KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

LAB S2 : SIEVE ANALYSIS

THEORY :

The method covers the quantitative determination of the particle size distribution
in a soil from the coarse sand size to the clay size.

OBJECTIVE :

The objective of the test is to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by sieve
analysis.

RESULTS / ANALYSIS :

1. The mass retained on each sieve is obtained by subtracting the sieve mass
from the sieve mass +
retained soil. These values are recorded on the data sheet under column
headed "Mass Retained”.
2. Now this column of masses (including that in the pan) is summed and the mass
obtained are
compared.
3. The percent retained on each sieve is computed by dividing the weight
retained on each sieve by the
original sample mass. This is valid, since any material passing the No.200
sieve will pass any sieve
above it in the stack.
4. The percent passing (or percent finer) is computed by starting with 100 percent
and subtracting the
percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.
5. Each individual should make a semi logarithmic plot of particle size versus
percent finer, using the
graph on the data sheet. If less than 12 percent passes the No. 200 sieve,
compute CU and Cc and
show on the graph.

Preparation

Dried Sample + Tray 1192.81

(g)
Tray (g) 692.66
Dried Sample (g) 500.15

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

CALCULATION :

C = ( Total mass sample before sieve-Total mass sample after sieve )12

= ( 500.15-500.09 )12

= 0.005 g

BS Test Sieve Mass Corrected % % Max Load

Retained Mass Retained Passing (g)
(g) (g)

14 mm 4.15 4.155 0.83 99.17 1500

10 mm 13.28 13.285 2.66 96.51 1000
6.3 mm 31.93 31.935 6.39 90.12 750
 3.35 mm 40.68 40.685 8.13 81.99 400
1.18 mm 60.60 60.605 12.12 69.87 100
600 μm 70.44 70.445 14.08 55.79 75
425 μm 52.80 52.805 10.56 45.23 75
300 μm 69.81 69.815 13.96 31.27 50
212 μm 45.88 45.885 9.17 22.10 50
150μm 50.45 50.455 10.09 12.01 40
63 μm 49.46 49.465 9.89 2.12 25
mass passing 10.61 10.615 2.12 0
63 μm
Total 500.09 500.15 100.00

Notes :

% Retained = Corrected Mass Retainedml x 100

C = Mass Retained/Total Mass Sample

Corrected Mass = Mass Retained + C

% Passing = 100 - Σ % Retained

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Thus, the graph of particle size (mm) versus percent finer is plotted as shown
below.

Coefficient of Uniformity Cu

This is the indicator of the spread of the range of the grain sizes and is defined as
D60
Cu =
D10
 Cu = 0.70 mm
0.15 mm

Cu = 4.67

Coefficient of Curvature Cc

This is the measure of the shape of curve between D60 and D10 grain sizes,
defined as( D30 ) 2
Cc =
( D10 × D60 )

Cc = (0.29 mm)2

(0.70 mm x 0.15 mm)

Cc = 0.80

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

DISCUSSION :

Sieve analysis is one type of mechanical analysis which determines the size
range of particles present in a soil, expressed as a percentage of the total dry
weight or mass. Sieve analysis consists of shaking the soil sample through a set
of sieves that have progressively smaller openings. The results of sieve analysis
are generally expressed as the percentage of total weight of soil that passed
through different sieve.

From the results, the total mass sample after sieving is smaller than the
total mass before sieving where 0.06 g of soil is missing. This is probably because
the small particles of soil is missing during the sieves are being vibrated.
Therefore, the total mass is corrected by adding the mass retained with the
corrected mass of soil.

CONCLUSION :

The objective to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by sieve analysis is

achieved. The soil tested is sandier as 13.96% of soil is retained in the 300μm
sieve.
 KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

HYDROMETER ANALYSIS

THEORY :

The method covers the quantitative determination of the particle size distribution
in a soil from the coarse sand size to the clay size.

OBJECTIVE :

The objective of the test is to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by

hydrometer method.

RESULTS / ANALYSIS :

Table 1 Hydrometer Test Data

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Date Time Elapse Temp. Readin Rh’+ Cm Effectiv Particle Rh’- Percenta
of d (ToC) g = e Diamet R’ ge
readin Time Rh’ Rh Depth er o finer
g (min) HR D (mm) =Rd than
(mm) D
 K(%)

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

• t is the elapsed time from the start of sedimentation (min)

• T ,the temperature of the suspension at that time (°C)
• Rh is the hydrometer reading at the upper rim of the meniscus, consisting of the
decimal part only
with the decimal point moved three places to the right
• For example, a hydrometer reading of 1.0325 would be recorded as an R,, value
of 32.5
• Cm is the meniscus correction
• HR is the effective depth (mm) corresponding to Rh obtained from the
calibration curve
• D is the equivalent particle diameter
• Ro is the hydrometer reading at the upper rim of the meniscus in the dispersant
solution (mm)
• K is the percentage by mass of particles less than D
• Rd is the modified hydrometer reading

