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SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE NAME

COURSE CODE

OPEN-ENDED LAB

SEMESTER

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : SEDIMENTATION TEST

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 20 APRIL 2021

NAME : MUHAMMAD AIMAN SYAFIQ BIN ISMA SAMSULZAMANI

UiTM NO : 2020853552

CLASS GROUP : EC2202A3A

LECTURER : DR NURUL AINAIN BINTI MOHD SALIM

LEVEL OF OPENNESS :1

MARKS COMMENTS

INTRODUCTION

BASIC CONCEPTS

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS & ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5

DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5

CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5

ORGANIZATION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS

COURSE GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECG428

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SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1

CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 33%

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES

SEDIMENTATION TEST (HYDROMETER METHOD)

(With reference to clause 7 of BS1377: Part 7: 1990)

Introduction
The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities will not be able
to provide the avenue for students to enhance independent learning
activities and inculcate creativity and innovation. Level 0 is fully prescriptive
where problem, ways & means and answers are provided to the students.
However, it is still necessary especially to first- and second-year students.

Particle sized analysis of a soil is carried out by determining the weight

percentages falling within bands of size represented by these divisions and
sub-divisions. A representative sample of the soil is split systematically
down to a convenient sub-sample size and then oven dried. The sample is
then passed through a nest of standard test sieves arranged in descending
order of mesh size. Following agitation of first the whole nest and then
individual sieves, the weight of soil retained on each sieve is determine and
PREAMBLE the cumulative percentage of the sub-sample passing each sieve is
calculated.

Objectives

The objective of this test is to quantitatively determine the particle size

distribution in an essentially cohesionless soil, down to the fine sand size, hence
determine the silt and clay fraction percentage by difference.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able to:

1. Acquire the understanding of engineering properties of soils in determination of the unconfined compressive strength
2. Acquire the necessary skill to prepare sample and conduct force measuring device and the axial deformation gauges in performing standard laboratory.
3. Calculate and analyze data to report and present result in a proper engineering format.

PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Apparatus
1. Oven
2. Weighing Balance
3. Stirring rod
4. Hydrometer
5. Sedimentation Cylinder
6. Thermometer
WAYS & MEANS 7. Sieve
8. Mortar & Pestle
9. Water bath
10. Beaker & Watch Glass
11. Rubber Stopper
12. Stopwatch
13. Container
14. Sodium Hexametaphosphate
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Procedure
Part 1: Sieve
1. Weigh the oven-dried sample to 0.1 % of its total mass, m1. Place the sample on the 20
mm test sieve and brush any particles too coarse to pass through the test sieve with a wire
brush or similar stiff brush until the individual particles are clean of any finer materials.
Take care when dealing with soft materials to ensure that the brushing does not remove
parts of the large particles.
2. Sieve the fraction retained on the 20 mm test sieve on the appropriate larger test sieves
and weigh the amount retained on each test sieve. If any test sieve becomes overloaded
sieve the material on the test sieve in parts, the parts not to exceed the masses given in
Table 1.
3. Weigh the portion of the oven-dried material passing the 20 mm test sieve to 0.1 % of its
total mass, m2. Riffle that portions so that a fraction of convenient mass (about 2 kg) is
obtained. Weigh the fraction to 0.1 % of its total mass, m3.
4. Spread the riffled fraction in the large tray or place it in the bucket and cover with water.
If the soil is cohesive, add sodium hexametaphosphate to the water first at a concentration
of 2 g/L.
5. Stir the mixture well to wet the soil. Allow the soil to stand for at least 1 hr in this
solution stirring frequently.
6.Wast h the material, a little at a a time, through a 2mm test sieve nested in a 63 μm test
sieve, allowing the material passing the 63 μm test sieve is virtually clear. Ensure that
neither the test sieve is overloaded in the process, either with solids or with water (See
Table 1). The maximum amount of material initially on the 63 μm test sieve shall not
exceed 150 g for a 200 mm diameter test sieve, 350 g for a 300 mm diameter test sieve or
750 g for a 450 mm diameter test sieve.
7. Transfer all the material retained on the sieves into a tray or evaporating dish and dry in
an oven at 105oC to 110oC.
8. Weigh the dried fraction when cool to 0.1 % of its total mass, m4. Sieve the dried
fractions through the appropriate sieves down to the 6.3 mm test sieve, using dry sieving
procedure. Weigh the amount retained on each sieve to 0.1 % of the total dry fraction.
9. If the fraction passing the 6.3 mm test sieve is small, i.e. not more than 150 g, the sample
may be sieved by dry sieving on the appropriate sieves to and including any fines passing
the 63 mm test sieve, mF, to 0.1 % of the total fraction passing the 6.3 mm sieve.
10. If the fraction passing the 6.3 mm test sieve is large, i.e. substantially greater than 150
g, weigh it (m5) and then riffle it so that a fraction of 100 g to 150 g is obtained. Weigh this
fraction, m6 and then sieve on the appropriate sieves down to and including 63 mm test
sieve, mE. If riffling is not necessary, m6 is the same as m5. Weigh to 0.1 % of the total
fraction passing the 6.3 mm sieve

Part 2: Dispersion
1. Add 100 mL of the dispersant solution from a pipette to the soil in the centrifuge bottle or conical flask. Shake the mixture thoroughly until all

the soil is in suspension.

