CE 412

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1: SOIL

MECHANICS

LAB 3: DETERMINATION OF UNIT WEIGHT,

SPECIFIC GRAVITY, MOISTURE CONTENT
AND DEGREE OF SATURATION

GROUP 6
MEMBERS: ARABE, MARINELLE B.

LAYOSA, ERWIN U.

MAGNO, PAUL ARVIN M.

INTRODUCTION
Understanding the chemical and physical properties of soil means understanding the
soil behavior under different temperature and pressure conditions. Soil mass is always
subjected to changing temperature and pressure forces and, depending upon the chemical and
physical properties of the soil mass, the necessary actions will be taken. For agricultural and
construction purposes, soil properties need to be studied to increase the productivity of soil
and to improve the workability of the soil mass, so knowing soil behavior inside out is very
important.

Soil structure refers to the arrangement of sand, silt, and clay particles within a soil
mass. Air and water movement through a soil mass directly depends upon the structure of soil
mass. Symmetry leads to stability, so if a soil mass has symmetrical or good structure, water
and air movement through it will be smooth. However, if the structure is asymmetrical, water
and air movement will not be smooth and the soil will be unstable. By knowing soil structure,
the moisture content of the soil mass can be worked on, which is equally important for
engineering and agricultural works.

Generally speaking, soils are classified as dark and light colored soils. By looking at
the color of a soil mass, a rough idea of the moisture content of the soil, drainage properties,
and degree of oxidation can be obtained. A dark color reflects poor drainage, high organic
content, and low annual temperatures. On the other hand, light colored soils have better
drainage, high annual temperatures, and highly leached conditions. However, these are rough
estimates that only help engineers and agriculturists to adopt suitable measures to study soil
properties in detail.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Soils have unique and distinct engineering properties. Engineering properties of soils and
rocks are very essential parameters to be analysed for several technical reasons. Properties of
these materials not only pose problems but also give solutions to solve problems. Foundation
and construction engineering, structural engineering and excavation works for various
projects need a thorough investigations of soils and their properties.
Soil are loose fragments of organic and inorganic constituents. They possess typical physical,
chemical. engineering and biological properties.

Unit Weight

The density or unit weight of soil must be determined of whether it exists naturally in
the ground or compacted in a fill. Density of soil is essential because density may be used to
evaluate the relative strength of the soil. On the other hand, the unit weight may be used to
record results of field compaction to meet necessary requirements. The most important used
of the in-place soil unit weight tests is in credentials of field compaction.

Specific Gravity

The specific gravity of a substance, designated as Gs, is defined as the ratio of the
density of that substance to the density of distilled water at a specified temperature. In
determining the specific gravity of soil, since it is a ratio, the value of Gs does not depend on
the system of units used and is a numerical value having no units. In soil mechanics, the
specific gravity of soil solids is an important parameter and is a factor in many equations
involving weight-volume relationships. Remember that the specific gravity of soil solids
refers only to the solid phase of the three phase soil system, it does not include the water and
air phases present in the void space.

Moisture Content

Determining the moisture content of soil is an indicator of the amount of water

present in soil. Moisture content is the ratio of the mass in sample to the mass of solids and is
the quantity water contained in a material such as soil. This ratio is usually expressed in
percentage. In almost all soil tests, natural moisture content of the soil is to be determined.
The knowledge of the natural moisture content is essential in all studies of soil mechanics. It
is used in determining the bearing capacity and settlement of soil. The natural moisture
content will give an idea of the state of soil in the field. Water content is used in the wide
range of scientific and technical areas and is expressed as a ratio which can range from 0
(completely dry soil) to porosity at saturation.

Degree of Saturation

The degree of saturation is the ratio of the volume of water to the volume of voids. It
is denoted by ‘S’. The degree of saturation generally expressed as a percentage. It is equal to
zero when the soil is absolutely dry and 100% when the soil is fully saturated.

OBJECTIVES

For Unit Weight:

This lab is performed to determine the unit weight of a given undisturbed soil
sample by water.

For Moisture Content

This lab is performed to determine the natural moisture content of a given

undisturbed soil material.

For Specific Gravity

This lab is performed to determine the specific gravity of a given soil sample by
water pycnometer.

