Plummet Balance-A Potential Tool for Subsieve Particle Size Analysis

Particle size distribution analysis as an inferential soil parameter plays a dominant role in geotechnical engineering. This investigation encompasses laboratory study of subsieve particle size analysis by hydrometer, pipet, and plummet balance methods to assess their relative performances and also to examine the critical factors that influence the results obtained by the plummet method. The results of this investigation indicate that for a plummet immersion of 20 cm the particle size distribution would be similar to that obtained by hydrometer and pipet methods. The marginal differences would in no way affect either the classification of the soil or the inferred properties of soils.