SOIL TEST AND

SURVEY

T E ST F O R PA RT IC L E SIZ E
SIEVE ANALYSIS
the process being used to determine the particle
sizes of gravel and for coarse and fine aggregates. A
sample of the material is thoroughly dried and then
shaken through a series of sieves ranging from
coarse to fine and the amount on each sieve is
weighed and recorded.

T E S T T O E VA L U AT E T H E E F F E C T O F
MOISTURE
The AASHTO designation T 89 on liquid limit
The Plastic Limit
The Plastic Index
Shrinkage Test
Hand Feel Test

DENSITY TEST OF
SOIL
The main variables in the soil proper are:
1. Specific Gravity of the soil particles
2. The Particle Size of distribution of the soil
3. Grain Shape of soil particles.

L A B O R AT O RY T E S T F O R S O I L
DENSITY
Test for density may be divided into two class:
1. Laboratory test to set standard for density.
2. Field test to measure the density of soil in place in
the roadway.
.Laboratory test may be subdivided into three

according to the basis of compaction procedure:

1. Static test
2. Dynamic or impact test
3. Tamping foot or kneading compaction test

FIELD DENSITY OF SOIL IN-PLACE

The means of comparing the density result in the
laboratory. This comparison is performed on the basis of
relative compaction defined as follows:
Relative compaction = Dry weight per cu ft. of soil in the
roadway structure
Dry wt./cu.ft. of soil sample at optimum moisture
content compacted in a standard manner.

FIELD DENSITY AND MOISTURE

CONTENT BY SAMPLING
There are four factors that affect the accuracy of
measuring relative density, namely
1. Change in the soil itself
2. The sampling method
3. The accuracy of laboratory testing for standard
density
4. The accuracy of testing the field density

THE STRENGTH TEST

Soil Test to determine the strength of soil is
classified into:
1. Test for load carrying capacity for foundation;
rate and amount of consolidation in soils that
support the foundation.(This is applicable to
bridge foundation)
2. Test to measure the supporting power of
disturbed soils as compacted under standard
procedure.

METHODS:
THE HVEEM STABILOMETER METHODS
STABILOMETER TEST
TRI-AXIAL DESIGN METHOD
DYNAMIC MODULUS
NUCLEAR DEVICES TEST
A.NUCLEAR DEVICES TRANSMISSION TYPE
B.NUCLEAR DEVICES BACK-SCATTER TYPE
.REFRACTION SEISMIC METHOD

H V E E M S TA B I L O M E T E R M E T H O D

THIS METHOD
MEASURES THE
HORIZONTAL
MEASURE
DEVELOPED IN A
SHORT CYLINDER
SAMPLE LOADED
VERTICALLY ON ITS
END.

TRIAXIAL DESIGN METHOD

THIS METHOD IS
ADOPTED BY
SOME AGENCIES
FOR
COMPRESSION
TEST.

DYNAMIC MODULUS
RECOMPACTED OR
UNDISTURBED
SAMPLES ARE TESTED
TO DETERMINE THE
INFLUENCE OF
TEMPERATURE,
DEGREE OF
SATURATION, DENSITY
AND AGE ON THE
DYNAMIC RESPONSE
OF PAVEMENT
MATERIALS.

NUCLEAR DEVICES
TEST
FOR DETERMINING IN-PLACE DENSITIES AND
MOISTURE CONTENTS RE USED.
2 TYPES:
A.TRANSMISSION TYPE- measures density and
moisture content for any depth up to 25 centimeter.
B.BACK SCATTER DEVICE- it measures density and
moisture content at a depth of 3 to 4 inches.

REFRACTION SEISMIC METHOD

A GEOPHYSICAL
METHOD USED FOR
SUB SURFACE
EXPLORATION CALLED
REFRACTION SEISMIC
METHOD RELIES ON
THE PRINCIPLE THAT
THE SPEED OF TRAVEL
OF SHOCK THROUGH
THE EARTH SURFACE IS
DIFFERENT
DEPENDING UPON THE
KIND OF MATERIALS.

S A M P L E P R O B L E M A B O U T R E L AT I V E
C O M PA C T I O N

Determine the relative compaction if the dry unit

weight in the field is 17.08km/m3 and the
maximum dry unit weight result in the laboratory
is 18.31km/m3?

SOLUTION:
GIVEN:
Yd(field)= 17.08km/m3
Yd(max-lab) = 18.31km/m3
R= (Yd(field) /Yd(max-lab))x100
= (17.08/18.31)100= 93%

SOIL SURVEY
Soil survey, orsoil mapping, is the process
of classifyingsoil typesand other soil
properties in a given area and geo-encoding
such information.