Jordan University of Science and Technology

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

Highway Lab.

CE-444L

experiment #1

Specific Gravity of Soil

Conducted on: oct 16,2023

By

159145 Abdulaziz Al-Essa

Oct 23,2023

Proof. : Saad Abo-Qudais Section: 1

On my honor I pledge that this work of mine does not violate the University provisions on
academic misconduct. By signing below, I certify that I understand the University Politics on
academic misconduct is committed; all parties involved are in violation.
Summary:
Specific gravity used to determine the voids ratio, porosity, and degree of saturation if density
and water content are known these makes it a very important soil Property Density, as applied to
any kind of homogeneous monophasic material of mass M and Volume V is expressed as the
ratio M to V. Under specified conditions, this definition leads to unique values that represent a
well-defined property of the soil.

The experiment aimed to determine the specific gravity of soil at a specific temperature. A soil
sample was collected and dried in an oven at 110°C for 24 hours to remove all moisture. The dry
soil sample was then placed in a container of pycnometer conteain distilled water and the weight
of the container was recorded before and after adding the soil. The weight of the water displaced
by the soil was then calculated to determine the specific gravity using a formula. The experiment
took into account the temperature of the water to ensure accurate results. The specific gravity of
soil is an important parameter in highway lab as it affects the soil's strength and stability.

Introduction:
Specific gravity by pycnometer method is the ratio of the mass of a unit volume of soil at a stated
temperature to the mass of the same volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature. A
pycnometer allows measuring the volume and the density of solid objects in a non-destructive
manner. It is accomplished by employing Archimedes' principle of fluid displacement and
Boyle's law of volume-pressure relationships. Respectively, for liquid and gas pycnometers. The
specific gravity of soil solids is an important parameter for the calculation of the weight-volume
𝑤3
relationship. The specific gravity, defined as: Gs = (𝑤1+𝑤3)−𝑤2

Objective:
The main objective is to determine the specific gravity of the soil at specific temperature.

Apparatus
Apparatus

For Aggregate Finer Than 6.3mm

• Volumetric flask (500 ml) with a stopper that has a pipe hole.
• Balance sensitive to 0.01 g.
• Distilled water.
• Entrapped air removal apparatus
• Hot plate or Bunsen burner that is capable of maintaining a temperature high enough to boil water
• Drying oven
• Apparatus For Aggregate Coarser Than 6.3mm

• Wire Mesh Bucket

 • Setup of Specific Gravity Test

Procedure:
Procedure For Aggregate Finer Than 6.3mm

1. Clean and dry the volumetric flask.

2. Carefully fill the flask with de-aired, distilled water up to the 500 ml mark (The bottom of the
meniscus should be at the 500 ml mark)
3. Measure the mass of the flask and the water W1.
4. For cohesive soil, add de-aired and distilled water to the soil and mix it until it forms a smooth
paste.
5. Transfer the soil (if granular) or the soil paste (if cohesive) into the volumetric flask.
6. Add distilled water to the volumetric flask containing the soil or soil paste until it is about two-
thirds full
7. Remove the air from the soil-water mixture by applying a vacuum pump or an aspirator until all
of the entrapped air has been removed. Notice that this is an extremely important step, as most
errors in the results of the test are due to entrapped air that has not been removed.
8. Add de-aired, distilled water to the volumetric flask until the bottom of the meniscus touches the
500 ml mark. Dry the outside of the flask and the inside of the neck above the meniscus.
9. Determine the combined mass of the bottle plus soil plus water (W2)
10. Pour the soil and water into an evaporating dish. Use a plastic squeeze bottle to wash the inside of
the flask, making sure that no soil is left inside.
11. Put the evaporating dish into an oven to dry it to a constant weight.
12. Determine the mass of the dry soil in the evaporating dish

Procedure For Aggregate Coarser Than 6.3mm

1. About 0.611 kg of aggregate sample is taken, washed to remove fines and then placed in the wire basket.
The wire basket is then immersed in water, which is at a temperature of 22 0C to 320C.
2. Immediately after immersion the entrapped air is removed from the sample by lifting the basket 25 mm
above the base of the tank and allowing it to drop, 25 times at a rate of about one drop per second.
3. The basket, with aggregate are kept completely immersed in water for a period of 24 ± 0.5 hour.
4. The basket and aggregate are weighed while suspended in water, which is at a temperature of 22 0C to
320C.
5. The basket and aggregates are removed from water and dried with dry absorbent cloth.
6. The surface dried aggregates are also weighed.
7. The aggregate is placed in a shallow tray and heated to about 1100C in the oven for 24 hours. Later, it
iscooled in an airtight container and weighed.
Results and Calculations:
Aggregate Finer

A=698.5g
B= 1118.5g
C= 717.1g

A=1112.1g
B=1131.2 g
C= 686.2g

Aggregate Coarser

A=490.5g

B=647.9 g

C= 948.8g

S= 500g

A=490.8g

B=664 g

C= 965.54g

S= 500g

calculations:
Aggregate Finer

Gsb= 1.5-2.5

Gsb,SDD = 2.54-2.54

Gsa= -37.55-2.62

Absorption,% = 69.1%-1.72%

Aggregate Coarser
Gsb= 2.46-2.47

Gsb,SSD= 2.51-2.52

Gsa,=2.59-2.59

Absorption,% = 1.94%-1.89%

Discussions:
In this experiment we have noticed that the specific gravity is affected by
temperature so we multiply 𝐺𝑠 at room temperature by A (temperature factor) to
get 𝐺𝑠 at 20 C°.our test result was 2.48, then there must have been some errors in
the experiment, such as: Not keeping the mixture in the vacuum long enough. At
least three specific gravity tests should be conducted for correct results. The
personal errors like estimate the reading or the amount of distilled water.

Conclusion:
Determination of specific gravity using pycnometer method measures the void ratio and degree
of saturation of the soil sample. Pycnometer flask is designed to hold a specified volume of a
liquid. Thus, it is the most reliable method of determining the specific gravity.

The tests conducted aren't 100% accurate. There are reasons as to why the values of the gathered
data aren't as close as expected. The slight indifference of flask used can contribute a small error
in the test, especially if it wasn't well conducted. Other factors that contribute to the inaccuracy
of the test is the digital balance, with a 0.1 to 0.2 error, weighing the materials without keeping in
mind the possible error that might encounter contributes a lot in the inaccuracy of the test. Lastly,
the flask wasn't vacuum and run in a shaker. Having to shake the flask manually and without a
vacuum cannot guarantee that the results obtained were the same as to when it is done with the
proper tools. As there is still air the flask, and the soil might not be 100 saturated. Nonetheless,
the results obtained doesn't really go out of range, and still, we can get the average to determine
the specific gravity of the soil. In order to perform the test better, bear in mind to use the correct
tools and materials for the test. Such as using uniform flask when conducting the test, and the
same source of distilled water. What out for the observed and unforeseen errors that might be
encounter while doing the activity. Do not play with the tools, materials, and equipment to avoid
accidents or injuries. Practice professionalism when conducting test in the lab and safety.

References:
https://www.iricen.gov.in/LAB/res/pdf/test-18.pdf

https://uta.pressbooks.pub/soilmechanics/chapter/55/