MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

CHOOL F CIVIL E GINEERIN AND E VIRONMENTAL AND

S NITARY E GINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS AND MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORY

NAME: Ganiban, Jerrold Derrel U.

COURSE & SECTION: CE161P/B4 STUDENT NO.: 2012151130

SEAT NO.: _______________________ GROUP NO.: 3

EXPERIMENT No. 2

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL SOLIDS

TITLE

DATE PERFORMED: April 25, 2017

GRADE
DATE SUBMITTED: May 03, 2017

Prof. Ivan Marquez

INSTRUCTOR
 PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Name: GANIBAN, Jerrold Derrel U. Group No. 3

Course/Section: CE161P/B4 Date: April 26, 2017

Experiment No. 2
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL SOLIDS

A. Calibration of Pycnometer Bottle

1. Experimental Procedure
Determination No. 1 2 3 4
Weight bottle + water, W 2 , in g 166.16 167.01 160.35 159.93
Temperature, T , in oC 44 40 48 46

2. Theoretical Procedure
Weight of bottle, , g --- 61.3 & 66.7 Cubical expansion for glass in 1/ C, ε, ---. 1𝑥10−4
Temperature of calibration , in C --- Unit weight of air , in g/cc --- 0.0012
Volume of bottle , in cc --- 100ml 66.7 66.7 61.3 61.3
Trial No. 1 2 3 4
Temperature, , in C 44℃ & 48℃ 44 40 48 46
Unit weight of water at , , in g/cc 0.9918 0.9926 0.9906 0.9912
   , in g 165.77 165.85 160.26 160.317

B. Specific Gravity Determination

Trial No. 1 2
Wt. bottle + water + soil (grams) 174.79 181.58

Temperature (°C) 38 38

Weight of bottle + water (grams) 167.435 158.25

Weight of dry pycnometer bottle (grams) 61.3 66.7

Weight of container + dry soil (grams) 54.08 51.5

Weight of dry soil (grams) 15.3 16.02

Specific gravity of water (from table) 0.993 0.993

Specific gravity of soil 1.9123 2.18

Average specific gravity of soil 2.046

___________________________ ___________________________
Student’s Signature Instructor’s Signature
Sample Computation:

A. Calibration of Pycnometer Bottle

1. Experimental Procedure (Trial 1)
Given/Data Gathered:

Weight of Bottle: 166.16 g

Temperature: 44°C

Computation:

Not Required

2. Theoretical Procedure (Trial 1)

Given/Data Gathered:

Weight of Bottle, 𝑊𝐵 : 66.7 g

Volume of Bottle 𝑇𝑐 , 𝑉𝐵 : 100 cc

Cubical expansion for glass, 𝜀 : 0.1 x 10-4

Unit Weight of air, 𝛾𝐴 : 0.0012 g/cc

Temperature, 𝑇 : 44°C

Computation:

Unit Weight of water at T, 𝛾𝑇 : Interpolation was used

0.9982 − 0.9926 0.9982 − 𝛾𝑇

=
20 − 40 20 − 44
𝛾𝑇 = 0.9918

𝑊2 :

𝑊2 = 𝑊𝐵 + 𝑉𝐵 (1 + ∆𝑇 ∗ 𝜀)(𝛾𝑇 − 𝛾𝐴 )

= 66.7 + 100(1 + (44 − 29) ∗ 0.1 ∗ 10−4 )(0.9918 − 0.0012)

= 165.77 𝑔

B. Specific Gravity Determination (Trial 1)

Given/Data Gathered
 Wt. Bottle + Water + Soil, 𝑊1 : 174.79 g

Temperature, 𝑇 : 38°C

Weight of dry pycnometer bottle: 61.3 g

Weight of dry soil, 𝑊𝑠 : 15.3 g

Specific gravity of water: 0.9993

Computation:

Weight of bottle + water: (Interpolation used)

167.6

167.4

167.2

167
W2

166.8

166.6

166.4

166.2

166
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
Temperature

166.16 − 167.01 166.16 − 𝑊2

=
44 − 40 44 − 38
𝑊2 = 167.435 g

Weight of container + dry soil:

𝑊 = 𝑊𝐵 + 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙

= 66.7 + 15.3

= 82 𝑔

Specific Gravity of soil:

𝑊𝑆 ∗ 𝐺𝑇
𝐺𝑆 =
𝑊𝑆 − 𝑊1 + 𝑊2
 15.3 ∗ 0.993
=
15.3 − 174.79 + 167.435

= 1.9123
Sample Computation:

A. Calibration of Pycnometer Bottle

1. Experimental Procedure (Trial 1)
Given/Data Gathered:

Weight of Bottle: 167.01 g

Temperature: 40°C

Computation:

Not Required

2. Theoretical Procedure (Trial 1)

Given/Data Gathered:

Weight of Bottle, 𝑊𝐵 : 61.3 g

Volume of Bottle 𝑇𝑐 , 𝑉𝐵 : 100 cc

Cubical expansion for glass, 𝜀 : 0.1 x 10-4

Unit Weight of air, 𝛾𝐴 : 0.0012 g/cc

Temperature, 𝑇 : 48°C

Computation:

Unit Weight of water at T, 𝛾𝑇 : Interpolation was used

0.9982 − 0.9926 0.9982 − 𝛾𝑇

=
20 − 40 20 − 48
𝛾𝑇 = 0.9906

𝑊2 :

𝑊2 = 𝑊𝐵 + 𝑉𝐵 (1 + ∆𝑇 ∗ 𝜀)(𝛾𝑇 − 𝛾𝐴 )

= 61.3 + 100(1 + (48 − 29) ∗ 0.1 ∗ 10−4 )(0.9906 − 0.0012)

= 160.26 𝑔
B. Specific Gravity Determination (Trial 1)
Given/Data Gathered

Wt. Bottle + Water + Soil, 𝑊1 : 181.58 g

Temperature, 𝑇 : 38°C

Weight of dry pycnometer bottle: 66.7 g

Weight of dry soil, 𝑊𝑠 : 16.02 g

Specific gravity of water: 0.9993

Computation:

Weight of bottle + water: (Interpolation used)

167.6

167.4

167.2

167
W2

166.8

166.6

166.4

166.2

166
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
Temperature

166.16 − 167.01 166.16 − 𝑊2

=
44 − 40 44 − 38
𝑊2 = 158.25 g

Weight of container + dry soil:

𝑊 = 𝑊𝐵 + 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙

= 66.7 + 16.02

= 82 𝑔
Specific Gravity of soil:

𝑊𝑆 ∗ 𝐺𝑇
𝐺𝑆 =
𝑊𝑆 − 𝑊1 + 𝑊2

15.3 ∗ 0.993
=
15.3 − 174.79 + 167.435

= 2.18
 FINAL DATA SHEET

Name: GANIBAN, Jerrold Derrel U. Group No. 3

Course/Section: CE161P/B4 Date: May 03, 2017

Experiment No. 2
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL SOLIDS

A. Calibration of Pycnometer Bottle

1. Experimental Procedure
Determination No. 1 2 3 4
Weight bottle + water, W 2 , in g 166.16 167.01 160.35 159.93
Temperature, T , in oC 44 40 48 46

2. Theoretical Procedure
Weight of bottle, , g --- 61.3 & 66.7 Cubical expansion for glass in 1/ C, ε, ---. 1𝑥10−4
Temperature of calibration , in C --- Unit weight of air , in g/cc --- 0.0012
Volume of bottle , in cc --- 100ml 66.7 66.7 61.3 61.3
Trial No. 1 2 3 4
Temperature, , in C 44℃ & 48℃ 44 40 48 46
Unit weight of water at , , in g/cc 0.9918 0.9926 0.9906 0.9912
   , in g 165.77 165.85 160.26 160.317

