Grain Size

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles
gravel
…..depending on the predominant

size of particles within the soil.

Gravels are pieces of rocks with occasional particles of quartz,
feldspar, and other minerals.
Sand particles are made of mostly quartz and feldspar
Silts are the microscopic soil fractions that consist of very fine
quartz grains and some flake-shaped particles that are fragments
of micaceous minerals.
Clays are mostly flake-shaped microscopic and submicroscopic

particles of mica, clay minerals, and other minerals.

Mechanical analysis is the determination of the size range of particles
present in a soil, expressed as a percentage of the total dry weight. Two
methods generally used are:
(1)sieve analysis (2) hydrometer analysis

—for particle sizes larger —for particle sizes smaller than
than 0.075 mm in diameter 0.075 mm in diameter.

(1) sieve analysis
- consists of shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves
that have progressively smaller openings. U.S. standard sieve
numbers
The sieves used for soil

analysis are generally 203
mm in diameter

(1) sieve analysis
Steps….
1. First oven-dry the soil and then break all lumps into small particles.
2. The soil then is shaken through a stack of sieves with openings of
decreasing size from top to bottom (a pan is placed below the stack). The smallest-sized sieve
that should be used for this type of test is the U.S. No. 200 sieve.
3. After the soil is shaken, the mass of soil retained on each sieve is determined. When cohesive soils
are analyzed, breaking the lumps into individual particles may be difficult. In this case, the soil
may be mixed with water to make a slurry and then washed through the sieves. Portions
retained on each sieve are collected separately and oven-dried before the mass retained on
each sieve is measured.
4. Determine the mass of soil retained on each sieve (i.e., M1, M2, …..Mn) and in the
pan (i.e., Mp).
2. Determine the total mass of the soil: M1 + M2 +…..Mi + … + Mn + Mp = ƩM.
3. Determine the cumulative mass of soil retained above each sieve. For the ith sieve, it is M1 + M2
Mi.
4. The mass of soil passing the ith sieve is ƩM -(M1 + M2 +.. + Mi).

(1) sieve analysis
Steps….
5. The percent of soil passing the ith sieve (or percent finer) is
Once the percent finer for each sieve is calculated

(step 5), the calculations are plotted on semilogarithmic
graph paper with percent finer as the ordinate
(arithmetic scale) and sieve opening size as the
abscissa (logarithmic scale). This plot is referred to as
the particle-size distribution curve.

(2) 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,
weight, and the viscosity of the water.
- In the laboratory, the hydrometer test is conducted in a
sedimentation cylinder usually with 50 g of oven-dried sample.
Sometimes 100-g samples also can be used. The sedimentation
cylinder is 457 mm high and 63.5 mm in diameter. It is marked
for a volume of 1000 ml. Sodium hexametaphosphate generally
is used as the dispersing agent. The volume of the dispersed
soil suspension is increased to 1000 ml by adding distilled
water.

Particle-Size Distribution Curve
A particle-size distribution curve can be used to determine the following four parameters for a
given soil:
1. Effective size (D10): This parameter is the

diameter in the particle-size distribution curve corresponding
to 10% finer. The effective size of a granular soil is a good
measure to estimate the hydraulic conductivity and drainage
through soil.
2. Uniformity coefficient (Cu): This parameter

is defined as:
where D60 = diameter corresponding to 60% finer.

Particle-Size Distribution Curve
A particle-size distribution curve can be used to determine the following four parameters for a
given soil:
3. Coefficient of gradation (Cc):

This parameter is defined as:
4. Sorting coefficient (S0): This parameter is

another measure of uniformity and is generally encountered
in geologic works and expressed as:

Grading of Soil
- Is the distribution of particles of different sizes in a soil mass. The grading can be
determined from the particle distribution curve.
1. Curve I represents a type of soil in which most

of the soil grains are the same size. This is called
poorly graded soil.

Grading of Soil
2. Curve II represents a soil in which the particle

sizes are distributed over a wide range, termed well
graded. A well-graded soil has a uniformity coefficient
greater than about 4 for gravels and 6 for sands, and a
coefficient of gradation between 1 and 3 (for gravels
and sands). A flat S-curve represents a soil which
contains the particles of different sizes in good
proportion.

Grading of Soil
3. Curve III represents a soil might have a

combination of two or more uniformly graded fractions.
This type of soil is termed gap graded. A curve with a
hump in which some of the intermediate size particles
are missing.

