TESTING METHODOLOGY 13

TESTING
METHODOLOGY

4.1 General
For the present study, the samples had been collected nearby the Bemina Chowk area
adjacent to the N.H. Bye-Pass from a test pit at a depth of 1m from the ground surface
level. The test pit had already been dug by the agency that wanted the tests to be done
by a certified agency. Both disturbed and undisturbed samples have been taken from
the site.

4.2 Sampling Details

• Undisturbed Samples
Core cutters, CBR moulds have been used. Three samples of core cutters were
taken and the CBR moulds have been procured for the determination of bulk
density, moisture content, CBR value and the undisturbed unconfined compression
strength. Care has been exercised while ramming the samplers into the ground. The
dynamic pushes were avoided as far as possible to preserve the natural conditions.
The samples obtained were carefully placed in polythene bags and labeled properly.

• Disturbed Samples
About a gunny bag full of loose soil has been taken from the location. Although the
natural structure of the soil gets disturbed during sampling yet these samples
represents the composition and mineral content of the soil.

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4.3 Testing Methodology

The study is divided into two parts:

Part 1 Characterization of the soil obtained from the site.
Part 2 Study of the behaviour of sand on the CBR behavior of fine grained soils.

Part 1 Characterization of the soil obtained from the site.

For the characterization of the soil obtained from the site the general test are conducted
and the soil so obtained is characterized by an evaluation of its physical properties and
engineering properties

4.3.1 Physical Properties

The physical properties of the soil so procured are obtained by the evaluation of
a) Field capacity and moisture content.
b) Grain size distribution
c) Specific gravity.
d) Atterberg’s limits.

4.3.2 Geotechnical properties

The geotechnical properties are used to determine
a) Compaction characteristics
b) Strength characteristics.

4.3.3 Testing program

The program includes evaluation of physical and geotechnical properties.

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4.4 Physical properties

Following are the tests conducted on the procured soil to determine its physical
properties

4.4.1 Field Density and Moisture Content

The usual methods of measuring density of the in-situ are core cutter and sand
replacement methods. The field density has been determined by the commonly
employed core cutter techniques. (IS: 2720, Part 29, 1975).

The water content has been determined by oven drying method (IS: 2720, Part 2,
1973). A typical data sheet for the determination of the same has been presented below

Table 4.1 Data Sheet for Bulk Density

WEIGHT
WEIGHT OF
OF WEIGHT BULK
SAMPLE CORE
CORE OF SOIL DENSITY
NO. CUTTER+SOIL
CUTTER (g) (g/cm3)
(g)
(g)
1
2
3

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Table 4.2 Data Sheet for Moisture Content

WEIGHT OF WEIGHT OF WEIGHT

WEIGHT OF MOISTURE
SAMPLE EMPTY CONTAINER OF
CONTAINER+WET CONTENT
NO. CONTAINER + DRY SOIL WATER
SOIL (g) (%)
(g) (g) (g)
1
2
3

4.4.2 Specific Gravity

The specific gravity of the soil solids is determined by density bottle method for fine
grained soils (laboratory method) and gas jar method for all soils (field method). The
specific gravity has been determined by density bottle method (IS : 2720, Part 3/Sec
1,2, 1980). A typical data sheet for the determination of the same has been presented
below.

Specific Gravity determination

MASS OF EMPTY BOTTLE (M1) =

MASS OF BOTTLE + MOIST SOIL (M2) =

MASS OF BOTTLE + MOIST SOIL + WATER (M3) =

MASS OF BOTTLE + WATER (M4) =

M 2 − M1
SPECIFIC GRAVITY= =
(M 4 − M 1 ) − (M 3 − M 2 )

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4.4.3 Grain Size Distribution

Grain size is useful in determining the stability, resistance to shear, permeability,
compressibility and compactibility of the soil. Grain size can be determined
mechanically with sieves (direct) or indirectly by hydrometer or pipette methods. Sieving
is not practical for silt or clay sized particles since they tend to clog the screen. When
conducting grain size distribution on silt or clay sized particles, sedimentation in water
(hydrometer or pipette methods) is preferred. Grain size distribution significantly impacts
the weight bearing capacity of the soil.
The grain size distribution has been carried out by sieve analysis for particles of size
more than 75μ and by hydrometer analysis for particles of size less than 75μ. A typical
data sheet for the determination of the same has been presented below.

Table 4.3 Typical data sheet for Particle size distribution (Sieve Analysis).

