1
Republic of the Philippines
Cavite State University
LABORATORY MANUAL
IN
SOIL MECHANICS
RENATO B. CUBILLA, MA-URP, BSCE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Department of Civil Engineering
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Cavite State University
Indang, Cavite
PREFACE
In order to produce quality graduates that are globally competitive, it is important to impart
knowledge to these students’ technical skills and know-how on the different laboratory test in
Soil Mechanics. The students must know the methods in determining the properties and
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
2
behavior of soil for building stability analysis and construction. It helps future civil engineer and
Soil Specialist to solve problems about soil mechanics.
There has been many available laboratory manual published for Soil Mechanics. These manual
conforms with the laboratory standard for Soil Mechanics. However, some of the experiments
listed in these manuals cannot be performed because of the absence of some laboratory
apparatus. Hence this manual was developed for the Cavite State University students on the
basis of the available apparatus and equipment at the Soil Mechanic Laboratory Room. Because
of this problem, the author prepared this laboratory manual with the given constraints to give
civil engineering students the actual and standard test conducted in field work and to
supplement the theories that were taught in the classrooms.
These laboratory manual consist of selected numbers of experiment that can be performed at
the CEIT Soil Mechanics Lab Room.
ENGR. RENATO B. CUBILLA
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
3
Republic of the Philippines
Cavite State University
Don Severing de lass Alas Campus
Indang Cavite, Philippines
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Experiment
No.
Title
Page
1
FAMILIARIZATION WTH DIFFERENT
APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT
2
SIMPLE VISUAL AND MANUAL TEST USED FOR
IDENTIFICATION OF FINE GRAINED SIL IN THE FIELD
5
3
PREPARATION OF DISTURBED SOIL SAMPLES FOR TEST
7
4
PREPARATION OF UNDISTURBED SOIL SAMPLES FOR TEST
9
5
DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT
11
6
LIQUID LIMIT DETERMINATION
13
7
PLASTIC LIMIT DETERMINATION
15
8
SHRINKAGE LIMIT OF SOILS
17
9
PERMEABILITY TEST
20
10
GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS
25
11
FIELD DENSITY TEST
27
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
SOIL
MECHANCS
4
4
Republic of the Philippines
Cavite State University
CvSU
Don Severino de las Alas Campus
Indang Cavite, Philippines
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY
Name _________________________________Date Performed___________________________
Student No.____________________________Date Submitted___________________________
Grades in Points
Exercise No. 1
FAMILIARIZATION WTH DIFFERENT SOIL MECHANCS
APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION
It is important for the Civil Engineering students to be familiar with the different apparatus and
equipment available being used in Soil Mechanics Laboratory.
APPARATUS
All laboratory apparatus and equipment
PROCEDURE
1. Instructor will assign students to research on the different laboratory apparatus and
equipment used in soil mechanics.
2. Student may borrow all available apparatus and equipment available in the Materials
and Testing Laboratory.
3. Each apparatus will be drawn in bond paper. (Two illustrations per page. Please follow
format).
4. Each drawing will be properly labeled together with description and its use.
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
5
Republic of the Philippines
Cavite State University
Don Severing de lass Alas Campus
Indang Cavite, Philippines
CvSU
Don Severino de las Alas Campus
Indang Cavite, Philippines
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY
Name _________________________________Date Performed___________________________
Student No.____________________________Date Submitted___________________________
Grades in Points
Exercise No. 2
SIMPLE VISUAL AND MANUAL TEST USED FOR
IDENTIFICATION OF FINE GRAINED SIL IN THE FIELD
INTRODUCTION
(Give introductory statements regarding the exercise to be performed. Discuss theories and
principles about the topic)
OBJECTIVES
To formulate simple manual tests in identifying fine grained soil in the field.
APPARATUS USED
Graduated cylinder, oven, mixing container, spoon/trowel, rolling pan
PROCEDURE:
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
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A. Dry Strength Test
1. Wet and mold about 50 grams of soil and then allow it to dry in the air or the use of an
oven
2. Obtain a small fragment of the dried sample and press between the thumb and
forefinger.
3. Describe the reaction produced. How would you describe the strength of the sample
under test? Does it easily crushes or break into pieces when pressed?
B. Plasticity Test
1. Mold about 50 grams of soil and roll into thin threads about 1/8” in diameter
2. Obtain one foot long specimen from the thin threads and hold it vertically at one end
3. Describe the threads produced. Can it support its own weight when held vertically at
one end? Can it be molded as thin as 1/8” in diameter? Describe the reaction produced.
C. Water Mobility
1. Mix about 30 grams of soil with water at a consistency of thin paste
2. Place some of the mixture on the palm of hand then shake
3. Describe how water rises when the sample is shaken. What does it exhibit when the
soil is wet?
D. Dispersion Test
1. Disperse a small amount of soil in a glass cylinder half full with water and allow to
settle.
2. Identify the particles that settled and the particles that remained in suspension
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
(discuss important results and significant observations)
CONCLUSION
(Make generalization and conclusion about the experiment performed)
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
7
Republic of the Philippines
Cavite State University
Don Severing de lass Alas Campus
Indang Cavite, Philippines
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY
Name _________________________________Date Performed___________________________
Student No.____________________________Date Submitted___________________________
Grades in Points
Exercise No. 3
PREPARATION OF DISTURBED SOIL SAMPLES FOR TEST
INTRODUCTION
(Give introductory statements regarding the soil is prepared for some test. Differentiate
disturbed and undisturbed soil preparation.)
OBJECTIVES
To study how disturbed soil samples are prepared for test.
APPARATUS USED
Oven with temperature control, beam balance, set of sieves, Nos. 10 and 40, mortar and pestle,
trowel.
