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Lab Report Guide
Introduction
Each student will produce a report on the soil that has been tested for Lab Exercises Nos. 4 and
5 (Hydrometer Analysis and Atterberg Limits, respectively). The report will present the work
that was done in the lab, the calculations which were performed and the results of the tests.
The report will also present phase relationship values for the soil. The report will conclude with
the presentation of identification of the type of soil which was tested.
The lab data will be common for each individual lab group. All other work which is presented in
a report must be done by the author of that report, including all calculations (by hand or
computer assisted), graphs, plots, etc. Note that copying any part of another person’s report is
an Academic Honesty Offense and will be addressed by the SECET Academic Honesty
Committee.
Format Requirements
Each report must be neatly presented and must adhere to the following format requirements:
• All text must be in Calibri font, size 12,
• All lines of text must be double spaced,
• All section headings must be in bold font,
• Each page of text must have a 1.0 inch wide margin along each side,
• All figures and any other work which is presented on separate pages must have margins
of at least 1.0 inch along each side,
• All pages must be numbered (included any hand written pages, data sheets and Excel
print outs), beginning with the first page of the body, and with the page number in the
bottom margin at the right,
• All tables must have a complete and properly positioned title, and
• All figures must have a complete and properly positioned title,
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It is recommended that the report be presented with all pages stapled in the top left corner. As
the single allowable alternative to stapling the report together, it will be acceptable for a report
to be held under cover and bound along the full length of the left hand side of all of the sheets.
If this alternative is chosen, ensure that the pages are fully and readily viewed.
The lab report must contain the following elements and in the following order:
a) Cover page Include the following information in the following order and positioned in
the centre (between the left and right sides) of the cover page:
• The course code (“GTQ 342”); show this in 14 point size text and between 0.5
and 1.0 inches below the top margin,
• The course title (“ Geotechniques”); show this in 14 point size text and between
1.0 and 1.5 inches below the top margin,
• The lab section (“Lab Section NXXL”); show this in 14 point size text and between
2.0 and 2.5 inches below the top margin,
• The title LAB REPORT in 16 point text and between 3.5 and 4.0 inches below the
top margin,
• Your name, with given name first and in lower case letters and surname second
and in capitals, and between 5.5 and 6.0 inches below the top margin,
• Your student number, between 6.0 and 6.5 inches below the top margin,
• The text “Date of Submission” between 7.5 and 8.0 inches below the top margin,
and
• The date of lab report submission between 8.0 and 8.5 inches below the top
margin.
Sign the cover page; place your signature to the right of your name.
b) Report body Immediately following the title page will be the body of the report . The
text must be clear, factual and concise. Use full sentences in plain English with proper
grammar.
The report body must contain the following section headings:
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Purpose Reflect on the theory covered in the previous lectures, the pre-lab
discussions, procedures and results and provide a statement that clearly identifies the
overall objective of the two labs in one or two sentences.
Sample Description Give a full description of the fine-grained soil used in Lab
Exercises 4 and 5.
Apparatus and Procedure List the lab materials and methods used to complete the
identification of your sample. Make note of any potential sources of error or inaccuracy
and where you may have deviated from the original procedure and corresponding ASTM
Standards.
Results Clearly present the results of the hydrometer and Atterberg tests and the
USCS classification of the soil which has been tested. Be sure to present the various size
fractions (gravel, sand, silt and clay) within the sample. This section should include
reference to the lab records and any work done subsequently. Include tables and
figures if and as needed.
Discussion This section should present commentary on the consistency of the various
test findings. Refer to any errors in the work which you consider may have substantially
affected the results.
Comment on the consistency of the soil in-situ assuming that the natural or in-situ
moisture content of your sample was 40%.
Conclusion Any conclusions (including a USCS classification of the soil) which are
drawn from the results and discussion should be presented with concise statements
that address the labs’ objective(s).
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Appendix A title sheet for the appendix should immediately follow the body of the
report. This title sheet should include a table that presents the contents of the
appendix. The Lab Exercise No. 4 data sheets and related documents (principally
calculations) should be presented first in the appendix, followed by the Lab Exercise No.
5 documents.
Lab Submission
The lab report is due the day of your lab in week 7, prior to the lab test. The report must be
submitted within the first 10 minutes of this lab period. Any labs received after this will be
considered late and a penalty of 10% will be applied.
Evaluation
A marking scheme will be provided for this lab report.
