INSTRUCTOR:

SOIL EXPLORATION ENGR. ADEEL ARSHAD

Group members

Name Class No. Registeration No.

Mudassir Ahmad Khan 200 17PWCIV4812
Muhammad Mansoor 221 17PWCIV4970
M.Aamir Ali Khan 204 17PWCIV4822
Inamullah 188 17PWCIV4782
Shamroz Khan 202 17PWCIV
Khalid Rehman 201 17PWCIV4901
Ehsan Khan 213 17PWCIV48
Mohsin Khan 198 17PWCIV4807
Shakir Khan 208 17PWCIV4832
Affan Khan 17PWCIV4

FIRST UP 2
CONSULTANTS
SAMPLE COLLECTION
UET Massjid which is at the depth of 7 feet

FIRST UP 3
CONSULTANTS
MOISTURE Presented by: Aamir Ali
Khan
CONTENT
FIRST UP 4
CONSULTANTS
 MOISTURE CONTENT:
“It indicates the amount of water present in a soil.”
Mathematically:

𝑊𝑤
W= 𝑊𝑠
Where,
W=Water content
Ww=Weight of water
Ws= Weight of soil

Standard Reference
ASTM D 2216
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
PROCEDURE:

• Soil sample of mass (20-30)g place in a container of

known mass and is weighed on a balance.

• Then allow it to dry by placing it in drying oven having

temperature 105-110°C for 24 hours .

• Then take it out and cool it and weigh its dry weight.

• Take at least three readings and take average of it.

Lab Sample For Moisture
Content FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
MOISTURE CONTENT OF ORDINARY SOIL
Table below shows the water content of the soil sample used in the experiment
Serial No Container No Weight of Weight of Weight of Water content
𝑊 −𝑊
Container Container+ Container+ Dry 𝑊 = 2 3 𝑋 100%
𝑊3 −𝑊1
Wet Soil Soil

1 FB 46 114 110 6.25

2 C1 45.5 120 117.5 3.47

3 F7 45 120 117.5 3.47

Average= 4.4%

FIRST UP 7
CONSULTANTS
ATTERBERG’S LIMIT:

Atterberg determined six limit of

consistency to describe consistency
or stability of fine grain of soil
with varying moisture content

These limits distinguished the boundaries of the several consistency states of plastic soils.
• The methods described herein are performed only on that portion of a soil that passes the 425-
μm (No. 40) sieve.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
 PLASTIC LIMIT: ASTM-D4318

The water content in percentage of a soil at the boundary between the plastic and semi solid states.
• A soil which has a range of a water content over which it has plasticity and will keep its shape on
drying is called plastic soil.
Water content at which a thread of soil with 3.2mm diameter begins to crumble.

• Plastic limit is the lower limit of the plastic stage of soil.

• The soil thread should not be crumble until its diameter becomes 1Τ8 𝑖𝑛 or 3.2mm.

• Moisture content in that sample will be recorded as plastic limit.

Standard Reference
ASTM D 4318
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
Procedure:
A briefly procedure of liquid limit:
• Take 20g of soil passing 40# sieve into a dish.
• Add water and mix thoroughly.
• Prepare several ellipsoidal-shaped soil masses by quizzing the soil with your hand.
• Put the soil in rolling device, and roll the soil until the thread reaches 1/8 in.
• Continue rolling until the thread crumbles into several pieces.
• Determine the moisture content of the crumbled soil.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
 OBSERVATION:

S.NO Container mass(g) Wet Dry weight Formula=(W- Percentage

sample+contnr(W) +contnr(D) (g) D/W0*100
(g)

1 46 47.5 46.8 (47.5-46.8)/47.5 1.4

2 23.5 25 24.6 (25-24.6)/25 1.6

3 46 48 47.2 (48-47.2)/48 1.66

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Plasticity Index:
Its is difference of liquid limit and plastic limit.
The range of water content over which soil behave plastically.

Mathematically:
PI=L.L-P.L

PI= 41-2

PI=39

FIRST UP 12
CONSULTANTS
 Presented by: Mohsin
Khan
SHRINKAGE LIMIT
FIRST UP 13
CONSULTANTS
 Definition:
• The maximum water content at which
further loss of water will not cause any
SHRINKAGE reduction in the volume of the soil mass
is called shrinkage limit of soil.
LIMIT • The shrinkage limit of soil is the water
content of the soil when the water is just
(ASTM sufficient to fill all the pores of the soil
and the soil is just saturated. The volume
D4943) of the soil does not decrease when the
water content is reduced below the
shrinkage limit.
 • Foundations laid over the soil undergo
differential settlement due to seasonal
variation in moisture content.

