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Soil Mechanics - Chapter 2 Examples

This document provides three examples of soil mechanics problems involving grain size distribution analysis. [1] The first example analyzes the results of a sieve analysis to determine percentages of gravel, sand, silt and clay, and calculates coefficients of uniformity and gradation. [2] The second example repeats the analysis for a different data set. [3] The third example analyzes the results of a sieve and hydrometer test to determine soil classifications according to the MIT and AASHTO systems.

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2K views12 pages

Soil Mechanics - Chapter 2 Examples

This document provides three examples of soil mechanics problems involving grain size distribution analysis. [1] The first example analyzes the results of a sieve analysis to determine percentages of gravel, sand, silt and clay, and calculates coefficients of uniformity and gradation. [2] The second example repeats the analysis for a different data set. [3] The third example analyzes the results of a sieve and hydrometer test to determine soil classifications according to the MIT and AASHTO systems.

Uploaded by

Selino Cruz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INS 3121

SOIL MECHANICS
Examples:
Grain Size Distribution

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pelin ÖZENER


Civil Engineering Department
Geotechnics Division
Example 1

The table are the results of a sieve analysis: U.S. sieve no. Mass of soil
a) Determine the percent finer than each sieve retained (g)
and plot a grain-size distribution curve. 4 0
b) Determine D10, D30, and D60 from the grain- 10 18.5
size distribution curve.
20 53.2
c) Calculate the uniformity coefficient, Cu.
40 90.5
d) Calculate the coefficient of gradation, Cc.
60 81.8
e) Determine the percentages of gravel, sand,
silt, and clay-size particles using the Unified 100 92.2
Soil Classification System (USCS). 200 58.2
Pan 26.5
Solution 1
𝑀 − 𝑐𝑜𝑙. 4
Particle-size distribution curve × 100
𝑀
Opening Mass retained on Cumulative mass retained Percent
U.S. sieve (mm) each sieve (g) above each sieve (g) Finer
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
4 4.75 0 0 100.0
10 2.00 18.5 0 + 18.5 = 18.5 95.6
20 0.850 53.2 18.5 + 53.2 = 71.7 83.0
40 0.425 90.5 71.7 + 90.5 = 162.2 61.5
60 0.250 81.8 162.2 + 81.8 = 244 42.0
100 0.150 92.2 244 + 92.2 = 336.2 20.1
200 0.075 58.2 336.2 + 58.2 =394.4 6.3
Pan - 26.5 394.4 + 26.5 = 420.9 = ∑M 0.0
Solution 1
Particle-size distribution curve

100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
0.41
Percent finer

60.0
50.0
40.0
0.1
30.0
20.0
0.0
10.0
0.0
10 1 0.1 0.01
Particle size (mm)
Solution 1
 Uniformity coefficient, Cu

0.41
𝐶𝑢 𝟒. 𝟑
0.0

 Coefficient of gradation, Cc
2
0.1 2
𝐶𝑐 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕
× 0.41 × 0.0
Solution 1
 Percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay-size particles according to USCS.
Size (mm) Percent finer
76.2 100
4.75 100 100 – 100 = 0% gravel
100 - 6.3 = 93.7% sand
0.075 6.3
6.3 – 0 = 6.3% silt and clay
- 0
Example 2
U.S. Mass of Opening Percent
sieve no. soil (mm) Finer
Repeat Example 2 with the following:
retained (2) (5)
(g)
4 0 4.75 100.0
10 44 2.00 92.0
20 56 0.850 81.9
40 82 0.425 67.0
60 51 0.250 57.7
80 106 0.180 38.5
100 92 0.150 21.8
200 85 0.075 6.4
Pan 35 - 0.0
Solution 2
Particle-size distribution curve
Solution 2
 Uniformity coefficient, Cu

0. 3
𝐶𝑢 𝟑. 𝟏𝟓
0.0 3

 Coefficient of gradation, Cc
2
0.16 2
𝐶𝑐 𝟏
× 0.0 3 × 0.0 3

Size (mm) TS-1500 Percent finer


76.2 100
2 92 100 – 92 = 8% gravel
92 - 6.4 = 85.6% sand
0.075 6.4
6.4 – 0 = 6.4% silt and clay
- 0
Example 3

The following are the results of a sieve and Sieve


hydrometer analysis: number/grain Percent
Analysis size finer than
a) Draw the grain-size distribution curve.
Sieve 40 100
b) Determine the percentages of gravel, sand,
silt, and clay according to the MIT system. 80 97

c) Repeat part b according to the AASHTO 170 92


system. 200 90
Hydrometer 0.04 mm 74
0.015 mm 42
0.008 mm 27
0.004 mm 17
0.002 mm 11
Solution 3

Grain size Percent


(mm) finer than
0.425 100
0.18 97
0.09 92
0.075 90
0.04 74
0.015 42
0.008 27
0.004 17
0.002 11
Solution 3
 Percentages of gravel, sand, silt, and clay according to the MIT system.
Passing 2 mm = 100% Gravel: 0%
Sand: 100 – 83 = 17 %
Passing 0.06 mm = 83% Silt: 83 – 11 = 72%
Passing 0.002 mm = 11 % Clay: 11 – 0 = 11%

 According to the AASHTO system.


Passing 2 mm = 100% Gravel: 0%
Sand: 100 – 90 = 10 %
Passing 0.075 mm = 90% Silt: 90 – 11 = 79%
Clay: 11 – 0 = 11%
Passing 0.002 mm = 11 %

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