Lab 1

Laboratory Number: 01Subject of Laboratory: Atterberg Limits, Visual Classification of Soils and Rocks

Laboratory Instructor: Ganna SuprekenkoDate Conducted: 01/26/15Date Submitted: 02/02/15

Course Number: CIE 665Course Title: Soils MechanicsCourse Section: 01B

Groups Members: Tyler Peer, Ryan Vickers, Kim Vigneau

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Contents1.0 List of Figuresiii2.0 List of Tablesiv3.0 List of Equationsv4.0 Introduction14.1 Atterberg Limits14.2 Visual Classification of Soils14.3 Visual Classification of Rocks15.0 Test Procedures25.1 Atterberg Limits25.2 Visual Classification of Soils25.3 Visual Classification of Rocks26.0 Experimental Results36.1 Atterberg Limits36.2 Visual Classification of Soils36.3 Visual Classification of Rocks147.0 Discussion and Conclusion157.1 Atterberg Limits157.2 Visual Classification of Soils157.3 Visual Classification of Rock1578.0 References169.0 Appendix179.1 Raw Data179.2 Sample Calculations179.3 Original Lab Procedures18

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1.0 List of FiguresFigure 1: Chart showing water content limits of soil between different states.1Figure 2: Soil sample one.3Figure 3: Soil sample two.4Figure 4: Soil sample three.5Figure 5: Soil sample four6Figure 6: Soil sample five.7Figure 7: Soil sample six.8Figure 8: Soil sample seven.9Figure 9: Soil sample eight.10Figure 10: Soil sample nine.11Figure 11: Soil sample ten.12Figure 12: Soil sample eleven.13

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2.0 List of TablesTable 1: The liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index reported to the nearest whole number.3Table 2: Visual characteristics of soil sample one.3Table 3: Visual characteristics of soil sample two.4Table 4: Visual characteristics of soil sample three.5Table 5: Visual characteristics of soil sample four.6Table 6: Visual characteristics of soil sample five.7Table 7: Visual characteristics of soil sample six.8Table 8: Visual characteristics of soil sample seven.9Table 9: Visual characteristics of soil sample eight.10Table 10: Visual characteristics of soil sample nine.11Table 11: Visual characteristics of soil sample ten.12Table 12: Visual characteristics of soil sample eleven.13

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3.0 List of EquationsEquation 1: Sample calculation for mass of solids in a soil sample.17Equation 2: Sample calculation for mass of water in a soil sample.17Equation 3: Sample calculation for percent water content in a soil sample.17Equation 4: Sample calculation for the plastic limit of a soil.17Equation 5: Sample calculation for range of plastic limits of a soil.17Equation 6: Sample calculation for the plasticity index of a soil18

4.0 Introduction4.1 Atterberg Limits

Figure 1: Chart showing water content limits of soil between different states.(Holtz, Kovacs, and Sheahan, 41)

4.2 Visual Classification of Soils4.3 Visual Classification of Rocks

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5.0 Test Procedures 5.1 Atterberg Limits 5.2 Visual Classification of Soils5.3 Visual Classification of Rocks

6.0 Experimental Results6.1 Atterberg LimitsTable 1: Mass of solids, mass of water, and number of drops of a soil sample at different percent water contents when testing for the liquid limit.Sample #123

MS (g)13.5111.2136.93

MW (g)6.423.048.96

w (%)47.5227.1224.26

# of Drops (N)61025

Table 2: Mass of solids, mass of water, and percent water content of soil samples at the plastic limit.Sample #123

MS (g)6.195.35.47

MW (g)1.1910.87

w (%)19.2218.8715.90

Table 3: The liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index reported to the nearest whole number.Liquid Limit24

Plastic Limit18

Plasticity Index6

The graph below shows the relationship between the water content of a soil sample and the number of drops required for the soil to flow together, with arrows indication the liquid limit at 25 drops.

