1.

Free Swelling index OF SOIL

AIM : TO DETERMINE FREE SWELLING INDEX OF SOIL SAMPLE FROM RETAINING
WALL EXCAVATION.
IS CODE USED

IS :2720 -1977 (PART 4)

REQUIREMENTS : IS Sieve - 425-micron IS Sieve. Glass Graduated Cylinders - Two, lOO-ml

capacity , water and kerosene oil.
THEORY:
Free swell is the increase in volume of a soil, without any external constraints, on submergence
in water.The possibility of damage to structures due to swelling of expensive clays need be
identified, at the outset, by an investigation of those soils likely to possess undesirable expansion
characteristics. Actual magnitude of swelling pressures developed depends upon the dry
density, initial water content, surcharge loading and several other environmental factors. .
UTILITY: This test helps for the determination of free swell index of soil which helps to
identify the potential of a soil to swell which might need further detailed investigation regarding
swelling and swelling pressures under different field conditions. As in case of highway
construction during and after laying of embankment or subgrade soil , swelling can take place
which would cause loss in strength of soil layer.
PROCEDURE
1. sieve the soil sample through 425 micron IS sieve. And take two soil specimen of 10 gram
each.
2 Pour each of soil sample in two glass graduated cyinders of capacity 100 ml
3. one cylinder now be filled with distilled water up to 100 ml and another one with kerosene
oil up to 100 ml mark.
4.Remove entrapped air by gentle shaking or stirring with glass rod , after that the soils in both
the cylinders shall be allowed to settle.
5. Now allow the soil sample to attain equilibrium state of volume without any further change in
the volume of the soils for 24 hours (minimum) .

Fig 6.1 cylinders filled up to 100ml with soil and kerosene

6. The final volume of soils in each of the cylinders shall be read out. And noted down.
CALCULATION
The level of the soil in the kerosene graduated cylinder shall be read as the original volume of
the soil samples, kerosene being a non-polar liquid does not cause swelling of the soil. The level
of the soil in the distilled water cylinder shall be read as the free swell level. The free swell index
of the soil shall be calculated as follows:
Free swell index, percent =

V w V k
100
Vk

where
Vw

= the volume of soil specimen read from the graduated cylinder containing distilled water,

and
Vk

, = the volume of soil specimen read from the graduated cylinder containing kerosene.

OBSERVATIONS:
volume of soil specimen read from the graduated cylinder containing distilled water(
volume of soil specimen read from the graduated cylinder containing kerosene(

Vk

Vw
=

)=

hence Free swell index, percent=( (10-8)/8) *100 =25%

RESULT: FREE INDEX OF soil sample 25% and its degree of expensiveness is moderate.