The City College of New York

Department of Civil Engineering

CE 345: Soil Mechanics
Instructor: Dr. George Mylonakis

LAB EXPERIMENT #3B:

HYDROMETER ANALYSIS

Introduction

Hydrometer analysis is a widely used method of obtaining an estimate of the distribution of soil particle
sizes from the No. 200 (0.075 mm) sieve to around 0.01 mm. The data are presented on a semilog plot of
percent finer vs. particle diameters and may be combined with the data from a sieve analysis of the material
retained (+) on the No.200 sieve. The principal value of the hydrometer analysis appears to be to obtain the
clay fraction (generally accepted as the percent finer than 0.002 mm). The hydrometer analysis may also
have value in identifying particle sizes < 0.02 mm in frost susceptibility checks for pavement subgrades.
This test is done when more than 20% pass through No.200 sieve and 90% or more passes the No. 4 (4.75
mm) sieve.

The hydrometer analysis is based on Stokes’ Law, which gives the relationship among the velocity of fall
of spheres in a fluid, the diameter of the sphere, the specific weights of the sphere and of the fluid, and the
fluid viscosity. In equation form this relationship is

2 (Gs – Gf )
v = ---- * ------------ * (D / 2)2
9 

where,

v = velocity of fall of the spheres (cm/s)

Gs = specific gravity of the sphere
Gf = specific gravity of fluid (varies with temperature)
 = absolute, or dynamic, viscosity of the fluid (g /(cm * s))
D = diameter of the sphere (cm)

Solving the equation for D and using the specific gravity of water Gw, we obtain
________________
D =  18  v / ( Gs – Gw)

v=L/t
_______________
A =  18  / ( Gs – Gw)

________________
D = A L (cm) / t (min)

where 0.002 mm < D < 0.2 mm

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Equipment

1. Hydrometer (152H model preferable)

2. Quantity (about 2.5L per test) of distilled water

3. Sedimentation cylinder (1000mL cylinder) also termed a hydrometer jar

4. Graduated 1000 mL cylinder for control jar

5. Soil-dispersion device (malt mixer or air-jet dispersion)

6. Dispersion agent (NaPO3 or Na2 SiO3)

7. Hydrometer jar bath (optional, for temperature control)

8. Thermometer

Corrections to hydrometer readings

 Zero Correction (Fz): If the zero reading in the hydrometer (in the control cylinder) is below the
water meniscus, it is (+), if above it is (–), if at the meniscus it is zero.

 Meniscus Correction (Fm): Difference between upper level of meniscus and water level of control
cylinder.

 Temperature correction (Ft): The temperature of the test should be 20C but the actual temperature
may vary. The temperature correction is approximated as

Ft = -4.85 + 0.25 T (for T between 15C to 28C)

Procedure

1. Prepare the control jar by adding 125 ml of 4% sodium metaphosphate (NaPO 3) solution and sufficient
distilled water to produce 1000 ml. (This solution can be made by mixing 40g of dry chemical with
enough water to make 1000 ml). Put the hydrometer into the control cylinder and record zero and
meniscus correction; then record the temperature by putting the thermometer in it

2. Weigh out exactly 50g of soil passing the No. 200 sieve. Mix the soil with 125 ml of 4% sodium
metaphosphate (NaPO3) solution. Allow the soil mixture to stand about 12 hours.

3. At the end of the soaking period, transfer the mixture to a dispersion (or malt mixer) cup and add tap
water until the cup is about two-thirds full. Mix for 1 minute. After mixing, carefully transfer all the
contents of the dispersion cup to the sedimentation cylinder. Rinse any soil in the dispersion cup by
using a plastic squeeze bottle or adding stabilized water and pour this into the sedimentation cylinder.
Now add distilled water to fill the cylinder to the 1000 ml mark.

4. Cap the sedimentation cylinder with a No. 12 rubber stopper and carefully agitate for about 1 min.
Agitation is defined as turning the cylinder upside down and back 60 turns for a period of 1 min. An
upside down and back movement is 2 turns.

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5. Put the sedimentation cylinder beside the control cylinder and start the stopwatch immediately. This is
cumulative time t = 0. Insert the hydrometer into the sedimentation cylinder.

6. Take hydrometer readings at cumulative times t = 0.25 min., 0.5min., 1 min. and 2 min. Always read
the upper level of meniscus. Remove and place the hydrometer in the control jar.

