STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT) AND SAMPLE COLLECTION

AND INDEX PROPERTY TESTS

OBJECTIVE
• To determine the in-situ penetration value (N-value) of soil.
• To determine grain size distribution using wet sieve analysis.
• To determine Atterberg limits (Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit).
• To determine Specific Gravity (Gs) of soil.
• To determine Moisture Content of soil.
• To classify soil using index properties.

APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. SPT
• Split Spoon Sampler (OD = 50.8 mm, ID = 35 mm)
• Standard hammer (65 kg)
• Drill rods
• Tripod and pulley
• Rope and winch
• Measuring scale
• Borehole casing

2. Wet Sieve Analysis

• IS sieve set (4.75 mm to 75 µm)
• Mechanical sieve shaker
• Washing tray
• Oven (105 – 110°C)
• Weighing Balance

3. Plastic Limit
• Glass Plate
• Spatula

4. Liquid Limit
• Casagrande apparatus
• Grooving tool
• Spatula
• Oven

5. Specific Gravity
• Pycnometer
• Weighing balance
• Vacuum pump (optional)
• Oven
• Distilled water
THEORY
1. Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is an in-situ dynamic penetration test used to determine the engineering
properties of subsurface soils. In this test, a split spoon sampler is driven into the soil at the bottom of a
borehole using a standard hammer weighing 65 kg, which is dropped freely from a height of 750 mm. The
sampler is driven a total distance of 450 mm, and the number of blows required for the last 300 mm
penetration is recorded as the SPT N-value, while the first 150 mm is considered as the seating drive and is
neglected. The N-value provides an indication of the soil's resistance to penetration, which can be correlated
to properties such as relative density in granular soils and consistency in cohesive soils.

2. Wet Sieve Analysis

Wet sieve analysis is a method used to determine the particle size distribution of soils, particularly when fine
particles such as silt and clay are present and tend to adhere to coarser grains. In this method, the soil sample
is washed through a series of standard sieves using water to separate finer particles effectively. After washing,
the retained materials are dried and weighed to calculate the percentage of soil retained and passing through
each sieve. The results are used to plot a grain size distribution curve, which is essential for soil classification.

3. Liquid Limit (LL)

The liquid limit is defined as the water content at which soil changes from plastic state to a liquid state. It
represents the boundary between plastic and liquid behavior of fine-grained soils. The most common method
for determining the liquid limit is the Casagrande apparatus method, in which a soil paste is placed in a brass
cup and divided by a groove. The cup is repeatedly dropped at a standard rate, and the number of blows
required to close the groove over a specified distance is recorded. The test is repeated for different moisture
contents, and a graph of water content versus the logarithm of the number of blows is plotted, known as the
flow curve. The liquid limit is the water content corresponding to 25 blows.

4. Plastic Limit (PL)

The Plastic Limit is the water content at which soil begins to transition from a plastic state to a semi-solid
state. It is determined by rolling a soil sample into thin threads of about 3 mm diameter on a smooth surface.
As the soil is rolled, it gradually loses moisture, and when it starts to crumble at this diameter, the
corresponding water content is taken as the plastic limit.

5. Specific Gravity of Soil Solids (Gs)

Specific gravity of soil solids is defined as the ratio of weight of a given volume of soil solids to the weight of
equal volume of water at a specified temperature. It is commonly determined by using a pycnometer in the
laboratory. In this method, the weights of the empty pycnometer, pycnometer with dry soil, pycnometer with
soil and water, and pycnometer filled with water are measured. These values are used to calculate the specific
gravity using a standard formula: Gs = Ws / (Ws + W4 - W3).

PROCEDURE
1. Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
• A borehole was drilled up to the required depth.
• The bottom of the borehole was cleaned properly.
• The split spoon sampler was attached to the drill rods.
• The sampler was lowered to the bottom of the borehole.
• A hammer weighing 65 kg was allowed to fall freely from a height of 750 mm.
• The sampler was driven into the soil for a total penetration of 450 mm.
• The number of blows for each 150 mm penetration was recorded.
• The first 150 mm penetration was treated as seating and was ignored.
• The blows for the next 300 mm penetration were added to obtain the N-value.
 • The sampler was withdrawn and the soil sample was collected.

