Sample A. This is a sample of soil which it is proposed

Sample A
This is a sample of soil which it is proposed to use for embankment construction
by contractor. The specific gravity of the soil particles can be taken as 2.61. The
Contractor will be required to compact the material to at least 95% of its
maximum dry density.
(1) Results of Compaction tests are as follows:
Sample
Number
Empty
Weight
of mould
(kg)
Weight
of soil +
mould
(kg)
Weight
of soil
(kg)
Bulk unit
weight
(kN/m3)
1 1.368 3.467 2.099 20.591
2 1.368 3.482 2.114 20.738
3 1.368 3.497 2.129 20.885
4 1.368 3.462 2.094 20.542
5 1.368 3.436 2.068 20.287
Empty
weight of
container
(g)
Weight
of soil +
container
(wet) (g)
Weight
of soil +
container
(dry) (g)
Mass of
dry soil
(g)
Mass of
moisture
(g)
Water
Content
(%)
Dry unit
weight
(kN/m3)
29.370 156.640 140.700 0.111 0.016 14.318 18.012
29.440 152.650 138.120 0.109 0.015 13.370 18.293
29.500 130.180 119.170 0.090 0.011 12.278 18.602
29.430 159.880 147.110 0.118 0.013 10.851 18.531
29.380 132.710 123.060 0.094 0.010 10.301 18.392
From the graph plotted above, it could be concluded that
Maximum Dry Density (MDD) = 18.602 kN/m3

Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) = 12.3 %
(2) The in-situ moisture content of the soil layer to be used for the embankment
is about 12%. The contractor has to achieve 95% MDD. The OMC of the soil is
12.3%. The water content to achieve 95% MDD can lie within ±2% of OMC
(generally). The field water content is in this range only. Thus, it is feasible to
achieve the 95% MDD at site.
If the water content of the borrowed soil is not in the range, the same has to be
adjusted as per the OMC requirement.
If the borrowed soil is in dry range i.e., having moisture content less than OMC,
water has to be added to the sample and need to be mixed well before
compacting. This is done so that water is distributed throughout the mass of the
borrowed soil.
If the borrowed soil is in wet range i.e., having moisture content more than OMC,
the borrowed sample is to be dried up in the sun and continuous turning of
material is to be there so that overall sample of soil is dried. It should not be
surficial dried.
(3) Other parameters that need to be assessed are:
1. Grain Size Distribution
2. Atterberg’s Limit
3. Permeability
4. Consolidation
5. Shear Strength Properties

Sample B
(1) This is a sample of the river terrace deposit which it is proposed to use as
drainage material.
Sieve
Designati
on
Mass of
soil
retained
Cumulati
ve mass
retained
Soil
retained
as
percentag
e of soil
taken
Soil passing
as
percentage
of soil
sample
taken for
analysis
Combined
percentage
passing as
percentage of
total soil sample
2 6.8 6.8 3.63 3.63 96.37
1.18 4.7 11.5 2.51 6.14 93.86
0.6 7.2 18.7 3.85 9.99 90.01
0.425 27.8 46.5 14.85 24.84 75.16
0.3 31.3 77.8 16.72 41.56 58.44
0.212 33.1 110.9 17.68 59.24 40.76
0.15 28.7 139.6 15.33 74.57 25.43
0.063 26.5 166.1 14.16 88.73 11.27
pan 21.1 187.2 11.27 100.00 0.00
Total 187.2
Sieve
Designat
ion Max Min
20 100 100
5.6 60 100
1 15 45
0.25 0 15
0.125 0 5
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
0
20
40
60
80
100
Series2
Max
Min
Particle Size (mm)
% Finer