BE-02 Open cut method Lesson: Utility Trench Construction

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Geotechnology
Geotechnology (2)
Subsoil - Geomechanical Principles
Geomechanical Principles
Hydrogeological Basics
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Grain Size Distribution

The grain size distribution “determines the mass percentages of the various grain size ranges found in a soil sample”.

The particle size distribution is illustrated using the grading curve (grain size distribution curve) and determined by dry screening. The grading curve y(d) defines the mass percentage y of the particles with a diameter smaller than d in a given sample [ASTM D422] [DIN18123].

Image:

Laboratory sieve shaker used to determine the grain size distribution [FI-GBL]

FI-GBL

Firmeninformation Grundbaulabor Bochum, Ingenieurgesellschaft für Bauwesen, Geologie und Umwelttechnik mbH, Bochum.

[ASTM D422]

American Society for Testing and Materials (1998). ASTM Standard D422 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA. www.astm.org

DIN18123

DIN 18123, Baugrund, Untersuchung von Bodenproben - Bestimmung der Korngrößenverteilung, Berlin: Beuth, 2011.

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For the process of dry screening (sample has been dried in a drying oven at 221 °F (105 °C)), screens with mesh sizes of d = 0.002 in (0.063 mm), 0.005 in (0.125 mm), 0.01 in (0.25 mm), 0.02 in (0.5 mm), 0.04 in (1 mm), 0.08 in (2 mm), 0.16 in (4 mm), 0.31 in (8 mm), 0.63 in (16 mm), 1.24 in (31.5 mm) and 2.48 in (63 mm) are placed on top of each other. The soil sample is ten placed into the largest screen on top of the stack. The soil sample is sieved through vibration either manually or by means of a shaker machine. The residues found in the individual screens are then individually weighed, and the results are used to form the grading curve [DIN18123].

According to [ASTM D422], the following sieves are placed on top of each other, when performing the sieve analysis: No.4 (0.187 in / 4.75 mm), No.10 (0.0787 in / 2.0 mm), No. 20 (0.0331 in / 0.84 mm), No. 40 (0.0165 in / 0.425 mm), No. 60 (0.0098 in / 0.25 mm), No. 140 (0.0041 in / 0.106 mm), and No. 200 (0.0029 in / 0.075 mm).

DIN18123

DIN 18123, Baugrund, Untersuchung von Bodenproben - Bestimmung der Korngrößenverteilung, Berlin: Beuth, 2011.

[ASTM D422]

American Society for Testing and Materials (1998). ASTM Standard D422 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA. www.astm.org