EXPERIMENT NO 01: SPECIFIC GRAVITY TEST

2.1 Introduction
In general the specific gravity, Gs of a material represents the ratio of the mass of a given
volume of that material at a temperature to the mass of an equal volume of distilled water
at the same temperature.

Wt. of a given volume of the material at T 0C

Gs(at T0C) 
Wt. of the same volume of water at T 0C
However, for geotechnical engineering purpose, the specific gravity of soils is usually
reported for water temperature at 200C.

Wt. of a given volume of the material at T 0C

Thus, Gs (at 200C) 
Wt. of the same volume of water at 20 0 C
If the specific gravity of soil for water temperature T0C is known then it can be converted
to the specific gravity for water temperature 200C as follows:
Wt. of unit volume of soil at T 0 C
Gs (at 200 C) =
Wt. of unit volume of water at T 0 C
Wt. of unit volume of soil at T 0 C
×
Wt. of unit volume of soil at 200 C
(γ w ) at T 0C
 G s (at T 0 C) X
(γ w ) at 200 C

(G w ) at T 0 C
 G s (at T 0C) X
(G w ) at 200 C

Typical values of specific gravity of soil are given in Table: 2.1.

Table: 2.1 Typical Values of Specific Gravity or Soil

Soil Type Specific Gravity

Sand 2.65 – 2.67
Silty Sand 2.67 – 2.70
Inorganic clay 2.70 – 2.80
Soils with mica or iron 2.75 – 3.00
Organic soils Quite variable, as low as 2.0
2.2 Scope
The test methods (ASTM D854) cover the determination of the specific gravity of soil
solids that pass the 4.75mm (No. 4) sieve, by means of a water Pycnometer. When the soil
contains particles larger than the 4.75mm sieve, test method ASTM C 127shall be used for
the soil solids retained on the 4.75mm sieve.

2.3 Objectives
The specific objective of this test is to calculate specific gravity of soil solid at 20 0Cusing
Pycnometer.

2.4 Significance and Use

The specific gravity of a soil solid is used in calculating the phase relationships of soils,
such as void ratio and degree of saturation. The specific gravity of soil solids is used to
calculate the density of the soil solids.

2.5 Equipment
Pycnometer, Wash bottle, Funnel, Pipette, Can, Balance, Burner / gas stove, Vacuum
pump, Oven and Thermometer.

2.6 Test Specimen

The test specimen may be moist or oven-dry soil and shall be representative of the soil
solids that passes the U.S. Standard No. 4 sieve (4.75mm) in the total sample. Table: 2.2
gives guidelines on recommended dry soil mass versus soil type and Pycnometer size.

Table: 2.2 Recommended Mass for Test Specimen

Specimen Dry Mass (g)

Specimen Dry Mass (g)
Soil Type When Using 500 mL
When Using 250 mL Pycnometer
Pycnometer

SP, SP-SM 60 ± 10 100 ± 10

SP-SC, SM, SC 45 ± 10 75 ± 10
Silt or Clay 35 ± 5 50 ± 5
2.7 Test Procedure
1). Weigh the Pycnometer in dry state. Record this weight in the data sheet.
2). Weigh about 50 gm of soil in a can, put it in the dry volumetric flask by use of a funnel
and take weight of Pycnometer plus soil and record it in the data sheet. Weight of soil, Ws
can be obtained from the weights taken in step 1 and 2.
3). Now fill about two thirds of the Pycnometer with distilled water and boil the Pycnometer
with its contents for about 10 minutes applying agitation and partial vacuum. The purpose
of applying heat, agitation and vacuum is to remove the air entrapped in the soil-water
mixture. This entrapped air is a major source of error in this test. [Caution: do not put more
than two thirds of water. If you do so, water may come out of the Pycnometer resulting in
loss of soil when you boil it].
4). Cool the Pycnometer and suspension to room temperature. (You have to keep it
overnight to be cooled to room temperature, so put it in a secured place according to the
instruction of the laboratory staff).
(You will do steps 5 to 11 on the following day).
5). Put water at room temperature into the Pycnometer by use of wash bottle or pipette to
bring the bottom of the meniscus to the calibration mark. Add water slowly and drop by
drop when the water level comes near the graduation mark so that you do not need to pipette
out water.
6). Dry the outside of the Pycnometer and the inside of the neck above the meniscus by
cloth / filter paper / blotting paper/ tissue paper.
7). Weigh the Pycnometer with water and soil in it nearest to 0.01 g. Record this weight,
W1 in the data sheet.
8). Remove the soil water mixture from the Pycnometer, wash and clean it, then fill it with
water only (up to the graduation mark).
9). Wipe the outer surface and the portion above the meniscus.
10). Take weight of the Pycnometer with water, W2 and record it in the data sheet.
11).Record the room temperature T0C from the thermometer kept in a jar filled with water.
[Caution: The temperature of the bottle and its contents while taking weight in step 7 and
10 (i.e. weights W1 and W2) should be the same].
2.8 Calculation
Calculate specific gravity at ToC as –

