CE 412

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1: SOIL MECHANICS

LAB 2: DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE CONTENT

Lab Date : , 2017

Report Date: December 22, 201 7

Teaching Assistant: Engr. Erwin Rafael D. Cabral

Lab Group : Group 4

Lab Partners : Acha, Jade Nicole C.

Litan, Shiela O.

Mole, Irish M.

Paña, Dexter B.

Sabando, Judy Ann Ruth D.

Tipyongon, Ian Kevin A.

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 ABSTRACT

The determination of water content or moisture content of a soil is an important

requirement in laboratory tests and is part of the test included in more elaborate test.

Moisture content is an important measure in the compaction of soil. To obtained correct

water content or moisture content from a soil sample, several samples at different points must

be obtained. A new technique to determine the specific oven drying" temperature that yields

the correct value of the moisture content for organic soils is presented.

For many soils, the moisture content may be an extremely important index used for

establishing the relationship between the way a soil behaves and its properties. The

consistency of a fine-grained soil largely depends on its water content. The water content is

also used in expressing the phase relationship of air, water, and solids in a given volume of

soil.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Objectives...……………………………………………………………………………………... 4

Theoretical Background………………………………………………………………………..... 4

Materials and Equipment………………………………………………………………………... 5

Experimental Procedure…………………………………………………………………………. 5

Analysis of Data………………………………………………………………………………..... 6

Discussion of Results…………………………………………………………………………..... 7

Conclusion and Recommendations…………………………………………………………….... 8

References……………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………….... 9

Computations

Pictures

List of Tables:

Table 1. Tabulation of Gathered Data

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I. OBJECTIVES

1) The moisture content analysis is used to determine the amount and percentage

of moisture in soils. The water content is the ratio of the mass of water in a

given mass of soil to the mass of dry solids. The water content of soils is also

responsible for in ascertaining soil properties and behavior.

2) To determine the natural water content in a given soil sample.

II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

This test is performed to determine the moisture content of soils. The moisture

content is the ratio, expressed as percentage, of the mass of pore or free water in a given mass

of soil to the mass of the dry soil solids.

VALUES:

M1 = Mass of Pan (g)

M2 = Mass of Pan + Moist Soil (g)

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 M3 = Mass of Moist Soil (g)

M4 = Mass of Pan + Dried Soil (g)

M5 = Mass of Dried Soil (g)

𝑤 = Moisture Content (%)

EQUATIONS:

Mass of Moist Soil (M3) = M2 – M1

Mass of Dry Soil (M5) = M4 – M1

(M3 − M5)
Moisture Content 𝑤 % = 𝑥 100
( M5)

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Undisturbed Soil Sample

Drying Oven

Balance (with accuracy of 0.01 g)

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 Small Pan

IV. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

The pans are labeled for the determination of the three trials then are weighed.

Portions of the undisturbed soil sample are placed in each pan and then weighed again to

determine the mass of the soil sample. The portions are crushed for easy drying of the

samples. The crushed samples of moist soil are placed in the oven for the drying process. Soil

samples that has been dried are weighed again to get the new mass of the soil sample. When

it is done, the weight of each pan is recorded for the computation of data.

V. ANALYSIS OF DATA

Table 1. Tabulation of Gathered Data

Sample No. 1 2 3

Pan No. 1 2 3

Mass of pan: M1 (g) 19.7 19.5 19.8

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 Mass of pan + moist soil 366.7 417.3 348.2

M2 (g)

Mass of moist soil M3 (g) 347 397.8 328.4

Weight of pan + dry soil 279 308 276

M4 (g)

Mass of dry soil M5 (g) 259.3 288.5 256.2

Water/Moisture Content: 33.82% 37.89% 28.18%

(𝐌𝟑 − 𝐌𝟓)
𝒘%= 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
( 𝐌𝟓)]

AVERAGE MOISTURE CONTENT = 33.30%

VI. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

Moisture content is measure using undisturbed sample because in this kind of sample

is obtained without disturbing the natural conditions of a soil sample such as its density,

texture, natural water content, density, structure. The determination of moisture content is

important in all studies of soil mechanics. Natural moisture content is used in determining the

bearing capacity and settlement. This will give an idea of the state of the soil in the field.