MASS
SIEVE SIZE %AGE MASS CUMULATIVE
RETAINED %AGE FINER
(mm) RETAINED %AGE
(g)
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.50
0.30
0.15
0.075

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Table 4.4 Typical data sheet for Particle size distribution (Hydrometer Analysis)

CORRECTED
HYDRO
TIME HYDRO He
METER Rh=(Ro-Rw) TEMP He D=M %AGE
(t) METER t
READING *1000 (oC) (cm) FINER
(min.) READING (mm)
(Ro)
R=Rh+C

4.4.4 Atterberg’s Limits

Consistency limits are extensively used in Geotechnical Engineering and these include
liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit.
• Liquid limit
Liquid limit of a soil is the water content, expressed as a percentage of weight of
oven-dried soil, at the boundary between liquid and plastic states of consistency of
the soils. The liquid limit of the soil is determined by the flow curve. The water
content corresponding to 25 blows is liquid limit.
• Plastic limit
The plastic limit of a soil is the water content, expressed as the percentage of oven-
dried soil, at the boundary between the semi-solids states of consistency of the soil.
• Plasticity index
Plasticity index is the difference of the liquid limit and the plastic limit.
• Shrinkage limit
Shrinkage limit is the maximum water content, expressed as the percentage of oven-
dried weight at which any further reduction in water content will not cause a
decrease in the volume of soil.

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Plasticity tests are conducted on the soil that is finer than 0.425 mm to determine the
range of water content in which plasticity is exhibited. The type and amounts of clay
particles present and water content, as well as the physicochemical interactions of clay
particles, determine the plastic behaviour of the soil. The Atterberg’s limits, either
individually or with other soil properties, can be correlated to other properties such as
compactibilbity, compressibility, shear strength and permeability.
The liquid limit has been determined by using mechanical liquid limit device
(Casagrande’s apparatus). The plastic limit has been determined by the usual
procedure of rolling 3mm diameter thread (of uniform diameter) and determining the
water content at that stage by oven drying method. The shrinkage limit has been
determined by mercury replacement method in conformation with IS: 2720, Part 6,
1972.
Free swell Index has also been determined by using Kerosene oil.
The data sheets corresponding to above mentioned consistency limits are as follows:

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Table 4.5 Typical data sheet for Liquid Limit determination

DETERMINATIO 1 2 3 4 5
N NO.
NO. OF BLOWS
WEIGHT OF
CONTAINER (g)
WEIGHT OF
CONTAINER +
WET SOIL (g)
WEIGHT OF
CONTAINER +
DRY SOIL (g)
WEIGHT OF
WATER (g)
WEIGHT OF DRY
SOIL (g)
WATER
CONTENT (%)

Table 4.6 Typical data sheet for Plastic Limit determination

DETERMINATION NO. 1 2
WEIGHT OF CONTAINER
(g)
WEIGHT OF CONTAINER +
WET SOIL (g)
WEIGHT OF CONTAINER +
DRY SOIL (g)
WEIGHT OF WATER (g)
WEIGHT OF DRY SOIL (g)
WATER CONTENT (%)

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Table 4.7 Typical data Sheet for Shrinkage Limit determination

DETERMINATION NO. 1
WEIGHT OF SHRINKAGE DISH W1 (g)
WEIGHT OF SHRINKAGE DISH + WET SOIL W2 (g)
WEIGHT OF WET SOIL IN SHRINKAGE DISH W=W2-W1 (g)
WEIGHT OF SHRINKAGE DISH + DRY SOIL W3 (g)
WEIGHT OF DRY SOIL PAT WS =W3-W1 (g)
VOLUME OF WET SOIL=VOLUME OF SHRINKAGE DISH V1 (cm3)
VOLUME OF DRY SOIL PAT V2* (cm3)
(W − WS ) − γ W (V1 −V2 )
SHRINKAGE LIMIT=
WS

Table 4.8 Typical data sheet for Swell Index determination

VOLUME OF SOIL VOLUME OF SOIL

S.NO. TIME ELAPSED IN KEROSENE (Vi) IN WATER (Vf)
(cm3) (cm3)
1
2

V f −Vi
Thus, Free Swell Index (FSI) = * 100 =
Vi

4.5 Geotechnical Properties

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4.5.1 Compaction Characteristics
The density of soil is an important parameter since it controls its strength,
compressibility and permeability. Compaction is the process of increasing the density of
material by packing the particles close together with the reduction in volume of air. The
compacted unit weight depends upon the amount and method of energy application and
material properties such as grain size, gradation, particle shape, plasticity and the
moisture content at compaction.

Compaction mechanically increases the amount of solids per unit volume of soil. It
improves the engineering properties of the soil so that the required shear strength,
structure, or void ratios are obtained, while decreasing the shrinkage, permeability and
compressibility. The test aids in determining the percent compaction and water content
necessary to obtain the desired engineering properties for construction. For any
engineering application of soil, its strength characteristics are essential. In some special
cases, as for checking the short-term stability of foundations and slopes where the rate
of loading is fast but drainage is very slow, one of the most common shear tests is the
unconfined compression test (UCT). UCT is the simplest and quickest test for
determining the shear strength of cohesive soils. The results obtained from the
unconfined compression tests serve as a direct quantitative measure if the consistency
of cohesive soils, giving a clue to the danger of the

rupture of embankment slopes or earth masses; give the stress-strain relationship under
rapid failure conditions; provide basic information on strength properties, thus permitting
us to estimate the possible bearing capacity of the soil in foundations and earthworks.
The samples of the soil were the in-situ samples at natural bulk density and water
content.
The compaction characteristics viz. optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry
density (MDD) have been determined by Modified Proctor Test. The test results of the
compaction test are presented in a plot of dry density versus water content.
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The data sheet corresponding to the above mentioned is given below:

