TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECHTURE

CE 401 SOIL MECHANICS

EXPERIMENT NO. 4
DESCRIPTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SOILS

SUBMITTED BY:

GROUP 5 & 6

FAJARDO, MONIQUE
LOREJAS, VINCENT RUZZEL
MACAPAGAL, KATRINA
MACAYAN, RYAN DAVID
MANTOS, CHARMAINE

SUBMITTED TO:

ENGR. JENNIFER L. CAMINO

November 29, 2019

Date
 Experiment No. 4
DESCRIPTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SOILS

1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to impart the manual and visual procedures for soil description and identification
prior to detailed site investigation.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
• understand the soil parameters that are being understood through the conduct of the experiment
• conceptualize a procedure for conduct of initial investigation on a site proposed by the instructor

3. Discussion:

It is common in engineering practice that site investigation is under time constraint and engineering
decisions are need to be made even before the release of the results of laboratory experiments. To aid the
engineer in his judgment, visual and manual procedures are proposed which allows gathering of reliable
data in the shortest time possible.

4. Resources:
1. Erlen meyer flask with diluted Hydrochloric acid
2. Pan
3. Sieve #40
4. Spatula
5. Procedure:

General
1. For every defined soil layer in the boring test, get a representative soil sample to be subjected for
visual examination.
2. Examine the soil if it is fine-grained or coarse-grained. A coarse-grained soil is abrasive in texture
and does not exhibit any interparticle attraction A fine-grained soil is smooth in texture and
exhibits interparticle attraction. . Observe if it exhibits the property of a peat soil. Peat soil is a
problematic soil which is composed primarily of vegetable tissue in various stages of
decomposition and usually in dark brown to black in color with organic odor.

For coarse-grained soil

1. Describe the angularity of the particles if it is angular, subangular, rounded or subrounded.
Angular particles have sharp edges and relatively plane sides with unpolished surfaces. If the
particles are similar to angular particles but have rounded edges, classify as subangular.
Rounded particles have smoothly curved sides and no evident edges. Subrounded particles have
have nearly plane sides but have well-rounded corners and edges.
2. Describe the color and the odor of the soil. Color and odor are important in identifying presence of
organic soil shown by presence of decaying vegetative material. Through the smell, presence of
petroleum and various chemicals can also be identified.
3. Describe the moisture content of the soil. If the soil is observed to be dry to the touch, note as dry.
If the soil is damp however, no visible water is found, classify as moist. Presence of visible water
especially if the soil is underneath the water table will classify the soil as wet.
 4. Determine the presence of calcium carbonate as a cementing agent in the soil through the use of
dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl). Describe if the reaction is none, weak if limited bubbles are present
or strong if violent reaction is observed.
5. Describe the cementation of the soil. Soil that breaks easily with little finger pressure is classified
as weak. If considerable pressure is needed, classify the soil as moderate. Should the soil not
break under finger pressure, the cementation of the soil is strong.
6. Repeat until 4 samples are obtained.

For fine-grained soil

1. Select a representative sample and remove the particles that will not pass Sieve #40. The
specimen is to be tested for dry strength, dilatancy and toughness strength.
2. For the dry strength, select a material that will allow it to form into a ball of about 25 mm in
diameter. Add water if necessary. Then, divide it into three (3) portions and form it into a ball of 12
mm in diameter. Allow it to dry to the sun or air dry. Test the dry strength of the ball by crushing it
in between the fingers. Classify the dry strength as None, Low, Medium, High or Very High.
3. For the dilatancy test, select a material that will form the soil into 12 mm ball. Add water if
necessary until it has a soft but not sticky consistency. Using a spatula, smoothen the ball in the
palm of one hand. Shake the soil by striking the side of the hand against the other hand several
times and note the reaction of water on the surface of the soil. Squeeze the soil and note if the
water disappears. Note the dilatancy as None, Slow or rapid.
4. For the toughness test, select a portion of the specimen wherein the soil is to be rolled into
threads 3 mm in diameter. Fold and reroll the sample until the soil is about to crumble at a
diameter of about 3 mm. Note the pressure required to roll the thread as Low, Medium or High.
Course: CE 401 Experiment No.: 4
Group No.: 5 & 6 Section: CE41FA2
Group Leader: Lorejas, Vincent Ruzzel Date Performed: November 22, 2019
Group Members: Date Submitted: November 29, 2019
1. Fajardo, Monique Instructor: Engr. Jennifer Camino
2. Macapagal, Katrina
3. Macayan, Ryan David R.
4. Mantos, Charmaine

