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Outline of the lecture-3 & 4

CE 31003 Grain Size Distribution

SOIL MECHANICS
Instructor:
Dr. Paramita Bhattacharya
(SR Sengupta Foundation Lab)
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
Email: paramita@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in

Soil Particles Grain Size Distribution (GSD)

Soil particles can be classified into the following groups Grain size distribution of coarse grained soil using Sieve
based upon their texture: Analysis (size > 75m)
Gravel (>4.75 mm) Grain size distribution of fine grained soil using Hydrometer
Sand (< 4.75 mm & > 0.075 mm) Analysis (size < 75m)
Silt (< 0.075 mm & > 0.002mm)
Clay (< 0.002mm)

** Gravel and Sand are classified as course texture soil

(> 75m)
** Silt and Clay are classified as fine texture soil (< 75m)

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A Sieve Test Apparatus in a Soil

Sieve Analysis IS: 2720 (Part 4) 1985 grain size analysis
Mechanics Laboratory
A set of Soil test sieves Separate the soil into gravel and sand portion by sieving the sample
on 4.75 mm IS sieve.
The material retained on 4.75 mm IS sieve (gravel fraction) will be
subjected to dry sieve analysis through following set of sieves 80
mm, 20 mm, 10 mm and 4.75 mm.
Wash the material passing through 4.75 mm IS sieve and through 75
micron IS sieve so that the clay and silt particles will be separated
from the sand fraction.
Add 2 g. of sodium hexametaphosphate per litre of water and use it
for washing. Washing shall be continued till the water passing through
75 micron sieve would be substantially clear.
Sieves and scale Collect the material passing through and retained on 75m IS sieve in
different containers and subject it to oven drying.

Sieve Analysis Sieve Analysis

The material retained on 75m sieve will be subjected to dry sieving
through following set of sieves - 4.75 mm, 2.00 mm, 1.00 mm, 600 Size (mm) W (g) % Cumulative % 100 cum %
micron, 425 micron, 150 micron and 75 micron size.
4.750
Arrange the sieves one over the other with the largest aperture sieve
at the top and the smallest aperture sieve at the bottom and fit it to the 2.00
mechanical sieve shaker.
The sample will be subjected to mechanical sieving for minimum of 10 1.00
minutes.
0.600
Collect the soil sample retained on each sieve carefully in containers
and weigh the amount retained in each sieve and record it. 0.425

0.150

0.075

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Example Grain Size Distribution Curve

If you have a soil sample with a weight of 150 g, after
thorough sieving you get the following result.
Size (mm) W (g) % Cumulative % 100 cum %

4.750 30.0 20.0 20 80

2.00 40.0 26.7 46.7 53.3

1.00 50.0 33.3 80 20

0.600 15.0 10 90 10

0.425 10.0 6.67 96.67 3.33

0.150 3.0 2.0 98.67 1.33

0.075 2.0 1.33 100 0

Hydrometer Analysis Particle Size Distribution

Hydrometer Analysis is conducted for soils passing through 75m Stokes Law
sieve.
A sphere falling freely through a liquid of infinite extent
Stokess equation (for the velocity of a free falling sphere in
suspension) is used to determine grain size distribution for soil finer will accelerate rapidly to a certain maximum velocity and
than 75 m in size. will continue at that velocity as long as conditions remain
In the hydrometer analysis the soil finer than 75m is placed in the same. The constant velocity is referred as terminal
suspension and by using Stokess equation the velocity of a free velocity.
falling sphere the equivalent particle size and percent of soil in
suspension are computed.
For soils with both fine and coarse grained materials a combined
analysis is made using both the sieve and hydrometer procedures.

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Relationship of the terminal velocity to the physical Limitations of the applications of Stokes Law
properties of the sphere and liquid for grain size analysis
Grain size 0.2 mm to 0.0002mm

Grain shape should be spherical. But soil particles are not
18 exactly spherical but flaky or needle shape
Infinite extent of suspension is mandatory but it is not
Where s = unit weight of soil grains (g/cm3) possible. Moreover, the rate of fall is influenced by the
l = unit weight of liquid (g/cm3) presence of other surrounding particles in the suspension.
It is found that the such influence is not appreciable for
= viscosity of water (g-s/cm2) = concentration 50 g/litre
= absolute viscosity (dyne s/cm2) It is necessary to prevent the formation of flocs. Sodium
D = diameter of grain (cm) hexametaphosphate or sodium oxalate can be used as
deflocculating agent.
v = terminal velocity (cm/s)

Calculation of Effective Depth

Hydrometer Analysis

H1
h
H
2

He : effective depth of hydrometer.

