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IS 2720-1 (1983): Methods of test for soils, Part 1:

Preparation of dry soil samples for various tests [CED 43:
Soil and Foundation Engineering]

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( Reaffirmed 2006 )

IS t 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART 1 PREPARATION
OF DRY SOIL
SAMPLES
FOR VARIOUS
TESTS

( Second Revision )
Soil Engineering

and Rock Mechanics Sectional Committee,

BDC 23

Raprasenting

Chairman

Association of Indian Universities,

DR JAQIU~H NA~AIN

New Delhi

Members
Public Works Department,
Pradesh, Lucknow

SRIZI I. D. AQARWAL
( Altcrnafe

E. M. BEN.IAMSN
SRRI N. C, DUQCXAL ( Alternate
CHIEF
ENGINEER ( IPRI )

Saw B. L. DEAWAN
PHOF ALAM SINQII
SI~RI B. ANJIAXI
SI~I

DIWCCTOH (DA%%) ( Alternate )

SHRI A. G. DASTI~AE
DR G. S. Dnrmorr
Dmm~an

DEPUTY DIRROTOIC ( Alternate )

DIRECTOR, IRI
SI~RI A. H. DIVAYJI
Saw

SHRI S. GUPTA
SITHI N. V. DE-SOUSA

of Uttar

University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur

Engineering Research Laboratories,
Government
of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
Concrete Association of India, Bombay
Irrigation Department,
Chandigarh

Government

of Punjab,

In personal capacity (5 Hungerford Court, 12/l,

Hungerford Street, Calcuttn )
Indian Geotechnical Society, New Delhi
Central Soil & Materials Rrsrarrlt
Station, New
Delhi
Irrigation
Department,
Pradesh, Roorkee
Asia Foundations
and
Bombay

A. N. JANOI.~: ( Alternate )

DR GOPAL RANJAX

Government

Government

of

Construction

(I)

Uttar
Ltd,

University of Roorkee, Roorkee; and Institute

-Engineers ( India ), Calcutta
Cemindia Company Limited, Bombay
( Alternat r1

of

( Continued on pago 2 )
Q Cobyright
INDIAN

STANDARDS

1984
INSTITUTION

This publication is protected under the In&an CepVright Act ( XIV of 1957 ) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infrineement of convrieht under the said Act.

IS t 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

( Continucdfrom page 1 )
Mmbcrs
SHRI M. IYEN~AR
SHRI ASHOE K. JAIN
SHRI VIJAY K. JAIN ( Altarnate )
JOINT DIREOTOR RESEAROH (GE)-I,
RDSO
JOINT
DIRECTOR
RESEABCH
(GE)-11 RDSO ( Alternate )
LT-COL V. K. KANITKAB
SHRI 0. P. MALIIOTRA

Representing
Engineers India Limited, New Delhi
G. S. Jain and Associates, Roorkee

SHKI D. R. NAR.\HARI
S~rnr V. S. A~ARWAL ( Alternate )

Ministry of Railways

Engineer-in-Chiefs
Branch, Army Headquarters
Public Works Department, Chandigarh Administration, Chandigarh
CentraA Building Research Institute ( CSIR ),
Roorkee
-

