Index Properties of Soils

• Particle size distribution

• Relative density
• Atterberg Limits
• Liquid limit
• Plastic limit
• Shrinkage limit
• Liquidity Index
Particle size analysis
 Wet sieving

• Dry sieving is preferred for clean

sand and gravels free from clay
• Dry sieving leads to erroneous
results if clay particles stick to
large sizes sand or gravel
particles
• Wet sieving is preferred
• Wet sieve using 75 micron sieve
and dry sieve the fraction
retained after drying
 Particle size below 75 m
• Fraction passing through 75 m
are called fines
• Often it is essential to get GSD
below 75 m sieve to get fractions
of silt (75m to 2 m) and clay size
fraction (- 2m)
• Normally hydrometer analysis is
adopted, which uses the
principle of Stoke’s law
 Apparatus required

Balance Deflocculating
Hydrometer agent

Stirrer

1000 ml jar
Stopwatch
Thermometer
 Procedure
• Weigh 50g of soil passing the 75 m sieve and mix with water and mix
with water and deflocculating agent and soak it for 12 hours.
• Stir and transfer to the jar, add distilled water to the 1000 ml mark.
• Agitate for about 1 min. Agitation is defined as turning the cylinder
upside down and back 60 turns for a period of 1 min.
• Start the stopwatch immediately and insert the hydrometer
• Take hydrometer readings at cumulative times t = 0.25 min., 0.5min.,
1 min. and 2 min. Remove and place the hydrometer in the control jar.
• Continue taking hydrometer and temperature readings at
approximate elapsed times of 8, 15, 30 and 60 min. and then 2, 4, 8, 24
and 48 hr.
Hydrometer Analysis
 Cm
Corrections to Hydrometer Readings
• Meniscus correction (Cm): Since the suspension is opaque, the
observations are taken at the top of the meniscus. Meniscus
correction is the difference between the top of the meniscus and
the level of suspension.
• Temperature correction (Ct): The hydrometer is generally
calibrated at 27oC. If the temperature is different the reading has to
be corrected. The manufacturer supply the charts.
• Dispersion agent correction (Cd): Addition of dispersion agent
increase the specific gravity of suspension.
The corrected reading R is:
R  Rh'  Cm  Ct  Cd
Here, Rh’ is the uncorrected hydrometer reading
 Hydrometer Analysis
The particle size D in cm is given by
0.3  H e
D
g (G  1)  w  t

In which h is the viscosity in poise, g =981 cm/s2, rw in g/cc, He

is the effective depth (cm) and t is the elapsed time in minutes.
The percent finer is given by
 G  R
N  .  100
 G 1 M s

R is the corrected hydrometer reading and Ms is the mass of

solids in 1000 ml
Combined graph
 Limitations
• The particle size is equivalent diameter, which is less than the
size from sieve analysis.
• The presence of walls may affect the results
• There may be interference of particles
• Not suitable for particles larger than 0.2 mm due to turbulent
conditions and Stoke’s law is not applicable.
• Particles smaller than 0.2m undergo Brownian movement and
Stoke’s law is not valid.
• The specific gravity of the particles of different sizes may not
be uniform as assumed.
Modern method- Particle size analyser
 Uses of GSD curves
• Classification
• Material selection
• Design of filters
• Concrete
• Aggregate
• Clay liners, etc.
 Particle size and shape

Rounded Subrounded

Subangular Angular

Sand & gravel- Generally formed by

mechanical weathering- bulky
particles
Clay particles are like sheets!
Halloysite
Relative density
 Relative density
• Loosest state : emax
• Densest state : emin
• Natural state : e (Lies between emax and emin)
• Relative density relates the above three
( emax  e)
Dr   100
( emax  emin )
Classification of sandy soils