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DETERRMINATION OF PARTICLE SIZE BY

HYDROMETER METHOD

Reference: ASTM D 422 – Standard Test Method for Particle Size Analysis of
Soils
Prepared by:

Maria Cecilia M. Marcos, Ph.D.

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I. INTRODUCTION
Hydrometer Analysis – This test method covers the quantitative
determination of the distribution of particle sizes in soils smaller than 75
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

μm which is determined by a sedimentation process, using a hydrometer.

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II. OBJECTIVE
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

• To determine the amount of material finer

than No. 200 Sieve.

III. APPARATUS
o Balance, capable of measuring to the nearest 0.01 g
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

o Stirring Apparatus
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

o Hydrometer 152H
o Beaker, 250 mL
o Graduated cylinder, 1000 mL
o Sedimentation cylinder/graduated cylinder 1000 mL
o Deflocculating agent/Sodium hexametaphosphate, 40 g/L
o Thermometer
o Squeeze bottle
o Distilled/demineralized water
o Rubber stopper/parafilm
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III. APPARATUS
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

IV. TEST PROCEDURE

a. When the
soil is mostly of
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

the silt and clay

sizes, weigh out a
sample of air-dry
soil of
approximately 50
g. When the soil is
mostly sand the
sample should be
100 g. 6

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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

b. Prepare 1000
mL of liquid
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

composed of
distilled or
demineralized
water and
dispersing agent in
the same
proportion as will
prevail in the
sedimentation test. 7

IV. TEST PROCEDURE

b. Prepare 1000
mL of liquid
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

composed of
distilled or
demineralized
water and
dispersing agent in
the same proportion
as will prevail in
the sedimentation
test. 8

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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

b. Prepare 1000
mL of liquid
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

composed of
distilled or
demineralized
water and
dispersing agent in
the same proportion
as will prevail in
the sedimentation
test. 9

IV. TEST PROCEDURE

c. Place the sample in
the 250 mL beaker and
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

cover with 125 mL of

sodium
hexametaphosphate
solution (40 g/L). Stir until
the soil is thoroughly
wetted. Allow to soak for
at least 16 hr. (30 min. for
educational
demonstration). 10

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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

d. At the end of the
soaking period, disperse the
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

sample further using stirring

apparatus. Transfer the soil-
water slurry from the beaker
into the dispersion cup with
distilled or demineralized
water. Add distilled or
demineralized water, if
necessary, so that the cup is
more than half full. Stir for a
period of 1 min. 11

IV. TEST PROCEDURE

d. At the end of the
soaking period, disperse the
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

sample further using stirring

apparatus. Transfer the soil-
water slurry from the beaker
into the dispersion cup with
distilled or demineralized
water. Add distilled or
demineralized water, if
necessary, so that the cup is
more than half full. Stir for a
period of 1 min. 12

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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

e. Immediately
after dispersion,
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

transfer the soil-

water slurry to the
sedimentation
cylinder, and add
distilled or
demineralized water
until the total volume
is 1000 mL
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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

f. Using the palm
of the hand over the
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

end of the cylinder

(or a rubber stopper
in the open end), turn
the cylinder upside
down and back for a
period of 1 min to
complete the
agitation of the
slurry. 14

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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

g. After the end of 1 min
set the cylinder in a
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

convenient location and take

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

hydrometer readings at the

following intervals of time: 2,
5, 15, 30, 60, 250 (90), and 1440
(120) min. Remove the
hydrometer after each reading,
and place it in a 1000-ml
cylinder filled with distilled
water between readings. Spin
h. After each reading, take the temperature of the
the hydrometer while it is in
this cylinder to remove suspension by inserting the thermometer into the
adhered soil particles. suspension. 15

IV. TEST PROCEDURE

i. After taking the final hydrometer reading, transfer the
suspension to a No. 200 sieve and wash with tap water until the wash
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

water is clear. Transfer the material on the No. 200 sieve to a suitable
container, dry in an oven 110 ± 5⁰C and make a sieve analysis of the
portion retained.

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

V.
V.
CALCULATION

CALCULATION-Table 1

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

V.
V.
CALCULATION-Table 2

CALCULATION-Table 3 and 4

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

V.
CALCULATION
VI. DATA, RESULTS, AND COMPUTATION

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REFERENCES
B. Das and N. Sivakugan (2017), “Fundamentals of Geotechnical
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Engineering” 5th Edition

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

C. Liu and J. Evett (2009), “SOIL PROPERTIES Testing,

Measurement, and Evaluation” 6th Edition

ASTM D 4318 – ASTM D 422 – Standard Test Method for Particle

Size Analysis of Soils

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