7. Continue taking hydrometer and temperature readings at approximate elapsed times of 8, 15, 30 and
60 min. and then 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 hr. For each reading, insert the hydrometer into the sedimentation
cylinder about 30 sec before reading is due. After the reading is taken, remove the hydrometer and put
it back into the control cylinder.

Calculation

2. Calculate corrected hydrometer reading for percent finer, RCP = R + Ft + Fz

3. Calculate percent finer = (A * RCP * 100) / Ws

Where,

Ws = dry weight of soil used for hydrometer analysis

A = correction for specific gravity (as hydrometer is calibrated for Gs = 2.65 )

Therefore,

A = 1.65 * Gs / ((Gs – 1) * 2.65)

4. Calculate corrected hydrometer reading for determination of effective length, RCL = R + Fm

4. Determine L (effective length) corresponding to RCL given in Table 1.

5. Determine A from Table 2

_______________
6. Determine D (mm) = A  L (cm.) / t (min.)

Table 1. Variation of L with Hydrometer Reading

Hydrometer L Hydrometer L Hydrometer L Hydrometer L

Reading Reading Reading Reading
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
0 16.3 13 14.2 26 12 39 9.9
1 16.1 14 14 27 11.9 40 9.7
2 16.0 15 13.8 28 11.7 41 9.6
3 15.8 16 13.7 29 11.5 42 9.4
4 15.6 17 13.5 30 11.4 43 9.2
5 15.5 18 13.6 31 11.2 44 9.1
6 15.3 19 13.2 32 11.1 45 8.9
7 15.2 20 13 33 10.9 46 8.8
8 15 21 12.9 34 10.7 47 8.6
9 14.8 22 12.7 35 10.6 48 8.4
10 14.7 23 12.5 36 10.4 49 8.3
11 14.5 24 12.4 37 10.2 50 8.1
12 14.3 25 12.2 38 10.1 51 7.9

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 Table-2 Variation of A with Gs

Temperature (C)
Gs 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
2.5 0.0149 0.0147 0.0145 0.0143 0.0141 0.0140 0.0138
2.55 0.0146 0.0144 0.0143 0.0141 0.0139 0.0137 0.0136
2.6 0.0144 0.0142 0.0140 0.0139 0.0137 0.0135 0.0134
2.65 0.0142 0.0140 0.0138 0.0137 0.0135 0.0133 0.0132
2.7 0.0140 0.0138 0.0136 0.0134 0.0133 0.0131 0.0130
2.75 0.0138 0.0136 0.0136 0.0133 0.0131 0.0129 0.0128
2.8 0.0136 0.0134 0.0134 0.0131 0.0129 0.0128 0.0126
Temperature (C)
Gs 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2.5 0.0137 0.0135 0.0133 0.0132 0.0130 0.0129 0.0128
2.55 0.0134 0.0133 0.0131 0.0130 0.0128 0.0127 0.0126
2.6 0.0132 0.0131 0.0129 0.0128 0.0126 0.0125 0.0124
2.65 0.0130 0.0129 0.0127 0.0126 0.0124 0.0123 0.0122
2.7 0.0128 0.0127 0.0125 0.0124 0.0123 0.0121 0.0120
2.75 0.0126 0.0125 0.0124 0.0122 0.0121 0.0120 0.0118
2.8 0.0125 0.0123 0.0122 0.0120 0.0119 0.0118 0.0117

Combined Analysis

1. Calculate the percent passing the No. 200 sieve. (This should be equal to the percent finer for the soil
retained on No. 200 sieve from the Sieve Analysis)

2. The modified percent finer = percent finer for hydrometer method x percent passing No. 200 sieve
from Step 1.

3. The total modified percent finer for samples retained on No. 200 sieve and above would be the same as
calculated in sieve analysis; for samples passing No. 200 sieve, the same as calculated in Step 2.

Note: Plot the percent finer versus grain size for both Hydrometer Method and Combined Method. Use
arithmetic scale and vertical axis for percent finer and log scale and horizontal axis for grain size. This
curve is called grain size distribution curve. Comment on results.

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DATA SHEET: Hydrometer Analysis

Description of soil: ________________________________

Sample No.: _______________________________________

Location: _______________________________________

Tested by: _______________________________________

Group No.: _______________________________________

Date: ______________________________________________

Time Hydrometer RCP Percent finer RCL L A D

(t, min.) Reading A*RCP*100 / (cm) (mm)
(R) 50

0.25

0.5

15

30

60

120

240

480

1440

2880

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