SHRI T. K. NATI~AJAN

Cc ntral Road Research Institute ( CSIR ), New

Delhi
SHRI RANJI~ SINQH
Ministry of Defence ( R & D )
SHRI P. D. DESHPAN~E ( Alternate )
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
DR G. B. RAO
DR K. X. GUPTA ( Alternate)
Public Works Department, Government of Punjab,
RESEARCH OFFICIER ( B & RRL )
Chandigarh
Central Board of Irrigation and Power, New Delhi
SECRETARY
DEPUTY SECRETARY I Alternate 1
Roads Wing ( Ministry of Shipping and Transport )
SHRI N. SIVAQURu
SHRI P. R. KALNA ( Alternate )
National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SERI K. S. SRINIVASAN
SHRI SUNIL BERRY ( Altarnate )
Jadavpur University, Calcutta
DR N. SOM
Station,
Research
Engineering
Karnataka
SHRI N. SUBRANANYAM
Krishnarajasagar
ENQINE
ER Public Works Department, Government of Tamil
SUPERINTENDING
Nadu, Madras
(P&DC)
EXECUTIVE ENQINEER I SMRD)
( Alternafc)
All India Instrument Manufacturers and Dealers
SH~I H. C. VZHMA
Association, Bombay
SHRI H. K. Guan ( Alternate )
Director General, ISI ( Ex-ojjicio Mtibcr
)
SHRI G, RAMAN,
Director ( Civ Engg )
Secretary
SHRI K. M. MATHTJR
Senior Deputy Director ( Civ Engg ), ISI

Soil Testing Procedures Subcommittee,

Convener
DR ALAM SIN~H

University of Jodhpur,

BDC 23 : 3
Jodhpur

MSdWS
&RI

AMAR SINQH

Central Building
Roorkee

Research

Institute

( CSIR ),

SHRI M. R. SONEJA (Alternate )

( Centinwd on pagr 10 )

IS : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

Indian Standard
METHODS

OF TEST FOR SOILS

PART 1 PREPARATION
OF DRY SOIL
SAMPLES
FOR VARiOUS
TESTS

( Second Revision)
0.

FOREWORD

0.1 This Indian

Standard
( Second Revision ) was adopted by the Indian
Standards
Institution
on 28 November
1983, after the draft finalized by
the Soil Engineering
and Rock Mechanics
Sectional
Committee
had been
approved by the Civil Engineering
Division Council.
0.2 With
a view
to
establishing
uniform
procedure
for
the
determination
of different
characteristics
of soils, Indian Standards
on
methods
of test for soils ( IS : 2720 ) have been formulated
in various
parts. This part covers method of preparation
of samples for the various
laboratory
tests covered in the standard.
This part was first published in
1966 and revised in 1972.
Since then more parts of this standard
have
been published
covering additional
characteristics
besides some of the
published
parts have been revised wherein
requirements
have been
modified.
This revised version has therefore been formulated
in order to
up date in this respect.
0.3 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular
requirement
of this
standard
is complied
with, the final value, observed
or calculated,
expressing
the result of a test, shall be rounded off in accordance
with
IS : Z-1960*.
The number of significantplaces
retained in the rounded
off value should be the same as that of the specified
value in this
standard.

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard
samples from the
laboratory tests.

(Part
bulk

1 ) covers the method of preparation

of dry
soil sample
received from the field for various

*Rules for rounding off numerical values ( rcuiscd).

3

IS : 2720 ( Part 1 ) - 1983

2. APPARATUS
2.1 Wooden-Mallet
2.2 Trays
material.

for breaking

for air drying

soil clods.

of soil, of suitable

size and

of non-rusting

2.3 Pulverizing
Apparatus
-Either
mortar
and rubber
covered
pestle or ~a mechanical
device consisting of mortar and a power-driven
rubber covered pestle suitable for breaking
up the aggregation
of soil
particles
without reducing
the size of the individual grains. Pestle and
mortar made of soft wood may also be used.
2.4 Sampler - A suitable riflle sampler
the samples (see IS : 1607-1960*
).
2.5 Sieves --of
sizes 75-mm,
9.50-mm,
6*7-mm,
475-mm,
(Part 1 )-19787 j.
2.6

2.7

Drying

or sample splitter

63-mm,
2*00-mm

for quartering

375-mm,
19-mm,
13*2-mm,
and 425-micron
[see IS : 460

Apparatus

a )

Drying Oven - Thermostatically

controlled,
with interior
of
non-corroding
material
to maintain
the temperature
between
105 and 110C.

b)

Other

suitable

dryingapparatus.

Balances
a) Capacity

10 kg and minimum

b) Capacity

1 kg and minimum

c) Capacity

250 g and minimum

3. PREPARATION

OF

sensitivity
sensitivity

SAMPLE

sensitivity
FOR

100 g.
1 g.
O*Ol g.

