GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS.

( IS : 2720
PART 4 )
GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS.
( IS : 2720 PART 4 )
INTRODUCTION:
Most of the methods for soil identification and classification are based on certain physical
properties of the soils. The commonly used properties for the classification are the grain
size distribution, liquid limit and plasticity index. These properties have also been used in
empirical design methods for flexible pavements, and in deciding the suitability of sub
grade soils.
The soils received from the field are divided into two parts: one, the fraction retained on
2mm sieve and the other passing 2mm sieve. The sieve analysis also may be carried out
separately for these two fractions. The fraction retained on 2mm sieve may be subjected
to dry sieving using bigger sieves and that passing 2mm sieve may be subjected to wet
sieving; however if this fraction consists of single grained soil with negligible fines
passing 0.075mm size, dry sieving may be carried out.
Apparatus:
Various apparatus include set of standard sieves of different sieve sizes, balance, rubber
covered pestle and mortar, oven, riffle and sieves shaker.
Procedure:
(a) For the fraction retained on 2.0mm sieve: Sufficient quantity of the dry soil
retained on 2.0mm sieve is weighed out. The quantity of sample taken may be increased
when the maximum size of particles is higher. The sample is separated into various
fractions by sieving through the set of sieves of sizes 100, 63, 20, 6, 4.75 and 2 mm IS
sieves. Additional sieve size may also be introduced if necessary. 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 thus the soil fraction retained on each sieve is
carefully collected and weighed.
(b) For the fraction passing 2.0mm sieve and retained on 0.075mm sieve: Dry sieving
may be done in the case of soils which are cohesion less, single grained and without
lumps. Rifling or quartering method takes the required quantity of soil sample, dried in
oven at 1050 to 1100C and is subjected to dry sieve analysis using a set of sieves with
sieve openings 2.0, 0.6, 0.425, 0.15 and 0.075 mm, pan and lid, additional sieves may be
used or any of the sieves removed, depending upon the requirement of the test. The
material retained on each sieve and on the pan are separately collected and weighed.
Wet sieving may be adopted in the case of clayey or cohesive soils. Required quantity of
sample taken by riffling is weighed. The sample is spread in a tray or bucket and covered
with water. In case of soils having fractions that are likely to flocculate a dispersing agent

like sodium hexametaphosphate (2.0g) or sodium hydroxide (1.0g) and sodium carbonate
(1.0g) per liter of water may be added to the water. The mix is stirred and left for
soaking. The soaked soil specimen is placed over the set of sieves of sizes with the finest
sieve and pan at the bottom and washed thoroughly. Washing is continued till the water
passing each sieve is substantially clean. The fraction of each sieve is emptied carefully
without loss of material in separate trays, oven dried at 1050 to 1100C and each fraction
weighed separately.
Calculations:
The weight of dry soil fractions retained on each sieve is calculated as a percentage of the
total dry weight of the sample taken.
Results:
The results are plotted on a semi-logarithmic graph with the grain size or sieve size on the
X-axis in log. scale and the percentage finer of each sieve on the Y-axis in ordinary scale.
The smooth curve joining the points thus obtained is known as the particle size
distribution curve or diagram.
Uniformity coefficient of soil, Cu = D60 / D10
Coefficient of curvature, Cc = (D30)2 / (D10 X D60)
Where, D60, D30 and D10 are particle sizes corresponding to 60, 30 and 10 percent finer.