Determination of Specific Gravity of Soil

Definition:
Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a given volume
of a material at a standard temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of distilled
water at the same stated temperature.

Equipment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Volumetric flask (500 ml) with stopper having pipe hole.

Thermometer graduated in 0.5oC division scale.
Balance sensitive to 0.01 g.
Distilled water.
vacuum pump
Plastic squeeze bottle
Drying oven

Test procedure:
1. Clean and dry the volumetric flask.
2. Measure the mass of the empty flask (W1).
3. Transfer the soil into the volumetric flask and weight it (W2).

4. Add de-aired, distilled water to the volumetric flask until the bottom of the meniscus
touches the 500 ml mark. Remove the air from the soil-water mixture. This can be done
by applying vacuum by a vacuum pump or aspirator until all of the entrapped air is out.
Notice that this is an extremely important step. Most of the errors in the results of the test
are due to entrapped air, which is not removed. Also dry the outside of the flask and the
inside of the neck above the meniscus, weight it (W3).

5. Insert the thermometer into the flask with the water and determine the temperature of the
water.

6. Carefully fill the flask with de-aired, distilled water up to the 500 ml mark (bottom of the
meniscus

should

be

at

the

500

ml

mark).

That

is

W4.

CALCULATIONS
Calculate the specific gravity of soil using ,
Specific Gravity of soil =

( w 2w 1)
( w 4w1 )(w 3w 2)

Where K is temperature correction factor.

RESULTS
Fond the average specific gravity of soil sample.
DATA SHEET
Sr.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Details

Trial
1

Volumetric flask No.

Wt. of empty Volumetric flask W1
Wt. of Volumetric flask + dry soil W2
Wt. of Volumetric flask + dry soil + water
W3
Wt. of Volumetric flask + water W4
Specific gravity of soil GS

Trial
2

Trial
3

Soil Type Range of Gs:

Sand 2.63 2.67
Silty Sand 2.67 2.70
Silts 2.65 2.70
Silty Clay 2.67 2.80
Clay 2.70 2.80
Organic Soil 1+ to 2.60

CIVIL WORKS ORGANIZATION

NAME: SAQIB YOUNUS

ROLL NO # 07
ASSIGNMENT 01: SPECIFIC
GRAVITY OF SOIL
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
TESTING COURSE XXIX