various Types of Soil Tests for Building Construction

                     Different types of test for soil

             

                any structure is the first step in construction planning to understand the suitability of soil for proposed construction work.               

1. Moisture content test
2. Specific gravity of soil
3. Dry density of soil
4. Compaction test or Proctor’s test
5. Atterberg Limits Test on Soil

Moisture content test on soil:- 

 1) scope:- 

      This method covers the laboratory determination of the moisture content of a soil as a percentage of its oven-dried weight. The method may be applied to fine, medium and coarse grained soils for particle sizes from 2 mm to >10 mm.

 2)PRINCIPLE:-

      The method is based on removing soil moisture by oven-drying a soil sample until the weight remains constant. The moisture content (%) is calculated from the sample weight before and after drying.

3)SPECIAL APPARATUS:-

 For fine-grained soils (maximum particle size 2 mm).

• A thermostatically controlled oven preferably of the forced-draught type, capable of maintaining a temperature between 105 °C and 110 °C. • A balance readable and accurate to 0.01 g. (See Note 1.) • Numbered aluminium weighing tins with close fitting numbered lids. A suitable size is 75 mm diameter and 25 mm deep. • A desiccator containing anhydrous self-indicating silica gel. A suitable size is 250 mm diameter.

For medium-grained soils (maximum particle size 10 mm). 

• An oven as specified above. • A balance readable and accurate to 0.2 g. (See Note 1.) • Suitable airtight corrosion-resistant container of about 400 g capacity. • A scoop. For coarse-grained soils (maximum particle size >10 mm) • An oven as specified above. • A balance readable and accurate to 1 g. (See Note 1.) • Suitable corrosion-resistant container of about 3.5 kg capacity. • A scoop.

4)PROCEDURE:-

 For fine-grained soils.

 1. Clean and dry the weighing tin+lid and weigh to 0.01 g (W1). (See Note 2.) Select a representative quantity of moist soil in the amount specified by a test. Where not otherwise specified use at least 30 g. Place the sample in the weighing tin and replace lid. Weigh the tin and contents to 0.01 g (W2). (See Note 3.)  2. Remove the lid and place the tin with contents and lid in the oven and dry to constant weight between 105 °C and 110 °C. (See Notes 4 and 5.) 3. Remove the tin with contents from the oven, replace the lid and place the whole in the desiccator to cool. (See Note 6.) 4. Weigh the tin and contents to 0.01 g (W3). (See Note 7.) 

For medium-grained soils.

 1. Clean and dry the container and weigh to 0.1 g (W1). (See Note 2.) Place a sample of about 300 g of soil in the container, replace the lid and weigh to 0.1 g (W2). 2. Remove the lid and place the container and lid in the oven and dry between 105 °C and 110 °C (see Notes 3 and 4) to a constant weight. (See Note 5.) 3. After drying, remove the container from the oven, replace the lid and allow to cool. 4. Weigh the container with contents to 0.1 g (W3).

 For coarse-grained soils.

 1. Clean and dry the container and weigh to 1 g (W1). Place a sample of about 3 kg of soil in the container and weigh to 1 g (W2). 2. Place the container in the oven and dry between 105 °C and 110 °C  to a constant weight. 3. After drying, remove the container from the oven and allow to cool. 4. Weigh the container with contents to 1 g (W3).