Ws
Gs(at T0 C) =
Ws − W1 + W2

Note that Ws-W1+W2 represents the weight of water at T0C whose volume is equal to the
volume of the soil sample at T0C.

Calculate specific gravity at 200C as –

Gw (at T0C)
Gs(at 200 C) = Gs(at T0 C) ×
Gw (at 200C)

The density of water at different temperature can be obtained from Table: 2.3. Report
specific gravity values up to two decimal points.

Table: 2.3 Specific Gravity of water at different temperature

00C 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

0 0.9999 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0.9999 0.9999 0.9998

10 0.9997 0.9996 0.9995 0.9994 0.9993 0.9991 0.9990 0.9988 0.9986 0.9984

20 0.9982 0.9980 0.9978 0.9976 0.9973 0.9971 0.9968 0.9965 0.9963 0.9960

30 0.9957 0.9954 0.9951 0.9947 0.9944 0.9941 0.9937 0.9934 0.9930 0.9926

40 0.9922 0.9919 0.9915 0.9911 0.9907 0.9902 0.9898 0.9894 0.9890 0.9885

50 0.9881 0.9876 0.9872 0.9867 0.9862 0.9857 0.9852 0.9848 0.9842 0.9838

60 0.9832 0.9827 0.9822 0.9817 0.9811 0.9806 0.9800 0.9795 0.9789 0.9784

70 0.9778 0.9772 0.9767 0.9761 0.9755 0.9749 0.9743 0.9737 0.9731 0.9724

80 0.9718 0.9712 0.9706 0.9699 0.9693 0.9686 0.9680 0.9673 0.9667 0.9660

90 0.9653 0.9647 0.9640 0.9633 0.9626 0.9619 0.9612 0.9605 0.9598 0.9591

Sample Data Calculation

Specific Gravity Test
Student ID: X Group No: X Date: X
Colour: Brown Odor: No odor Soil Type: Clay

Determination No. 1 2 3

Wt. of Pycnometer (gm) 96.20

Wt. of Pycnometer + dry soil (gm) 146.30

Wt. 0f soil, Ws (gm) 50.10

Wt.of of Pycnometer+water+soil, W1 (gm) 376.50

Wt. of Pycnometer + water, W2 (gm) 344.51

Room temperature T C 37

Specific gravity of water Gw (at 200C) (from Table: 2.3) 0.9982

Specific gravity of water Gw (at 370C) (from Table: 2.3) 0.9934

Specific gravity of soil at 200C: Gs (at 200 C) 2.76

Specific gravity at 37oC as –

Ws 50.10
Gs(at 370 C) = = = 2.78
Ws − W1 + W2 50.10 − 376.50 + 344.51

Specific gravity at 200C as –

Gw (at 370C) 0.9934
Gs(at 200 C) = Gs(at 370 C) × = 2.776 × = 2.76
Gw (at 200C) 0.9982

Specific gravity of soil at 200C isGs = 2.76

2.9 Assignment
What do you understand by specific gravity of soil grains? What is the difference
between the specific of soil grains and soils?
2. What are normal ranges of specific gravity for gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic
soils?
3. What are the relationships between void ratio, degree of saturation and specific
gravity of soil grains?
4. What is the effect of temperature on the specific gravity?
5. How and where does the specific gravity value help in studying the consolidation
properties of clays?
6. What is the relation between dry density of soil at zero air voids, specific gravity
of soil grains and water content?
7. What are the field applications of specific gravity of soil grains?