Example of Data From Sieve Analysis Where The Weight Is Equal To The Mass of Soil Retained On A Screen of Particular Size
Example of Data From Sieve Analysis Where The Weight Is Equal To The Mass of Soil Retained On A Screen of Particular Size
size.
Begin constructing the spreadsheet at the left edge and move right
Before plotting, basic statistics need to be performed. We desire to determine the percent and cumulative
percent for each sample. This is done using the total cumulative weight.
Weight Percent
gm %
0.27 0.54 The value in cell D11 is equal
0.13 0.26 to the value in cell B11 divided
0.12 0.24 by the value in cell B34, the
0.18 0.36 cumulative weight x 100. The next
0.21 0.42 % is determined the same way, the
0.29 0.58 weight divided by the cumulative
0.65 1.29 weight. Once the formula has
been entered in column D, it can
1.05 2.09
be copied down.
1.60 3.18
1.79 3.56
2.57 5.11
2.72 5.41
3.59 7.14
6.48 12.88
5.48 10.89
5.09 10.12
4.21 8.37
4.27 8.49
1.81 3.60
0.94 1.87
1.65 3.28
5.20 10.34
Total 50.30
Begin by copying the grain size data from sheet 1 and the cumulative percent data
from sheet 2 onto a new sheet.
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 20 40
Horizontal
A C
displacement
0 0 0
0.3 20 32
0.5 27.5 45
0.8 33 52
1 37 57
1.25 38.5 60
1.5 40 63
1.75 41.2 64
2 42.2 65
2.25 42.5 66
2.5 42 67
2.75 41 67.3
3 39 67.5
3.5 36 65
4 34 60
4.5 32.7 56
5 32.2 53
5.5 32 52.2
6 52
Grain size Cum %
mm
0 100.00 100
The plot of grain size vs. percent is constructed 0.0625 89.66
with the grain size increasing from left to right 0.074 86.38
on the x-axis. The way that column B is set up 0.088 84.51 80
will plot grain size decreasing to the right, so 0.105 80.91
we have to invert both columns. 0.125 72.43
0.149 64.06
0.177 53.94 Frequency60
%
0.21 43.04
To invert these columns, hightlight them both and
click on Data and then Sort. Sort them in 0.25 30.16
40
"ascending" order based on the grain size. The 0.30 23.02
result is shown at the right. When you are doing 0.35 17.61
this, you do not have to recopy the columns as I 0.42 12.50
have done here.
20
0.50 8.95
0.59 5.77
0.71 3.68
0.84 2.39
0
1.00 1.81 0.0
1.19 1.39
1.41 1.03
1.68 0.80
2.00 0.54
40
30
20
80
70
60
50
0.075 63.5 46.4 13.2 29.3
40
30
20
10
0
0.01 0.1
X Y
24.2 7.8
44.1 22.4 35
57.3 31.2
30
25
20
15
10
0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Sample depth wn PL y
m % % kn/m3
0.6 61 34 15.1
1.2 108 43 14.1
2.4 128 45 13.4
3.5 114 44 13.5
4.6 116 36 13.6
5 113 40 13.7
6.3 119 42 13.5
7.5 32 29 18.4
8.4 27 26 19
9.3 29 27 18.8
Column R
Linear (Column R)
Column S
Linear (Column S)
Column T
Linear (Column T)
E
0
41 100
57
90
67
73 80
79 70
83
85.5 60
A
87.2 50
C
40 E
30
20
10
80
70
60
A
50
87.5 C
40 E
86
84 30
82
20
78
73 10
70 0
68 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7
Using the data in columns N and O, make a
semi-log plot with grain size on the x-axis and
frequency percent as the y-axis.
100
80
Frequency60
%
40
20
0
0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0
Grain Size, mm
Column J
Column K
Column L
Column M
Column J
Column K
Column L
Column M
0.1 1 10 100
Column J
35 40 45 50 55 60
140
120
100
80
Column J
60
40
120
100
80
Column J
60
40
20
0
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 3 3.6 4.2 4.8 5.4 6 6.6 7.2 7.8 8.4 9 9.6
LL PI A line U line
% %
96 62 55.48 79.2
111 68 66.43 92.7
129 84 79.57 108.9
121 77 73.73 101.7
109 73 64.97 90.9
120 80 73 100.8
122 80 74.46 102.6
44 15 17.52 32.4
37 11 12.41 26.1
35 8 10.95 24.3
A
C
E
A
C
E
5 5.5 6 6.5 7
Column J
Column J
9 9.6
Analysis
Grain size distributions are used to evaluate basic properties of the soil and to help
determine the grading, or sorting. Grading is the measure of the frequency of occurrence
of each size of grains. It is determined using the uniformity coefficient.
Criteria
A soil that is truly well-graded has other criteria besides a smooth shape to its distribution curve.
The coefficient of uniformity, Cu, must be greater than 4 for gravel and greater than 6 for sand. The
coefficient of curvature, Cc, must be between 1 and 3. The parameters are determined from the grain
size distribution using the following formulas.
2
D D30
C u 60 and Cc
D10 D10 xD 60
In these formulas, the D10, D30, and D60, are the diameters at which 10, 20, and 60 percent of the
particle are finer. The values for these parameters are found on the grain size distribution plot.
100
80
Frequency60
%
40
20
0
0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0
Grain Size, mm
40
20
0
0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0
Grain Size, mm
D10 = 0.485 mm
D30 = 0.25 mm
D60 = 0.165 mm
0.165
Cu 0.34
0.485
and
0.252
Cc 0.78
0.485x0.165
The values do not meet the uniformity and curvature criteria for a well-graded soil.
This example is of a poorly graded soil, or a well sorted sediment. It does not have
good engineering properties.
10.0
10.0