 SEIVE ANALYSIS

 Is a process being used to determined the particle size of the

gravel, coarse and fine aggregates. A sample of material is
fully dried and then shaken through the series of sieves
ranging from coarse to fine. The amount of each sieve is
weighed and recorded.
SEIVE SIZE # OF OPENING ING mm
2 50
1 1/2 37.5
1 25
3/4 19
3/8 9.50
4 4.75
10 2
40 .425
200 .75
1.THE LIQUID LIMIT TEST
2.PLASTIC LIMIT TEST
3.THE PLASTIC INDEX TEST
4.SHRINKAGE TEST
5.HAND FEEL TEST
6.SAND EQUIVALENT TEST
SIGNIFIES THE PERCENTAGE OF MOISTURE AT
WHICH THE SAMPLE CHANGES BY DECREASING
THE WATER FROM LIQUID TO A PLASTIC STATE.
 -AASHTO DESIGNATION T-90 SIGNIFIES THE
PERCENTAGE OF MOISTURE WHEREIN THE
SAMPLE CHANGES WITH LOWERING WETNESS
FROM A PLASTIC TO SEMI SOLID CONDITION.
 - AASHTO DESIGNATION T-90 IS DEFINED AS THE
NUMERICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ITS LIQUID
LIMIT AND ITS PLASTIC LIMIT. IT IS ALSO
REFERRED TO AS A PERCENTAGE OF DRY
WEIGHT.
 - THE TEST MEASURES THE CHANGES IN VOLUME
AND WEIGHT THAT OCCUR AS A PARTY MIXTURE
OF SOIL (EXCEPT SIEVE #40) AND THE WATER.
 -EXPERIENCED SOIL ENGINEERS EMPLOY THE
 “HAND FEEL’’ TEST TO APPROXIMATELY PREDICT
THE PLASTICITY INDEX OF THE SOIL. THESE TEST
MAY INCLUDE:
 1.THREAD TOUGHNESS AT A MOISTURE CONTENT
APPROXIMATINNG THE PLASTIC LIMIT.
 2.THE AIR DRIED STRENGTH
 3.DILATANCY
 - THE SAND EQUIVALENT IS THE RATIO BETWEEN
THE HEIGHT OF THE SAND COLUMN(LAB
EXPERIMENT TEST) . AND THE COMBINED
HEIGTH OF THE SAND AND THE EXPANDED
SATURATED CLAY WHICH ARE EXPRESSED IN
PERCENTAGE.
 -THE DENSITY OF SOIL OR WEIGHT PER CUBIC
FOOT VARIES WITH THE PECULIARITIES OF THE
SOIL ITSELF. THE MOISTURE CONTENT AND THE
COMPACTIVE DEVICE, PLUS THE METHOD OF
THEIR USE.
 1.Specific gravity of the soil particles- that may vary
from 2.0 to 3.3 that is normally between 2.5 and 2.8
 2.Particle size distribution of the soil- A mass
composed entirely of spheres of one size in the densest
possible condition will contain 75% solid and 25%
voids. The smaller the sphere in the mass the higher
the % of the solid hence, particle size distribution may
greatly affect density.
 3.Grain shape of soil particles- Sharp angular
particles will resist shifting from loose to a compacted
state. Flaky particles in soil will decrease its density
,because they are difficult to compact.
TEST FOR DENSITY MAYBE DIVIDED INTO TWO
CLASSES:
1.LABORATORY TEST TO SET A STANDARD FOR
DENSITY.
2.FIELD TEST TO MEASURE THE DENSITY OF THE
SOIL IN PLACE IN THE ROAD WAY.
 1.STATIC TEST
 2.DYNAMIC OR IMPACT TEST
 3.TAMPING-FOOT OR KNEEDING COMPACTION
TEST.
 - TO DETERMINE THE MAXIMUM DENSITY OF
LABORATORY SAMPLES A SAMPLE OF ABOUT 5000
GRAMS OF SOIL CONTAINING A SPECIFIED
PERCENTAGE OF WATER IS PLACED IN A
CYLINDER MOLD 6” (15CM.) IN A DIAMETER AND
8” (20CM.) IN HEIGHT.
- SAMPLES OF SOIL EACH CONTAINING A
DESIGNATED PERCENTAGE OF WATER ARE
COMPACTED IN LAYERS INTO MOLDS OF SPECIFIES
SIZES.

