BS 1377:1990 - British Standard Methods of test for Soils for civil engineering purposes

MS 1056:2005 (2013) - Malaysian Standard Methods of test for Soils for civil engineering purposes
IS - Indian Standard
MANUAL OF METHODS STATEMENT
Manual to be read with ‘CONTROLLED COPY’ of test standards and/or work instructions

Sample drying
BS 1377:1990, Part 1, Clause 7.3.4
(a) Oven drying: 105C to 110C to constant mass.
(b) Air/oven drying: natural air drying or 50C ± 2.5C partial drying in a fan-assisted oven.

Determination of moisture content

BS 1377:1990, Part 2, Clause 3
MS 1056:2005 (2013), Part 2, Clause 4
ASTM D2216 - 19

This test is by oven-drying at 105°C to 110°C, usually for a period of 12 to 24 hours. For peat and higher organic
soils, a lower drying temperature of 80°C is used. The moisture content is the amount of water in soil expressed
as a proportion by mass of the dry solid particles.
Calculate the moisture content, w, of a soil sample (sub-sample or specimen) as a percentage of the
dry mass by using a calculator or a spreadsheet template from the equation:
where m1 = mass of container (in g.)
 m  m3 
w   2  x 100% m2 = mass of container and wet soil (in g.)
 m3  m1  m3 = mass of container and dry soil (in g.)

Determination of liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index (PI)

BS 1377:1990, Part 2, Clause 4 - liquid limit, BS 1377:1990, Part 2, Clause 5 - plastic limit & PI
MS 1056:2005 (2013), Part 2, Clause 5 - liquid limit, MS 1056:2005 (2013), Part 2, Clause 6 - plastic limit & PI
ASTM D4318 - 10 (liquid limit, plastic limit & PI)

The Atterberg limits refer to the liquid limit (LL) and plastic limit (PL), together with the plasticity index (PI). The
LL is determined by cone penetrometer or casagrande apparatus while the PI is calculated from the equation,
PI = LL-PL. Whenever possible, these tests are carried out on soils in their natural states (as received) without
drying. When material retained on 425µm test sieve need to be removed, this can be done in one of three ways:
a) air drying at 50°C and sieving
b) open air drying and sieving
c) passing the soil through the sieve in a natural state mixed with water to a higher moisture content.

Determination of particle size distribution: wet sieving, dry sieving and sedimentation by hydrometer
method
BS 1377:1990, Part 2, Clause 9.2, 9.3, 9.5
MS 1056:2005 (2013), Part 2, Clause 10.2, 10.3, 10.5
ASTM D422 - 63 (2007)
ASTM D6913/D6913M - 17 & ASTM D7928 - 17

One definitive method of sieving (wet and dry) is outlined. Wet sieving is applicable to composite soils of gravel-
sand (coarse grained) and silt-clay (fine grained) mixtures as a procedure to separate the coarse (for dry
sieving) and fines (for sedimentation if required). Dry sieving is suitable only for coarse-grained cohesionless
soils (insignificant silt and clay). A continuous particle size distribution of gravel, sand, silt and clay is presented
in a graphical plot.

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Methods: BS-MS-IS-01 (ver.10/2019) Page 1 of 2
Determination of particle density (specific gravity) – small pyknometer
BS 1377:1990, Part 2, Clause 8.3
MS 1056:2005 (2013), Part 2, Clause 9.3
ASTM D854 - 14

This test is suitable for soils consisting of particles finer than 2mm. The larger particles may be ground down to
smaller than this size. The oven-dried soil of about 5 to 10 grams is placed in a 50ml density bottle (pyknometer)
and then filled up with water of constant volume. The bottle is stoppered so that the weight of water displaced by
the sample can be measured to determine the particle density. Calculate the particle density, ρs, of the soil in
each bottle sample by using a spreadsheet template from the equation:
m2  m1 m1 = mass of density bottle (in g.)
s  where m2 = mass of bottle + soil (in g.)
(m4  m1 )  (m3  m2 ) m3 = mass of bottle + soil + water (in g.)
m4 = mass of bottle + water (in g.)

Determination of free swell index of soils

IS: 2720 (Part XL) -1977
Reference: Gibbs and Holtz, 1956
rd
K.H. Head, 2006, Manual of Soil Laboratory Testing, Vol.1, 3 Edition
“Free swell is defined as the increase in volume of the soil from a loose dry powder form when it is poured into
water, expressed as a percentage of the original volume.
Soils with free swell values less than 50% are not likely to show expansive properties. Values of 100% or more
are associated with clays that could swell considerably when wetted, especially under light loadings. High-
swelling soils such as bentonite might have free swell values up to 2000%”
Sample Preparation
The sample preparation procedural steps are as follows:
1. About 50 g of soil is oven dried and passed through a 425 µm sieve for test specimens;
2. Two test specimens of 10 gm each are placed into separate 100ml graduated measuring cylinders. The
powder should not be compacted or shaken down;
3. One cylinder shall be filled with distilled water and the other with kerosene oil up to 100ml.
Test Report
The results shall include the following:
1. Natural moisture content;
2. Particle size distribution;
3. Percentage passing 425 µm sieve;
4. Atterberg limits – liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index;
5. Particle density (SG)
6. Free Swell Index

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