The coefficient of gradation (Cc) provides insight into the soil's particle size distribution and is used to predict how well the soil compacts. It is calculated using Cc = (D30^2) / (D10 * D60). A Cc between 1 and 3 indicates a well-graded soil, which typically results in better compaction and stability characteristics. Understanding Cc is essential for determining the suitability of soil for construction purposes .

The uniformity coefficient (Cu) is calculated using the formula Cu = D60 / D10, where D60 is the particle diameter at 60% passing and D10 is the particle diameter at 10% passing. It measures the soil's particle size range and a lower Cu indicates a more uniformly graded soil. In the example provided, with D60 = 0.51 mm and D10 = 0.082 mm, Cu would be calculated as 0.51 / 0.082 = 6.22 .

To determine the degree of saturation (S), first calculate the volume of voids and the volume of water in the soil. Use the moisture content and specific gravity to find the volume of water. The formula for degree of saturation is S = (Volume of water / Volume of voids) * 100%. This provides an indication of how much of the void space is filled with water, a critical parameter in geotechnical analysis .

The void ratio (e) is a key parameter in soil mechanics indicating the volume of voids compared to the volume of solid particles. Knowing the void ratio helps determine the porosity, density, and strength characteristics of soil. It is crucial for assessing settlement and permeability properties, impacting the soil's load-bearing and drainage capacity, essential for construction and infrastructural stability .

To determine the percent finer than each sieve size from a sieve analysis, you must first weigh the amount of material retained on each sieve and the base pan. Calculate the cumulative weight retained as you go down through the sieves. From this, determine the cumulative percent retained by dividing by the total weight of the sample and multiplying by 100. Subtract the cumulative percent retained from 100% to find the percent finer than each sieve size. Once you have calculated the percent finer for each sieve, you can plot these values against sieve sizes on a semi-logarithmic graph to create the grain-size distribution curve .

D10, D30, and D60 are grain-size percentiles that represent the size of the particles at which 10%, 30%, and 60%, respectively, of the sample’s mass are finer. These percentiles are crucial for evaluating soil properties: D10 is used to calculate the uniformity coefficient and serves as an indicator of the soil's permeability; D30 serves in calculating the coefficient of gradation; D60 helps to indicate the soil's texture and maturity. These percentiles provide a complete characterization of soil grading .

To find the moisture content when soil is saturated, use the formula: moisture content (ω) = (Gs * γw) / γdry - 1, where Gs is specific gravity, γw is the unit weight of water (approximately 9.81 kN/m3), and γdry is the dry density. The relationship highlights that higher specific gravity or dry density leads to lower moisture content at saturation, reflecting soil's compactness and the degree of void filling. In the given example, Gs = 2.66 and γdry = 1750 kg/m3, compute ω to find moisture content when saturated .

In a hydrometer test, the diameter of the smallest-size particles that have settled by a certain time can be determined using Stokes' law. For a specific time (t = 60 min), particle density (Gs = 2.70), and water temperature (23℃ leading to specific gravity correction), you can calculate the sedimentation velocity. Using this velocity, the diameter D is theoretically deduced from charts or calculations correlating the hydrometer reading and time to sedimenting particle sizes .

Calculate the required volume of water based on the target degree of saturation. For 90% saturation, find the existing void volume using current dry density and specific gravity, then calculate the water volume required to fill up to 90% of those voids. The weight of water is calculated by multiplying the water volume by the density of water (approximately 9.81 kN/m3).

The dry density of a soil can be calculated using the formula: dry density = moist density / (1 + moisture content). Convert the moisture content into its decimal form before using it. For example, if the moist density is 19.8 kN/m3 and the moisture content is 16.6% (or 0.166 in decimal), the dry density would be 19.8 / (1 + 0.166) = 16.98 kN/m3 .