1. The true hydrometer reading Rh (mm) is calculated, from the equation:

Rh = Rh’ + Cm
Where C is the meniscus correction and R’h is the observed hydrometer
reading. Enter the values in
column 6 of Table 1.
2. The effective depth, HR (mm) is obtained, at which the density of the
suspension is measured,
corresponding to the reading, Rh, from the hydrometer scale calibration curve,
either by reading off
from the curve or by calculation from its equation. The value of HR isentered in
column 7 of
Table1.
3. The equivalent particle diameter, D (mm) is calculated, from equation

where,
η is the dynamic viscosity of water at the test temperature (m.Pa.s) shown in
Table 2
HR is the effective depth at which the density of the suspension is measured
(mm);
ρs is the particle density (Mg/m3);
t is the elapsed time (min);
0.005531 is a constant.
Record the value of D, calculated from each set of readings, as shown in column 8
in Table 1.

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
 UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

4. The modified hydrometer reading, Rd,is calculated from the equation:

Rd = R,, - Ro

where;
R'o is the hydrometer reading at the upper rim of the meniscus in the dispersant
solution. The value of Rd is entered as shown in column 9 of Table 1.
5. The percentage by mass, K is calculated, of particles smaller than
corresponding equivalent particle
diameter, D (mm), from the equation;

Where,
m is the mass of the dry soil used (g)
The value K is entered corresponding to each value of D as shown in column 10 of
Table 1.
 KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Hydrometer Calibration and Sample Data

Weight of hydrometer = 70.0 g

Volume of hydrometer, Vh = 70.0 ml

L = 241.0 mm

N = 10.0 mm

h = 158.0 mm

Hydrometer No. 1

Meniscus Correction Cm 0.5 mm

Reading in dispersant Ro 0.5 mm

Calibration equation HR = 193.7 – 3.85 Rh

Dry mass of soil M 50.08 gram

Particle density Ρs 2.70 Mg/m3

 measured/assumed

Viscosity of water at Η 0.891 m.Pa.s

25oC

Calibration of Hydrometer

Scale mark Reading Distance d+N=H HR

from
(g/cm3) Rh (mm)
lowest mark
d

(mm)

1.030 30 12.6 22.6 92.2

1.025 25 18.5 28.5 98.1
1.020 20 37.0 47.0 116.6
1.015 15 56.0 66.0 135.6
1.010 10 75.0 85.0 154.6
1.005 5 94.0 104.0 173.6
1.000 0 114.1 124.1 193.7
0.995 -5 133.0 143.0 212.6

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Data Collection and Calculation

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 D Time Elapse Temp Readin Rh’ + Effectiv Particle Rh’- Percenta
ate of d . g e ge
Cm = Diamete R’o =
readin Time (T˚C) Rh’ Depth r Rd finer
Rh
g than
(min) HR D (mm)
D
(mm)
K (%)
9/8 9.00a 0 25 13.0 13.5 141.73 - 12.5 39.64
m
9.02a 2 25 10.0 10.5 153.28 0.0351 9.5 30.13
m
9.04a 4 25 6.5 7.0 166.75 0.0259 6.0 19.03
m
9.06a 6 25 1.5 2.0 186.00 0.0223 1.0 3.17
m
9.08a 8 25 -1.5 -1.0 197.55 0.0199 -2.0 -6.34
m
9.16a 16 25 -2.5 -2.0 201.40 0.0142 -3.0 -9.51
m
9.30a 30 25 -3.5 -3.0 205.25 0.0105 -4.0 -12.69
m
10.00a 60 25 -4.0 -3.5 207.18 0.0074 -4.5 -14.27
m
1 9.00a 1440 25 -4.5 -4.0 209.10 0.0015 -5.0 -15.86
0/8 m

CALCULATION :

Formula used:

Particle size,
ηH t
D = 0.005531
( ρ s − 1) t
Percentage finer,
100ρ s
K= Rd
m( ρ s − 1)

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Thus, the graph of effective depth, HR versus reading, Rh is plotted as below.

From the graph above, the equation of the line is HR = 193.7 – 3.85 Rh.

Thus, the graph of percentage finer (%) versus particle diameter (mm) is plotted
as shown below.

KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

DISCUSSION :

Hydrometer analysis is one of the mechanical analysis to determine the size

range of particles present in a soil. Hydrometer analysis is based on the principle
of sedimentation of soil grains in water. When a soil specimen is dispersed in
water, the particles settle at different velocities, depending on their shape, size
and weight.
Hydrometer analysis takes longer time due to the waiting for the sediments of
smaller soils particles. Some errors such as defects on equipment and parallax
error (personal error during taking reading) may occur during experiment and
these will affect the result of the experiment
After the soil sample gone through the procedures of this Hydrometer Analysis,
data is taken for plotting the grain size distribution graph. From the graph, we can
see that this soil sample is considered as poorly graded.

CONCLUSION :

The objective to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by hydrometer

method is achieved. The sample of soil in this laboratory test is poorly graded.