University of Benghazi

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

Soil Mechanics Lab (CE331)

Test 2 – Determining Specific Gravity for a Soil

Standard | ASTM D854 - 02

Date of test | 2/7/2012
Teacher | Ghassan Gehani

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17935 : ‫ﺍﻟﺮﻗﻢ ﺍﻟﺪﺭﺍ��ﻱ‬
Sieve Anylisis

1) Abstract :
This test covers the determination of the specific gravity of a soil
sample.

2) Introduction :
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density (mass of a unit
volume) of a substance to the density (mass of the same
unit volume) of a reference substance.
The specific gravity is a very important property, and it’s
used in:
- Calculating the phase relationships of soils, such as void
ratio and degree of saturation.
- Calculate the density of the soil solids.

In this test; we’ll determine the specific gravity of a soil

sample (SP – Poorly Graded Sand) using a density flask and
a weighing machine.

3) Specific gravity determination :

𝑊𝑠
𝛾𝑠 𝑉𝑠
𝐺𝑠 = = 𝑊𝑤
𝛾𝑤
𝑉𝑤

At 𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉𝑤
𝑊𝑠
𝑤𝑠
𝐺𝑠 = 𝑉
𝑊𝑤 =
𝑤𝑤
𝑉
And the weight of water is equal to:
𝑊𝑤 = 𝑊𝑠 − (𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑+𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 − 𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
And the weight of soil equals:
𝑊𝑠 = 𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 − 𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘
So that:
𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 − 𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘
𝐺𝑠 =
(𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 − 𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘 ) − (𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟+𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 − 𝑊𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑘+𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 )

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 4) Apparatus : Milad Hawiwo | 17935

1- Density Flask N4, N6 (Figure 1).

2- 2 Soil specimens.
3- Balance.

Figure 1 | Density flask

5) Procedure:
1- Weight the density flask N4 while it’s empty and call this
weight M1.
2- Add the soil into the flask and weight it; call this weight
M2.
3- Fill the entire flask with water and weight; call this
weight M3.
4- Empty the density flask from water and soil and fill it
again water to the previous level and weight it; call this
weight M4.
5- Start the test again with the second specimen and with
the density flask N6 .
6- Write all the result in a table to use it later in the
determination of the specific gravity.

6) Readings :
Density Flask (N4):

N. Data Value (g)

M1 Flask 93.5

M2 Flask + Soil 172

M3 Flask + Soil + Water 407.6

M4 Flask + Water 358.6

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 Density Flask (N6):

1 Data Value (g)

M1 Flask 96.5

M2 Flask + Soil 140.2

M3 Flask + Soil + Water 390.6

M4 Flask + Water 363.4

7) Calculation :
A) Flask N4 :
𝑀2 − 𝑀1
𝐺𝑠 =
(𝑀4 − 𝑀1 ) − (𝑀3 − 𝑀2 )

𝐺𝑠 = 2.661
B) Flask N6 :
𝑀2 − 𝑀1
𝐺𝑠 =
(𝑀4 − 𝑀1 ) − (𝑀3 − 𝑀2 )

𝐺𝑠 = 2.648

2.661+2.648
Mean value of 𝐺𝑠 =
2
𝐺𝑠𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 = 2.654
8) Discussion:
The two results for the Specific gravity values are not so
far from each other; which means that the test was a little
bet accurate, even with the lab error sources.

9) Concluding:
In this test we’ve determinate the value of Specific
Gravity for a soil specimen .

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