For Degree of Saturation

This lab is performed to determine the degree of saturation of a given sample through
the obtained values of the moisture content and the specific gravity using the formula
Se = wGs
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS:
For Unit Weight:

 Soil Sample (Undisturbed)

 Container
 Paraffin Wax (*for this lab the team used Cling Wrap)
 Beaker
 Distilled Water
 Drying Oven
 Weighing Balance

For Moisture Content:

 Soil Sample (Undisturbed)

 Container
 Beaker
 Distilled Water
 Drying Oven
 Weighing Balance

For Specific Gravity:

 Soil Sample
 Volumetric Flask
 Distilled Water
 Weighing Balance

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Unit Weight Determination

1. Trim a sample of undisturbed soil to about 1 ½ inches diameter and 2 to 3 inches

long. Surface should be smooth and rounded. Weigh it up
2. Cover with a thin coating of paraffin(cling wrap) and weigh again. Compute the
volume of paraffin from weight of paraffin. The specific gravity of paraffin is about
0.9
3. Immerse the coated sample in water in the graduated cylinder and determine its
displacement. The volume of the sample is the volume of the water displaced minus
the volume of the paraffin.
4. Compute the unit weight in grams/cu. cm.
Calculation:

The volume of the paraffin is equal to the weight of paraffin used to coat sample divided by
the density of paraffin. Density of paraffin is 0.90

Wt. of paraffin = Wt. Soil coated with paraffin – wt. of soil uncoated with paraffin

The volume of the paraffin—coated sample is equal to the weight in air minus the weight in
water, (express the weight in gm)
weight of soil
Wet density of soil = g/cc or kg/m
volume of soil

Water Content Determination

1. Weigh a tin cup including its cover; identify the cover and its lid. Determine the
weight of the tin cup.
2. Place a representative sample of wet soil in the cup. Determine the weight of wet soul
and tin cup.
3. Place the sample in the oven for at least 3 hours.
4. When the sample has dried to constant weight, obtain the weight of cup and dry soil
5. Compute the water content. The difference between weight of wet soil plus cup and
weight of dry soil plus cup is the weight of water (Ww). Also compute the weight of
dry soil (Ws).
6. To determine the water content (w).
w = Ww/Ws x 100
7. Repeat until three (3) trials are achieved. Determine the average moisture content.

Specific Gravity Determination

1. Dry the pycnometer and weigh it with its cap.

2. Take about 125g of dried soil passing through 2.00 mm sieve into the pycnometer and
weigh again.
3. Add distilled water to fill one half to three-fourths of the pycnometer. Soak the
sample for 10 minutes.
4. Shake the pycnometer well and connect it to the vacuum pump to remove entrapped
air for about 10 to 20 mins.
5. After the air has been removed, fill the pycnometer with water and weigh it.
6. Clean the pycnometer by washing thoroughly.
7. Fill the cleaned pycnometer completely with water up to its top with cap screw on.
8. Weigh the pycnometer after drying it on the outside .

Degree of Saturation Determination:

The degree of saturation can be determined from the formula shown below:
wG s
S=
e
ANALYSIS OF DATA

For Unit Weight Data and Calculation:

Trial Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

Mass(g) 62 80 63
Soil with cover (g) 63 82 64
Mass of cover (g) 1 2 1
Volume of water (mL) 500 500 500
V W + soil (mL) 555 552 548
V d =¿ displaced volume
55 52 48
(mL)
V c =¿ volume of cover
109 109 109
W paraffin (cling wrap)
V= 10 5 10
ρ paraffin
441 151 371
V= (V d −V c ¿ 10 5 10

W
Formula: γ =
V

1 1
62(9.81)(
)( )
W 1000 1000 kN
γ soil 1= = =13.79183673 3
V 441 1 1 m
( )( )( )
10 1000 1000

1 1
80( 9.81)()( )
W 1000 1000 kN
γ soil 2 = = =16.97884615 3
V 416 1 1 m
( )( )( )
9 1000 1000

1 1
63( 9.81)( )( )
W 1000 1000 kN
γ soil 3 = = =16.65849057 3
V 371 1 1 m
( )( )( )
10 1000 1000

For Moisture Content Data Calculation:

Sample at 9:20am at 9:44am at 10:08 am

1 74g 69g 66g
2 93g 88g 84g
3 77g 74g 72g
Formula:

