Geotech1Lab-Laboratory Work No. 2 PDF

UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Civil Engineering Department
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 LABORATORY
Name _______________________________ Date ________________

Group No. _________ Course/Year ________
Laboratory Work No. 2

Specific Gravity Test for Soil
A. Objective:
By the end of this laboratory work, the student must be able to obtain the specific gravity of soil
solids using the pycnometer.
B. List of Equipment and Apparatus:

1. Pycnometer volumetric flask or a stoppered bottle with a capacity of at least 100 ml.
2. Balance sensitive to 0.01 grams.
3. Thermometer and graduated cylinder
4. Other standard
5. Oven with temperature control
6. Burner or hot plate
7. Evaporating dishes
8. Dissector and other
C. Procedure:
This method is test intended for determining the specific gravity of the soil by means of
pycnometer. When the soil is composed of particle larger than #4 sieve, the method outlines in the
standard methods of test for specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregate shall be followed.
When the soil is composed of particles both larger and smaller than #4 sieve as the appropriate shall be
weighed, average of the two values of the specific gravity is to be used in the calculation in connection
with the hydrometer portion of standard method of mechanical analyze of soil. It is intended that the
specific gravity test be made on that portion of the soil which passes the #10 sieve.
Pycnometer Calibration:
In the specific gravity determination, the weight of the pycnometer filled with a definite quantity of
distilled water at the test temperature is needed. This weight is a function of temperature, due to
changes in weight of the water and volume of the pycnometer. It is obtained from the calibration
curve, which is plot of the concurrent temperature and weight of pycnometer filled with water
measurements. At least 3 sets of concurrent measurements are made within the temperature range of
28o to 40oC.
1. Clean and dry the pycnometer.
2. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water. If a flak is used, the bottom of the meniscus should beat
the calibration mark.
3. Dry the outside surface of the pycnometer, and inside of the neck above the calibration mark of a
volumetric flask.
4. Weigh the pycnometer with water to 0.01 grams and record as Wa.
5. Read and record the water temperature to 0.01 oC with the thermometer inserted to a fixed
depth. Before reading, check that the water that the water temperature us uniform by holding the
thermometer at different elevations.
6. Heat the pycnometer with water in a water bath and repeat the procedure to get a sufficient
number of points for plotting the calibration curve. Before the concurrent measurements are
made, the excess water due to heating should be carefully removed and the pycnometer should
be dried as in test 3.
7. Draw the calibration curve by plotting temperature against weight in arithmetic scale.
Determination of Specific Gravity:
Mix about 100 grams of soil with water in an evaporating dish to form ordinary paste. The sample
may be tested at its natural water content or is oven dried. Its weight on an oven dry basis denoted by
Ws shall be at least 25 grams. If it is tested at natural water content, the oven-dry weight Ws shall be
dispersed in distilled water before testing with the use of the special dispersing apparatus specified in
the hydrometer test. If an oven-dried sample is used, it should be dried to constant weight at 110 oC,
cooled to room temperature and weighed. If the soil is cohesive, it shall be soaked in distilled water for
at least 12 hours.
1. Transfer carefully the sample to the calibrated pycnometer and add distilled water until about ½
full. Avoid loss of soil during transfer if the weight has been determined.
2. Remove entrapped air by boiling to room temperature or to a temperature within he range of the
calibration curve of the pycnometer used for at least 10 minutes; roll occasionally pycnometer to
assist in the removal of air.
3. Cool sample to room temperature within the range of the calibration curve of the pycnometer
used.
4. Fill pycnometer with distilled water as in (2), pycnometer calibration.
5. Dry the outside of the pycnometer as in (3), pycnometer calibration.
6. Weigh the pycnometer with water and soil to 0.01 grams and record as Wb.
7. Record temperature of contents to 0.01 oC as in (5), pycnometer calibration.
D. General Data:
Figure 1. Density of Water and Temperature Coefficient (K) for Various Temperatures. Source: ASTM D 854.
Trial No. 1 2 3
Wa (pycnometer + water) 87.52 91.02 89.23
Wb (pycnometer + water + soil) 182.55 180.34 183.66
X (temperature in oC) 20 + 0.A*** 20 + 0.A*** 20 + 0.A***
Ws (Weight of dry soil) 394.44 392.77 393.00
Gt (specific gravity of water)
Gs (specific gravity of soil)
*** Where A is the last digit of the student’s ID number.

E. Computations:
Gt (Ws)
Gs = ----------------------------
Ws + Wa - Wb
where:
Gs = specific gravity of soil solids
Specific gravity of water at temperature, x

Gt = --------------------------------------------------------------------
Specific gravity of water at temperature, 20 oC
Ws = weight of oven-dry sample
Wa = weight of pycnometer + water (from calibration curve)
Wb = weight of pycnometer and soil + water
X = temperature when Wb is obtained
F. References:
Das, B.M. (2007). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. Adapted international student ed. Canada.
Thomson.
Das, B.M. (2014). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. 8 th ed. Australia. Cengage Learning.
Coduto, D.P. (2011). Geotechnical engineering: principles and practices. 2 nd ed. Upper Saddle River,
N.J. Pearson.
Budhu, M. (2007). Soil Mechanics and foundations. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J. Wiley.
McCarthy, D.F. (2002). Essentials of soil mechanics and foundations: basic geotechnics. 6 th ed. Upper
Saddle River, N.J. Prentice-Hall.
ASTM D 854. Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer. Retrieved
from
https://www.academia.edu/22026932/Standard_Test_Methods_for_Specific_Gravity_of_Soil_Solids_by_
Water_Pycnometer_1
Supplementary Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pdhk6z1674
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbGjGnkQ5G0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PqKWiUlbYg

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UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 LABORATORY

Name _______________ Date

Laboratory Work No. 2

B. List of Equipment and Apparatus:

Determination of Specific Gravity:

*** Where A is the last digit of the student’s ID number.

Specific gravity of water at temperature, x

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