Figure 2: Graph showing the relationship between number of drops and the water content of a soil sample.6.2 Visual Classification of Soils

Figure 3: Soil sample one.Table 4: Visual characteristics of soil sample one.ColorBrown

OdorNo Significant Odor

TextureRough

Major Soil ConstituentMedium Sand

Minor Soil ConstituentCoarse Sand

Particle ShapeAngular

Moisture ConditionDry

Figure 4: Soil sample two.Table 5: Visual characteristics of soil sample two.ColorTan


TextureSoft

Major Soil ConstituentFine Sand

Minor Soil ConstituentFine Gravel

Particle ShapeRound


Figure 5: Soil sample three.Table 6: Visual characteristics of soil sample three.ColorGray


TextureSoft

Major Soil ConstituentClay/Silt

Minor Soil ConstituentNone

Particle ShapeRound


Figure 6: Soil sample four.Table 7: Visual characteristics of soil sample four.ColorAssorted tan/gray


TextureRough

Major Soil ConstituentFine Gravel

Minor Soil ConstituentCoarse Sand

Particle ShapeAngular


Figure 7: Soil sample five.Table 8: Visual characteristics of soil sample five.ColorTan/Brown


TextureRough/Soft


Minor Soil ConstituentMedium Sand

Particle ShapeRound


Figure 8: Soil sample six.Table 9: Visual characteristics of soil sample six.ColorRust Brown


TextureRough/Soft



Particle ShapeRound/Angular


Figure 9: Soil sample seven.Table 10: Visual characteristics of soil sample seven.ColorWhite


TextureSoft

Major Soil ConstituentClay/Silt


Particle ShapeRound


Figure 10: Soil sample eight.Table 11: Visual characteristics of soil sample eight.ColorTan


TextureSoft



Particle ShapeRound


Figure 11: Soil sample nine.Table 12: Visual characteristics of soil sample nine.ColorAssorted Tans


TextureSoft



Particle ShapeRound/Angular

Moisture ConditionMoist

Figure 12: Soil sample ten.Table 13: Visual characteristics of soil sample ten.ColorGray

OdorPlay-doh/Moldy/Damp

TextureSoft

Major Soil ConstituentClay


Particle ShapeRound

Moisture ConditionSaturated

Figure 13: Soil sample eleven.Table 14: Visual characteristics of soil sample eleven.ColorGray


TextureSoft

Major Soil ConstituentClay


Particle ShapeRound

Moisture ConditionOven-Dried

6.3 Visual Classification of Rocks

Figure 14: Rock sample one.

Table 15: Visual characteristics of soil sample eleven.Rock #1

Dull, Earthy, or Waxy?Dull

Sratched by Knife?Yes

HCl ReactivityNone

IdentificationSerpentinite

Type of OriginMetamorphic

Figure 15: Rock sample two.


Dull, Earthy, or Waxy?Earthy


HCl ReactivityNone



Figure 16: Rock sample three.


Dull, Earthy, or Waxy?Waxy


HCl ReactivityNone



Figure 17: Rock sample four.


Dull, Earthy, or Waxy?Dull/Earthy

Sratched by Knife?No

HCl ReactivityNone

IdentificationSandstone

Type of OriginSedimentary

Figure 18: Rock sample five.




HCl ReactivityNone

IdentificationPyroxenite

Type of OriginIgneous

Figure 19: Rock sample six.


Dull, Earthy, or Waxy?Dull


HCl ReactivityVigorous

IdentificationLimestone

Type of OriginSedimentary

Figure 20: Rock sample seven.


Dull, Earthy, or Waxy?Dull/Waxy


HCl ReactivityNone

IdentificationGranite

Type of OriginIgneous

Figure 21: Rock sample eight.




HCl ReactivitySlow

IdentificationGneiss


7.0 Discussion and Conclusion7.1 Atterberg Limits7.2 Visual Classification of Soils7.3 Visual Classification of Rock78.0 References 9.0 Appendix 9.1 Raw Data Table 15: Raw data for the plastic limit test.Sample #123

MC (g)153.7153.7153.7

MCMS (g)161.08160160.04

MCDS (g)159.89159159.17

Table 16: Raw data for the liquid limit test.Sample #123

MC (g)213.96153.7213.97

MCMS (g)233.89167.95259.86

MCDS (g)227.47164.91250.9

9.2 Sample Calculations

Equation 1: Sample calculation for mass of solids in a soil sample.

Equation 2: Sample calculation for mass of water in a soil sample.

Equation 3: Sample calculation for percent water content in a soil sample.

Equation 4: Sample calculation for the plastic limit of a soil.

Equation 5: Sample calculation for range of plastic limits of a soil.