SIZE OF SAMPLE:
1. Mechanical Analysis- Materials passing No 10 Sieve, 115 gram for sandy soil and 65 grams
for salty or clayey soil.
2. Atterberg Limits Test- Mechanical Passing No. 40 Sieves, 200 grams.
3. Compaction Test-Materials Passing No. 40 sieve, 3000 grams
PROCEDURE:
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
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1. Place about 3 to 4 kgs of soil sample in the oven and allow drying at a temperature not
exceeding 140 deg F. Stir if necessary to reduce drying time.
2. When completely dry, remove the sample in the oven and allow cooling to room
temperature.
3. Place enough sample in the mortar and pestle and began breaking the aggregates between
the soil particles. Repeat the same procedure until all the oven dried sample passed in this
step.
4. Obtain the required quantity of sample for each test by the method of quartering or by
sample splitter.
5. Get the No. 10 sieve and place the pulverized sample for sieving operation. Sieve the
remaining samples until obtaining the required amount for the test. Set aside portion
retained for sieve analysis of coarse material and weight passing for the analysis of fine
materials.
6. Mix thoroughly all the portion passing No.10 sieve and weigh the required quantity as
specified under the size of the sample for mechanical analysis.
7. From the remaining sample passing No 10 sieve, place enough sample on the No.40 sieve
and continue sieving operation. For the soil retained repeat procedure 3 to further reduce
the aggregation between the particles. Repeat the sieving operation until a sufficient
amount of sample is obtained passing the no 40 sieve for limit tests.
8. Mix thoroughly the portion passing the No. 40 sieve and weigh the required quantity for
limit test. Discard the portion retained.
9. Use the No. 40 sieve to obtain the amount of sample for compaction test. Repeat step 3 for
all samples retained in this sieve and continue the sieving operations until the required
amount is obtained.
10. Mix thoroughly the portion passing the No.40 sieve and set aside for the compaction test.
Discard the portion retained.
Data Sheet
Weight of Soil before over
drying Kgs.
Weight Passing No.10
sieve
Weight Retained N0. 10
sieve.
Weight Passing No.40 sieve
Weight Retained N0. 40
sieve.
Losses (if there is any)
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS/ CONCLUSION
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
9
Republic of the Philippines
Cavite State University
Don Severing de lass Alas Campus
Indang Cavite, Philippines
(Make generalization and conclusion about the experiment performed)
CSU
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY
Name _________________________________Date Performed___________________________
Student No.____________________________Date Submitted___________________________
Grades in Points
Exercise No. 4
PREPARATION OF UNDISTURBED SOIL SAMPLES FOR TEST
INTRODUCTION
(Give introductory statements regarding the soil is prepared for some test. Differentiate
disturbed and undisturbed soil preparation; Importance of observing proper procedure in soil test
preparation. Discuss methods on how to get undisturbed soil samples)
OBJECTIVES
To study how undisturbed soil samples are prepared for test.
APPARATUS USED
Sharp knife, Soil lathe, wire saw, with one fine wire for final trimming, extruder for tube sample,
caliper.
PROCEDURE:
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
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1. Use sharp knife to remove the protective coating placed on the soil sample taken from
the field.
2. For a least disturbance, use a wire saw or sharp knife in cutting a representative sample
required for the test. The test specimen should be slightly larger than the required
sample for test.
3. If a cube is desired, place the specimen in a miter box and cut to a standard height.
Both end should be perpendicular to the sides of the specimen.
4. Save the trimmings foe water content determination.
5. Measure the exact dimensions of test specimen using a caliper.
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS/ CONCLUSION
(Make generalization and conclusion about the experiment performed)
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
11
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY
Name _________________________________Date Performed___________________________
Student No.____________________________Date Submitted___________________________
Grades in Points
Exercise No. 5
DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
(Give introductory statements regarding the effect of water content in soil as foundation for
structure. The effect of water in building construction)
OBJECTIVES
To determine the water content of a given sample.
APPARATUS USED
Oven with temperature control, beam balance, desiccators, container, crucible tong
PROCEDURE:
11. Weigh the container and record as W1
12. Place the representative soil sample in the container. Get the weight and record as W2.
13. Remove the cover and allow to completely in the oven with temperature control at 105 deg
C to 100 deg C. Stir the soil if necessary to reduce the drying time of the sample inside the
oven.
14. When completely dried, remove the container from the oven and cool to room temperature
for 10 minutes. After the allotted time, place the container inside the desiccators for further
cooling of the sample.
15. Remove the container from the desiccators and weigh and record the sample as W3.
Perform 5 trials.
COMPUTATIONS:
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla
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W= (W2-W3)/ (W3-W1) x 100
Where: W1 =weight of the container
W2= weight of wet soil plus weight of container
W3=weight of oven dried soil plus weight of container
WC= Water content expressed as percentage
Data Sheet
Test Number
hW1
\W2
W3
Moisture loss
Weight of dry soil
Water Content%
1
2
3
4
5
Ave.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. The weight of moist soil sample is 20702.4 grams. The volume of soil measured
before drying is 11335.68 cu cm. after being dried out in an oven, the weight of
dry soil is 17,161.2 g,. Specific gravity of soil is 2.65. Find water content, wet unit
weight, void ratio, porosity and degree of saturation.
2. Given an undisturbed soil sample with a void ratio equal to 0.78. Water content is
12 % and sp.gr. is 2.68. Find Wet unit weight, dry unit weight, degree of
saturation and porosity.
3. A certain type of soil has a natural void ratio of 1.87, water content of 60%,
specific gravity of soil solids of 2.67. What is the unit weight and degree of
saturation of the soil.?
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
CONCLUSION
(Make generalization and conclusion about the experiment performed)
Soil Mechanics DCE-CEIT
Engr. Renato B. Cubilla