1.

Grain Size Analysis (IS 2720 Part 4)

Grain size analysis is the determination of the percentage of individual grain size present in the soil
sample.
The soils are generally divided into below group based on particle size:

4.75mm 300mm
2mm 20mm
425µ 80mm
2µ 75µ

Clay Silt F M C F C Cobble Boulder

Sand Gravel

 Clay consists of microscopic and sub microscopic particles derived from chemical
decomposition and disintegration of rocks. Silts are fine grained soils with low or no
plasticity.

 The grain size analysis or gradation test on soil are done to determine soil properties such as
Permeability, Capillarity, Density and Stability after compaction, Bearing capacity, Design of
drainage material and Soil-aggregate mixture.

 There are two method given by BIS for grain size analysis:

1. Sieve Analysis (Dry and Wet)

2. Sedimentation Analysis
  Sieve Analysis: It is a simple test consisting of sieving a measured quantity of material through a
set of successively smaller sieves. The weight of material retained on each sieve is weighed and is
expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the sample.

a. Dry Sieve Analysis: It is applicable only to coarse soils retained on 4.75 mm sieve and to
non-cohesive sand or sandy soil passing 4.75 mm sieve and retained on 75 µ sieve, with
practically no fines {Silt or Clay}.

b. Wet Sieve Analysis: It is applicable to all soil samples passing 4.75 mm sieve with some
cohesion or soil containing fines {Silt or Clay}.

 Dry Sieve Analysis (Of soil particle retained on 4.75 mm sieve)

Apparatus:
i. Weighing balance of sufficient capacity to weigh the specified
quantity of soil specimen, sensitivity to 0.1 % of weight of
sample.
ii. Test sieve of diameter 450 mm or 300 mm with square
perforations on metal plates of size 100 mm, 80/75 mm, 19 mm
and 4.75 mm with bottom pan and lid; additional test sieves of
different sizes if required.
iii. Rubber covered pestle and mortar
iv. Thermostatically controlled oven
v. Riffler box
vi. Sieve shaker

Preparation of sample: The soil sample collected from the field is sieved and divided into two
parts i.e. coarse fraction retained on 4.75 mm sieve and the fraction passing 4.75 mm sieve.

Depending upon the maximum size of material present in substantial quantities in the soil, the mass of soil
sample taken for analysis may be as follows:

Maximum size of 75 mm 40 mm 25 mm 19 mm 12.5 mm 10 mm 6.5 mm 4.75 mm

particle
Minimum quantity 60 kg 25 kg 13 kg 6.5 kg 3.5 kg 1.5 kg 0.75 kg 0.4 kg
of soil sample to
be taken for test
 Procedures: The soil lumps present are broken down with the help of rubber covered pestle
and mortar and the required quantity of soil sample retained on 4.75 mm sieve is weighed.

The specified set of 450 mm or 300 mm diameter sieves are arranged one above the other with the pan at the
bottom and the test sieves place one above the other in the increasing order of sieve sizes selected. Additional
size sieves also may be used if necessary.

The weighed quantity of the sample is placed over a largest test sieve of size 100 mm at the top with the lid
placed in position and is subjected to shake or agitate for at least 10 minutes.

After initial sieving, the material retained on each sieve is collected, the lumps broken down using mortar and
rubber covered pestle and is re-sieved.

After sieving thoroughly, the material retained on each sieve is carefully collected and weighed.

* Note If the sample appears to contain over 5% moisture, the water content of the material shall be
determined in accordance with IS:2720 Part 4 and masses corrected accordingly.

Calculation and Results

The aggregates retained on each sieves are collected in pans and weighed. The percentage of aggregates/soil
retained on each sieve is calculated in terms of total weight of the sample taken and these values are entered
in the table as below:
* Note The result of grain size or sieve opening and corresponding cumulative percentage of material passing
the respective sieve are plotted in a semi-logarithmic graph paper to obtain the grain size distribution graph
where grain size values are plotted on X-axis in log scale & the corresponding values of cumulative percentage
passing are plotted in arithmetic scale on Y-axis. The smooth curve joining these points is called grain size
distribution diagram.
  Dry Sieve Analysis (Cohesion-less soil particle passing 4.75 mm sieve and retained on 75µ sieve)

Apparatus

i. Test sieve of diameter 300 mm and sizes 4.75 mm, 2 mm, 425 µ and 75
µ with bottom pan and lid. Additional sieve may be used if necessary.

ii. Balance sensitive to 0.1 % of the weight of sample.

iii. Thermostatically controlled oven to maintain temperature of 105°c -

110°c.

iv. Mortar and rubber covered pestle

v. Riffler

vi. Mechanical sieve shaker

Preparation of soil sample: Soil sample collected from the field is sieved and separated into two fractions,
that which is retained on 4.75 mm sieve and that which passes through 4.75 mm sieve.
The portion of soil passing 4.75 mm sieve is dried in oven at 105°c - 110°c and required quantity is taken by
riffiling or quartering method.

