ewce09.azraftaohid.me/L3T1/EWCE 342/Exp. 01 - Field Identification Test of Soil/Lab report.md

Created: 2025/06/25 22:45

Experiment No.: 01

Name of Experiment: Field Identification Test of Soil (Visual Manual Procedure)

Reference: ASTM D2488 -17, Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils

Objective:

• To identify and classify the type of soil in the field using simple visual-manual procedures.
• To determine whether the soil is coarse-grained or fine-grained.
• To identify if the soil is organic or inorganic.
• To characterize the physical properties of fine-grained soils (e.g., dry strength, dilatancy, plasticity).

Significance of the Test:

• Provides quick, on-site assessment of soil properties without need for laboratory equipment.
• Helps in preliminary soil classification for general purposes during field reconnaissance.
• Sufficient for ordinary works.

Apparatus used:

• Tray
• Surface for rolling (glass plate)
• Spatula
• Small container (dishes)
• Water
• Stopwatch
• Plastic squeeze bottle
• Artificial drying container
• #40 sieve
• Beaker
• Stirring stick

Test Result:

The determined characteristics of sample 05 is,

• Organic/Inorganic: Inorganic
• Dry Strength: Medium
• Dilatancy: None
• Toughness: High
• Plasticity: High
• Dispersion: 1 hr 30 mins
• Typical Name: Fat Clay (CH)

**Discussion:

Sample No. 05 was tested in this experiment. Based on the observations made during the field identification procedure, this soil sample is most likely Fat Clay (CH)—an inorganic clay with high plasticity and toughness.

The results help us understand that this soil behaves like a sticky, stiff material when wet and forms hard lumps when dry. The dry strength was determined to be medium. However, when we tested a naturally dried lump of the same soil, it could not be broken easily, indicating that the actual dry strength is very high. It could potentially be because we artificially dried the sample for only about 20 minutes. This supports the classification as a clay type soil, which typically shows such characteristics.

The dilatancy test, which checks how quickly water appears when the soil is shaken, showed no visible reaction. This also aligns with clay behavior, as clay does not react quickly to water. The toughness and plasticity tests showed high results, meaning the soil remains moldable and resists breaking. The dispersion test showed that water remained cloudy even after 1 hour and 30 minutes, which further confirms that fine particles like clay are present and slow to settle.

The sample met the assumed conditions for visual-manual testing. It appeared uniform in texture, free of visible organic matter, roots, or coarse particles, and was sieved through a #40 sieve to ensure consistent grain size.

As for limitations, it is important to note that the field identification method is not a precise measurement but rather a somewhat subjective measure and depends on the skill and judgment of the person performing it. Moreover, environmental factors like humidity or temperature can change the soil's behavior. The values obtained are not numerical or standard values but are meant for quick comparisons in the field. Despite these limitations, when done carefully, the test gives a reasonable idea of the soil’s nature and can guide an engineer to anticipate what kind of measure should be taken for a project.