11107138 de Vera, Francis Joseph R. Linear Shrinkage I.

OBJECTIVES:

June 17, 2013 LBYCVG1

This experiment is done for students to: Be able to understand the concepts behind linear shrinkage. Be able to use the BS-1377-2 to perform linear shrinkage of soil and be able to apply this to future work. Be able to identify the factors that affect the linear shrinkage Be able to get the experimental value of linear shrinkage of kaolin clay and be able to compare it to the values of Plastic Limit and Liquid Limit.

II.

DATA:

Original Length (mm) Length of Oven Dried Specimen (mm) Linear Shrinkage of Soil

Side Side A B Average 140.1 140 140.05 131.5 131.2 131.325 0.062

III.

COMPUTATIONS: Average of Original Length:

Average of Oven Dried Length:

Linear Shrinkage:

IV.

DISUCUSSION/ANALYSIS OF DATA As seen from the data, the sides of the apparatus are not equal. The values that we have gotten for the sides are 140.1mm and 140mm. In relation to this, the value for the length of the oven dried specimen per side was also different. Because one side is longer, in shrinkage, the other side after drying will also be longer. Thus, we have gotten a value of 131.5mm and 131.2mm for the oven dried specimen of the kaolin clay. The linear shrinkage value was gotten using the equation thus we got 6.2% of moisture content. It can be analyzed in the data that the length of the apparatus may affect the value of the linear shrinkage. Some inconsistencies may emerge when the sides are not really close to each other. Thus, we averaged the values of both sides in order to get closer experimental values compared to the theoretical ones. Air voids also play a role in this experiment. The specimen, kaolin clay, will have a greater shrinkage value because the air will take up volume which is supposed to for kaolin clay. This volume of voids or air will add up to the original volume. Another factor that may affect this experiment is when the specimen is not properly flattened to the apparatus. Air voids may occur when it is not properly flattened out. Also, the volume of the apparatus will not be equal to the volume of soil or solids which can affect the value of the shrinkage limit. Lastly, the amount of moisture content present in the specimen has an effect on the shrinkage limit. When too much water is added to the specimen, the volume of it will be larger when placed in the apparatus. Thus, when heated, the volume of the water evaporated will be more. With this, it can be said that the volume of the specimen will be less than that of the actual value.

PICTURES:

The first step in this experiment is to mix the kaolin clay and achieve a puffy cheese state.

It

was

then

agitated

in

order

to

release

the

air

voids

The kaolin clay before putting it inside the oven

The dried specimen.

V.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, shrinkage limit may be defined as the moisture content in which no further volume change occur with further reduction of moisture content. Linear shrinkage of the other hand is the moisture content in which the length will not change with further reduction of moisture content. It may also be defined as the decrease in the dimension of a soil mass, expressed as a percentage of the original dimension, when the water content is reduced from a given value to the shrinkage limit. In this experiment, the experimental value for the linear shrinkage of kaolin clay is 6.2%. This means that when the value of moisture content is less than 6.2%, the specimen will not shrink linearly. The theoretical value of linear shrinkage of kaolin clay is 7.1%. Compared to our value, what we got is somehow close, having only .9% difference. The factors that may have affected this may be the air voids, the amount of water ingested to the specimen and when the specimen is not flattened with the apparatus. These were greatly explained at the discussion and analysis of data. In summary of this idea, air voids and amount of water in the specimen has an effect on the length of the specimen. In this experiment, the value of the linear shrinkage limit should be less than that of the liquid limit and plastic limit. In result, the value we have gotten is less than those. The liquid limit of kaolin clay is around 42.7%, plastic limit of 30% and linear shrinkage of 7.2%.

This experiment may be applied for future use such as foundations in hot countries that may allow the shrinking of soil due to temperature. With this experiment, one will be able to understand and apply the required moisture content in which the soil will no longer shrink linearly.

VI.

RECOMMENDATIONS I recommend that in this experiment, we add another experiment so that we will not waste time. This experiment was just a quick one that we had so much extra time. This time that we didn't use may be used for other quick experiments. In addition to this, I recommend that we should also try to use the ASTM standard other than the BS. In application to real life situations, the ASTM standard may be used more than that of the BS. There are no further suggestions or recommendations.

VII.

REFERENCE References

Consistency of Soil Atterberg Limits | Geotechnical Engineering Review. (n.d.). MATHalino.com | Online Engineering Review Center. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/geotechnical-engineering/consistency-soil-atterberglimits Definition of linear shrinkage - mindat.org glossary. (n.d.). Mineralogy Database - Mineral Collecting, Localities, Mineral Photos and Data. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http://www.mindat.org/glossary/linear_shrinkage James, W. (n.d.). w james hydrology and hydraulics vocabulary. School of Engineering. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http://www.soe.uoguelph.ca/webfiles/wjames/homepage/stillunclassified/wjvocab.html Touamahia, M. (n.d.). Soil Consistency and Atterberg Limits. Geotechnical Engineering. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from faculty.uoh.edu.sa/m.touahmia/CE353-CH4.pdf

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