-TAMPING FOOT OR KNEADING COMPACT TEST -
MATERIAL IS FED INTO A ROTATING MOLD AND IS
COMPACTED BY SEVERAL REPETITIVE LOADS
APPLIED THROUGH A TAMPING SHOE SHAPED
LIKE A SECTOR OF A CIRCLE.
 FIELD DENSITY TEST IN THE MEANS OF
COMPARING DENSITY WITH THE LABORATORY
RESULTS. THE COMPARSION PERFORM ON THE
BASIS OF RELATIVE COMPACTION
 THE MANNERS OF DETERMINING THE RELATIVE
COMPACTION BY SAMPLING ARE AS FOLLOWS:
 1. Obtain samples of the compacted materials to be tested
at full depth.
 2.Find the wet and dry weight of the sample then
determine the moisture content.
 3.Determine the volume of the sample in the fill by finding
the weight of the materials required to fill the space.
 4.from the dry weight of the sample and the volume it
occupies in the fill. Find dry weight per cu ft.
 5.Find the relative compaction of the soil in fill by
dividing its dry weight per cu ft by the laboratory
standard density
 1.change in the soil itself
 2.sampling method
 3.the accuracy of laboratory testing for the standard
density.
 4.accuracy of testing of field density.
 Soil test to determine the strength of soil are divided
into:
 1. Test for load carrying capacity for foundation and
rate and amount of consolidation in soils that support
the foundation. This is applicable to bridge foundation

 2. Test to measure the supporting power of disturbed

soils as compacted under standard procedures
 - COMBINES A LOAD DEFORMATION TEST
PERFORMED IN THE LABORATORY WITH AN
EMPIRICAL DESIGN CHART TO DETERMINE THE
THICKNESS OF PAVEMENT BASE AND OTHER
LAYERS.
- THIS METHOD MEASURES THE HORIZONTAL
PRESSURE DEVELOPED IN A SHORT CYLINDRICAL
SAMPLE LOADED VERTICAL ON ITS END.
 - after the expansion test is completed, the specimen is
enclosed in a flexible sleeve and placed in the
stabilometer. Vertical pressure is applied slowly at a
speed of 0.05 in./min. until it reaches 160 psi. The
developed horizontal pressure is reduced to 5 psi using
the displacement pump. Then the turns of the
displacement , pump needed to bring the horizontal
pressure to 100 psi are determined, this displacement
procedure is intended to measure the penetration of the
flexible diagram into intersection of the sample.
 The resistance Value R of the soil is computed by the
formula:
 R = 100 – 100 / ( 2.5 𝑷𝒗 𝑷𝒉 − 𝟏 + 𝟏)
 Where:
 R = Resistance Value
 Pv = Vertical pressure (160 psi)
 D = Turns Displacement reading
 Ph = Horizontal pressure in psi at Pv of 160 psi
 The resistance value of a fluid
 where Ph = Pv will be 0. The R value of an infinitely rigid
solid (Ph = 0) will equal 100.
 - THIS METHOD IS ADOPTED BY SOME AGENCIES
FOR COMPRESSION TESTS (SEE AASHTO DESIG. T
234) THE OPEN SYSTEM TRIAXIAL TEST, LATERAL
PRESSURE IS HELD CONSTANT BY RELEASING
FROM THE CONTAINER AS INCREASED LOAD
CAUSES THE SAMPLE TO EXPAND LATERALLY.
 - RECENTLY, NUCLEAR DEVICES FOR
DETERMINING IN PLACE DENSITIES AND
MOISTURE CONTENTS ARE USED. THE PRINCIPLE
OF THE MEASUREMENT BY NUCLEAR
INSTRUMENT IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE. GAUGE
READING ARE EASILY CONVERTED TO DENSITY
AND PREVENT MOISTURE USING CALIBRATION
CURVES OR MICROPROCESSORS. THE PORTABLE
DEVICES ARE OF EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR
BACKSCATTER TYPES.
 A preliminary soil investigation is an integral part of
highways reconnaissance and preliminary location
survey. In fixing the position of the road the following
has to be considered:
 1. Soil conditions
 2. Directness of route
 3. Topography
 4. Right of way
 5. Neighborhood disruption
 6. Environmental consideration
 1. Identification of soil types from geological and agricultural
soil maps, aerial photographs and other sources.
2. Investigation of ground water conditions. Examination of
existing roadways cuts and other excavation.
3. Review of the design and construction procedures , Present
condition of roads that traverse the area.
4. Soil exploration along the right of way using auger boring
and test pile and Sampling should be at frequent enough
intervals to fix the boundaries of each soil types.
5. Test holes should extend to a significant depth below the
sub grade elevation with a recommended minimum depth of
1.50 meter
6. The location , the nature of the ground, origin of
parent material, landform and agricultural soil name
should be recorded
7. Each soil layer is described according to its thickness
texture structure, organic, relation content and of
cementation. The depth of seepage zones of the free
water table and bedrock are also recorded
8. The soil profile along the roadway centerline showing
location or test holes range of soil profile characteristic
for each district soil type is plotted.
 1. The vertical and horizontal location of the proposed
construction.
2. Location and evaluation of suitable borrow and
construction materials.
3. Need for and type or sub grade or embankment
foundation treatment and drainage.
4. Need for special excavation and dewatering techniques.
5. Development of detailed subsurface investigation for
specific structure.
6. Investigation of slope stability in both outs and
embankment. Selection of roadway pavement type of
section