TESTS

3.1 General - Soil sample as received from the field shall be dried in the
air or in sun. In wet weather a drying apparatus may be used in which
case the temperature
of the sample should not exceed 60C. The clods
may be broken with a wooden-mallet
to hasten drying. The organic
matter,
like tree roots and pieces of bark should be removed from the
matter
other than soil, like shells should also be
sample.
Similarly,
separated
from the main
soil mass.
A noting shall be made of such
removals
and their percentage
of the total soil sample noted.
When
*Methods for dry sieving.
$Specification for test sieves

: Part I Wire cloth test sieves ( wand reuision).

4

IS : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

samples are to be taken for estimation of organic content, lime content,
etc, total sample should be taken for estimation
without removing
shells, roots, etc.
3.2 Drying of the Sample - The amount of drying depends upon the
proposed test to be conducted on the particular
sample.
The type,
temperature and duration of drying of sdil samples for different tests
are given in Table 1. When oven is used for drying, the temperature
in the oven shall not exceed 110C ( see Note ).
Chemical
drying of
samples should not be adopted for any tests.
NOTE - Soils containing
temperature above 60C.

TABLE

QUANTITY

organic

OF SOIL

or calcareous

SAMPLE REQUIRED
THE TESTS

( Clauses 3.2,3.3
TYPE, TEMPEI<A!rUREAND
DURATION
OF DI~YIN~

TESl

matter should

(1)

(2)

i)

Water content

Oven, 24 h

As

Specific
vity

Oven 105-llOC,
24 b

50 g
for
fine
grained soils

ii)

gra-

GONDUCTING

and 4.1 )

AMOUNT OF
SOIL SAMPLE
REQUIRED
FOR TESC

ix)

FOR

not be dried at

(4)
given
Table 2

DEGREE
OF PULVERIZATION
( PASSINQ
IS SIEVE
SIZE )
(5)

in

2mm

400 g for fine,

medium
and
coarse grained
soils
iii)

Grained size
analysis

Air drying

, iv)

Liquid limit

do

v)

Plastic limit

do

REP TO
PART OB
IS : 27201

(6)
Part 2z
Part 3/Secla
Part 3/Set 2

Part 46

270 g

425 micron

Part 5O

60 g

do

As given in
Table 3

do

IMethods of test for soils.

*Determination of water content.
8Determination of specific gravity, Section 1 Fine grained soils.
Determination of specific gravity, Section 2 Fine, medium and coarse grained soils.
sGrain size analysis.
Determination of liquid and plastic limits.

( Continued )
5

IS : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

TABLE

QUANTITY

TEW

(1)

(2)

vi)

Shrinkage
factors

vii)

viii)

ix)

x)

xi)

OF SOIL SAMPLE REQUIRED

THE TESTS - Conrd
TYPE, TErnI%RATURE AND
DURATION
OB DRYING

CONDUCTING

AMOUNT OF
DEGREE
SOIL SAMPLE
OR
PULREQUIRED
VERIZATION
FOR TEST
( PASSING
IS SIEVE
SIZE )
(4)

(3)
Air drying

FOR

100 g

(5)
425 micron

REF
TO
PART OF
IS : 27201

(6)
Part 6s

Compaction
6 kg ( 15 kg
if soil is
susceptible
to crushing )

19 mm

Part 78

19 mm

Part 8$

4.75 mm

Part 9&

a) Light
compaction

do

b) Heavy
compaction

do

c) Constant
mass

do

Unconfined
compressive
strength

oven 110C
f 5%

Part 10s

comTriaxial
pression
(unconsolidated)

do

Part ll?

Triaxial
compression
(consolidated

do

Part 128

Direct shear

do

2 kg

do

)
Air drying/Oven
11oc*5c

1 kg

4.75 mm

Part 138

IMethods of test for soils.

