in
the vertical direction.
2. Mix about 100g of the soil to be tested with water to form a smooth paste.
3. Put enough of the soil in the cup of the liquid limit to fill the cup about 1/3 full.
4. Mix and spread the soil in the cup with the spatula forming a smooth layer
about ½ in deep in the front of the cup.
5. Draw the grooving tool through the center of the cup from the back to the
front, being sure to keep the point of the tool in contact with and perpendicular
to the cup.
6. Turn the crank at the rate of approximately 2 blows per second and count the
blows required to close the groove for about ½ in.
7. Mix the sample in the cup and repeat step 2 and 3 until the number of blows
required to close the groove is approximately the same.
8. Record the number of blows obtained in step 7 and remove about 10 grams
from the area of contact of water content determination.
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9. Obtain at least four sets of reading by repeating steps 2-7with different water
contents.
10. Plot water content as log of blows with number of blows as abscissa (log scale)
and the water content as ordinate and drawing the best straight line through the
plotted points.
Liquid Limit Sheet
Determination no. 1 2 3
Container no.
Wt. Cont.+Wet Soil(g)
Wt. Cont.+ Dry Soil (g)
Wt. Water, Ww (g)
Wt. Container (g)
Wt. dry soil, Ws (g)
Water Content w, (%)
Table 3.1 Liquid Limit Sheet
B. Plastic Limit
The plastic limit is empirically established moisture content at which a soil
becomes too dry to be plastic.
Procedure:
1. Mix through about 15 grams of the soil to be tested with enough water to form
a plastic mass.
2. Roll the soil by hand on the glass plate or sheet of paper until it forms a thread
1/8 inch in diameter.
3. Repeat step 2 until the thread just begins to crumble.
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4. Weigh the thread in the drying container for water content determination.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 until 3 determinations have been made.
6. The average of the water contents of the three determination is the plastic
limit.
Determination no. 1 2 3
Container no.
Wt. Cont.+Wet Soil(g)
Wt. Cont.+ Dry Soil (g)
Wt. Water, Ww (g)
Wt. Container (g)
Wt. dry soil, Ws (g)
Water Content w, (%)
Plastic Limit Sheet
Table 3.2 Plastic Limit Sheet
Plasticity Index
The plasticity Index PI can be determined using this equation:
Plasticity Index (PI) = Liquid Limit – Plastic Limit
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