In the laboratory experiment performed, the undisturbed soil sample is used in

determining the moisture content of the soil. The soil sample is separated and placed into 3

pans for the 3 trials. Mass of the dry soil can be obtained after the drying process of the

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experiment. It is determined by subtracting the mass of the wet soil, which is first measured,

to the mass of the pan containing the wet sample minus mass of the pan itself. And the mass

of the dried sample, this is obtained by subtracting the mass of pan with dry sample to the

mass of pan. On the first trial, the mass of the pan with moist soil sample is 366.7 g and after

drying it, the mass becomes 279 g which means that it has a water content of 33.2 %. The

same process occurred on the second and third trial which has a moisture content of 37.89%

(M3 − M5)
& 28.18, respectively. We used the formula 𝑤 % = 𝑥 100 then took the percentage
( M5)]

of each sample. We computed for the mean natural water/moisture content by adding the

three percentages and dividing it by three. We came to a conclusion that the water content of

the undisturbed soil sample that we took is 32.30%.

VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the results, the water content in each sample 1, 2 & 3 containing portions of

the undisturbed soil sample is 33.82%, 37.89% and 28.18%, respectively. The average

moisture content of the three trials is 33.30. The length of the drying process depends on

the amount of soil placed in each pan. Moisture content also depends on the mass of soil

contained in the pan. Some of the variance could also be a result of the moisture in the air

affecting the dry soil samples. After removing the pan of soil in the oven, weigh it

immediately so that there will no great effect of air moisture in the sample.

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 VIII. REFERENCES

ASTM D 2216 - Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture)

Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures

Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual – Walden S. Rio

Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC

https://www.scribd.com/doc/38842684/Determination-of-Moisture-Content

IX. APPENDIX

COMPUTATIONS

SAMPLE 1:

Mass of Empty Pan (M1) = 19.7 g

Mass of Pan with Moist soil (M2) = 366.7 g

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Mass of Moist soil (M3) = 347 g

Mass of Pan with Dry Soil (M4) = 279 g

Mass of Dry soil (M5) = 259.3 g

Mass of Moist Soil (M3) = M2 – M1

= 366.7g – 19.7g

= 347g

Mass of Dry Soil (M5) = M4 – M1

= 279g – 19.7g

= 259.3g

Moisture Content for Sample 1:

(M3 − M5) (347 g − 259.3g)

SAMPLE 2:

Mass of Empty Pan (M1) = 19.5 g

Mass of Pan with Moist soil (M2) = 417.3 g

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Mass of Moist soil (M3) = 397.8 g

Mass of Pan with Dry Soil (M4) = 308 g

Mass of Dry soil (M5) = 288.5 g

Mass of Moist Soil (M3) = M2 – M1

= 417.3g – 19.5g

= 397.8g

Mass of Dry Soil (M5) = M4 – M1

= 308g – 19.5g

= 288.5g

Moisture Content for Sample 2:

(M3 − M5) (397.8g − 288.5g)

SAMPLE 3:

Mass of Empty Pan (M1) = 19.8 g

Mass of Pan with Moist soil (M2) = 348.2 g

Mass of Moist soil (M3) = 328.4 g

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Mass of Pan with Dry Soil (M4) = 276 g

Mass of Dry soil (M5) = 256.2 g

Mass of Moist Soil (M3) = M2 – M1

= 348.2g – 19.8g

= 328.4g

Mass of Dry Soil (M5) = M4 – M1

= 276g – 19.8g

= 256.2g

Moisture Content for Sample 3:

(M3 − M5) (328.4 g − 256.2g)

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PICTURES

Weighing the dried soil + pan

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Dried Samples

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