*Determination of shrinkage factors.
*Determination of water content dry density relation using light compaction.
,
4Determination of water content dry density relation using heavy compaction.
6Determination
of dry density - moisture content relation by constant weight of
soil method.
JDetermination of uncontied compressive strength.
Determination
of shear strengh parameters
of specimen tested in unconsolidated
undrained triaxial compression without the measurement of pore water pressure.
sDetermination
of shear strength parameters
of soil from consolidated undrained
triaxial compression test with measurement of pore water pressure.
*Direct shear test.
( Conrinued)

IS : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

TABLE

1 QUANTITY

TYPE,TEMPERATUREAND
DURATION
OF DRYING

TEST

SL

No.

(2)

(1)

OF SOIL SAMPLE
THE TESTS-

xii) Density index

( relative
density )

REQUIRED
Contd

A~oniw

ox

SOIL SAMPLE
REQUIRED
FOR TEST

FOR

DEQREE
OFPULVERIZATION
(PASSING
IS SEIVE
SIZE)

(4)
As per size of
particle given
below:

(3)
Oven, 105-110X,
24 h

CONDUCTING
REX

TO

PART OF
IS :2720'

(6)

(5)
-

Part 14s

Part 15*

75:: Ekg

375
19
950
475
xiii)

Consolidation
properties

,,
2 ,I
12 ),
12 ,,

500 g

Air drying/Oven
1 10C f 5%
Air drying

xiv) CBR

>,
,,
,)

6 kg
2.5 kg ( 100
mm dia)/
5 kg ( 200
mm dia )

19 mm
9.5

mm

Part

164

Part 175

xv) Permeability

Oven, 105- 1lOC,

24 h

xvi)

Field moisture
equivalent

Air drying

xvii)

Centrifuge
moisture
equivalent

do

0 g

do

Part 9

Linear

do

45Og

do

Part 20s

2mm

Part 21D

do

Part 22O

xviii)
xix)

shrinkage

Chemical

5g

425
micron

Part 18

tests

a) Tatal
soluble
solids
b) Organic
matter

Oven, 05-llOC,
24 h

10 g
1oog

Air drying

Methods of test for soils.

aDetermination of density index (relative density) ofcohesionless
aDetermination
of consolidation properties.
4Laboratory determination
of CBR.
Laboratory determination
of permeability.
6Determination
of field moisture equivalent.
Determination
of centrifuge moisture equivalent.
sDetermination
of linear shrinkage,
eDetermination
of total soluble solids.
ODetermination of organic matter.

soils.

( Continued)

IS : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

TABLE
SL
No.

41)

QUANTITY
TesT

OF SOIL SAMPLE
REQUIRED
THE TESTS - Contd
TYPE, TEMPERATUREAND
DURATION
OFDRYINQ

FOR

CONDUCTING

AMOUNT
OF
SOIL SAXPLE
REQUIRED
FOR TEST

DEGREE
OF PULVERIZATION
(PASSXNQ
IS SIEVE
SIZE)
(5)
-

Part 23a

(2)

(3)

(4)

c) Calcium
carbonate

Oven, 105-llOC,
24 h

5 g

REF
TO
PART OF
IS:27201

(6)

d) Cation
exchange
capacity

do

80-130 g

Part 24s

e) Silica-sesquioxide
ratio

do

15 g

Part 25

f) pH value

do

30 g

g) Total
soluble
sulphates

do

30 g

xx) Vane shear

Air drying/oven
110% f 5C

xxi)

Negative pore
water pressure

do

xxii)

Permeability of
granular soils

do

xxiii)

Sand
105 f 5%
equivalent value

xxiv)

250 g

425 micron

1500 g

Direct shear

Air drying

up to 120 g

xxv)

Free swell
index

Oven dry

20 g

xxvi)

Swelling
pressure

Air drying/
Oven dry

2 kg

Part 26&
Part 27a

Part 30
Part 358

1 kg/5 kg
do

475 mm
Above 4.75 mm

Part 369
Part 37r
Part 39/Set

425 micron

Part 4Ors

2 mm

Part 41s

Methods of test for soils.

sDetermination
of calcium carbonate.
*Determination of cation exchange capacity.
Determination
of silica sesquioxide ratio.
sDetermination of @H value.
@Determination of total soluble sulphates.
rLaboratory vane shear test.
&Measurement of negative pore water pressure.
Laboratory
determination of permeability of granular soils ( constant head ).
ODetermination of sand equivalent values of soils and fine aggregates.
Direct shear test for soils containing gravel: Section 1 Laboratory teat.
Determination
of free swell index of~soils.
lsMeasurement of swelling pressure of soils.