FIELD • It plays a basic role in the construction

of hydro-structures where there is a risk
APPLICATION of great variation in moisture content.

• Shrinkage limit must be taken into

account while designing highways and
railways.
APPARATUS

• Shrinkage dish
• Electric oven
• Mercury
• Sieve # 40
• Spatula
• Container
• Soil
• Water
PROCEDURE
• Take a soil sample (35-50gm) that passes through sieve # 40 and add
water in it to form a thick paste.
• Take a shrinkage dish weigh it and put some of this paste in it by
means of spatula and again weight it.
• Place the shrinkage dish in oven for 24 hours at a temperature of 105 –
1100C to find moisture content.
• Find the volume of shrinkage dish using mercury. This is equal to total
volume of soil sample(wet).
PROCEDURE Cont:
• Take mercury in container and weight it, put dry pat of shrinkage dish
in it, it will displace mercury. Find the weight of mercury displaced.
Determine the volume of mercury displaced, which will give you
volume of dry soil.
• Also the volume of soil displaced = wt. of mercury displaced / 13.6
• Shrinkage limit can be determined from the relation
PROCEDURE Cont:
• Where M1= initial wet mass
• V1= initial volume
• Ms = dry mass of soil
• V2 = volume after drying.
 Data Sheet for Shrinkage Limit Test
Determination
Observations and No.
Sl. No.
Calculations
1
Observation
Mass of empty mercury
1 76gm
dish
Mass of mercury dish,
with mercury equal to
2 267.5 gm
volume of the shrinkage
dish
Mass of mercury = (2) –
3 191.5 gm
(1)
Volume of shrinkage dish
4 14.08 cm3
V1= (3)/13.6
5 Mass of shrinkage dish 21 gm
Mass of shrinkage dish + 47 gm
6
wet soil
7 Mass of wet soil M1= (6) – (5) 25.5 gm

Mass of shrinkage dish + dry

8 44 gm
soil

9 Mass of dry soil Ms= (8) – (5) 19 gm

Mass of mercury dish +

10 mercury equal to in volume of 229.5 gm
dry pat

Mass of mercury displaced by

11 dry pat 153.5 gm
=(10) – (1)
11.29 cm3
12 Volume of dry pat V2= (11)/13.6
 Calculations

Shrinkage limit,
13 19.53

14 Shrinkage ratio, 1.68

Volumetric shrinkage 24.71

15

Results of Shrinkage Limit Test

Shrinkage limit = 19 %.
 Presented by :

SPECIFIC GRAVITY Khalid Rehman

FIRST UP 23
CONSULTANTS
 DETERMINATION OF
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL

Purpose;
This lab is performed to find the specific gravity of soil by using a picnometer.As specific gravity is the ratio of
the density of dry soil to the density of equal volume of distilled water.
Standard Reference:
ASTM D 854

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Significance: the specific gravity of soil is used in the phase relationship of air water
and solids in a given volume of the soil.
• Equipments:
• Sieve ;10 Picnometer, Balance funnel Vaccum pump Spoon Soil sample and water.
• Test Procedure;

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
TEST PROCEDURE
• Determine and record the weight of the empty clean and dry picnometer
• Take 125 g of soil sample and place it in the picnometer
• Find and record the weight of the picnometer counting the dry soil
• Add distilled water to fill about half to half-fourth of the picnometer. Soak the sample for 10
minutes.
• Apply the partially vaccum pump for the 10 min, to remove the entraped air .

Standard Reference
ASTM D 854
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Fill the picnometer with distilled water and clean its exterior surface and determine the weight of
the picnometer and contents.
• Empty the picnometer and clean it, and then fill it with distilled water only, clean the exterior
surface and determine the weight of the picnometer and distilled water
• Empty the picnometer and clean it.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
DATA ANALYSIS
• Calculate the S.G of the soil solids using the following formula:

S.G(Gs)= W1/W1+(WA-WB)

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
DATA SHEET
• Speciman # = 1
• Picnometer # = 10
• Wp = mass of empty picnometer = 495.5g
• Wps= mass of empty picnometer +dry soil=545.5g
• Wb= mass of empty picnometer +dry
• Soil + water=717g
• Wa=mass of picnomter +water= 687.5g
• Specific Gravity=2.4g

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
GRADATION OF
SOIL BY SIEVE Presented By:
Inamullah

ANALYSIS
APPARATUS:
• Balance
• Set of sieves
• Cleaning brush,
• Sieve shaker,
• Pan,

Standard Reference
ASTM D 432
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
PROCEDURE

