sm spec grav
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The University of Toledo
Soil Mechanics Laboratory
1Specific Gravity of Soil Solids
IntroductionThe specific gravity of a material is defined as the ratio of the mass of a unit volume of a
material to the mass density of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature. Specific gravity
of soil solids is written as
Gs = s / w (1)
where s and w are the mass density, mass per unit volume, of the soil solids and water,respectively. A material with a specific gravity greater than water is denser than water so it will
not float in water. Specific gravity is used in computations involving phase relationships thatare expressed in terms of unit weight, where unit weight is defined as the weight of material per
unit volume. The specific gravity of soil solids falls within the following ranges of values.
Soil Type Range of GsSand 2.63 2.67
Silty Sand 2.67 2.70
Silts 2.65 2.70Silty Clay 2.67 2.80
Clay 2.70 2.80
Organic Soil 1+ to 2.60
Apparatus
1. 250ml, 500 ml. or 1000ml Volumetric Flask2. Vacuum pump, aspirator or Bunsen burner
3. Thermometer4. Oven5. Precision balance capable of measuring samples to 0.1 g
Procedure
A. Preparation
1) Measure out approximately 1000 ml. of either distilled, deaired or tap water and place inthe laboratory to minimize temperature fluctuations during the test (at least 24 hoursbefore test).
2) Determine the mass of a clean, dry volumetric flask (pycnometer), Mf.
3) Add approximately 50 g. of oven dry soil to the flask and obtain the mass of the flaskand the dry soil, Mfs. Compute the mass of the soil, Ms.
4) Carefully add enough distilled, deaired or tap water to cover the soil and soak. [ASTMrequires soaking for at least 12 hours].
1ASTM D 854 - 92
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B. Laboratory
1) Remove the entrapped air from the soil by either applying a partial vacuum of at least660 mm Hg (12.8 psig) pressure for at least 10 min. [ASTM requires 30 min.] or bygently boiling the specimen for 10 min. Gently agitate the pycnometer periodically to
assist in removal of the air. It is necessary to bring the specimen back to room
temperature if boiling is used. (Note: Failure to carry out this step of the procedurecan result in significant error.)
2) Tilt the flask slightly and slowly add the temperature-stabilized water to the flask, toavoid entrapping air in the specimen, until the bottom of the meniscus is just level with
the 500 ml. fill line etched in the stem of the flask. Determine the mass of the flask,water and soil, Mfws.
3) Measure the temperature of the soil and water.
4) Empty the flask making sure that all of the soil is removed and that the outside of theflask is clean and dry.
5) Fill the flask with the temperature-stabilized water to the 500 ml. level line as before,dry the outside of the flask and obtain the mass of the flask and water, Mfw.
Calculations
Since Equation 1 requires the mass density of the soil solids, it is necessary to determine the
volume of a known mass of soil. The volume can be obtained using Archimedes principle that
states that a body submerged in water will displace a volume of water equal to the volume of thesubmerged mass. The volume of soil solids is determined by first determining the mass of
displaced water, Mdw, and then dividing by the mass density of water. The mass of displaced
water is computed using the following procedure. Consider the mass of the flask and 500 ml. of
water and soil. The mass must be equal to:
Mfws = Mfw - Mdw + Ms (2)
Rearranging Equation 2 gives
Mdw = Mfw - Mfws + Ms (3)
The equation for specific gravity is then obtained as follows.
Vs = Vdw = Mdw / w (4)
s = Ms / Vs = (w Ms) / (Mfw - Mfws + Ms) (5)
Gs = Ms / (Mfw - Mfws + Ms) (6)
According to usual practice, the specific gravity at 20oC is given. It is computed by multiplying
by a correction factor that accounts for differences in water density with temperature.
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Results
Equation 6 is used and results are show in the table below.
Specific Gravity of Soil Solids Group ___________ Date ___________
Soil Description: Temperature Density Correction
Test Number 1 2 (C) (g/ml) Factor
Volumetric Flask No. 16.0 0.99897 1.0007
Mass of Flask, Mf (g) 17.0 0.99880 1.0006
Mass of Flask + Soil, Mfs (g) 18.0 0.99862 1.0004
Mass of Soil, Ms (g) 19.0 0.99843 1.0002
With water level with the fill line: 20.0 0.99823 1.0000
Mass of Flask + Water + Soil (g) 21.0 0.99802 0.9998
Temperature, T (oC) 22.0 0.99780 0.9996
Mass of Flask + Water, Mfw (g) 23.0 0.99757 0.9993
(Mfw - Mfws + Ms) (g) 24.0 0.99732 0.9991
Gs (at T) 25.0 0.99707 0.9988
Correction Factor 26.0 0.99681 0.9986
Gs (at 20 C) 27.0 0.99654 0.9983
28.0 0.99626 0.9980
Conclusions
Is the computed specific gravity representative of the type of soil tested in the laboratory?According to ASTM specifications (ASTM D 854 - 92), the average of two tests should be
used to determine the specific gravity. The difference between two tests should be 0.06
or less or the ratio of the two values should be less than 1.02. What is an acceptablerange of values for a second test to obtain an acceptable value for the average of two
tests?
How would it affect the test results if entrapped air were not removed from the soil?
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500ml Volumetric Flask
Vacuum Pump and Tubing
Thermometer
Picture 1 Specific Gravity Apparatus
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