,CONTENTS
PREFACE vii
1. Laboratory Test and Preparation of Report 1
2. Determination of Water Content 9
3. Specific Gravity of Soil Solids 15
4. Sieve Analysis 23
5. Hydrometer Analysis 33
6. Liquid Limit Test—Percussion Cup Method 49
7. Liquid Limit Test—Fall Cone Method 59
8. Plastic Limit Test 65
9. Engineering Classification of Soils 73
10. Standard Proctor Compaction Test 91
11. Determination of Field Unit Weight of Compaction by
Sand Cone Method 105
12. Maximum and Minimum Dry Densities of Granular Soil (Sand) 115
13. Constant-Head Permeability Test in Sand 125
14. Falling-Head Permeability Test in Sand 135
15. Direct Shear Test on Sand 143
16. Unconfined Compression Test 155
17. Consolidation Test 169
18. Triaxial Tests in Clay 187
REFERENCES 207
APPENDICES
A Weight–Volume Relationships 209
B Data Sheets for Laboratory Experiments 215
C Data Sheets for Preparation of Laboratory Reports 279
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v
, 1
Laboratory Test and
Preparation of Report
1.1 Introduction
Proper laboratory testing of soils to determine their physical properties is an integral part in
the design and construction of structural foundations, the placement and improvement of
soil properties, and the specifications and quality control of soil compaction works. It must
be kept in mind that natural soil deposits often exhibit a high degree of nonhomogeneity.
The physical properties of a soil deposit can change to a great extent even within a few
hundred feet. The fundamental theoretical and empirical equations that are developed in
soil mechanics can be properly used in practice if, and only if, the physical parameters used
in those equations are properly evaluated in the laboratory. So, learning to perform labora-
tory tests of soils plays an important role in the geotechnical engineering profession. This
text has been prepared exclusively for hands-on classroom use by undergraduate civil engi-
neering and civil engineering technology students taking the introductory soil mechanics
(geotechnical engineering) course.
In the United States most laboratories conducting tests on soils for engineering pur-
poses follow the procedures outlined by the American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM). The procedures and equipment for soil tests may vary slightly from laboratory to
laboratory, but the basic concepts remain the same. The test procedures described in this
manual may not be exactly the same as specified by ASTM. However, for the students it is
beneficial to know the standard test designations and to compare them with the laboratory
work they have performed. For this reason, some selected ASTM standard test designations
are given in Table 1–1.
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1
, 2 SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY MANUAL
Table 1–1. Some Important ASTM Standard Test Designations∗
ASTM Chapter No.
Standard ASTM Title Citation
D-2216 Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content 2
of Soil and Rock by Mass
D-854 Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer 3
D-422 Particle-size Analysis of Soils 4, 5
D-4318 Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils 6, 8
D-3282 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and 9
Soil-aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction
Purposes
D-2487 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and 9
Soil-aggregate Mixtures for Engineering Purposes
(Unified Soil Classification System)
D-698 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction 10
Characteristics ofSoil Using Standard Effort [12,400
ft·lb/ft3 (600 kN·m/m3 )]
D-1557 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction 10
Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort [56,000
ft·lb/ft3 (2700 kN·m/m3 )]
D-1556 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of 11
Soil in Place by the Sand Cone Method
D-2167 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of 11
Soil in Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
D-4253 Standard Test Method for Maximum Index Density and 12
Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibrating Table
D-4354 Standard Test Method for Minimum Index Density and 12
Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density
D-2434 Standard Test Method for Permeability of Granular Soils 13
(Constant Head)
D-5084 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic 14
Conductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a
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Flexible-wall Permeameter
PREFACE vii
1. Laboratory Test and Preparation of Report 1
2. Determination of Water Content 9
3. Specific Gravity of Soil Solids 15
4. Sieve Analysis 23
5. Hydrometer Analysis 33
6. Liquid Limit Test—Percussion Cup Method 49
7. Liquid Limit Test—Fall Cone Method 59
8. Plastic Limit Test 65
9. Engineering Classification of Soils 73
10. Standard Proctor Compaction Test 91
11. Determination of Field Unit Weight of Compaction by
Sand Cone Method 105
12. Maximum and Minimum Dry Densities of Granular Soil (Sand) 115
13. Constant-Head Permeability Test in Sand 125
14. Falling-Head Permeability Test in Sand 135
15. Direct Shear Test on Sand 143
16. Unconfined Compression Test 155
17. Consolidation Test 169
18. Triaxial Tests in Clay 187
REFERENCES 207
APPENDICES
A Weight–Volume Relationships 209
B Data Sheets for Laboratory Experiments 215
C Data Sheets for Preparation of Laboratory Reports 279
@seismicisolation
@seismicisolation
v
, 1
Laboratory Test and
Preparation of Report
1.1 Introduction
Proper laboratory testing of soils to determine their physical properties is an integral part in
the design and construction of structural foundations, the placement and improvement of
soil properties, and the specifications and quality control of soil compaction works. It must
be kept in mind that natural soil deposits often exhibit a high degree of nonhomogeneity.
The physical properties of a soil deposit can change to a great extent even within a few
hundred feet. The fundamental theoretical and empirical equations that are developed in
soil mechanics can be properly used in practice if, and only if, the physical parameters used
in those equations are properly evaluated in the laboratory. So, learning to perform labora-
tory tests of soils plays an important role in the geotechnical engineering profession. This
text has been prepared exclusively for hands-on classroom use by undergraduate civil engi-
neering and civil engineering technology students taking the introductory soil mechanics
(geotechnical engineering) course.
In the United States most laboratories conducting tests on soils for engineering pur-
poses follow the procedures outlined by the American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM). The procedures and equipment for soil tests may vary slightly from laboratory to
laboratory, but the basic concepts remain the same. The test procedures described in this
manual may not be exactly the same as specified by ASTM. However, for the students it is
beneficial to know the standard test designations and to compare them with the laboratory
work they have performed. For this reason, some selected ASTM standard test designations
are given in Table 1–1.
@seismicisolation
@seismicisolation
1
, 2 SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY MANUAL
Table 1–1. Some Important ASTM Standard Test Designations∗
ASTM Chapter No.
Standard ASTM Title Citation
D-2216 Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content 2
of Soil and Rock by Mass
D-854 Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer 3
D-422 Particle-size Analysis of Soils 4, 5
D-4318 Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils 6, 8
D-3282 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and 9
Soil-aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction
Purposes
D-2487 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and 9
Soil-aggregate Mixtures for Engineering Purposes
(Unified Soil Classification System)
D-698 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction 10
Characteristics ofSoil Using Standard Effort [12,400
ft·lb/ft3 (600 kN·m/m3 )]
D-1557 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction 10
Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort [56,000
ft·lb/ft3 (2700 kN·m/m3 )]
D-1556 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of 11
Soil in Place by the Sand Cone Method
D-2167 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of 11
Soil in Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
D-4253 Standard Test Method for Maximum Index Density and 12
Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibrating Table
D-4354 Standard Test Method for Minimum Index Density and 12
Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density
D-2434 Standard Test Method for Permeability of Granular Soils 13
(Constant Head)
D-5084 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic 14
Conductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a
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Flexible-wall Permeameter