• 1. Write down the weight of each sieve as well as the bottom pan to be used in the
analysis.
• 2. Record the weight of the given dry soil sample.
• 3. Make sure that all the sieves are clean, and assemble them in the ascending order of
sieve numbers (sieve size 01” at top and #200 sieve at bottom). Place the pan below #200
sieve. Carefully pour the soil sample into the top sieve and place the cap over it.
• 4. Place the sieve stack in the mechanical shaker and shake for 10 minutes.
• 5. Remove the stack from the shaker and carefully weigh and record the weight of each
sieve with its retained soil. In addition, remember to weigh and record the weight of the
bottom pan with its retained fine soil.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
S.No Sieve No Nominal Mass Percentage Mass Percentage
Sieve Dia (mm)
Retained (g)
Retained (%) Passed Passing (%)
1 01” 25.4 0 0 2000 100
2 ¾” 19 420 21 1580 79
3 ½” 12.7 310 15.5 1270 63.5
4 3/8” 9.51 210 10.5 1060 53
5 #4 4.75 190 9.5 870 43.5
6 #8 2.38 84 4.2 786 39.3
7 #16 1.19 124 6.2 662 33.1
8 #30 0.595 366 18.3 296 14.8
9 #50 0.297 232 11.6 64 3.2
10 #100 0.149 54 2.7 10 0.5
11 #200 0.074 4 0.2 6 0.3
12 Pan 6 0.3 0 0

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
 Gradation Curve
100

90

80

70
Percentage Passing (%)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Sieve Size (mm)

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
 LIQUID Presented by:
Shamroz Khan

LIMIT (L L)
FIRST UP 35
CONSULTANTS
•Liquid Limit Test of Soil by Casagrande
Method .

Liquid limit:
The liquid limit (LL) is conceptually defined as the water content at which the behavior of a clayey soil
changes from the plastic state to the liquid state.

Standard Reference
ASTM D 4318
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
THEORY:
The liquid limit is the moisture content at which the groove, formed by a
standard tool into the sample of soil taken in the standard cup, closes for 10 mm on being given 25 blows in a
standard manner.

This is the limiting moisture content at which the cohesive soil passes from liquid state to plastic state.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• NEED AND SCOPE:

• Liquid limit is significant to know the stress history and general properties of the soil met with construction.

• From the results of liquid limit the compression index may be estimated. The compression index value will help us in
settlement analysis.

• If the natural moisture content of soil is closer to liquid limit, the soil can be considered as soft if the moisture content
is lesser than liquids limit, the soil can be considered as soft if the moisture content is lesser than liquid limit. The soil
is brittle and stiffer.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Apparatus required for test:
1. Balance,
2. Casagrende or Liquid limit device,
3. Grooving tool,
4. Mixing dishes,
5. Spatula,
6. Electrical Oven

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Procedure:

• Observation and Calculation:

Determination 1 2 3 4 5
no
Container no F5 f13 112 G2 h11

Mo(mass cont) 17.33 17.82 15.06 17.40 15.71

M1(+wet soil) 23.4 24.83 21.13 22.9 22 .4

M2(+ dry soil) 21.45 22.67 19.29 21.38 20.6

No of Blow 16 19 22 27 31

Moisture cont 47.3 44.45 43.5 39.7 36.25

%
Liquid limit 41
from plot
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Graph:

Liquid limit of soil

48
• Moisture content:
=(W1-W2)/(W2-Wo)*100%
46

Moisture content
44

42

40

38

36
1 10 100
No of blow

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
• Discussion:
• In general, natural soil used for plastic and liquid limit tests should not be oven dried.
• Drying causes the particles to sub-divide and also causes the removal of absorbed water.
• It is reported (Lamb 1951) that oven-dried organic soils tend to show a lower w1 value than those of soils that have not been
dried.
•
• Thus, sometimes natural soils are directly used for a test without oven drying if all the particles are less than 425 μm
• in size.
• In case some stones are present, the wet soil is rubbed through the 425 μm IS sieve till a sufficient quantity of soil is
collected to run the test.

FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
 STANDARD
PROCTER TEST
Presented by :
Muhammad Affan
INTRODUCTION

The Proctor compaction test is a laboratory method of

experimentally determining the optimal moisture content at
which a given soil type will become most dense and achieve its
maximum dry density.

The ASTM D698 covers this experiment.

The equation used for dry density is,

 rd = rb/(1+w)
Standard Reference
ASTM D 698
FIRST UP 44
CONSULTANTS
 PROCEDURE

 The 4” mold is filled in three layers. Each

layer is compacted by 25 blows of a 5.5lb
rammer.

 3% water is added until the weight

becomes constant or is reduced.

