Abstract: Gradation analysis is a testing method that analyzing the soil particle size distribution and is an important index property for the soil classification. Its accuracy will also affect the subsequent selecting of the soil strength parameters. The densitometer method is often used in the gradation analysis test. The current test specifications all require time consuming soaking and boiling in the preparation of granular soil samples. In this paper, several methods were used to perform the gradation analysis of silty soils. The results showed that the soaking preparation of silty soils had very little effect on the test results, and the soil could be dispersed by direct heating and boiling.

Key words: Laboratory Tests, Grain Size Distribution Analysis, Densitometer Method, Clay Content