DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE CONTENT (STANDARD METHOD OVEN DRYING METHOD)

1.0

INTRODUCTION

To determine the amount of water present in a soil expessed as a percentage of the mass of dry soil. This is term the moisture content of the dry soil. Its is also to define the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of the dry soil grains in a soil grains in a soil mass. The water content is a good indication of the strenght of clay soil. The moisture content of a soil is a assumed to the amount of water within the pore space between the soil grains which is removable by the oven drying method at a temperature not exceeding 110 degrees celciuss. Usually 105 until 110 degree celciuss but several method are available as rapid alternatives more suitable to site condition.

2.0

APPARATUS

A thermostatically controlled oven set

Balance readable and accurate tp 0.01 g

Sample tins

scoop

Tongs

2.0 No. 1.

PROCEDURE Diagrams Prosedures

Prepare the samples tins and make sure all the container are cleaned and dried. All the container should be labeled.

2. All the container must be weighed to get a mass 0.01 g by using a balance readable.

3. By using a scoop, get the sample of the soil. Place the soil in the container from the site and get three different type of soil. Make sure the soil free from impurities such as wood, insect, rock and etc. The soil usualy getting 150mm depth from surface area. 4. Before drying process, weigh the container and the contents to get the mass each of the sample. Label each the sample to avoid confuse when take the data. 5. Place the container with the sample in the oven at the temperature 105 110 degree celcius. The period required for drying will vary with the type of soil and the size of sample. In general, 16 24 hours is usually sufficient for drying most soil. After the drying process is done. Open the door oven and take a minute to realease water vapour. Put out the sample of soil using tongs 7. Weigh the each sample of soil and take a data for final result. From the all data, calculate the percentage of dry soil weight (moisture content) using the formula.

6.

Formula : M2 M3 M3 M1 Where : M1 M2 M3 = mass of container = mass of container and wet soil = mass of container and dry soil x 100%

4.0

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the different type of soil has the different percentage of the mass water present. The moisture content of a soil is a assumed to the amount of water within the pore space between the soil grains. In this experiment, the type of sand soil has a low moisture content between another type of soil. It is can define to select the strengness of soil are present in this experiment. Beside that, the location of the soil can change the propertise and the strength pf the soil.

1.5

RESULT

Moisture content

Location Soil description Test method Related test Specimen ref. Container no. Mass of wet dry + container (m) Mass of dry soil + container (m) Mass of container (m) Mass of moisture (m- m) Mass of dry soil (m3- m) Moisture content w=(
)

BS1377:part2:1990:3.2

Job ref. Borehole/pit no. Sample no. Depth Date

g g g g g %

24 146 126 24 20 106 18.87

30 146 146 21 12 111 10.81 operator Checked

approved