FIRST UP 45
CONSULTANTS
CALCULATION TABLE
1st trial 2nd trial 3rd trial 4th trial

We 3708g 3708g 3708g 3708g

We +Ws 5516g 5672g 5718g 5690g

WC 11% 14.2% 17.1% 19.7%

rd 107.73 113.748 113.52 109.524

Symbol Meaning
We Weight of empty mold
We+Ws Weight of mold plus soil
WC Water content
rd Dry density in lbf/ft^3

FIRST UP 46
CONSULTANTS
RESULTS

Graph for soil without modifier

Max dry density = 114.2 lbf /ft3

Optimum moisture content = 15.4% FIRST UP 47
CONSULTANTS
 APPLICATION
Hydraulic piping failures

• The lack of compaction beneath the

lower hemisphere of the circular
culverts led to numerous hydraulic
piping failures.

FIRST UP 48
CONSULTANTS
MODIFY PROCTER
TEST

Presented by :
Muhammad Mansoor
INTRODUCTION

 Modified proctor test is used to

determine the compaction of different types
of soils and the properties of soil with
change in moisture content.

 The modified proctor test is of great

importance and is widely used in the
construction of roads, highways, earth fill
dams, earth filling, airports etc.

Standard Reference
ASTM D 1557
FIRST UP 50
CONSULTANTS
 APPARATUS

6” mold with collar

Balance
Rammer weighing 10 lb
Drying Oven
Sieve no ¾”
Straight edge
 jack

FIRST UP 51
CONSULTANTS
 PROCEDURE
 Add about 3% water and mix it well.
 Fix collar over the mold.
 Add soil into 5 layers so, that each layer should receive 56
blows.
 Take portion of soil sample after compaction of 5 layers for
moisture content determination.
 Weigh and record the weight of compacted soil.
 Pass the soil through sieve ¾”
 Repeat the experiment until the weight becomes constant or
reduces
 APPLICATION

One of the best known foundation failure occurred in October

1913.

At North Transcona, Canada. It was ascertained later on that

the failure occurred when the pressure at the base soil of the
foundation was about equal to the calculated bearing capacity
of the underlying layer.

This pressure resulted in the compaction of the soil which

caused settlement.

FIRST UP 53
CONSULTANTS
 CALCULATION TABLE

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading 4th Reading 5th Reading

Weight of soil 4.14kg 4.51kg 4.62kg 5.10kg 4.98kg

(Ws)

Water content 5.2% 7.3% 9% 15.1% 21.5%

(Wc)

Dry Density
(rd) 115.98 119.143 132.001 133.121 122.205

FIRST UP 54
CONSULTANTS
GRAPH FOR SOIL BETWEEN DRY DENSIITY AND
WATER CONTENT

• Max Dry Density = 134.5 lbf/ft3

• Optimum moisture content=14%
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
CONSTANT HEAD
PERMEABILITY Presented By:
Mudassir Ahmad Khan
TEST
FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS
INTRODUCTION
“The measurement of capability of soil to allow water to pass through it is
called permeability”.
There are two permeability test.
1) Constant head test 2) falling head test
Constatnt head permeability head test:
The constant head permeability test is a common laboratory testing method
used to determine the permeability of granular soils like sands and gravels
containing little or no silt.
• Water used for testing is de-aired water at constant temperature
 The constant head method is used for permeable soil (K>10-4 cm/sec)
 The falling head test method is used for less permeable soils (K<10-4
cm/sec)
Standard reference
ASTM D 5084-3
FIRST UP 57
CONSULTANTS
 APPARATUS:
1. Permeameter
2. Constant head water supply reservoir
3. Constant head collecting chamber/flask
4. Stop watch

FIRST UP 58
CONSULTANTS
PROCEDURE
Connect the constant head reservoir to the soil sample container.
 Allow the water to flow through the soil till a steady state is attained.
Start the stop watch, and collect the water flowing out of the container
in a measuring flask for some convenient time interval.
 Measure the difference of head (h) in levels between the constant head
reservoir and the outlet in the container.
Water flows out through orifice but the head is maintained as constant.
 Find the diameter & length of a soil sample container.
Then by using the formula find the coefficient of permeability of soil.

From Darcy law : K = QL / AhT L=13cm

D=10cm
FIRST UP 59
CONSULTANTS
CALCULATION TABLE

S NO. Head Time T (sec) volume (ml) K=QL/AHT

difference (cm/sec)
H(cm)

1 141 60 36 0.000704

2 141 60 31 0.000586

Average value of k is 0.000645 cm/sec

Precautions:
I. Keep the head constant through the test.
II. Carefully note the volume of water collected in a flask for a specific time.

FIRST UP 60
CONSULTANTS
PERMEABILITY OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF SOIL

FIRST UP 61
CONSULTANTS
THANK YOU