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SUMMARY

TITLE Date Date Rating

Performed Submitted

I Soil Sampling, Labeling and Storage

II Preparation of Disturbed Soil

Sample for Test

III Preparation of Undisturbed Soil

Sample for Test

IV Specific Gravity Test

V Determination of Water Content,

Unit Weight, Void Ratio and Degree
of Saturation of a Soil Sample

VI Grain Size Analysis

VII Determination of Liquid Limit, Plastic

Limit, and Plasticity

VIII Index of Soil

IX Compaction Test

X In Place Density of Soil

Determination

XI Permeability Test

XII Unconfined Compression Test

XIII California Bearing Ratio Test

General Average Rating:

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. Do not operate the machine if you have no knowledge of its operation.

2. Know the entire procedure before starting a job.

3. Do not rush or take a chance.

4. Use only properly-guarded and safe equipment.

5. Ask for assistance when necessary.

6. Do not engage in horseplay while inside the laboratory.

7. Check the machine set-up before operating.

8. Observe cleanliness in the laboratory.

9. Secure ventilated and separate storage of gas cylinder, radioactive materials, chemicals
and flammables in proper containers, properly labeled.
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INTRODUCTION

One of the major factors that have to be considered in the construction of horizontal and
vertical structures is the quality of foundation, which is being supported by soils. It is therefore
important to understand and have a thorough knowledge on the behavior of soils in order to satisfy
the requirements for particular applications to ensure satisfactory performance. On the other
hand, in view of the cost of high-quality foundation materials, it is equally important to ensure that
maximum use can be made of available resources.

Horizontal and vertical structures always rest directly from the ground. Soil structures
contact can never be avoided, such that the properties of the soil should be taken into
consideration. Hence, proper analysis of soil is necessary to ensure safety of any kind of
structures. Soil as a source of construction materials requires comprehensive knowledge of its
property in a specific location. In order to obtain such knowledge, soil sample must be collected
from a job site and tested in a laboratory in order to evaluate the soil’s engineering properties
quantitatively.

As soil conditions vary from one location to another, no construction site presents soil
conditions exactly like any other. It is extremely an important step in any construction design
project that spoil conditions at every site is thoroughly investigated prior to preparing detailed
designs and during construction.

This manual composed of experiments inclusive of property tests and procedures for the
evaluation of soil, is prepared primarily for civil engineering students. It aims to describe the
component, functions and desirable properties of soil.
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Experiment No. 1

SOIL SAMPLING, LABELING AND STORAGE

OBJECTIVE:

DISCUSSION:

Disturbed soil sampling is an important factor in the determination of the properties of soil.
The correct method of sampling will lead to more accurate results in the determination of soil
properties and structure. The storage of sample, after it has been obtained, is as important as
sampling itself. If the storage is not done adequately it will lead to a change in some of the
properties of the sample. The labeling of the sample is necessary for easy identification of the
sample and to avoid confusion if different persons undertake the sampling and testing of the soil
sample. A better filing of soil samples will also mean better control of data acquisition.

STANDARD No.: ASTM D2216

ASTM D422

APPARATUSES:

1. Soil auger
2. Spade or shovel
3. Moisture tight sample containers
4. Petrowax or paraffin

PROCEDURE:

1. Clear the area of grass and vegetation where the sample is to be obtained
(http://www.vulcanhammer.net).
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2. With the use of soil auger, bore the soil (http://www.vulcanhammer.net) until the desired
depth is reached; then obtain a disturbed sample.
3. Record the depth of each type of soil strata.
4. If an undisturbed sample is to be obtained, dig a large hole but the middle portion of the
hole should not be taken out.
5. Trim the middle portion of the soil until the exact size is obtained. Make sure that the sides
are enclosed in a container to prevent crumbling.
6. Place a cover of paraffin wax or other means of covering on the sample. Classify and label
the sample.
7. Place the soil in a container with adequate space such as canvass bags, cans, and bins
for large quantities and glass jars for small samples.
8. Place a label on the sample and prepare the corresponding sample data for filing
purposes.
9. For the disturbed sample, cover the sample with petrowax or paraffin after it has been
placed in a container.
10. Store sample in a cool room.
11. Plot the soil profile based on the record of each group.

DATA SHEET:

Boring No.

Sample No.

Description of Soil

Elevation of Ground Surface

Depth of Soil Bottom

Original Size of Soil Sample

Condition of Sample
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DRAWING:

SOIL PROFILE

CONCLUSION:
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Experiment No. 2

PREPARATION OF DISTURBED SOIL SAMPLE FOR TEST

OBJECTIVE:

DISCUSSION:

A disturbed soil sample does not give as accurate characteristics of soil as an undisturbed
sample can. The preparation of a disturbed sample, however, must be done properly so that
accurate results can be obtained for classifying soils and determining the soil suitability for a given
job. The amount of sample needed for various laboratory tests is given in accompanying pages
of this experiment.