PI=LL-PL=24.26%-18%=6.26%Equation 6: Sample calculation for the plasticity index of a soil

9.3 Original Lab ProceduresLiquid Limit: 1. Take roughly 3/4 of the soil and place it into the porcelain dish. Assume that the soil was previously passed though a No. 40 sieve, air-dried, and then pulverized. Thoroughly mix the soil with a small amount of distilled water until it appears as a smooth uniform paste. Cover the dish with cellophane to prevent moisture from escaping. 2. Weigh four of the empty moisture cans with their lids, and record the respective weights and can numbers on the data sheet. 3. Adjust the liquid limit apparatus by checking the height of drop of the cup. The point on the cup that comes in contact with the base should rise to a height of 10 mm. The block on the end of the grooving tool is 10 mm high and should be used as a gage. Practice using the cup and determine the correct rate to rotate the crank so that the cup drops approximately two times per second. 4. Place a portion of the previously mixed soil into the cup of the liquid limit apparatus at the point where the cup rests on the base. Squeeze the soil down to eliminate air pockets and spread it into the cup to a depth of about 10 mm at its deepest point. The soil pat should form an approximately horizontal surface (See Photo B). 5. Use the grooving tool carefully cut a clean straight groove down the center of the cup. The tool should remain perpendicular to the surface of the cup as groove is being made. Use extreme care to prevent sliding the soil relative to the surface of the cup (See Photo C). 6. Make sure that the base of the apparatus below the cup and the underside of the cup is clean of soil. Turn the crank of the apparatus at a rate of approximately two drops per second and count the number of drops, N, it takes to make the two halves of the soil pat come into contact at the bottom of the groove along a distance of 13 mm (1/2 in.) (See Photo D). If the number of drops exceeds 50, then go directly to step eight and do not record the number of drops, otherwise, record the number of drops on the data sheet.7. Take a sample, using the spatula, from edge to edge of the soil pat. The sample should include the soil on both sides of where the groove came into contact. Place the soil into a moisture can cover it. Immediately weigh the moisture can containing the soil, record its mass, remove the lid, and place the can into the oven. Leave the moisture can in the oven for at least 16 hours. Place the soil remaining in the cup into the porcelain dish. Clean and dry the cup on the apparatus and the grooving tool. 8. Remix the entire soil specimen in the porcelain dish. Add a small amount of distilled water to increase the water content so that the number of drops required to close the groove decrease. 9. Repeat steps six, seven, and eight for at least two additional trials producing successively lower numbers of drops to close the groove. One of the trials shall be for a closure requiring 25 to 35 drops, one for closure between 20 and 30 drops, and one trial for a closure requiring 15 to 25 drops. Determine the water content from each trial by using the same method used in the first laboratory. Remember to use the same balance for all weighing. Plastic Limit: 1. Weigh the remaining empty moisture cans with their lids, and record the respective weights and can numbers on the data sheet. 2. Take the remaining 1/4 of the original soil sample and add distilled water until the soil is at a consistency where it can be rolled without sticking to the hands. 3. Form the soil into an ellipsoidal mass (See Photo F). Roll the mass between the palm or the fingers and the glass plate (See Photo G). Use sufficient pressure to roll the mass into a thread of uniform diameter by using about 90 strokes per minute. (A stroke is one complete motion of the hand forward and back to the starting position.) The thread shall be deformed so that its diameter reaches 3.2 mm (1/8 in.), taking no more than two minutes. 4. When the diameter of the thread reaches the correct diameter, break the thread into several pieces. Knead and reform the pieces into ellipsoidal masses and re-roll them. Continue this alternate rolling, gathering together, kneading and re-rolling until the thread crumbles under the pressure required for rolling and can no longer be rolled into a 3.2 mm diameter thread (See Photo H). 5. Gather the portions of the crumbled thread together and place the soil into a moisture can, then cover it. If the can does not contain at least 6 grams of soil, add soil to the can from the next trial (See Step 6). Immediately weigh the moisture can containing the soil, record its mass, remove the lid, and place the can into the oven. Leave the moisture can in the oven for at least 16 hours. 6. Repeat steps three, four, and five at least two more times. Determine the water content from each trial by using the same method used in the first laboratory. Remember to use the same balance for all weighing. Soil Classification:a) Identify the color (e.g. brown, gray, brownish gray), odor (if any) and texture (coarse or fine-grained) of soil. b) Identify the major soil constituent (>50% by weight) using Table 1 as coarse gravel, fine gravel, coarse sand, medium sand, fine sand, or fines. c) Estimate percentages of all other soil constituents using Table 1 and the following terms: Trace - 0 to 10% by weight Little - 10 to 20%Some - 20 to 30%And - 30 to 50% (Examples: trace fine gravel, little silt, some clay) d) If the major soil constituent is sand or gravel: Identify particle distribution. Describe as well graded or poorly graded. Well-graded soil consists of particle sizes over a wide range. Poorly graded soil consists of particles which are all about the same size. Identify particle shape (angular, subangular, rounded, subrounded) using Figure 1 and Table 2. e) If the major soil constituents are fines, perform the following tests: Dry strength test: Mold a sample into 1/8" size ball and let it dry. Test the strength of the dry sample by crushing it between the fingers. Describe the strength as none, low, medium, high or very high depending on the results of the test as shown in Table 3(a). Dilatancy Test: Make a sample of soft putty consistency in your palm. Then observe the reaction during shaking, squeezing (by closing hand) and vigorous tapping. The reaction is rapid, slow or none according to the test results given in Table 3(b). During dilatancy test, vibration densifies the silt and water appears on the surface. Now on squeezing, shear stresses are applied on the densified silt. The dense silt has a tendency for volume increase or dilatancy due to shear stresses. So the water disappears from the surface. Moreover, silty soil has a high permeability, so the water moves quickly. In clay, we see no change, no shiny surface, in other words, no reaction. Plasticity (or Toughness) Test: Roll the samples into a thread about 1/8" in diameter. Fold the thread and reroll it repeatedly until the thread crumbles at a diameter of 1/8". Note (a) the pressure required to roll the thread when it is near crumbling, (b) whether it can support its own weight, (c) whether it can be molded back into a coherent mass, and (d) whether it is tough during kneading. Describe the plasticity and toughness according to the criteria in Tables 3(c) and 3(d). A low to medium toughness and non-plastic to low plasticity is the indication that the soil is silty; otherwise the soil is clayey. Based on dry strength, dilatancy and toughness, determine soil symbol based on Table 4.f) Identify moisture condition (dry, moist, wet or saturated) using Table 5. g) Record visual classification of the soil in the following order: color, major constituent, minor constituents, particle distribution and particle shape (if major constituent is coarse-grained), plasticity (if major constituent is fine-grained), moisture content, soil symbol (if major constituent is fine-grained). Examples of coarse-grained soils:Soil 1:Brown fine gravel, some coarse to fine sand, trace silt, trace clay, well graded, angular, dry.Soil 2:Gray coarse sand, trace medium to fine sand, some silt, trace clay, poorly graded, rounded, saturated. Examples of fine-grained soils:Soil A: Brown lean clay, trace coarse to fine sand, medium plasticity, moist, CL.Soil B: Gray clayey silt, trace fine sand, non-plastic, saturated, ML. Laboratory Exercise: You will be given ten different soil samples. Visually classify these soils. Record all information on the attached forms.

