On a New Method of Mechanical Analysis

Abstract

The object of mechanical analysis is to classify grain groups which compose the soil by grain size and to make clear the composition of soil by grain size. However, the previous methods of attaining this objective by separating the grain groups into single grain size. However, the previous methods of attaining this objective by separating the grain groups into single grain groups was not satisfactory both from the physical and chemical points of view and consequently, the significance of mechanical analysis has not been understood sufficiently.
The author therefore made clear the relation between the results of mechanical analysis obtained by dispersing soil grain groups uniformly and the significance of mechanical analysis.
It is believed that the defect of the previous analytical methods is that the chemical and physical operations were not sufficiently connected and that most studies were centered around chemical dispersion.
The author used supersonic wave as a new physical operation while studying the previous method and tried to establish a new dispersion method.
During this process, chiefly 1) ferric oxide, 2) the relation between ion of the dispersion medium and the electric charging property of grain, and 3) electrolyte ion were studied and a new method is indicated here.
As it will appear that the experimental method of this method is troublesome, the procedure of the experiment and calculation method of the experimental results are explained in detail.
Lastly, this new method was applied in the mechanical analysis of Kanto loam and Nishitsugaru soil, by which it was made clear that good dispersion was obtained in case of both soils and that there was no discrepancy from the results of the pepette method and the hydrometer method.