6. Data and Results:

Coarse grained soil

Description Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Angularity Angular Subangular Subangular Angular
Color Brown Black Brown Black
Odor Odorless Odorless Odorless Odorless
Moisture content Dry Moist Moist Moist
Reaction with HCl Weak Weak Weak Weak
Cementation Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
Fine grained soil
Description Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Dry Strength Low Low Low Low
Dilatancy None Slow None None
Toughness Low Low Low Medium

7. Conclusion:

The students conclude that different kinds of soil can be classified by its angularity, color, odor, moisture
content, cementation, dry strength, dilatancy, and toughness. For the coarse-grained soil, most of them are
subangular which means most of them have round edges. Their color and odor can be easily identified. Regarding
to their moisture content, coarse-grained soil contains high moisture content. Moderate pressure was needed to
break them. For the fine-grained soil, they can be easily crushed, but the water disappears quickly. Most of them
can be easily crumbled with low pressure applied to them.

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

 BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT
CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members do not Members occasionally
Manipulative Members always
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills demonstrate needed skills.
skills. skills
Members are able to Members are able to set-up
Experimental Members are unable to
set-up the materials with the material with minimum
Set-up set-up the materials.
supervision. supervision.
Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.
Members follow safety
Safety Members do not follow Members follow safety
precautions most of the
Precautions safety precautions. precautions at all times.
time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not finish Members finish ahead of time
Management / Members finish on time
on time with incomplete with complete data and time
Conduct of with incomplete data.
data. to revise data.
Experiment
Members do not know Members have defined
Members are on tasks and
their tasks and have no responsibilities most of
have defined responsibilities
Cooperative and defined responsibilities.
the time. Group
at all times. Group conflicts
Teamwork Group conflicts have to conflicts are
are cooperatively managed at
be settled by the cooperatively managed
all times.
teacher. most of the time.
Clean and orderly
Messy workplace during workplace with Clean and orderly workplace
Neatness and
and after the occasional mess during at all times during and after
Orderliness
experiment. and after the the experiment.
experiment.
Members require Members require
Ability to do Members do not need to be
supervision by the occasional supervision
independent work supervised by the teacher.
teacher. by the teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score
(Total Score)
Rating= ×100
24

9. References
Murthy, V.N.S. (2011). Textbook of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Singapore: Alken Company

American Society for Testing and Materials (2000). Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils by
Visual-Manual Procedure (D-2488). Pennsylvania: ASTM International
 DOCUMENTATION

Sample of coarse-grained soil. A subangular, coarse-grained soil.

An angular, coarse-grained soil. Sample of fine-grained soil.

The 25 mm-diameter fine-grained

The divided soilfrom the
3 portions
in which obtained from soil that
original 25 mm-diameter. Each has 12
passed to sievemm-diameter.
#40.
 GROUP
Sample of fined-grained
Checking
soilthe toughness of 3 PHOTO
mm-diameter
used for toughness test. It was fine-grained soil
measured as 3 mm-diameter.
sample.

MEMBERS:
FAJARDO, MONIQUE
LOREJAS, VINCENT RUZZEL
MACAPAGAL, KATRINA
MACAYAN, RYAN DAVID
MANTOS, CHARMAINE