Department of Civil and Construction Engineering

Soil Mechanics
Laboratory Manual
2017 - 2018

Engr. Rana Muhammad Sajid

Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Chapter-1 MOISTURE CONTENT …………………………………………………………………….………….….3

• Moisture Content Determination by Oven drying method …………….….……....….3

• Moisture Content Determination by Speedy moisture meter ………………...….….7

Chapter-2 SPECIFIC GRAVITY ……………………………………………………………………….……………….10

• Specific Gravity Determination …………………………………………….………………….……10

Chapter-3 GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS.…………………………………………………….…………………….………14

• Sieve Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………….….14

• Hydrometer Analysis …………………………………………………………………………….……….19

Chapter-4 ATTERBERG LIMITS ………………………………………………………………………………………25

• Liquid Limit Test ……………………………………………………………………………….……………26

• Plastic Limit Test …………………………………………………………………………………..……….27

Chapter-5 FIELD DETERMINATION OF DENSITY …………………………………………………….………30

• Core Cutter Method ………………………………………………………………………………………30

• Sand Replacement Method …………………………………………………………….……………33

Chapter-6 COMPACTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………37

• Standard AASHTO Method …………………………………………………………………….………37

• Modified AASHTO Method …………………………………………………………………….………41

Chapter-7 PERMEABILITY……………………………………………………………………………………………….45

• Constant Head Permeameter …………………………………………………………………………47

• Variable Head Permeameter ………………………………………………………….………………49

Chapter-8 TRIAXIAL TEST …………………………………………………………………………………..……….…51

• Triaxial test …………………………………………………………….…………………………………..…51

Chapter-9 CONSOILIDATION TEST …………………………………………………………………………………55

• Consolidation Test ………………………………………………………………………………………….55

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Chapter-1 MOISTURE CONTENT

Moisture Content Determination by Oven

Drying Method
Objective
To determine the amount of water or moisture present in the given quantity of soil in terms of its dry
weight.

Need and Scope of the Experiment

In almost all soil tests natural moisture content of the soil is to be determined. The knowledge of the
moisture content is essential in all studies of soil mechanics. To sight a few, natural moisture content is
used in determining the bearing capacity and settlement. The natural moisture content will give an idea
of the state of soil in the field.

Theory
Water content or moisture content determination is a routine laboratory test, the results of which are
used in evaluation of different important engineering properties of soil. The determination of moisture
content involves removing of soil moisture by oven-drying a soil sample until the weight remains
constant. The moisture content is expressed in percentage and is calculated from the sample weight
before and after drying.

Mathematically it can be written as;

𝑊𝑤
ω= 𝑊𝑠
𝑋100

Ww = Weight of soil water

Ws = Weight of soil solids

Apparatus
1. Moisture tins
2. Weighing balance (Least count of 0.01 g)
3. Drying oven (Temperature control at 110 ±5 0C)

Procedure
1. Take empty clean moisture tin and mark it with an identifying number or code Fig. 1.1.
2. Weight the container and record the weight as W1 to the nearest 0.01 g

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

3. Take representative wet soil sample (not less than 20 g) and place it quickly in the moisture tin
4. Weight the moisture tin with wet soil sample to the nearest 0.01 g and record this weight as W2
5. Place the moisture tin with the wet soil sample in drying oven, Fig 1.2 at constant temperature
of 110 ± 50 C for 24 hours.
6. After 24 hours remove the moisture tin from drying oven and weight it to the nearest 0.01 g.
Record this weight as W3

Fig 1.1: Weighing balance, Moisture tins, Gloves and Spatula

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Fig 1.2: Drying oven (Temperature control at 110 ±5 C)

Precautions
1. If it is not possible to place the container carrying wet soil sample in drying oven immediately,
cover the container with led
2. If it is suspected that gypsum is present in the soil, the soil sample should not be subjected to a
temperature beyond 600C. Otherwise gypsum will lose its water of crystallization affecting
thereby the results of moisture content. Oven drying at 600C may, however, be continued for
longer time in order to ensure complete evaporation of free water present in the sample.

Observations and Calculations

𝑊𝑤 W2−W3
ω= 𝑊𝑠
𝑋100 =
W3−W1
X 100
Where;

W1 = Weight of tin = (g)

W2 = Weight of moist soil + tin = (g)

W3 = Weight of dried soil + tin = (g)

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Can No.

Wt. of wet soil + can (g) W2

Wt. of dry soil + can (g) W3

Wt. of can (g) W1

Wt. of dry soil (g)

Wt. of moisture (g)

Water content (%)

Depth (m)

Moisture Content, ω =

Reference
ASTM D2216-98

Standard test method for laboratory determination of water (moisture) content of soil and rock by mass.

Comments

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Moisture Content Determination by

Speedy Moisture Meter
Objective
To determine the moisture content of a soil sample by speedy moisture meter.

Theory
The speedy moisture meter provides a quick, simple means of determining the moisture content of soil.
It is particularly useful for field determination of moisture contents in conjunction with the field
compacting testing. The speedy moisture meter is also known as calcium carbide gas moisture tester.

The basic principle behind this method is that the free moisture in the soil reacts with calcium carbide
reagent to form a gas called acetylene gas eq.1. This gas exerts a pressure on the internal side of the
walls of speedy moisture meter which is reflected by a pressure dial. The pressure dial is calibrated in
such a way that pressure reading reflects the percent moisture by wet weight of soil directly.