Effective depth He is defined the distance from the surface of the soil
suspension to the level at which the density of the soil suspension is being = AB
measured.

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Hydrometer Test Calibration of Hydrometer

Take approximately 800 ml water in a 1000 ml measuring cylinder.
The grain size can be determined by using the following Note down the water level in the measuring cylinder.
equation: Immerse the hydrometer in the water within the measuring cylinder.
Note down once again the water level in the measuring cylinder.
18 18 The difference of readings between step 1 and step 2 gives the

60 estimate of the volume of the hydrometer bulb (VH) in ml plus volume
of that part of the stem that is submerged. For practical purposes the
He is the effective depth for a given hydrometer. error to the inclusion of this stem volume may be neglected.
Measure the weight of the hydrometer to the nearest 0.1 g. This is
weight is due to the volume of the bulb plus the volume of the stem
below the 1000 ml graduation mark. For practical purposes the error
due to the inclusion of this stem may be neglected.
Determine the cross sectional area (Aj) of the 1000 ml measuring
cylinder in which the hydrometer is to be used. The sectional area is
equal to the volume include between the two graduations divided by
the measured distance between them.

Calibration of Hydrometer Calibration of Hydrometer

Place the hydrometer on the paper and sketch it. On the sketch note Plot another curve (C2) He vs RH on the graph paper using the
the lowest and highest readings which are on the hydrometer and following equation:
also mark the neck of the bulb. Mark the center of the bulb which is
half of the distance between neck of the bulb and tip of the bulb.
2
Record the distance (He1) from the lowest calibration mark (RH1) on
the stem to the centre of hydrometer bulb.
Record the distance (He2) from the highest calibration (RH2) i.e. neck Note~ This equation can be used to find out any distance He
of the hydrometer bulb to the centre of hydrometer bulb. corresponds to the hydrometer reading RH for sedimentation period
Plot a curve (C1) of He vs RH on the graph paper using the following after 4 minutes.
equation:

Note~ This equation can be used to find out any distance He

corresponds to the hydrometer reading RH for sedimentation period up
to 4 minutes.

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Procedure of Hydrometer Analysis Procedure of Hydrometer Analysis

Take around 50 g or 40 g (Ws) dry soil passing through 75 m I.S. Take the hydrometer out from the suspension.
sieve. Mix it with approximately 100 cc distilled water and prepare a Mix the soil suspension thoroughly once again and re-start the stop
thin paste. watch.
Add suitable quantity (around 100 cc) of deflocculating agent with the Note down the reading of the hydrometer after 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120,
paste. It is then allowed to soak for five minutes. 240 minutes etc from. Insert the hydrometer only about 30 seconds
Transfer the sample into a dispersion cup. Fill the cup three-fourths by before each hydrometer reading. Precautions should be taken while
using distilled water. Stir the suspension for minutes. inserting the hydrometer into the suspension so that it becomes
Transfer the suspension into a 1000 cc jar of uniform cross section. stable at the time the reading is due. The hydrometer should be taken
Add y more water so that total volume will become 1000 cc. out as soon as the reading is taken without disturbing the suspension.
Mix the suspension in the jar thoroughly by firmly placing the palm of
the hand on the open end and turning the jar upside down and back.
Now place the jar on the table and immerse the hydrometer into the
suspension. Start the stop watch. Take the reading of the hydrometer
immediately after inserting the hydrometer, , 1, 2 and 4 minutes.

Data From Hydrometer Test Corrections on Hydrometer readings

Elapsed Hydrometer Hydrometer reading Meniscus correction (+Cm)
time reading (rh) [RH= (rh -1)X1000] Temperature correction (Ct)
(seconds) Dispersing agent correction (-Cd)
Rc = RH + Cm Ct - Cd
Hence find out the effective depth (He) and the
corresponding size of the grain

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Calculation Calculation
Percentage finer (N) than a size D will be Therefore we can write:
expressed as: . .
1
1000 .
Wt. of solids per cc at depth after time 1
100 1
Wt. of solids per cc in the original suspension

If Rc is the corrected hydrometer reading then
specific gravity of soil suspension = 1 %