STANDARD NO.: ASTM D2216

ASTM D422

APPARATUSES:

1. Balance
2. Oven
3. Standard Sieves
4. Rubber mallet or rubber-covered pestle
5. Sample splitter

PROCEDURES:

1. Dry the sample by air or with the use of oven, but the temperature must not exceed 60°C.
2. Break the sample with the use of rubber mallet or a rubber tipped pestle.
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3. Obtain a representative sample of the amount required to perform the desired test by the
splitting or quartering method.
4. Thoroughly mix the material passing through No. 10 sieve with the use of sample splitter
or by quartering method, prepare it for grain-size analysis and specific gravity
determination.
5. Separate the material not used in step4 by means of No. 40 sieve and grind those that
cannot pass through with a pulverizing apparatus in such a manner as to break up the
aggregates without breaking the individual grains.

Discard the materials retained and again thoroughly mix the materials passing through the
No. 40 sieve for physical test.

SAMPLE SIZESFOR TEST

TEST TYPE OF WEIGHT HEIGHT DIAMETER

SAMPLE (inches) (inches)

Specific gravity Disturbed 100 grams

Grain size Oven dried 400 grams

Liquid limit Disturbed, not 250 grams

dried

Compaction Disturbed, not 11 kgs

dried

Consolidation Undisturbed 2 2-3/4

Unconfined Undisturbed 4-7 2 to 3-1/2

compression

Triaxial shear Undisturbed 4–7 2 to 3-1/2

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CONCLUSION:
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Experiment No. 3

PREPARATION OF UNDISTRBED SOIL SAMPLE FOR TEST

OBJECTIVE:

DISCUSSION:

The preparation of an undisturbed soil sample is important in that the soil sample
represents the actual soil structure found in the ground. The behavior of the soil under load
will be determined form this sample. In a strict sense, there is never a truly undisturbed
sample. The nearest case of undisturbed sample can be obtained when it retains its water
content and its structure and is protected from undue strain being obtained, transported and
prepared in the laboratory.

STANDARD No.: ASTM D2216

ASTM D422

APPARATUSES:

1. Soil lathe
2. Wire Saw
3. Extruder, if tube sample is used
4. Miter box
5. Knife

PROCEDURES:

1. If possible, prepare the soil sample inside a room.

2. Remove the protective covering of the sample with a knife or a hacksaw.
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3. Cut a portion of the sample from the original sample with a wire saw.
4. Trim the finished specimen with the use of the soil lathe and a wire saw.
5. Place the specimen on the miter box and cut the standard heights.
6. Measure dimensions of the specimen using a caliper.

PRECAUTIONS in the preparation of undisturbed soil sample:

1. Never handle the specimen with your hands. Use a cellophane or wax paper.
2. When transporting the specimen, support it over the entire length.
3. Clean wire saw after every cut to remove soil sticking to it.

CONCLUSION:
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Experiment No. 4

SPECIFIC GRAVITY TEST

OBJECTIVE:

DISCUSSION:

Specific gravity is a property of soil which is needed in the computation of void ratio,
degree of saturation and also in the determination of the size of soil by the hydrometer test. It also
helps in the determination of the type of material that makes up the soil. The test should be done
at 20°C. At other temperatures, the test should be multiplied by a correction factor which is given
in this exercise.

STANDARD NO.: ASTM D 2216

ASTM D 854

APPARATUSES:

1. Distilled water
2. Pycnometer bottles
3. Thermometer
4. Oven
5. Balance

PROCEDURES:

A. Bottle Calibration
1. In a pycnometer, add distilled water at room temperature up to the meniscus of the
calibration mark of the bottle.
2. Dry the outside of the bottle and up too the neck of the inside part.
3. Weigh the bottle plus water.
4. Measure the room temperature.
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5. Place your thumb over the open end of the bottle and turn it upside down and back to
mix the water; then, take the temperature.
6. Heat the bottle by placing it in a warm water bath. Repeat steps 2 to 5 each time
removing enough water to bring the meniscus down to the calibration mark.
Temperature must be in a range between 20°C to 40°C.
7. Pilot the calibration curve.

B. Specific Gravity Determination

Cohesionless Soil

1. Put 1509 grams of oven-dried soil passing through No. 10 sieve into a calibrated
pycnometer which is already half full of distilled water.
2. Remove all the air entrapped in the soil by boiling accompanied by continuous agitation
for 10 minutes.
3. Cool the bottle within the range of calibration curve of the bottle.
4. Add water to bring the bottom of the meniscus to calibration curve.
5. Dry the bottle both outside and inside portions.
6. Weight the bottle with the soil and water in it.
7. Record the temperature of the bottle.

