PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE type of distribution of various-size

particles.
Use to determine the following four parameters:

1. Effective size (D10)

- The diameter in the particle size
distribution curve corresponding to
10 % finer.
- The effective size of a granular soil is I. Poorly Graded Soil: type of soil in
a good measure to estimate the which most of the soil grains are the
hydraulic conductivity and drainage same size.
through soil. II. Well Graded: represents a soil in
2. Uniformly Coefficient (Cu) which the particle sizes are
distributed over a wide range.
60 III. Gap Graded: a combination of two
=
10 or more uniformly graded fractions.
3. Coefficient of Gradiation (Cc)
2
30
=
60 10

4. Sorting Coefficient (So)

- Generally encountered in geologic
works but is not frequently used as a
parameter by geotechnical
engineers.

75
=
25

- The particle size distribution curve

shows not only the range of particle
sizes present in a soil but also the
 Bulky particles - formed mostly by mechanical
weathering of rock and minerals.

Geologists use these terms to describe

the shapes of bulky particles:

Angularity and Sphericity Formula of

Bulky Particles, are defined as

PARTICLE SHAPE
- The shape of particles present in soil
Flaky Particles have very low sphericity
mass equally important as the
usually 0.01 or less. These particles are
particle-size distribution because it
predominantly clay minerals.
has a significant influence on the
physical properties of a given soil. Needle-shaped particles are much less
common than the two particle types.
Three major categories:

1. Bulky

2. Flaky

3. Needle Shaped