Part 1.

Soil displacement method for the evaluation of soil unit weight

Objective:
To determine the unit weight of an irregular-shaped soil mass.
Intended Learning Outcome:
At the end of this activity the student should be able to:
• Calculate the unit weight of an irregular-shaped soil mass.
Discussion:
Evaluation of the unit weight of uniformly shaped soil specimens is simple because the volume of regular
specimens can be easily calculated. However, many undisturbed soil specimens cannot be shaped into
regular geometries because they are either to friable or have clumps that may compromise the integrity of
the specimen when trimmed. For those cases, the water displacement method provides a simple, yet precise
alternative for the evaluation of the unit weight of soils.
Calculation:
Soil + wax volume:

The unit weight of water, λw = 9.81 KN/m3.

Wax volume:

The unit weight of paraffin wax, λwax = 0.91 KN/m3 x λw

Soil unit weight:

Bulk unit weight:

Specimen:
Undisturbed soil specimen
Equipment:
• Balance (0.01 g precision)
• Line to attach soil specimen to the bottom of the balance
• Paraffin wax
• Hot plate and pan to melt wax
• Paintbrush to apply melted paraffin wax to the soil specimen
• Container filled with water
Procedure:
1. Trim the soil specimen to a convenient bulky size,
2. Obtain the mass of the soil specimen, Mspecimen. (refer to Figure 1a)
3. Coat the specimen with the melted paraffin wax using a paintbrush (be sure to completely coat the
specimen, as this layer has to be impervious). Be careful to avoid touching the paraffin wax as it
may be hot and may cause mild burns.
4. Obtain the mass of the coated soil specimen (soil mass and wax), Mspecimen+wax. (refer to Figure 1b).
5. Obtain the submerged mass of the specimen, Msubmerged, completely submerging the specimen in
water, and attaching the line to the screw on the underside of the balance (refer to Figure 1c.). Be
sure that the wax-coated soil mass does not touch the bottom of the water container.
Illustration:
 Figure 1 Determination of unit weight of a soil mass: (a) weigh the soil mass (the soil mass is inside the tin
can); (b) weigh the soil mass coated with the wax; and (c) determine the submerged weight of the soil mass
coated with the wax.
Data and Results:
Mspecimen , kg 0.1720
Mspecimen+wax , kg 0.1900
Msubmerged, kg 0.0709
Vspecimen+wax, m3 1.191 x 10-4
Vwax, m3 1.98 x 10-5
Vsoil m3 1.98 x 10-5
λspecimen N/m3 16.99
Computations:
Calculations
Vspecimen+wax,
𝑀𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛+𝑤𝑎𝑥 − 𝑀𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑
𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛+𝑤𝑎𝑥 = 𝑔
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑥
𝑚 0.1900𝑘𝑔 − 0.0709𝑘𝑔
= 9.81 2 = 1.191 × 10−4 𝑚3
𝑠 𝑁
9.81 × 103 3
𝑚

Vwax,
𝑀𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛+𝑤𝑎𝑥 − 𝑀𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑
𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛+𝑤𝑎𝑥 = 𝑔
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑥
𝑚 0.1900𝑘𝑔 − 0.1720𝑘𝑔
= 9.81 2 = 1.98 × 10−5 𝑚3
𝑠 3 𝑁
8.93 × 10 3
𝑚

Vsoil
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛+𝑤𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑥
= 1.191 × 10−4 𝑚3 − 0.198 × 10−4 𝑚3 = 0.993 × 10−4 𝑚3

λspecimen
𝑀𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛
𝑉=𝑔
𝑉
𝑚 0.1720𝑘𝑔 𝑁 𝑁
9.81 2 −4 3
= 16992 3 = 16.99 3
𝑠 0.993 × 10 𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
 Part 2. Gravimetric moisture content determination using oven drying
Objective:
To determine the moisture content of a soil mass using an oven.
Intended Learning Outcome:
At the end of this activity, the student should be able to:
• Calculate the moisture content of a sample of soil
Specimen:
• Disturbed or undisturbed soil specimen
Equipment:
• Balance: 0.01 g precision for masses up to 200 g or 0.1 g for heavier masses.
• Evaporating dishes: Must be corrosion resistant and have a stable mass during repeated heating
and cooling cycles, in the presence of soils with varying pH levels, and during cleaning; dishes
should also have moisture-tight lids (to permit the transport of specimens to the laboratory) and be
numbered to allow proper identification of the soil specimens.
• Drying oven (set to 110 +/- 5 oC) for specimens that contain gypsum, or for organic materials an
oven temperature of 60oC is preferred.
• Miscellaneous: Spatulas, trowel
Discussion:
Calculations
Gravimetric water content (w)

The gravimetric water content (w) can be used to subtract the contribution of water in the bulk unit weight
and calculate the dry unit weight:
Dry unit weight:

The gravimetric water content (w) and dry unit weight can be combined to obtain the volumetric water
content (θ).
Procedure:
1. Measure and record the mass of the evaporating dish (Med).
2. Place the soil specimen on the evaporating dish and obtain the mass of the evaporating dish plus
the soil specimen together (Med+specimen).
3. Place the evaporating dish and soil inside the drying oven until the value of the mass of the
evaporating dish and soil specimen reaches a constant value (usually, specimens are left in the
oven from 12 to 16 hrs).
4. Obtain the mass of the evaporating dish and dry soil (Med+d).
Data and Results:
Med ,g 31.64
Med+soil ,g 105.45
Med+dry ,g 87.81
w ,% 31.4
λd ,kN/m3 12.93
Θ ,% 41.4
Computation:
Calculations
w
𝑀𝑒𝑑+𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 + 𝑀𝑒𝑑+𝑑
𝑤= × 100%
𝑀𝑒𝑑+𝑑 + 𝑀𝑒𝑑
105.45𝑔 − 87.81𝑔
= × 100 = 31.4%
87.81𝑔 − 31.64𝑔
λd
𝑀3 𝑌
𝑌𝑑 = = 𝑤
𝑉 1 + 100
16.99𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 𝑘𝑁
= = 12.93 3
31.4% 𝑚
1 + 100