About 200g of dry soil sample is weighed accurate to 0.1% of the total weight for the sieve analysis test.

Procedure: Dry sieving is done in case of sand & non-cohesive sandy soils passing 4.75 mm sieve which are
single grained and without lumps.

However, if the soil sample is found to have even very slight cohesion or a little clay, it will not possible to
break down the very small soil lumps with pestle & mortar so it is necessary to carry out wet sieve analysis
in all such soils.

The set of 300 mm diameter test sieves of sizes 75 µ, 425 µ and 2 mm are placed one above the other in the
increasing order with pan at bottom. Additional sieves are used if necessary.

The required quantity of oven dried soil sample is taken and placed in the test sieve at the top & covered
tightly with the lid.

The set of sieve then shaken or agitated for at least 10 minutes. The soil retained on each sieve is collected in
the mortar and lumps are gently broken down with the help of the rubber covered pestle and re-sieve.

After through sieving, the material retained on each sieve and on the pan are carefully collected separately
and each fraction is weighed accurately.

Calculation and Result: The aggregates retained on each sieves are collected in pans and weighed. The
percentage of aggregates/soil retained on each sieve is calculated in terms of total weight of the sample taken
and these values are entered in the table as below:
* Note The result of grain size or sieve opening and corresponding cumulative percentage of material passing
the respective sieve are plotted in a semi-logarithmic graph paper to obtain the grain size distribution graph
where grain size values are plotted on X-axis in log scale & the corresponding values of cumulative percentage
passing are plotted in arithmetic scale on Y-axis. The smooth curve joining these points is called grain size
distribution diagram.
  Wet Sieve Analysis (Cohesive soil particle passing 4.75 mm sieve and retained on 75µ sieve)

Apparatus Required

i. Test sieve of dia 300 mm and sizes 2 mm, 425 µ, 75 µ, bottom pan and lid. Additional
test sieve if required.

ii. Balance sensitive to 0.1% of the weight of sample.

iii. Thermostatically controlled oven to maintain temperature of 105°c - 110°c.

iv. Tray

v. Sieve brush

Reagents A suitable dispersing agent to prevent flocculation of soil particles.

i. Sodium hexameta-phosphate
ii. Sodium hydroxide and Sodium carbonate

Preparation of soil sample

Wet sieving is adopted in the case of soil passing 4.75 mm sieve is cohesive or no
single grained, but has small lumps due to the presence of a small fraction of clay.

The portion of soil passing 4.75 mm sieve is dried in oven at 105°c - 110°c and required quantity of soil is taken
by riffling or quartering method.
About 200g of dry soil sample is weighed accurate to 0.1% of the wet for the wet sieve analysis test.

This sample is spread in tray and covered with water and in case of soil having fraction that are likely to
flocculate, a suitable dispersing agent may added to the water.

a. Two grams of Sodium Hexameta-phosphate per liter of water

b. One gram of Sodium Hydroxide and one gram of sodium carbonate per liter of water

The mix is stirred & left for soaking in the tray.

Procedure

A set of 300 mm diameter test sieves 2 mm, 425 µ, 75 µ are arranged one above the
other with the pan at the bottom. Additional sieves are used if required.

The prepared soil specimen soaked in water along with the dispersing agent is placed over the set of sieves
and washed through the sieves with additional quantity of water as required.

Washing is continued till the water passing each sieve is clean. The fraction of soil retained on each sieve is
emptied carefully without loss of material in separate trays, oven dried at 105°c - 110°c and each fraction is
weighed separately.

The total weight of dry soil sample taken for sieve analysis could also be checked with the total weight of the
dry soil fractions retained on each sieves and pan. If loss is less than 2%, then okay.

Calculation and Results (Cohesive soil passing 4.75 mm sieve and retained on 75 µ sieve)
* Note The result of grain size or sieve opening and corresponding cumulative percentage of material passing
the respective sieve are plotted in a semi-logarithmic graph paper to obtain the grain size distribution graph
where grain size values are plotted on X-axis in log scale & the corresponding values of cumulative percentage
passing are plotted in arithmetic scale on Y-axis. The smooth curve joining these points is called grain size
distribution diagram.
By this curve, we shall calculate:

1. Coefficient of Uniformity = It represent particle size range of distribution curve.

CU = D60/D10

a. CU = 1 [or less than 2] -- Uniformly graded soil

b. CU>6 – Well graded sand
c. CU>4 – Well graded gravel

2. Coefficient of Curvature = Shape of particle size distribution curve

CC = (D30)2/(D10XD60)

a. CC = 1 to 3 -- Well graded soil

b. CC is less than 1 or greater than 3, then soil is gap graded.