The City College of New York

Department of Civil Engineering

CE 345: Soil Mechanics
Instructor: Dr. George Mylonakis

LAB EXPERIMENT #2:

DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL SOLIDS

Introduction

The specific gravity of a given material is defined as the ratio of the weight of a given volume of material
to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at 4C. It is denoted by Gs and is defined as

s
Gs =
w

where,

s = unit weight of soil solids only

w = unit weight of water at 4 C

or,

Ws / V
Gs =
Ww / V

where,

Ws = weight of soil solids

Ww = weight of water
V = volume of soil = volume of water

Note: This test is applicable for soil particles smaller than 4.75 mm in size.

Table 1. Range of Gs for Different Soil Types

Soil type Range of Gs

Sand 2.63-2.67
Silts 2.65-2.7
Clay and silty clay 2.67-2.9
Organic soil 1+ -2.6

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Apparatus

1. Volumetric flask (500ml)

2. Thermometer

3. Balance sensitive to 0.01g

4. Distilled water

5. Vacuum pump

6. Evaporating dishes

7. Oven

8. Spatula

9. Plastic squeeze bottle

Procedure

1. Weigh about 100-120g of representative sample of well-pulverized air-dried soil. Place this sample
into the flask.

2. Add distilled water until flask is about two-thirds full.

3. Attach the flask to a vacuum for 15-20 minutes.

4. After the de-aerating process is complete, carefully add distilled water up to the 500ml mark. Be
careful not to reintroduce air into the flask. This is done by adding water very slowly. Dry the neck of
the flask above the mark with paper towels.

5. Record the weight of the flask (W1) to the nearest 0.01g as well as its temperature.

6. Empty the flask into an evaporating dish. Use the plastic squeeze bottle to rinse the inside of the flask,
making sure no soil is left inside.

7. Place the dish in the oven to dry it to a constant weight.

8. Clean the flask. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

9. Record the weight of the flask (W2) to the nearest 0.01g.

10. Determine the weight of dry soil in the evaporating dish (W3).

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Calculation

1. W1 = weight of the flask + soil + distilled water filled to mark.

2. W2 = weight of the flask + distilled water filled to mark.

3. W3 = weight of the dry soil.

4. W4 = weight of equal volume of water = W2 + W3 W1.

5. Gs at TC = specific gravity at TC

W3
Gs at TC =
W4

6. The specific gravity is generally reported on the value of the density of water at 20C

W3
Gs at 20C = *
W4

where,
w at TC
=
w at 20C

Table 2. Values for at Varying Temperatures.

Temperature (T C)

16 1.0007
17 1.0006
18 1.0004
19 1.0002
20 1.0000
21 0.9998
22 0.9996
23 0.9993
24 0.9991
25 0.9988
26 0.9986
27 0.9983
28 0.9980
29 0.9977
30 0.9974

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DATA SHEET: Determination of Specific Gravity of Soil Solids

Description of soil: _______________________________

Sample No.: ______________________________________

Location: ______________________________________

Tested by: ______________________________________

Group No.: ______________________________________

Date: _____________________________________________

Volume of flask at 20C: 500ml

Temperature of the test: _______________________________

(from Table 2.): _______________________________

Item Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

Volumetric flask No.

Weight of the flask + soil + distilled water

filled to mark, W1

Weight of the flask + distilled water filled

to mark, W2

Weight of the dry soil, W3

Weight of equal volume of water, W4 =

W2 + W3 W1

Specific gravity at TC,

W3
Gs at TC =
W4
Specific gravity at 20C,
W3
Gs at 20C = *
W4

Average Gs = ______________________________

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