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Example of Data From Sieve Analysis Where The Weight Is Equal To The Mass of Soil Retained On A Screen of Particular Size

This document provides sample data from a sieve analysis where the weight is equal to the mass of soil retained on screens of different sizes. It includes the sieve size in mm and corresponding weight in grams. Once the data is recorded, basic statistics are performed to calculate the percent and cumulative percent for each sample in order to plot the data and interpret the engineering properties of the soil.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
82 views24 pages

Example of Data From Sieve Analysis Where The Weight Is Equal To The Mass of Soil Retained On A Screen of Particular Size

This document provides sample data from a sieve analysis where the weight is equal to the mass of soil retained on screens of different sizes. It includes the sieve size in mm and corresponding weight in grams. Once the data is recorded, basic statistics are performed to calculate the percent and cumulative percent for each sample in order to plot the data and interpret the engineering properties of the soil.

Uploaded by

shaburo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as XLSX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Example of data from sieve analysis where the weight is equal to the mass of soil retained on a screen of particular

size.

Begin constructing the spreadsheet at the left edge and move right

Sieve size, listed on front of sieve.

Corresponding grain size in mm

Weight is the mass of material retained on the screen

Grain size Weight


mm gm
2.00 0.27 Once the data have been
1.68 0.13 recorded, then basic statistics
1.41 0.12 are performed to get it into a
1.19 0.18 state where we can prepare a
1.00 0.21 plot. It is the plotted data that
0.84 0.29 are used to interpret the
0.71 0.65 engineering properties of the
soil.
0.59 1.05
0.50 1.60
0.42 1.79
0.35 2.57
0.30 2.72
0.25 3.59
0.21 6.48
0.177 5.48
0.149 5.09
0.125 4.21
0.105 4.27
0.088 1.81
0.074 0.94
0.0625 1.65 This is the amount of material that passed all of
the sieves. It will be included in the plot because it
is a measured value. However, this material
consists of silt and clay. Silt and clay are usually
analyized using a dispersing solution which will
not be covered here.
n a screen of particular size.

erial that passed all of


ded in the plot because it
wever, this material
ilt and clay are usually
ng solution which will
Copy the weights from the previous sheet onto a new sheet

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.

Copied data from sheet 1.

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

Proceed to sheet 3 After


viewing this sheet.
Cum %

0.54 Cumulative percent is equal to


0.80 the sum of each individual percent
1.03 and the total cumulative of all the
1.39 percents to that point. The value of
1.81 cell I15 is equal to the value of cell
2.39 D15 added to the sum of all the
3.68 previous percents, which is shown in
J14. Thgis formula can be copied
5.77
down the list.
8.95
12.50
17.61
23.02
30.16
43.04
53.94
64.06
72.43
80.91
84.51
86.38
89.66
100.00

The toal cumulative percent should


total 100%. If not, recheck your formulas.
The plot of the sieve data is constructed using cumulative percent and grain size.

Begin by copying the grain size data from sheet 1 and the cumulative percent data
from sheet 2 onto a new sheet.

Data copied from column B, sheet 1.

Data copied from column I, sheet 2.

Grain size Cum %


mm
2.00 0.54
1.68 0.80 Note: when copying data that contain The plot of grain size
1.41 1.03 formulas in the cell, click Edit, Paste Special, with the grain size in
1.19 1.39 and click on Paste Values. This will bring in on the x-axis. The w
1.00 1.81 the values only, not the formulas. For will plot grain size de
0.84 2.39 example, the cumulative % data on sheet 2 we have to invert bot
0.71 3.68 contains formulas. After
0.59 5.77 these were highlighted and the "copy"
0.50 8.95 selected, on sheet 3 the location where
the data are to be copied is highlighted To invert these co
0.42 12.50 click on Data and
and the Edit, Paste Spcial, Paste Values
0.35 17.61 is selected. Only the values appear. "ascending" order
0.30 23.02 result is shown at
0.25 30.16 this, you do not h
0.21 43.04 have done here.
0.177 53.94
0.149 64.06
0.125 72.43
0.105 80.91
0.088 84.51
0.074 86.38
0.0625 89.66
< 0.0625 100.00
120

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

Grain size Cum %


mm A B C D
75 100 100 1 100
37.5 100 100 94.6 84.5 110
19 89.3 92 87.6 59.4 100
9.5 85 83.3 77.3 46.6
4.75 80 71 73.4 39.9 90
2.36 76 60.8 70.9 36.7
80
1.18 73.4 54.1 69.3 34.8
0.6 71.4 50.5 65 33.4 70
0.425 70.6 49.4 59.1 32.8
0.3 69.5 48.5 39.8 31.9 60
0.15 66.5 47.2 19.3 30.2
50

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)

20 40 60 80 100 120 140

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

Proceed to sheet 4 After


viewing this sheet.

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.

Sorting vs. grading


A soil that consists of predominantly one grain size will have a curve on the distribution plot
that is nearly vertical. This type of distribution is a well sorted soil from a sedimentologists
point of view and poorly graded from an engineering point of view.
A soil that has grains of many sizes will plot on a distribution plot as a curved line that
represents the presence of a large number of grain sizes. A sedimentologist would refer to this
distribution as poorly sorted but an engineering geologist would say this is a well-graded soil.
For engineering purposes, a well-graded soil is desired. The numerous sizes of particle give the
soil more strength and cohesion than a soil that consists of one predominant size.

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.

Using a copy of the distribution plot, find


D10, D30, and D60.

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

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