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Specific Gravity of Soil
Specific Gravity of Soil
AIM
APPARATUS
Density bottle
Electronic balance
Container/pan
Oven machine
THEORY
Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass (or weight) of a unit volume of a
material at a specific temperature to the same volume of gas-free distilled
water at the same temperature. Mathematically,
The aggregate particles contains pores and due to this the volume of a particle
depends on how it was assessed; with or without the pore volume. In other
words the quantity in the denominator is not the same when the pore volume
has been include as in when it has been excluded from the volume calculation.
In addition, the numerator i.e. the weight of the material will change with the
amount of moisture content in the material. Because of these possibilities that
exist in its measurement, the specific gravity of an aggregate should be
associated with or qualified by the moisture content level and the method of
measurement of the volume.
Specific gravity is made use of in the design and calculation of concrete mixes.
With the specific gravity of each constituent known, its weight can be
converted into solid volume and hence a theoretical yield of the concrete per
unit volume can be calculated. Specific gravity is also useful in calculating the
compacting factor in connection with the workability measurements. Also,
specific gravity is required to be considered when dealing with light or heavy
weight concrete. Average specific gravity for fine aggregates is between 2.0
and 2.6.
PROCEDURE
The density bottle was prepared by cleaning and drying after which its weight was
measured and recorded.
The density bottle was filled completely with water and its stopper inserted to
obtain a perfect level of water in the bottle.
The weight of the bottle with water was measured and recorded.
The density bottle was emptied, cleaned and filled with soil sample of known mass
to about one-third of its capacity.
This bottle was then filled with water and the level regulated with stopper.
The weight of this mixture (of density bottle, sand and water) was measured and
recorded.
The procedure was repeated three times with each successive readings recorded.
DATA AND CALCULATION
Mathematically,
G = s / w
Where;
GL = specific gravity of the liquid used i.e for distilled water, then GL is
assumed 1.00 m1 = mass of density bottle (g) = 26g. m2 = mass of
bottle + dry soil (g) = 47g m3 = mass of bottle + soil + liquid (g) m4 =
mass of bottle + liquid only = 76g.
= [ 1*(47 26 ) ] / [ (76 26 ) ( 88 47 ) ]
= 21 / (50 41) = 21 / 9
= 2.33
= [ 1*(47 26 ) ] / [ (76 26 ) ( 88 47 ) ]
= 21 / (50 41) = 21 / 9
= 2.33
= [ 1*(47 26 ) ] / [ (76 26 ) ( 87 47 ) ]
= 21 / (50 40) = 21 / 10
= 2.10
= 2.25
OBSERVATION
The volume of the soil sample in the density bottle was observed to drop when
filled with water to the brim.
PRECAUTION
The following care was taken during the course of the experiment:
Parallax error was always ensured and avoided while taking readings.
Any spillover on the surface of the bottle was cleaned before measuring.
The same mass and type of the soil sample was used throughout.
After placing the soil in the density bottle, it was ensured that the soil mass was not
disturbed.
ERROR
Some of the various types of error that may undermine the outcome of the
Human Error:
Erratic error
Parallax error
Instrumental Error