Laboratory Experiment No.

01
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOILS
Submitted by:
Ina Therese R. Ardan
11811250
Justine Eliza N. Rocha
11814985

I. OBJECTIVES
The following are the main objectives of this experiment:
• To accurately calculate the specific gravity of a given soil sample
• To verify the calculated specific gravity of a given soil sample through comparison with
existing standard values
• To be familiar with the proper procedures and correct equations involved in computing
the specific gravity of a given soil sample
II. DATA PRESENTATION
Table 1. Summary of Experimental Data and Results
Experimental Data
Soil Sample Clay
Wt. Flask + Water + Soil (g) 697.57
Test Temperature (°C) 23.6
Wt. Flask + Water (g) 665.6
Wt. Dish + Dry Soil (g) 412.34
Wt. Dish (g) 362.11
Specific Gravity of water at 23.6 °C 0.9973298
Specific Gravity of soil 2.7436495

Table 1 shows the summary of the experimental data. In this experiment, the type of soil
sample used was clay. The average test temperature of the water was measured to be 23.6 degrees
Celsius. Moreover, in the beginning of the experiment, the mass of the flask with the water and soil
was weighed to be 697.57 grams. Without the initial soil material, the mass of the flask with the
water was measured to only be 665.6 grams. The table indicates the term “weight” for these
variables, and in this experiment, this word can be exchanged with the word “mass”. Before the
drying procedures, the weight of the evaporating dish or pan was 362.11 grams. After this, the
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weight of the evaporating dish with the dry soil was recorded to be 412.34 grams. The next section
of this paper will demonstrate how the specific gravity of the water at test temperature and the
specific gravity of the soil were calculated.
III. COMPUTATION AND GRAPHS
Computing for the density of water using interpolation
The following equation shows the computation for the density of water at the test
temperature using linear interpolation.
𝑔 𝑔 𝑔
(0.997296 ) − (0.997538 ) (0.997296 ) − 𝜌𝑡
𝑐𝑐 𝑐𝑐 𝑐𝑐
=
24°𝐶 − 23℃ 24℃ − 23.6℃ Eq. 1
𝜌𝑡 = 0.9973928 𝑔/𝑐𝑐
where:
𝑔
𝜌𝑡 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 ( )
𝑐𝑐
Computing for the weight of dry soil
This next equation shows the computation for the weight of the dry soil after it has gone
through the correct drying procedures.
𝑊𝑠 = 𝑊3 − 𝑊4 = 412.34 𝑔 − 362.11 𝑔 Eq. 2
𝑊𝑠 = 50.23 𝑔
where:
𝑊𝑠 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑔)
𝑊3 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠ℎ + 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑔)

𝑊4 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠ℎ (𝑔)

Computing for the specific gravity of water at test temperature
This equation demonstrates the calculation for the specific gravity of water at the test
temperature using the density values instead of unit weight values.
𝑔
𝜌𝑡 0.9973928 𝑐𝑐
𝐺𝑡 = = 𝑔
𝜌𝑤 1 𝑐𝑐 Eq. 3
𝐺𝑡 = 0.9973928
where:
𝐺𝑡 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝑔
𝜌𝑤 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 4°𝐶 (𝑐𝑐) = 1 𝑔/𝑐𝑐
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Computing for the specific gravity of clay soil sample

Finally, the following calculations shows the computation for the specific gravity of the
soil using the specific gravity of water at test temperature, along with other weight values measured
and computed in the experiment
𝐺𝑡 𝑊𝑠 (0.9973928)(50.23 𝑔)
𝐺𝑠 = =
𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊2 − 𝑊1 (50.23 𝑔) + (665.6 𝑔) − (697.57 𝑔)
Eq. 4
𝐺𝑠 = 2.7436495 ≈ 2.74
where:
𝑊1 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘 + 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 + 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑔)
𝑊2 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘 + 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑔)
IV. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Specific gravity refers to the ratio of the unit weight of a substance to the unit weight of
the same volume of water, usually with distilled water at 4°C (Bowles, 2012). The specific gravity
of a substance also refers to the ratio of the weight of the substance to the weight of the water with
equal volume. Aside from soil classification, determining the specific gravity of the soil is
important since the specific gravity of the soil sample from an area can indicate whether the soil is
stable enough to support a structure (What is the specific gravity of soils and why does it matter?,
2019). The specific gravity can also determine whether the soil is porous enough to allow proper
drainage of water.
Table 2. Range of Specific Gravity According to Soil Type, Specified by the ASTM D854-92
Range of specific gravity
Soil Type
specified by ASTM D854-92
Iron-rich or mica laterite
2.67-3.00
(eg lateritic soils)
Sand 2.65-2.67
Silt 2.67-2.70
Clay and silty clay (inorganic) 2.67-2.80
Organic soil 1.00-2.60

The obtained value of the specific gravity of the soil sample in this experiment is around
2.74. According to Table 2, the range of the specific gravity of clay, as specified by the ASTM
(American Society for Testing and Materials) D854-92, is from 2.67 to 2.80. The calculated
experimental value is within this recommended range; thus, the data is acceptable.
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V. CONCLUSIONS
The calculated specific gravity of the clay soil sample in this experiment is 2.74. This value
is within the specified range of specific gravities stated by the ASTM D854-92. It can, therefore,
be concluded that the computed data is valid or acceptable. To obtain this value, a set of procedures
was carefully followed to ensure that no soil particles are lost, the water temperature is accurately
measured, and water and air are eliminated from the supposedly dry soil sample.
In the field of civil engineering, it is important to determine the specific gravity of the
different types of soil to have an idea whether the soil is stable enough to support structures and if
the soil will allow proper drainage of water.
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS
To ensure the accuracy of the data, it is recommended that the future researchers should be
careful in introducing distilled water into the flask to remove the soil particles stuck at the side of
the flask after removing the entrapped air in the soil-water mixture. This is to ensure that air would
not be mixed again in the soil-water mixture. Future researchers should also be careful to not leave
any soil particles behind when transferring the soil particles to the flask or the pan.
VII. REFERENCE
Bowles, J.E. (2012). Engineering Properties of Soils and their Measurements, 4th edition, McGraw
Hill Education (India) Private Limited, New Delhi.
What is the specific gravity of soils and why does it matter?. (2019, February 20). Retrieved from
https://www.certifiedmtp.com/blog/specific-gravity-of-soil-solids/