2. Shake the bottle or flask in the mechanical shaking device for at least 4 h, or overnight when convenient. Alternatively, when a conical flask is used, the

suspension may be agitated by the blade of a vibrating stirrer.

3. Transfer the suspension from the bottle or flask to the 63 μm test sieve placed on the receiver, and wash the soil in the sieve using a jet of distilled

water from the wash bottle. The amount of water used during this operation shall not exceed 500 mL.

4. Transfer the suspension that has passed through the sieve to the 1 L measuring cylinder and make up to the 1 L graduation mark with distilled

water. Use this suspension for the sedimentation analysis specified in step 3.

5. Transfer the material retained on the 63μm test sieve to an evaporating dish and dry in the oven maintained at 105°C to 110°C.

6. When cool, re-sieve this material on the sieves down to the 63 μm size, as specified in 9.3.4. Weigh the material retained on each sieve to 0.01 g.

7. Add any material passing the 63 μm test sieve to the measuring cylinder.

Part 3: Sedimentation

1. Insert the rubber bung into the cylinder containing the soil suspension, shake it and place it in the constant-temperature bath so that it is immersed in
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water at least up to the 1 L graduation mark.

2. Add 100 mL of the dispersant solution from a pipette or measuring cylinder to the second 1 L sedimentation cylinder and dilute with distilled water to

exactly 1 L. Insert the rubber bung and place this cylinder in the constant-temperature bath alongside the first.

3. After at least 1 h, or when the cylinders and contents have reached the temperature of the bath, take out the cylinder containing the dispersant solu-

tion, shake it thoroughly and replace it in the bath. Take out the cylinder containing the

soil suspension, shake it vigorously end-over-end about 60 times in 2 min and then immediately replace it in the bath.

4. At the instant, the cylinder with the soil suspension is replaced upright in the bath, start the timer. Remove the rubber bungs carefully from the cylin-

ders.

5. Immerse the hydrometer in the suspension to a depth slightly below its floating position and allow it to float freely.

6. Take hydrometer readings at the upper rim of the meniscus after periods of 0.5 min, 1 min, 2 min and 4 min. Record the relevant readings as shown in

result.

7. Remove the hydrometer slowly, rinse in distilled water and place it in the cylinder of distilled water with dispersant at the same temperature as the soil

suspension. Observe and record the top of the meniscus reading, Ro’.

8. Reinsert the hydrometer in the soil suspension and take and record readings after periods of 8 min, 30 min, 2 h, 8 h, and 24 h from the start of sedi-

mentation, and twice during the following day if appropriate. The precise times are not critical provided that the exact time is recorded. Insert the hydrometer

slowly about 15 s before a reading is due.

NOTE
Insert and withdraw the hydrometer before and after taking each reading very carefully to avoid disturbing the suspension unnecessarily. Allow 10 s for each operation. Avoid

vibration of the sample.

9. Observe and record the temperature of the suspension once during the first 15 min and then after every subsequent reading. Read the temperature to

an accuracy of ± 0.5 °C. If the temperature varies by more than ± 1 °C take another hydrometer reading in the dispersant solution as specified in step 7.

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RESULTS & ANALYSIS

date time Elapse time, Tempt T Reading R'h Rh = R'h Effective Depth, Particle Diameter, D Rd = R'h - R'o % finer than Cummulative

t +Cm Hr D, K % Passing

0.25 22 20 21 10.1 0.02696 19.35 61.46 38.54

0.5 22 19 20 10.2 0.01916 18.35 58.29 41.71

1 22 18 19 10.4 0.01368 17.35 55.11 44.89

21 20 19
2 22 16 17 10.7 0.00981 15.35 48.76 51.24
17 16 14
4 22 15 16 11.2 0.00710 14.35 45.58 54.42

8 22 13 14 11.5
13 12 11 0.00509 12.35 39.23 60.77

15 22 12 13 11.9 0.00378 11.35 36.05 63.95

10 8
30 22 11 12 12.2 0.00271 10.35 32.88 67.12

60 22 10 11 12.4 0.00193 9.35 29.70 70.30

120 22 9 10 12.5 0.00137 8.35 26.52 73.48

1440 22 7 8 13 0.00040 6.35 20.17 79.83

Sample calculation:

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The hydrometer analysis is used to calculate the grain size distribution for the fraction of soil that is smaller than 0.063mm in diameter from sieves analysis, as

an inference based on my experiment. Soaking the soil sample in a dispersing agent and rapidly stirring to neutralise the charges between the soil particles

disperses finer soil particles. After conducting the test, the value of particle diameter ,D and finer percentages of soil particle, K had been determine using the

formula:

CONCLUSION

Since the hydrometer technique was more complicated, there was a higher risk of errors. An unevenly mixed sample may cause errors, resulting in an

DISCUSSION AND incorrect settling rate. A higher concentration of solids near the top of the cylinder makes the rate of settling appear slower, whereas a higher concentration of

RECOMENDATION solids near the bottom of the cylinder makes the rate of settling appear faster. Using an inaccurately calibrated stopwatch or timer would result in incorrect

time measurements, resulting in data that differed from its true value.

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