Cohesive Soil

1. Make a sample of the soil to be tested into a smooth paste by mixing it with distilled water.
The sample should be approximately 50 grams passing through No. 10 sieve in dry weight.
2. Pour the paste into the pycnometer.
3. Follow steps 2 – 7 in Procedure A.
4. Pour the mixture in a large evaporating dish of known weight; rinse the pycnometer to
ensure collection of all the soil.
5. Dry the soil, cool it and determine its dry weight.

Determination No.
Flask No.
Weight of flask + water + soil (W1, gms.)
Temperature, °C
Dish No.
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Weight of dish + dry soil, gms.

Weight of dish, gms.
Weight of dry soil, (Ws, gms.)
(http://mtp.itd.co.th)
Specific gravity of Water at T, Gt
Specific gravity of Soil, Gs

Formula:

𝑊𝑠
𝐺 ′𝑠 =
𝑊𝑠 − (𝑊1 + 𝑊2 )

Where: Ws = dry weight of soil

W1 = weight of pycnometer + soil and water

W2 = weight of pycnometer + water from calibration curve

C2 = specific gravity at 20°C

Gs = K G’s

𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝 𝑋

Where: 𝐾= 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 20°𝐶

Typical values of the specific Gravity of Solids

SOIL SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Clean sand 2.67
Silty, stained sand 2.67 – 2.70
Inorganic clay 2.70 – 2.8
Organic soil 2.2 – 4.3

COMPUTATIONS: Use blank space provided.

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CONCLUSION:
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Experiment No. 5

DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT, UNIT WEIGHT, VOID RATIO and DEGREE

OF SATURATION OF A SOIL SAMPLE

OBJECTIVE:

DISCUSSION:

The determination of water content, unit weight and void ratio is an important requirement
in laboratory tests and is part of test included in more elaborate tests. Water content is an
important measure in the compaction of soil. In order that correct water content is obtained from
a soil sample, several samples at different points must be taken. They are then mixed and the
water content is then obtained from this soil sample. The unit weight is determined from a
representative undisturbed sample.

STANDARD NO.: ASTM D 2216

ASTM D 854

APPARATUSES:

1. Container
2. Balance
3. Oven
4. Desiccators
5. Large knife, wire saw, spatula
6. Small metal clan
7. Graduated cylinder
8. Paraffin

PROCEDURES:

A. Water Content
1. Weigh the container without the soil sample
2. Weigh the container and soil sample
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3. Dry the container with the soil sample at a constant temperature between 105°C to 110°C.
4. The drying time will depend upon the size and type of soil (1 – 6 hours).
5. Remove the dry container and let it cool to room temperature.
6. If the sample is to be weighed within one hour. Cool it at room temperature. If the sample
is not to be weighed at once, it should be placed in desiccators for cooling.

B. Unit Weight Determination

1. Trim the sample of soil to about 1 – ½ inches diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. Surface
should be smooth and rounded.
2. Weigh to 0.1 gram.
3. Cover with a thin coating of paraffin wax and weigh again. Compute the volume of
paraffin from the weight of paraffin. The specific gravity of paraffin is about 0.90.
4. Immerse the coated sample in water in the graduated cylinder and determine the
displacement. The volume of the sample is the volume of water displaced minus the
volume of paraffin.
5. Compute the unit weight in grams/cu.m or pounds/cu.ft

C. Void Ratio and Degree of Saturation Determination (http://mtp.itd.co.th)

1. Assume specific gravity of the soil.
2. Compute for the unit weight, water content, void ratio, and degree of saturation of the
soil.

DATA SHEET:

A. Water Content Determination

Sample can no.
Weight of wet sample + can
Weight of dry sample + can
Weight of water
Weight of can
Weight of dry sample
(http://mtp.itd.co.th)
Water content, w
Water location
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B. Unit Weight

Volume by Measurement

Width (or diameter of sample, cm)

Area, cm2
Height of sample, cm
Volume of sample, cm3
Weight of sample, gm
Unit weight, gm/cc
Unit of weight, pcf

Volume of Immersion or Displacement

Weight of sample
Weight of sample + paraffin
Weight of paraffin
Volume of paraffin
Volume of sample + paraffin
Unit weight, gm/cc
Unit weight, pcf

C. Void ratio, Porosity, Degree of Saturation

Average water content, w
(http://docs.lib.purdue.edu)
Specific gravity of solids, Gs
Void ratio, e
Porosity, n
Degree of saturation, s
(http://media.wiley.com)

COMPUTATION: Use space provided.

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CONCLUSION: