university of Baghdad

College of engineering
Civil engineering department

Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Specific Gravity Test

Prepared By: Mohammed Ali Sael/D

Experiment No. 2: Specific Gravity Test:
Specific Gravity: The specific gravity of the soil is the ratio of
the weight in air of a given volume of soil particles to the
weight in air of an equal volume of distilled water at a
temperature of 4ºC. Where : Gs: specific gravity of soil grains,
s: unit weight of the soil grains(kN/m3). w: unit weight of
water at 4°C(kN/m3). Purpose of the test: - From specific
gravity, void ratio and degree of saturation we can compute
the unit weight of the soil. - The specific gravity is used in
calculation of some important properties such as porosity,
void ratio, ….etc. - The specific gravity is used in the
computation of most laboratory tests. Tests methods:
1- By vacuum:
Apparatus
: 1. Density bottle (50 ml) with stopper.
2. Constant temperature water bath (usually 25°C).
3. Vacuum desiccators.
4. Drying oven.
5. Balance( 0.01 gm sensitivity)
6. Source of vacuum and vacuum tubing.
7. Distilled water, wash bottle, rubber, gloves,…..etc.

2- By heating:
Apparatus:
1. Pycnometer (volumetric bottle).
2. Constant temperature water bath (usually 25°C).
3. Heat source (such as a burner or hot plate).
4. Desiccators.
5. Drying oven.
6. Balance (0.01 gm sensitivity)
7. Thermometer (graduated to 0.1 °C).
8. Distilled water, wash bottle, pipette, gloves,…..etc.

Specimen No. 1 2
Flask No. 6 8
W1 37.40 54.51
W2 63.49 74.07
W3 153.61 165.76
W4 137.37 153.70
Gs (20C°) 2.649 2.608
Gs (25C°) 2.646 2.605
Flask No. 6:

W2 – W1 = 26.09
W3 – W4 = 16.24

Gs (20C°) = 2.649
Gs (25C°) = Gs(20C°) × K = 2.649 × 0.9988 = 2.646

Flask No. 8:

W2 – W1 = 19.56
W3 – W4 = 12.06

Gs (20C°) = 2.608
Gs (25C°) = Gs(20C°) × K = 2.608 × 0.9988 = 2.605

Discussion/
The specific gravity of soil solid containing extraneous matter
such as cement, lime, water soluble matter such as sodium,
chloride, gypsum and soil containing matter with a specific
gravity less than one, require special treatment. Calibration
Curve of Density Bottle or Pycnometer: In the computation of
the specific gravity of a soil from laboratory data, the weight
of the Pycnometer filled with distilled water at the test
temperature will be needed. This value is usually taken from
a plot of temperature versus weight of Pycnometer plus
water. The plot or calibration curve can be determined either
by experimental
or by theoretical means: Theoretical Procedure: Points for
the calibration curve can be obtained by successively
substituting different temperatures in the following equation:

1- Experimental procedure: This procedure consists of

obtaining at least three sets of concurrent temperature and
weight measurements about 4°C apart and within the
temperature range of (20-30) °C. Each set, representing the
coordinates for a point on the calibration curve, is obtained
as follows: a- To a clean Pycnometer add de-aired, distilled
water at room temperature until the bottom of the meniscus
is at calibration mark. b- Dry the outside of the bottle and the
inside of the neck above the water surface. c- Weigh the
bottle plus water to 0.01 gm. d- Measure the water
temperature to 0.1°C. e- Heat the bottle of water slightly by
placing it in a warm water bath and repeat steps (b-d), each
time removing enough water to bring the meniscus down to
the calibration mark. Repeat this procedure until enough
points are obtained to plot the calibration curve.
The only bit of laboratory data needed is the weight of the
Pycnometer, which must be absolutely clean and dry. A good
practice is to obtain one check point for the calibration curve
by the previously described experimental method...