2. Wet Sieve Analysis

• A representative soil sample was taken and dried in an oven.
• The dry sample was weighed (Total weight = 1335 g).
• The sample was soaked in water to loosen the particles.
• The soil was washed through a 75-micron sieve to remove fine particles.
• The retained soil was collected and dried in the oven.
• The set of sieves were arranged in descending order of size.
• The dried sample was placed on the top sieve.
• The sieve stack was shaken using a mechanical sieve shaker.
• The soil retained on each sieve was weighed.
• The percentage retained and percentage passing were calculated.

3. Liquid Limit (LL)

• Soil passing through 425 µm sieve was taken.
• A paste of soil with water was prepared.
• The paste was placed in the Casagrande cup.
• A groove was cut using a grooving tool.
• The handle of the apparatus was rotated at a rate of about 2 blows per second.
• The number of blows required to close the groove was recorded.
• A small sample was taken to determine water content.
• The procedure was repeated for different water contents.
• A flow curve was plotted, and the liquid limit was determined at 25 blows.

4. Plastic Limit (PL)

• Soil passing through 425 µm sieve was taken.
• A soil mass was prepared with adequate moisture.
• A small portion of soil was rolled on a glass plate into threads.
• The threads were reduced to about 3 mm diameter.
• Rolling was continued until the soil thread crumbled.
• The crumbled sample was collected for water content determination.
• The process was repeated for accuracy, and the average value was taken as plastic limit.

5. Specific Gravity (Gs)

• The empty pycnometer was cleaned, dried and weighed (W1).
• A known weight of dry soil was placed in the pycnometer (W2).
• Distilled water was added to the pycnometer, and air bubbles were removed.
• The pycnometer filled with soil and water was weighed (W3).
• The pycnometer filled with water only was weighed (W4).
• All readings were recorded and used to calculate specific gravity.

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

1. Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
Field Data:
Length of chisel + bailer = 2.78 m
 Length of rope = 2.13 m
Depth of boring = 4.91 m
Water table depth = 2.50 m
Total no. of blows = 7 (1st blow discarded as seating drive)

Water Table
Depth (m) N-value Remarks
Depth (m)
Loose to
4.91 6 2.5
Medium

N-value = 7 - 1 (seating drive) = 6

2. Moisture Content
Wt. of Wt. of Cup Wt. of Cup
Wt. of Water
S.N. Cup No. Empty Cup + Wet Soil + Dry Soil
Water (g) Content (%)
(g) (g) (g)
1 1048 9.36 18.85 16.498 2.352 32.95
2 1000 10.39 15.75 14.499 1.251 30.45
3 1050 15.48 25.86 23.050 2.810 37.12

Sample Calculation (Cup No. 1048):

Wt. of water = 18.85 - 16.498 = 2.352 g
Wt. of dry soil = 16.498 - 9.36 = 7.138 g
Water Content = (2.352 / 7.138) × 100 = 32.95%

Average Moisture Content = (32.95 + 30.45 + 37.12) / 3 = 33.51%

3. Wet Sieve Analysis

Total Dry Weight of Sample = 1335 g

Weight Retained Cumulative %

Sieve Size (mm) % Retained % Finer
(g) Retained
4.75 210 15.73 15.73 84.27
1.00 195 14.61 30.34 69.66
0.425 235 17.60 47.94 52.06
0.106 280 20.97 68.91 31.09
0.075 140 10.49 79.40 20.60
Pan 275 20.60 100.00 0.00

Sample Calculation (Sieve 4.75 mm):

% Retained = (210 / 1335) × 100 = 15.73%
Cumulative % Retained = 15.73%
% Finer = 100 - 15.73 = 84.27%