Ganna SuprekenkoSoil and Rock Identification, Atterberg LimitsUNH Geotechnical, Inc36 Granite DriveDurham, NH 03842

January 30, 2015

RE: This document contains information regarding the identification of soils, rocks, and the investigation of Atterberg Limits.Dear Ganna Suprekenko,In the soil identification part of this laboratory exercise, specific observations were made upon 13 different soil samples. These observations included color, odor, texture, major and minor constituents, moisture, and particle shape. The data was collected using no particular tools, thus it can be considered that the observations could be inaccurate. The rock identification exercise was similar to the soil identification. However, using the observations a conclusion must be inquired about the origin of the rock. The observations which were made were slightly different. These observations included, texture, can it scratch, reaction of HCl, and name of the rock.The third part of the lab, the atterberg limits, is to determine important index information about the soil. This information provides the ability to estimate the soils strength, and its settlement behaviors. Three parameters were calculated during this experiment, Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), and Plasticity Index. The liquid limit defines the boundary between plastic and viscous fluid states. This was found by using a liquid limit device which constantly dropped the soil specimen 10 mm until a groove cut closed in the sample. The moisture content at which 25 drops yielded this result was considered the liquid limit. The Plasticity Index is the defining boundary between non-plastic and plastic states. This was computed by rolling out the soil samples at various water contents until it crumbled at 1/8 of an inch.

Sincerely,

Ryan VickersDurham NH70 Hampton Towne [email protected]

Lab 1

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