The reaction which takes place inside the speedy moisture meter is as follows;

CaC2 + H2O → CaO + C2H2 ----------------------------------------------------------- (1)

Since the moisture content by definition is expressed as a percentage of dry weight of soil, eq. 2.
Readings obtained by speedy moisture meter are corrected using following expression;

ω𝑠𝑝
ω= 1− ω x 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (2)
𝑠𝑝

where

ω = Moisture content in percentage of dry weight of soil

ωsp= Moisture content as obtained by speedy moisture meter expressed as decimal fraction

Apparatus
1. Speedy moisture meter
2. Calcium carbide reagent
3. Two 1.25 inch steel balls
4. Cleaning brush and cloth
5. Scope for measuring calcium carbide reagent

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Procedure
1. Weight approximately 6 g of wet soil sample on the tarred scale, and place it in the cap of the
tester
2. Place three scoops of calcium carbide and two inch steel balls in the large chamber of the
moisture tester Fig. 1.3
3. With the pressure vessel in an approximate horizontal position, insert the cap in the pressure
vessel and seal it by tightening the clamp
4. Raise the moisture tester to a vertical position so that the soil in the cap falls into the pressure
vessel
5. Shake the instrument vigorously so that all lumps are broken up to permit the calcium carbide to
react with all available free moisture. The instrument should be shaken with a rotating motion
so that the steel balls do not damage the instrument or cause soil particles to become
embedded in the orifice leading to pressure diaphragm
6. When the needle stops moving, record the dial reading while holding the instrument in a
horizontal position at eye level.
7. With the cap of the instrument pointed away from the operator, slowly release the gas
pressure. Empty the pressure vessel and examine the material for lumps. If the sample is not
completely pulverized, the test should be repeated using a new wet soil sample.
8. Apply correction to the dial reading to convert the moisture content in terms of dry weight of
soil

Fig 1.3: Speedy moisture meter

Limitation
The speedy moisture meter can determine the moisture content only up to 20 percent. If the moisture
content of the sample exceeds the limit of the pressure gauge, one half size samples must be used and
dial gauge reading must be doubled.

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Precautions
1. Care should be taken that no calcium carbide comes in contact with the soil until a complete
seal is achieved
2. Shake the instrument by rotating the instrument in horizontal plane so that moisture tester is
not damaged during shaking
3. After completion of test, slowly release the gas pressure pointing the instrument away from
operator

Observations and Calculations

ω𝑠𝑝
ω= 1− ω x 100
𝑠𝑝

Moisture Content, ω =

Sample no.

ω𝑠𝑝

Comments

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Chapter-2 SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Specific Gravity Determination

Objective
To familiarize the students with general method of obtaining the specific gravity of a mass of any type or
material composed of small particles (especially soil)

Theory
A value of specific gravity is necessary to compute the void ratio of a soil, it is used in the hydrometer
analysis, and it is useful to predict the unit weight of a soil. Occasionally, the specific gravity may be
useful in soil mineral classification; e.g., iron minerals have large value of specific gravity than silica’s.

The specific gravity of any substance is defined as the unit weight of the material divided by the unit
weight of distilled water at 40C. Thus specific gravity of soil can be found as;

𝛾𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝐺𝑠 =
𝛾𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
As long as equal volume of water and soil are involved, the above stated form can be simplified as;

𝑊𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙⁄
𝐺𝑠 = 𝑉
𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟⁄
𝑉
Strictly speaking above mentioned equation is only valid if we do not consider any density change with
temperature. However, a slight increase in precision to account for temperature effects on the density
of water can be obtained by rewriting above stated equation as;

𝑊𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝐺𝑠 = × 𝛼
𝑊𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
Where α is the ratio of the unit weight of water at temperature T of the test and at 40. The value of Gs
obtained at temperature T (which will be too large if T ˃ 40C) is appropriately reduced.

𝛾𝑇
α=
𝛾40𝐶

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Apparatus
1. Pycnometer
2. Weighing balance (Least count of 0.01 g)
3. Thermometer
4. Hot plate or Bunsen burner
5. Funnel
6. Drying oven
7. Paper towel

Procedure
1. Weigh the dry pycnometer to nearest 0.01 g and record it as W1
2. Take about 100 g of oven dried soil and put it into the flask. Weigh the flask and dry soil to the
nearest 0.01 g. Record this weight as W2
3. Add water in the Pycnometer, Fig. 2.1 until it is about two-third full. In order to remove the
entrapped air from soil and water, heat the mixture at least 2h after soil –water mixture comes
to a full boil. Use only enough heat to keep the slurry boiling. Agitate the slurry as necessary to
prevent any soil from sticking to or drying on to the glass above the slurry surface
4. Allow the mixture to cool, and then fill the flask with distilled water to above the calibration
mark
5. Place the stopper in the bottle while removing the excess water. Be sure the entire exterior of
the flask is dry. Weigh the flask to the nearest 0.01 g and record this weight as W3
6. Empty the flask, wash it thoroughly and fill it completely with water. Dry the exterior of the
flask. Weigh the flask and record it as W4
7. Repeat the procedure three times
8. Record the temperature of soil water mixture

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Fig 2.1: Pycnometer and Weighing balance

(𝑾𝟐 − 𝑾𝟏 )𝜶
𝑮𝒔 =
[(𝑾𝟒 − 𝑾𝟏 ) − (𝑾𝟑 − 𝑾𝟐 )]
Precautions
1. Make sure no air is entrapped within the soil water mixture
2. Weights should be obtained from a properly balanced weighing scale

Observations and Calculations

Test no. 1 2 3

Volume of flask

W1 (g)

W2 (g)

W3 (g)

W4 (g)

α (Table 1)

Gs

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Soil Mechanic LABORATOY MANUAL

Table 1. Typical values of correction factor, α;

T (0C) Correction Factor, α

4 1.0000

15 0.9999

20 0.9982

25 0.9971

30 0.9957

35 0.9941

Reference

ASTM D854-02
Standard test method for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer

Comments

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