W −W S
ω= × 100 %
WS

74−66 93−84 77−72

ω 1= ×100 % ω 2= × 100 % ω 3= × 100 %
66 84 72

ω 1=12.121212% ω 2=6.26 % ω 3=6.94 %

For Specific Gravity Data and Calculation:

Weight of container (W 1) 193g

Weight of container + soil (W 2) 314g
Weight of container + soil + water (W 3 ) 755g
Weight of container + water (W 4) 689g

Formula:

W 2−W 1
Gs =
( W 4 −W 1 )−(W 3−W 2)

314−193
Gs =
( 689−193 )−(755−314 )

GS =2.2

For Degree of Saturation Data and Calculation:

Acquired values from the experiment:

kN kN
γ 1=13.79 ω 1=12.12 % G s =2.2 Formula:γ 2=16.98
m3 m3

(1+ ω)G S γ W
γ=
ω 1=6.26 % ω GS
1+
S

kN
γ 3=16.66 ω 1=6.94 %
m3
 ( 1+ 0.1212)(2.2)(9.81) (1+ 0.0626)(2.2)( 9.81)
13.79= 16.98=
(0.1212)(2.2) (0.626)(2.2)
1+ 1+
S S

(1+ 0.0694)(2.2)(9.81)
16.66=
(0.0694)(2.2)
1+
S

S1=35.33 % S2=39.28 % S3=42.50 %

TECHNICAL DISCUSSION

This experiment is conducted to determine the unit weight, specific gravity and moisture
content of a soil sample. It is determined to know the quality and properties of the soil
sample.

To determine whether an earth or fill has been compacted to the desired or specified
density or unit weight, the in-place density or unit weight test are performed on the soil to
determine the undisturbed or in-place soil properties for field quality control purpose. The
field in-place density test is used for making comparisons and calculations in relation with the
volume and weight relationship such as void ratio or degree of saturation. Test are also used
for design purpose which are often conducted to provide information for calculating soil
loads or stresses within soil mass or exerted by soil mass.

A very important reason for these test procedure is to assists in the control and
management in the borrow area. It will be used by providing information for calculating
volume differences between excavated volume and the volume of the compacted fill area.

Using volumetric flask, the specific gravity of a soil sample can be determined. This
specific gravity is primarily needed to perform additional testing of the soil. In a volumetric
flask filled with water, the soil sample was put taking care to eliminate air bubbles. The mass
of the volumetric flask when filled with water and soil was determined and the temperature of
the soil and water was measured. To determine the mass of the solid, the soil and water
mixture should pour onto a pan and should dry in an oven. With the temperature of soil and
water mixture known, the mass of the volumetric flask when filled with water was found
from the calibration of volumetric flask. Using all acquired data, specific gravity of soil can
be computed.

The water content of soil is determined as a means to calculate the dry density of the
soil or to determine if the water content is within the range that has been specified for the
compaction of the soil. Water content testing is also used to provide preliminary quality-
control information that can be used as a guide during construction on whether water needs to
be added or removed from the soil. The water content is always an important factor in
controlling earth fill compaction. The values of water content are often needed quickly and
sometimes in remote borrow areas. The terms “water content” and “moisture content” have
historically been used interchangeably. Both terms may be found in the ASTM standards.
There is no significance to the use of one term over the other. The definition of water content
is “the ratio of the mass of water contained in the pore spaces of soil or rock material, to the
solid mass of particles in that material, expressed as a percentage.” The equation is
w=Mw/Ms×100 where: w=water content in percent Mw=mass of water Ms=dry mass of soil.

DOCUMENTATION

For Unit Weight

The empty containers were weighed

The extracted undisturbed soils with the container were weighed

The soil The distilled water The covered
samples were was poured into an soil was
covered by a empty beaker for the immersed in a
cling wrap determination of container with
For Moisture Content:
volume water

The acquired undisturbed soils from the unit weight were placed in the oven
then after 20 minutes, the team determine the weight with the container

The acquired undisturbed soils from the unit weight were again placed in the oven
then after the 2nd 20 minutes, the team determine the weight with the container
The acquired undisturbed soils from the unit weight were again placed in the oven then after the 3rd
and last 20 minutes, the team determine the weight with the container

For Specific Gravity:

The weight of the A disturbed soil sample passing No. 10 sieve

flask were measured was taken and measured its weight

The soil sample was placed in the flask The soil sample in the flask was
then measured its weight soaked in the water and
determine its weight
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION BY TEAM MEMBERS