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Modified Proctor Test

Table 4.9 Data sheet for OMC and MDD determination

DETERMINATION NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
MASS OF MOULD (g)
MASS OF MOULD+COMPACTED SOIL (g)
MASS OF COMPACTED SOIL (g)
WEIGHT OF EMPTY CONTAINER (g)
WEIGHT OF CONTAINER+WET SOIL (g)
WEIGHT OF CONTAINER+DRY SOIL (g)
MOISTURE CONTENT (%)
BULK DENSITY (g/cm3)
DRY DENSITY (g/cm3)

4.5.2 Shear Strength Parameters

The behaviour of the soil under load is a measure of its shear strength. Before a
particular soil can be used for construction purposes, its shear strength must be
determined (e.g. bearing capacity and stability of earthen slopes are directly related to
shear strength).
The value of cohesion ‘c’ has been determined by unconfined compression test (UCT).
Following format has been used for recording the data

Table 4.10 Unconfined Compression Test record

CORRECTED
STRAIN STRESS
FORCE STRAIN AREA STRESS
S.NO. DIAL DIAL
(kg) (%) (A=A0/1-ε) (kg/cm2)
GAUGE GAUGE
(cm2)
1
2
3
4
5

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4.5.3 California Bearing Ratio Test

Of all the available methods of pavement design, the CBR method has been found to be
the most reliable practical means of evaluating the strength of the subgrade or base
course material (bearing capacity of the soil) and construction materials, and of
estimating the required thickness of pavement to satisfy a given loading. The design of
flexible pavement is generally guided by the criterion of CBR test, which is a measure of
the load carrying capacity (resistance to direct penetration) of any soil or granular
material, which is expressed as a percentage of the load carrying capacity of a standard
crushed rock specimen (which is taken as 100% value) determined by a penetration
test. Resistance to penetration of a rigid plunger is measured and the loads at
penetrations of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm are expressed as percentage of two standard loads
(1370 kg and 2055 kg). The higher percentage is taken as the CBR value (usually at 2.5
mm penetration). The test may be carried out on intact samples taken from the
subgrade or on sample compacted at 0.95 γdmax (preferably at modified proctor density)
and corresponding water content on the dry side of optimum in the laboratory or the test
may be performed in-situ. For highways, modified compaction hammer with a height of
fall of 31 cm and weighing 4.89 kg is generally used and the sample compacted in five
equal layers with 56 blows per layer.

The data sheet corresponding to the above-mentioned test is presented below:

Table 4.11

PENETRATION DIAL LOAD DIAL GAUGE READING

GAUGE LC=0.01 mm LC-1 DIVN. =5.8 kg
S.NO.
PENETRATION LOAD
DGR TOP BOTTOM AVERAGE
(mm) (kg)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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4.5.4 Direct Shear Test

The shear strength of a soil mass is its property against sliding along internal planes
within itself. In direct shear test, the sample is sheared along a horizontal plane. This
indicates that the failure plane is horizontal. The normal stress on this plane is the
external vertical load divided by the area of the soil sample. The test has been
conducted on remoulded samples prepared at the OMC and MDD. The size of the
samples so prepared was 6cm x 6cm and the thickness of the samples was 2.5cm. This
test gives us the shearing strength parameter, which is very helpful in measuring the
shear strength of a particular soil.
Table 4.12
AXIAL
STRAIN STRESS
SHEARING SHEAR STRAIN
DIAL DIAL
S.NO. DISPLACEMENT STRESS (%)
GAUGE GAUGE ∂(cm )
∂ (cm) (kg/cm2) ×100
READING READING
L(cm )

Part 2 Study of the effect of sand on the CBR behavior of fine grained soils.

The material which has been procured has been added with the sand procured from
Ganderbal .The Sand has been added in the Soil in various percentages of 25%, 50%,
62.5%, 75% and 87.5% and the following test have been conducted on the mixture
thereafter,

4.6 Compaction Characteristics of the soil mixture

Modified Proctor Compaction of the soil mixture at all the percentages of sand has been
carried out in order to determine OMC and MDD.

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4.7 CBR Values of the soil mixture

The CBR samples have been prepared at the OMC values of the respective soil
mixtures and the CBR values have been determined for Soaked as well as unsoaked
samples. The soaking of the soil mixture samples has been for the period of 4 days
only.

4.8 Direct Shear Test Values

Direct shear test has been performed on soil mixture prepared at various percentages
of sand and the shear strength parameter “φ ” has been obtained from the plots.

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