EXPERIMENT 2

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL

TEST METHOD ASTM D 854
OBJECTIVE
To determine the specific gravity of soil solid particles for particles size less than 2.0 mm by
means of Pycnometer.

INTRODUCTION
Soil is a three-phase system comprising solid, liquid and gas. Many soil parameters like unit
weight, void ratio, porosity and water content relates the proportion of these phases with each
other or to the total soil mass/volume but specific gravity of a soil is a property of soil solids
only. Specific gravity of a soil is defined as the ratio of the mass in air of a given volume of soil
solid to the mass in air of an equal volume of distilled water at stated temperature.

ms
Gs =
mw
Where:
GS = Specific gravity of soil particle
mS = Mass in air of a given volume of material
mW = Mass in air of an equal volume of water

The soil to be used in specific gravity test may contain its natural moisture content or oven dried. The
mass of the test specimen shall be at least 10g for 50ml, 25g for 100ml, and 100g for 500ml
pycnometer.

The value of specific gravity of a soil is necessary to compute the void ratio of the soil, unit mass of
soil and in hydrometer analysis. Occasionally specific gravity may be useful in mineral identification
and soil classification.
APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES
Pycnometer Sieve No 10 or No 4
Evaporating dish Funnel
Vacuum pump or Heater Thermometer
Balance 0.01g sensitivity Desiccators
Drying oven Pipette

SAMPLE PREPARATION
1.Oven dry the sample for 24 hours at a temperature of 1050 C-1150 C.
2. Cool the sample in the desiccators
3. Sieve the sample on sieve having 2 mm sieve opening
TEST PROCEDURE
1. Weigh 25g oven-dry soil.
2. Fill the pycnometer to one third of its volume with distilled water.
3. Place the sample in the pycnometer taking care not to loose any soil.
4. Remove the entrapped air by using vacuum pump or by heating the pycnometer on hot plate.
5. Fill the pycnometer with water up to its calibration mark and clean and dry the outside.
6. Determine the mass of pycnometer and the contents to the nearest 0.01g.
7. Determine the test temperature by inserting the thermometer in the pycnometer.
9. Based on temperature determine the mass of pycnometer filled with distilled water from
pycnometer
Calibration curve.

COMPUTATION
1. Calculate the specific gravity of soil at test temperature.

MS
Gat T =
M2 + M S − M1

Where:
MS = Mass of oven dry soil.
M1 = Mass of the pycnometer filled with soil and water.
M2 = Mass of the pycnometer filled with water only.
This calculation can be done in the following table for the depth of 1.5m and 3m respectivlly
 @1.5m
Trail No. 1 2
Pycnometer No.    
Mass of pycnometer , g
49.6876 48.7249
Mass of pycnometer + Soil , g 74.924 74.3525
Mass of pycnometer + water + Soil (M1), g
165.1556 164.311
Mass of pycnometer + water (M2), g 148.923 148.26
w0 25.2364 25.6276
Test temperature, C 19.5 19.5
Specific gravity of soil at test temperature (Gs at T)

2.802861 2.676065
Correction factor, k 1.0001 1.0001
Specific gravity of soil at 20C
2.803141 2.676332
Average Specific gravity of soil at 20C
  2.739737

@ 3m
Trail No. 1 2
Pycnometer No.    
Mass of pycnometer , g
48.741 49.823
Mass of pycnometer + Soil , g 73.895 74.96
Mass of pycnometer + water + Soil (M1), g
164.299 165.344
Mass of pycnometer + water (M2), g 148.268 149.282
w0 25.154 25.137
Test temperature, C 19.5 19.5
Specific gravity of soil at test temperature (Gs at T)

2.757207 2.769917
Correction factor, k 1.0001 1.0001
Specific gravity of soil at 20C
2.757483 2.770194
Average Specific gravity of soil at 20C
  2.763839
Note temperature is assumed as room temperature

Discussion
The specific gravity of most soils lies within a narrow range of 2.5- 2.85. But organic soil or soil
containing porous particles such as diatomaceous earth show low specific gravity values such as 2.3
or less. On the other hand soils containing heavy substances such as iron may have values above 3.
The following table gives some typical specific gravity values of soil and these values are used as a
guide in evaluating the accuracy of the results. But, they are by no means a substitute for performing
the specific gravity test and classification of soil type.
Type of soil Specific gravity of soil
Sand 2.65 - 2.67
Silty sand 2.67 - 2.70
Inorganic clay 2.70 - 2.80
Soil with mica or Iron2.75 - 3.00
Organic soil less than 2 but variable