Θ
𝑌𝑑
0=𝑤
𝑌𝑤
𝑘𝑁
12.93 3
= 31.4% 𝑚 = 41.4%
𝑘𝑁
9.81 3
𝑚
 Part 3. Specific Gravity Determination
Objective:
To determine the specific gravity of soil particles.
Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this activity, the student should be able to:
• To calculate the specific gravity of a sample of soil.
Discussion:
The specific gravity is the ratio of the average unit weight of the solid materials to the unit weight of water at
20oC. This parameter is fundamental in the determination of porosity and void ratio in soils and for the
evaluation of the results of hydrometer and compaction tests in soils.
Calculation:
Specific gravity:

where the mass of the soil is

Equipment:
• Pycnometer: Volumetric flasks with 250 ml or 500 ml volumetric capacity.(The volume of the tested
soil must be at least two to three times smaller than the volume of the volumetric flasks)
• Balance: Should have a minimum capacity of 500 g or 1000 g for the 250 ml or 500 ml volumetric
flasks, respectively.(The balance should have a precision of at least 0.01 g)
• Evaporating dishes
• Drying oven (set to 110 +/- 5oC)
• Vacuum pump: Used to evacuate the air entrapped in the submerged soil specimen. Alternative:
Hot plate to boil the water-soil mixture and remove entrapped air.
• Distilled, deaerated water.
• Thermometer: Readable to 0.1oC.
• Miscellaneous: Stoppers and funnel.
Procedure:
1. Measure and record Ms and put approximately 30 g oven-dried soil in the volumetric flask using a
funnel.
2. Fill with deaerated water until the water level is between one-half the depth of the main body of the
flask. Be sure to rinse all the soil from the neck of the volumetric flask.
3. Agitate the water until a slurry is formed. In the case that a paste rather than slurry is formed, use a
larger volumetric flask to create a more dilute soil-water mixture.
4. Apply vacuum to remove any air from the mixture (it will take about 2 hr). Alternatively, the flask
can be placed on a hot plate to boil the water. The soil-water mix should be boiled for 2 hrs.
5. Fill the flask to the volume mark with deaerated water and obtain its mass (Mp+w+s).
6. Measure the temperature of water and soil mix (Tw+s). The measured temperature should be
approximately equal to the temperature Tw measured during the calibration of the volumetric flask.
7. Obtain the mass of an evaporating dish (Med).
8. Remove the soil from the flask and put it into the evaporating dish.
9. Let the soil dry in the oven for 24 hrs.
10. Obtain the mass of the evaporating dish and dry soil (M ed+d).
Data and Results:
Mp+w ,g 369.1
Mp+w+s ,g 387.1
Med ,g 387.2
Med+d ,g 416.2
Gs ,g 2.64

Calculation
Gs
𝑀𝑒𝑑+𝑑 − 𝑀𝑒𝑑
𝐺𝑠 =
𝑀𝑒𝑑+𝑑 − 𝑀𝑒𝑑 + 𝑀𝑝+𝑤 − 𝑀𝑝+𝑤+𝑠
416.2 − 387.2
= = 2.636 𝑜𝑟 2.64
416.2 − 387.2 + 369.1 − 387.1

Conclusions
a Part 1
We therefore conclude that the water displacement method is very useful in
calculating the density of soil that has no regular shape. This method is usually done
by coating the soil sample in paraffin wax, making the soil sample resistant to water.
The total volume of the waxed specimen is then found by determining the volume of
water displaced by the specimen.

b Part 2
 We therefore conclude that the gravimetric method effectively measures the moisture
content of the soil. This method is also important since the moisture of the soil affects
microbial activity, nutrient movement, and plant growth. This method is usually done
by taking a fresh soil core and weighing it, then drying the soil until there is no further
mass loss, and reweighing it again. The moisture content of the soil is expressed as
mass of water per mass of dried soil.

c Part 3
We therefore conclude that the specific gravity was used, not only for soil
classification, but also for determining/calculating void ratio, degree of saturation, and
porosity of the soil. Soil specific gravity is the mass of the solid matter within a given
soil sample compared to an equal volume of water. This is computed as the ratio of
the weight in air of a given soil sample to the weight in air of an equal volume of
water, both being at the same temperature.

Background
In the field, engineers gather information about the topography, surface hydrology, vegetation, and the
general geology of the proposed construction site. This information is complemented with a number of drilling
and in situ testing techniques (e.g. cone penetration, vane shear, dilatometer, geophysical testing, etc.) that
permit the collection of disturbed and undisturbed soil specimens and the characterization of the behavior
and properties of soil formations. The collected information helps geotechnical engineers generate a
complete site plan for a successful construction project. By combining site and laboratory investigations, the
project engineer develops five phases of the geotechnical investigation: preliminary studies, field subsurface,
laboratory testing, reporting, and recommendations.
The importance of proper geotechnical investigation
By performing a proper geotechnical investigation, an engineer can avoid unnecessary delays in the design
and construction processes. Every project requires a different approach. There is no “cookie cutter” format
to follow when designing the foundation of a structure. Each site must be evaluated individually, and the
quality of the data must be continuously reassessed as new information is gathered.

End of Laboratory Activity No 8