University of Benghazi

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

Soil Mechanics Lab (CE331)

Test 2 – Determining Specific Gravity for a Soil

Standard | ASTM D854 - 02

Date of test | 2/7/2012
Teacher | Ghassan Gehani

‫املج ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ــموع ــة‬ | ‫ ميالد عادل حويو‬: ‫االس ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ــم‬

1:
17935 : ‫الرقم الدراسي‬
Sieve Anylisis

1) Abstract :
This test covers the determination of the specific gravity of a soil
sample.

2) Introduction :
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density (mass of a unit volume)
of a substance to the density (mass of the same unit volume) of a
reference substance.
The specific gravity is a very important property, and it’s used
in:
- Calculating the phase relationships of soils, such as void ratio
and degree of saturation.
- Calculate the density of the soil solids.

In this test; we’ll determine the specific gravity of a soil sample

(SP – Poorly Graded Sand) using a density flask and a weighing
machine.

3) Specific gravity determination :

Ws
γs Vs
Gs = =
γw W w
Vw
At V s = V w
Ws
V w
Gs = = s
W w ww
V
And the weight of water is equal to:
W w =W s −(W Flask+ solid+ water−W Flask +Water)
And the weight of soil equals:
W s=W Flask+ Soil−W Flask
So that:

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 W Flask +Soil −W Flask
Gs =
( W Flask +Soil −W Flask ) −(W Flask +Water+Soil −W Flask +Water )

4) Apparatus :
Milad Hawiwo | 17935
1- Density Flask N4, N6 (Figure 1).
2- 2 Soil specimens.
3- Balance.

5) Procedure: Figure 1 |
1- Weight the density flask N4 while it’s empty and call this Density
flask
weight M1.
2- Add the soil into the flask and weight it; call this weight M 2.
3- Fill the entire flask with water and weight; call this weight M3.
4- Empty the density flask from water and soil and fill it again
water to the previous level and weight it; call this weight M4.
5- Start the test again with the second specimen and with the
density flask N6 .
6- Write all the result in a table to use it later in the
determination of the specific gravity.

6) Readings :
Density Flask (N4):

N. Data Value (g)

M1 Flask 93.5

M2 Flask + Soil 172

M3 Flask + Soil + Water 407.6

M4 Flask + Water 358.6

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 Density Flask (N6):

1 Data Value (g)

M1 Flask 96.5

M2 Flask + Soil 140.2

M3 Flask + Soil + Water 390.6

M4 Flask + Water 363.4

7) Calculation :
A) Flask N4 :
M 2−M 1
Gs=
( M 4 −M 1 )−( M 3 −M 2)

Gs=2.661
B) Flask N6 :
M 2−M 1
Gs=
( M 4 −M 1 )−( M 3 −M 2)

Gs=2.648

2.661+2.648
Mean value of Gs= 2
Gs Mean=2.654
8) Discussion:
The two results for the Specific gravity values are not so far from
each other; which means that the test was a little bet accurate,
even with the lab error sources.

9) Concluding:
In this test we’ve determinate the value of Specific Gravity for a
soil specimen .

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