!-

IS : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

3.3 Degree of Pulverization - The big clods may be broken with the
help of wooden mallet.
Further pulverization may be done in pestle
The pulverized soil shall be passed through the specified
and mortar.
sieve for the particular test and the soil retained on that sieve shall be
again pulverized for sieving.
This procedure should be repeated until
on further attempts at pulverizing very little soil passes through the
specified sieve.
Care should be taken not to break up the individual
soil particles ( see Table 1 ).
4. QUANTITY

OF SAMPLE

of soil sample required for conducting various

4.1 The quantities
laboratory tests are given in Table 1 for guidance.
NOTE - For actual quantitier, corresponding part of IS : 2720 shall be referred.
4.2 When a smaller quantity has to be taken out of abigger soil mass
the representative sampling shall be done by quartering or riffling.
NOTE-In
the case of coarse gravel or gravelly soils quartering by forming
a cone shall not be done.
The entire aample shall be thoroughly mixed and spread
The sample ao spread shall be divided into four quadrants and
on a flat surface.
Thii process shall be repeated till the desired
diagonally opposite quadrants mixed.
quantity of sample is obtained.
TABLE

QUANTITY

OF SAMPLE
REQUIRED
OF WATER CONTENT

TABLE

IS Sieve
Sieve
IS Sieve
IS Sieve
IS Sieve
IS Sieve

QUANTITY

OF SOIL

DETERMINATION

MINIEXCWQUANTITY 4~ Sorr,
SPEOIYEN TO BE TAKEN
POR THE TEST
MASPIN g

SIZE OF PARTICLES MORE THAN

90 PERCBNT PASSING

425-micron
2-mm IS
4.75 mm
9.50 mm
mm
19
37.5 mm

FOR

*-

Im-REQUIRED

MAXIMUM SIZE OF MATERIAL PRESENT

IN SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES
mm

FOR

GRAIN

25
50
200
300
500
1000
SIZE ANALYSIS

MASS TO BE TAKEN
FOR TEST
kg
60
25
6.5
35
15
0.75
0.4

75
37.5
19
13 2
9.5
67
475

18, : 2720 ( Part 1) - 1983

( Contiqksd from page 2 )
RCprCJC?ltifZg
Mcmbcrs
OBFIC~~
Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab,
ASSISTANT RESEARCH
Chandigarh
( IPRI )
OFFICER Irrigation
Department,
Government
of Uttar
ASSISTANT
RESEARCH
Pradesh, Lucknow
(SRD)
RESEABCE Ministry of Railways
DEPUTY
DIRECTOR
( GE-III ), RDSO
JOINT DIRECTOR RESEARCH
( GE-I ), RDSO ( Alternate )
Central Soil and Materials Research Station, New
DIRECTOR
Delhi
DEPUIY DIRECTOR ( Alternate)
Geologist Syndicate Private Limited, Calcutta
SHRI H. K. GUEA
SERI N. N. BEATTACHARAYA
(Alternate )
University of Roorkee, Roorkee
Da G~PAL RANJAN
DR S,. C. HANUA ( Alternate )
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
DR. SHASHI K. GULHATI
Centraaload
Research Instttute ( CSIR ), New
SERI P. JAQANATHA RAO
LT-Cos. V. K. KAXI WAR
SHRI M. D. NAIR
PROP T. S. NAGARAJ ( Alternatg)

Engineer-in-Chiefs
Branch, Army Headquarters
Associated Instruments Manufacturers (I) Private
Limited, New Delhi

10