4. Liquid Limit (LL)

 Water
Wt. of Dry Wt. of Wet Wt. of Wt. of Dry No. of
S.N. Can No. Content
Soil (g) Soil (g) Water (g) Soil (g) Blows
(%)
1 10 2.644 3.660 1.016 2.644 38.42 15
2 5 4.153 5.520 1.367 4.153 32.91 22
3 15 3.900 5.030 1.130 3.900 28.97 32

Sample Calculation (Can No. 10):

Wt. of wet soil = 11.09 - 7.43 = 3.66 g
Wt. of dry soil = 10.074 - 7.43 = 2.644 g
Wt. of water = 3.66 - 2.644 = 1.016 g
Water Content = (1.016 / 2.644) × 100 = 38.42%

From the flow curve (water content vs. log No. of blows):
Liquid Limit = 31.80% (at 25 blows)

5. Plastic Limit (PL)

Wt. of Wt. of Can Water
Wt. of Can +
S.N. Can No. Empty Can + Dry Soil Content
Wet Soil (g)
(g) (g) (%)
1 205 7.23 10.63 9.95 25.00
2 2 7.05 10.25 9.61 25.00

Sample Calculation (Can No. 205):

Wt. of wet soil = 10.63 - 7.23 = 3.40 g
Wt. of dry soil = 9.95 - 7.23 = 2.72 g
Wt. of water = 3.40 - 2.72 = 0.68 g
Water Content = (0.68 / 2.72) × 100 = 25.00%

Plastic Limit = (25.00 + 25.00) / 2 = 25.00%

Plasticity Index (PI) = LL - PL = 31.80 - 25.00 = 6.80%

6. Specific Gravity (Gs)

Parameter Reading 1 Reading 2
W1: Wt. of Empty Pycnometer
61.554 61.50
(g)
W2: Wt. of Pyc. + Dry Soil (g) 77.592 78.25
Ws: Wt. of Dry Soil = W2 - W1
16.038 16.75
(g)
W3: Wt. of Pyc. + Soil + Water
171.981 171.09
(g)
W4: Wt. of Pyc. + Water (g) 162.370 162.84
Gs = Ws / (Ws + W4 - W3) 2.496 2.503
Sample Calculation (Reading 1):
Ws = W2 - W1 = 77.592 - 61.554 = 16.038 g
Gs = Ws / (Ws + W4 - W3)
= 16.038 / (16.038 + 162.370 - 171.981)
= 16.038 / 6.427
= 2.496

Average Gs = (2.496 + 2.503) / 2 = 2.50

RESULT
• SPT N-value at depth 4.91 m = 6 (Loose soil condition)
• Average Moisture Content = 33.51%
• Liquid Limit (LL) = 31.80%
• Plastic Limit (PL) = 25.00%
• Plasticity Index (PI) = 6.80% → Low Plasticity Silt (ML)
• Specific Gravity (Gs) = 2.50

CONCLUSION
The SPT N-value was found to be 6 at a depth of 4.91 m, indicating a loose to medium dense soil condition.
The water table was encountered at a depth of 2.50 m from the ground surface.

The wet sieve analysis reveals that approximately 84.27% of the soil passes through the 4.75 mm sieve,
indicating a predominantly fine-grained soil. About 20.60% of the material passed through the 0.075 mm
sieve, confirming the presence of significant fines (silt and clay fraction).

The plasticity index of the soil was found to be 6.80%, which indicates that the soil is of low plasticity. Based
on the Atterberg limits (LL = 31.80%, PL = 25.00%, PI = 6.80%) and the grain size distribution, the soil can
be classified as Low Plasticity Silt (ML) according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). This
type of soil exhibits low compressibility and low shrink-swell characteristics.

The specific gravity of 2.50 is slightly lower than the typical value for soils (2.60–2.80), suggesting the
possible presence of organic matter or lightweight minerals in the soil.