Specific Gravity- ASTM D 854-14

Definition
The ratio of mass of volume of soil solids to the mass of the same volume of distilled
water is called specific gravity of soil soilds (Gs). The ratio is generally taken at 20.

Significance
The specific gravity is used to find the phase relationships of soil such as void ratio,
degree of saturation and dry unit weight of soil mass. The specific gravity is also used to
find the density of soil solids (unit weight of soil solids). The term soil solids means the
naturally occurring materials that are not readily soluble in water such as cement, lime,etc.

Apparatus
 Pycnometer
 Weight Balance
 Drying Oven
 Vacuum Pump
 Sieve (4.75 mm)
 Bunsen Burner
 Distilled Water (Reagent)
 Insulated Container

Methodology
Note the weight of clean and empty pycnometer, W f. Note the weight of evaporating
containers, W d. Fill the pycnometer with water and note the weight, W 1. Sieve the three
provided samples (fine sand, coarse sand and gavel) through sieve 4.75mm and take
between 50g to 100g of each sample in pycnometer. Add distilled water to fill about half
to three-fourth of the pycnometer. Soak the samples for 10 minutes. Apply the vacuum
pump for almost 10 minutes to remove the entrapped air. After ensuring that all the
entrapped air has been removed, remove the vacuum pump carefully. Fill the pycnometer
with distilled water upto the mark and note the weight of pycnometer with sample and
water, W 2. To empty the pycnometer, roll the sample and invert the pycnometer so that
all the sample settle into the neck of pycnometer. Then empty the pycnometer into
evaporating containers and place the containers into the drying oven. After 24 hours take
the weight of dry sample, Ws. Repeat these steps with all three samples.
Calculations

Formulas Used
1. W w = (W 1 + Ws) – W 2
2. Gs = W s / W w