B. Specific Gravity Determination

Trial No. 1 2
Wt. bottle + water + soil (grams) 174.79 181.58

Temperature (°C) 38 38

Weight of bottle + water (grams) 167.435 158.25

Weight of dry pycnometer bottle (grams) 61.3 66.7

Weight of container + dry soil (grams) 54.08 51.5

Weight of dry soil (grams) 15.3 16.02

Specific gravity of water (from table) 0.993 0.993

Specific gravity of soil 1.9123 2.18

Average specific gravity of soil 2.046

___________________________ ___________________________
Student’s Signature Instructor’s Signature
Answer to Questions

1. Define specific gravity of soil.

- The specific gravity of a soil is the ratio between the unit masses of soil

particles and water.

2. What are the typical values of the specific gravity of material lighter than water?

- Through research, the typical values of the specific gravity for soil ranges from

2.6 to 2.7.

3. What can you use to measure the specific gravity of material lighter than water?

- Westphal Balance

- Hydrometer

- Boume scale

- Brix scale

These are just a few examples that can be applied to measure the specific

gravity of a material that is lighter than water.

4. Why do we use vacuum while determining the specific gravity of soils?

- In determining the specific gravity of soils, vacuum is used to remove the

entrapped air.

5. What is the effect of water temperature on the determination of the specific gravity

of soils?

- As the water temperature increases, its weight decreases and this in turn reduces

the specific gravity of soils. Therefore, the water temperature is indirectly

proportional to the specific gravity of soil.

Introduction

Specific Gravity (Gs) is the second most important parameter in soil mechanics. It

is the ratio of the unit weight (or density) of soil solids to the unit weight (or density) of

water. Vacuum was use in this while determining the specific gravity of soils to remove

the entrapped air. Water temperature may have a significant effect on performance of the

gas pycnometer. Therefore, testing should be conducted within the specified operating

temperature range of the apparatus. The specific gravity is required in calculation of

various soil properties such as:

i. Void ratio

ii. Degree of saturation

iii. Weight-volume relationships

The specific gravity of most common minerals found in soils fall within ar ange of

2.6 to 2.9. The specific gravity of sandy soil, which is mostly made of quartz, may be

estimated to be about 2.65, whereas for clayey and silty soils, it may vary from 2.6 to 2.9.

Soils containing organic matter and porous particles may have specific gravity values

below 2.0, while soils having heavy substances may have values above 3.0. All four

groups ended up with specific gravity values very close to 2.65. These values fall into

the average specific value range for most soil.

 Interpretation of Results

The specific gravity of a substance, designated as Gs, is defined as the ratio of the

density of that substance to the density of distilled water at a specified temperature. Since

it is a ratio, the value of Gs does not depend on the system of units used and is a

numerical value having no units. In soil mechanics, the specific gravity of soil solids is an

important parameter and is a factor in many equations involving weight-volume

relationships. Specific gravity of soil solids refers only to the solid phase of the three

phase soil system, it does not include the water and air phases present in the void space.
Application of the Experiment

Specific gravity is nothing but dimensionless density. (Density of the substance

divided by the density of water in same unit as of numerator) All the applications of

density are those of specific gravity.

Some of them are:

1. To find whether an object shall float in water (or any other liquid) or not.

2.To find viscosity, in case of a liquid.

3.To calculate pressure.

4. Given its volume, to find the mass of an object.

References

- BrajaM.Das, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. Seventh Edition. SI

Edition.Cengage Learning.

- ASTM D854 , Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by
Water Pycnometer1

- http://mizisystem.blogspot.com/2012/01/lab-report-specific-gravity.html

- K.H.Head, MA (Cantab), C.Eng, FICE, FGS, Manual of Soil Laboratory

Testing(volume 1), Second Edition, Pentech Press.

- http://infohost.nmt.edu/~Mehrdad/ME420/assets/pdf/SpecificGravity.pdf

- http://www.uic.edu/classes/cemm/cemmlab/Experiment%204-
Specific%20Gravity.pdf

- http://www.uta.edu/ce/geotech/lab/Main/SmpLbRprt.pdf