Uses of Particle Size Distribution Curve
This curve is extremely useful for coarse-grained soil but has limited application for fine-
grained since the behavior of fine-grained depends upon the plasticity characteristics.
1. It is used in the classification of coarse-grained soil.

2. The coefficient of permeability of a coarse-grained soil depends to a large extent on the size of
the particles.
3. The particle size is used to know the susceptibility of a soil to frost action.
4. The curve is required for the design of drainage filters.
5. The particle size distribution provides an index to the shear strength of the soil. Well-graded has
high shear strength.
6. The compressibility can be judged from its particle size distribution curve. A uniform soil is more
compressible than a well-graded soil.
7. The particle size distribution curve is useful in soil stabilization and for the design of pavement.
8. The particle size distribution curve may indicate the mode of deposition of a soil.
9. The particle size distribution curve of a residual soil may indicate the age of the soil deposit.

Particle Shape
The particle shape generally can be divided into three major categories:
1. Bulky
2. Flaky
3. Needle shaped
1. Bulky Particles
- are formed mostly by mechanical weathering
of rock and minerals. Geologists use such terms as
angular, subangular, subrounded, and rounded to
describe the shapes of bulky particles.
The angularity, A, is defined as

Particle Shape
1. Bulky
2. Flaky
3. Needle shaped
1. Bulky Particles
The sphericity of bulky particles is defined as:
De = equivalent diameter of the particle

V = volume of particle
Lp = length of particle

Particle Shape
1. Bulky
2. Flaky
3. Needle shaped
2. Flaky Particles
- have very low sphericity—usually 0.01 or less. These particles are predominantly clay
minerals.
3. Needle-shaped Particles
- are much less common than the other two particle types. Examples of soils containing
needle-shaped particles are some coral deposits and attapulgite clays.

EXAMPLE no.1

EXAMPLE 1
The following are the results of a sieve analysis:
a. Perform the necessary calculations and plot a grain-size distribution curve.

b. Determine D10, D30, and D60 from the grain-size distribution curve.
c. Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu.
d. Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.

EXAMPLE 1
a. Perform the necessary calculations and plot a grain-size distribution curve.
The following table can now be prepared for obtaining the percent finer.

EXAMPLE 1
b. Determine D10, D30, and D60 from the grain-size distribution curve.
The particle-size distribution curve

EXAMPLE 1
c. Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu.
Uniformity coefficient
d. Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.

Coefficient of gradation

EXAMPLE no.2

EXAMPLE 2
The grain-size characteristics of a soil are given here:
a. Draw the particle-size distribution curve.

b. Determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay according to the MIT system.
c. Repeat Part b using the USDA system.
d. Repeat Part b using the AASHTO system.

EXAMPLE 2
a. Draw the particle-size distribution curve.

EXAMPLE 2
b. Determine the percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay according to the MIT system.
Passing 2 mm = 100%
Passing 0.06 mm = 95%
Gravel :0%
Sand :100% - 95% = 5%
Silt : 95% - 42% = 53%
Clay : 42% - 0% = 42%

EXAMPLE 2
c. Repeat Part b using the USDA system.
Passing 2 mm = 100%
Gravel :0%
Sand :100% - 94% = 6%
Silt : 94% - 42% = 52%
Clay : 42% - 0% = 42%

EXAMPLE 2
d. Repeat Part b using the AASHTO system.
Passing 2 mm = 100%
Gravel :0%
Sand :100% - 96% = 4%
Silt : 96% - 42% = 54%
Clay : 42% - 0% = 42%

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Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

…..depending on the predominant

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Sand particles are made of mostly quartz and feldspar

Clays are mostly flake-shaped microscopic and submicroscopic

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

(1)sieve analysis (2) hydrometer analysis

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

The sieves used for soil

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Once the percent finer for each sieve is calculated

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

1. Effective size (D10): This parameter is the

2. Uniformity coefficient (Cu): This parameter

where D60 = diameter corresponding to 60% finer.

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

3. Coefficient of gradation (Cc):

4. Sorting coefficient (S0): This parameter is

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

1. Curve I represents a type of soil in which most

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

2. Curve II represents a soil in which the particle

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

3. Curve III represents a soil might have a

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

1. It is used in the classification of coarse-grained soil.

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

The angularity, A, is defined as

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

De = equivalent diameter of the particle

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

The following are the results of a sieve analysis:

a. Perform the necessary calculations and plot a grain-size distribution curve.

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

d. Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

The grain-size characteristics of a soil are given here:

a. Draw the particle-size distribution curve.

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

Grain Size CE322 by: vkis-caingles

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