Specific Gravity (Gs)

is defined as the ratio of the unit weight of a given material to the unit weight of water

The specific gravity of soil solids is often needed for various calculations in Soil Mechanics.

Mechanical Analysis of Soil

Mechanical analysis is the determination of the size range of particles present in a soil, expressed as a
percentage of the total dry weight

2 METHODS USED TO FIND THE PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF SOIL

1. Sieve Analysis – for particle sizes larger than 0.075mm in diameter

2. Hydrometer Analysis – used for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm diameter

SIEVE ANALYSIS

Shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have progressly smaller openings
The results of sieve analysis are generally expressed in terms of percentage

SET OF SIEVES
PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE

this is used to determine the following four parameters for a given soil

1. Effective size (D10): the diameter in the particle size distribution curve corresponding to 10% finer. The
effective size of a granular soil is a good measure to estimate the hydraulic conductivity and drainage
through soil.
2. Uniformity Coefficient (Cu): This parameter is defined as
𝐷60
Cu = 𝐷10

Where: 𝐷60 = diameter corresponding to 60% finer

3. Coefficient of Gradation (Cc): This parameter is defined as

2
𝐷30
Cc= 𝐷60*𝐷
10

4. Sorting Coefficient (So): for Uniformity: This parameter is another measure of uniformity and is
generally encountered in geologic works and expressed as
𝐷75
𝑆𝑜 = 𝐷25

⮚ The results of mechanical analysis (sieve and hydrometer analysis) are generally presented by semi
logarithmic plots known as GRAIN or PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVES.
Characteristics of the Grain size Distribution Curve

The shape of the particle-size distribution curve depends on the range and amounts of the various sizes of
particles in the soil sample.

Types of soils with regard to shape of their distribution curves:

I. Poorly-graded soil: The curve -is nearly vertical. This indicates that the soil is UNIFORM.
 II. Well-graded soil: The curve is smooth and covers a wide range of sizes. This indicates that the soil is
NONUNIFORM
III. Gap-graded soil: This is the case when intermediate sizes are absent. This could be the case when two
separate soils are mixed.

source: Principles of Geotechnical Engineering by Braja M. Das