Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Laboratory Session 1
Physical Properties and Phase Relationships
Experiment 1 Specific Gravity of soil solids
Experiment 2 Moisture Content
Experiment 3 Unit Weight (Density)

Mathewos Endeshaw

Materials Research and Testing Centre

Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development
Addis Ababa University

March, 2018

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 1 / 13

1 Introduction

2 Experiment 1: Specific gravity

Undisturbed soil samples

3 Soil Properties

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 2 / 13

Introduction
Phases in soils and phase relationships
Soils generally contain soil grains, water and air, which are known as
the three phases.
The relative proportions of these three phases play an important role
in the engineering behavior of the soils.
Two extreme cases are dry soils and saturated soils, both having only
two phases. Dry soils do not have water, and all the voids are filled by
air. Saturated soils do not have air, and the voids are filled by water
only.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 3 / 13

Introduction
Phases in soils and phase relationships

there exist various relationships between the deferent phases in terms

of both mass and volume. this include:
I moisture content, w = M Ms (expressed in percent)
w

I degree of saturation, S = VVwv (expressed in percent)

I void ratio, e = VVvs
I porosity, n = VVvs
I density, ρ = M W
V , (or unit weight, γ = V )
ρs
I specific gravity, Gs = ρw
through laboratory testing we can determine, moisture content,
density or unit weight, specific gravity.
the rest can be determined through analytical interrelationships
developed between the various phase relationships.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 4 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
Specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer
 Theoretical Background
specific gravity of soil solids, Gs , is the ratio of the mass of a unit
volume of a soil solids to the mass of the same volume of gas-free
distilled water at 200 C .
specific gravity, Gs = ρ ρs 0 = γ γs 0
w ,20 C w ,20 C

 Purpose of the test

The specific gravity of soil solids is used to calculate the density of
the soil solids. This is done by multiplying its specific gravity by the
density of water (at proper temperature).
The specific gravity of a soil solids is used in calculating the phase
relationships of soils, such as void ratio and degree of saturation.
 Testing standards
ASTM D854, AASHTO T100, BS 1377-2-1990:section 8
Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 5 / 13
Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Apparatus

 Pycnometer
 Heat Source or Vacuum source
Balance
Drying oven
Desiccator
Thermometer
pipette or medicine dropper

 Sample preparation and test specimen

disturbed soil sample is used for this test

sample is first dried in an oven and then pulverized and sieved on the
2.00mm (NO. 10) sieve, the passing portion is taken as the test
specimen.
Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 6 / 13
Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .
! Fill the pycnometer with distilled gas-free water up to the calibration
marker. (the concave bottom of meniscus formed by the water
surface must align with the calibration marker).

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .
! Fill the pycnometer with distilled gas-free water up to the calibration
marker. (the concave bottom of meniscus formed by the water
surface must align with the calibration marker).
! Recored the mass of the pycnometer and the water, Mpw .

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .
! Fill the pycnometer with distilled gas-free water up to the calibration
marker. (the concave bottom of meniscus formed by the water
surface must align with the calibration marker).
! Recored the mass of the pycnometer and the water, Mpw .
! Reduce the water level in the pycnometer to about 1
3 to 1
2

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .
! Fill the pycnometer with distilled gas-free water up to the calibration
marker. (the concave bottom of meniscus formed by the water
surface must align with the calibration marker).
! Recored the mass of the pycnometer and the water, Mpw .
! Reduce the water level in the pycnometer to about 1
3 to 1
2
! Weigh 25gm of soil, recored as mass of soil, Ms .

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .
! Fill the pycnometer with distilled gas-free water up to the calibration
marker. (the concave bottom of meniscus formed by the water
surface must align with the calibration marker).
! Recored the mass of the pycnometer and the water, Mpw .
! Reduce the water level in the pycnometer to about 1
3 to 1
2
! Weigh 25gm of soil, recored as mass of soil, Ms .
! Using a funnel place the soil in the pycnometer;care should be taken
not to lose any of the soil particles.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids
 Testing Procedure

! Recored the identification number and mass of a clean and dry

pycnometer, Mp .
! Fill the pycnometer with distilled gas-free water up to the calibration
marker. (the concave bottom of meniscus formed by the water
surface must align with the calibration marker).
! Recored the mass of the pycnometer and the water, Mpw .
! Reduce the water level in the pycnometer to about 1
3 to 1
2
! Weigh 25gm of soil, recored as mass of soil, Ms .
! Using a funnel place the soil in the pycnometer;care should be taken
not to lose any of the soil particles.
! Entrapped air in the soil slurry can be removed using either heat
(boiling), vacuum or combining heat and vacuum. If each method is
used separately ASTM recommends at least 2hr(of heat or vacuum).
If a combination of heat and vacuum are used, 1hr.
Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 7 / 13
Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids

! Fill the pycnometer with deaired water and allow to attain room
temperature.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 8 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids

! Fill the pycnometer with deaired water and allow to attain room
temperature.
! Adjust the water level in the pycnometer and recored mass of the
pycnometer, water and soil, Mpws

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 8 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids

! Fill the pycnometer with deaired water and allow to attain room
temperature.
! Adjust the water level in the pycnometer and recored mass of the
pycnometer, water and soil, Mpws
! recored the temperature of the soil-water mix as testing temperature,
T

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 8 / 13

Experiment 1: Specific gravity of soil solids

 Test Data
Test No. 1 2
Pycnometer No. A1 A5
Mass of Pycnometer, Mp 50.8 g 45.1 g
Mass of Pycnometer and Water, Mpw 150.4 g 144.9 g
Mass of soil, Ms 25.0 g 25.0 g
Mass of Pycnometer and Water and soil, Mpws 166.1 g 160.6 g
Testing Temperature , T 20.7 0 C 20.5 0 C

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 9 / 13

Disturbed soil samples
Definition
Disturbed soil sample is a sample which has experienced sufficient
disturbance to its structure in that it doesn’t represent in-situ conditions.

Disturbed samples must be

representative – contains all
the constitutes of the in-situ
material in the proper
proportion.
Disturbed samples are generally
used for classification tests such
as Atterberg limit tests, grain
size analysis, specific gravity and
for others tests like Compaction
tests.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 10 / 13

Undisturbed soil samples
Definition
Undisturbed soil sample is one obtained with samplers and sampling
techniques designed to preserve as closely as possible the in-situ structure
of the material.

Disturbed samples are generally

used for determining engineering
properties such as shear
strength, consolidation and
permeability; and other tests
such as natural moisture
content and unit weight.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 11 / 13

Soil properties
Soil properties may be classified in two as:

Engineering Properties
Index Properties
are of primary interest in
relation to the application of the give an indication of the
soil for construction purposes. engineering property of the soil.
the primary of which are, include: Atterberg limit, grain
permeability, consolidation and size analysis ...
shear strength. simple test called classification
to determine each property tests are conducted to
relatively complex and expansive determine such properties.
test are conducted
 In addition to the above properties physical properties and phase
relationships of soil are also considered.

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 12 / 13

 The End
Any Questions?

Mathewos Endeshaw (MRTC, EiABC) Soil Mechanics Laboratory March, 2018 13 / 13