EXPERIMENT NO.

7
MOISTURE CONTENT OF SOIL
Year and Section:

4CE-D

Date Started:

Group Number:

Date Finished:

Group Members:

Date Submitted:

March 3, 2016
March 3, 2016
March 10, 2016

BERONA, CHRISTELLE MARIE

CORTES, RHON JUNEE

CAI, JHUNSCLY

CRESPO, MICHAEL

CAJAYON, PAULINE ETHEL ANN

CRUZ, RYLE MATTHEW

CHAVEZ, JERVIC

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
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DE GUZMAN, NEAL

1. INTRODUCTION:
A sieve analysis (or gradation test) is a practice or procedure used (commonly used in civil
engineering) to assess the particle size distribution (also called gradation) of a granular material.
The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the material performs in use. A
sieve analysis can be performed on any type of non-organic or organic granular materials including
sands, crushed rock, clays, granite, feldspars, coal, and soil, a wide range of manufactured
powders, grain and seeds, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method. Being such a
simple technique of particle sizing, it is probably the most common.
2. OBJECTIVE:
The experiment aims to determine the percentage of different grain sizes contained within a
soil. The mechanical or sieve analysis is performed to determine the distribution of the coarser,
larger-sized particles.
3. SPECIMEN:
2 kg oven dried soil
4. APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES:
Set of sieves with pan and cover
Brush
Balance
Mortar and pestle
5. 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 (#4 sieve 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.

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
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4. Place the sieve stack in the mechanical shaker and shake for 10 minutes or manually
but carefully shake the stack.
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.
COMPUTATIONS:
DATA ANALYSIS
Sieve Analysis
1. Obtain the mass of soil retained on each sieve by subtracting the weight of the empty sieve
from the mass of the sieve + retained soil, and record this mass as the weight retained on
the data sheet. The sum of these retained masses should be approximately equals the
initial mass of the soil sample. A loss of more than two percent is unsatisfactory.
2. Calculate the percent retained on each sieve by dividing the weight retained on each sieve
by the original sample mass.
3. Calculate the percent passing (or percent finer) by starting with 100 percent and
subtracting the percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.
4. Make a semi logarithmic plot of grain size vs. percent finer.
5. Compute Cc and Cu for the soil.
Formula/s:
% Retained

(Weight of sieve + residue) Weight of sieve

Weight of sample

Cumulative % Retained
Cumulative % Passing (Finer)

= % Retained
= 100 Cumulative % Retained

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
e7Analysis
1

6. DATA AND RESULTS

Table 7.1 Sieve Analysis of Soil Sample

Sieve No.

Sieve Size, mm
Weight of
Sieve, kg.
Weight of Sieve +
Retained, kg.
Weight
Retained, Kg.

% Retained

Cumulative
% Retained
Cumulative
% Passing
(Finer)
4
4.76
0.50878
0.64316
0.13438
13.026
13.026
86.974
8
2.36
0.45803
0.67659

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|Experiment No.
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0.21856
21.187
34.213
65.787
10
2.00
0.44707
0.43528
0.04821
4.673
38.886
61.114
12
1.70
0.46092
0.46880
0.00788
0.764
39.650
60.350
16
1.18
0.40697
0.52713
0.12016
11.648
51.298
48.702
30
0.60
0.39722
0.41927
0.02205

CE 424
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|Experiment No.
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2.137
53.435
46.565
40
0.425
038327
0.54656
0.16329
15.829
69.264
30.736
60
0.250
0.36396
0.53972
0.17576
12.038
86.302
13.698
100
0.150
0.35982
0.41541
0.06559
6.358
92.660
7.340
200
0.075
0.32322
0.36497
0.04186
4.058

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
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96.718
3.282
PAN
___
0.06845
0.10231
0.03386
3.282
100.00

___

From Grain Size Distribution Curve:

(See attached Grain-size Distribution Curve Plot)
% Gravel

13.206

D10

= 0.191

% Sand

= 83.692

D30

= 0.417

% Fines

3.282

D60

= 1.563

Cu

8.183

Cc

= 0.582

7. FORMULAS AND COMPUTATIONS

Weight Retained

= ( + )
()

Percent Retained
Cumulative Retained
%
%

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
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Cumulative % passing
= (100 Cumulative retained)
0.64316
0.50878
=
0.13438
0.
64315

=13.026

1.0316

13.026
100 13.026 =86.974
0.67659
0.45803
=
0.21856
21.187
34.213
65.787
0.43528
0.44707
=
0.04821
4.673
38.886
61.114
0.46880
0.46092
=
0.00788
0.764
39.650
60.350

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
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0.52713
0.40697
=
0.12016
11.648
51.298
48.702
0.41927
0.39722
=
0.02205
2.137
53.435
46.565
0.54656
038327
=
0.16329
15.829
69.264
30.736
0.53972
0.36396
=
0.17576
12.038
86.302
13.698
0.41541

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
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0.35982
=
0.06559
6.358
92.660
7.340
0.36497
0.32322
=
0.04186
4.058
96.718
3.282
0.10231
0.06845
=
0.03386
3.282
100.00

___

= 1.0316

D60 :

D30:

60.3560
1.7D 60
=
D60 = 1.563mm
61.31460.35
21.7
3013.698
D 300.25
=
30.73613.698 0.4250.25

D30 = 0.417mm

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
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D10:

107.34
D100.149
=
13.6987.34 35 0.250.149

D10 = 0.191mm

Coefficient of Gradation:
=

0.4172
=0.582
0.191 x 1.563
Uniformity Coefficient:

1.563
0.191

8.813

8. FIGURES / GRAPHS

Weighing of sieves

Sample Sieve Description

Sieve mesh blockage

Weighing of sieves

Sieving Procedure

Gravel soil retained w/o

pulverizing

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
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1

Fine Grained Soil retained

Particle size Distribution Curve

Experiment Demonstrators

9. SOURCES OF ERRORS
In performing this experiment, the group encountered many noticeable errors. First noticeable
error was the sieve and pan themselves have holes resulting to decreased total and accumulated mass.
Also, there were holes in the pan leading to multiple or repeated trials. Another main sources of error is
the incorrect sieving procedure. Incorrect sieving causes soil not to go through a specific sieve size when
actually they could. Also, forceful sieving may cause the soil to fall out of the sieving resulting to decrease
mass. Other errors are caused by organic materials in the soil and soil particles not properly pulverized by
the mortar and pestle.
10. CONCLUSIONS AND REMARKS
To arrive at a more accurate answer, the students wholl be doing this experiment soon must do it in a
controlled environment and with excessive care so as to avoid unnecessary errors when performing the
experiment. Since the errors are mainly because of human carelessness only. Also, one must make sure
that the equipment being used are properly cleaned from the beginning of the experiment to avoid
inconsistency in mass and blockage of wires which again may contribute errors in ones data.

CE 424
L:Soil Mechanics 1 Laboratory
|Experiment No.
:Siev
e7
8Analysis
1