You are on page 1of 3

326

METHOOS OF SAMPLING ANO TESTING

Standard M ethod of Testfor


Specific Gravity of Soils
AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 100-75(1982)1 (ASTM DESIGNATION: D854-58 (1972

1. SCOPE 1.1 This method of test is intended for determining the specific gravity of soils by meansof a pycnometer. When the soil is composedof particles larger than the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve.the method outlined in the Standard Method of Test for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse A.ggregate (AASHTO T 85) shall befollowed. When the soil is composedof particles both larger and smaller than the 4.75 mm sieve. the sampleshall be separated on the 4.75 mm sieveand the appropriate methodof test usedon eachportion. The specific gravity value for the soil shall be the weighted averageof the two values. When the specific gravity value is to be used in calculations in connection with the hydrometer portion of the Standard Method of Mechanical Analysis of Soils (AASHTO T 88) it is intended that the specific gravity test be made on that portion of the soil which passes the 2.00 mm (No. 10)or 0.425 mm (No. 40) sieve. as appropriate. 2. DEFINITION 2.1 SpeC!tic Gravity'-Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass in air of a given volume of a material at a stated temperature to the mass in air of an equal volume of distilled water at a stated temperature.

3. APPARATUS
3.1 The apparatus shall consist of the 1()llowing: l.I Pycnometer-Either a volumetric flask having a capacity of at least 100mI or a stoppered bottle having a capacity of at least 50 mI (Note 1). The stopper shall be of the salDe material as the bottle, and of such size and shape that it can be easily inserted to a fixed depth in the neck of the bottle, and shall have a small hole through its center to permit the emissioff of air and surplus water.
NOTE1- The use of either the volurnetric nask or the stop~ bottle is a rnatter of individual preference. but in general. the nask should be used when a largor sarnple than can be used in the stopperedbottle is neededduo to rnaxirnurn grain sizo of the sarnple.

3.1.2 Balance--Either a balance sensitive to 0.01 g for use with the volumetric flask. or a balancesensitiveto 0.001 g for use with the stopperedbottle. 3.1.3 Desiccator-A desiccator. about 8 in., (approx. 200 mm) in diameter containing anhydrous silica gel or other suitable desiccant. 3.1.4 Oven-A thermostatically controlled drying oyen capable of maintaining a temperature of 110.:f:.5 C (230.:f:.9 F). 3.1.5 Thermometer-A thermometer covering the range of O-SOC (32-122 F), readable and accurate to l C (2 F).

'Ex~pt for the requirements giyenfor desiccator, oyenthermometer and weighing is the sameas ASTM D
854-58(1972).

'This delinition conformsto the standardDelinition of Terms Relatingto SpecilicGrayity (AASHTO M 132).

.-

TlOO

METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING

327

4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WEIGHING 4.1 When the volumetric tlask is used in the specific gravity determination all massesshall be determined to the nearest0.01g. When the stoppered bottle is used in the specific gravity determination all massesshall be determined to the nearest0.001 g.

S. CALIBRATION OF PYCNOMETER 5.1 The pycnometer shall be cleaned. dried. weigheC:, and the massrecorded. The pycnometer shall be tilled with distilled water (Note 2) essentiallyat room temperature. The mass of the pycnometer and water. W". shall be determined and recorded. A thermometer shall be inserted in the water and its temperature Ti determined to the nearest whole degreeo
NOTE 2-Kerosine is a better wetting agenllhan water for mosl soils and may be used in place of dislilled water for oven-dried
sampleso

5.2 From the mass W. determined at the observedtemperature Ti a table of values of masses W. shall beprepared for a series of temperatures that are likely to prevail when masses Wbare determined later (Note 3). These values of W. shall becalculated as follows:
W. (at T.) =

density of water at T.

o ~ (W.(at Ti) -Wj) denslty of water at Ti

+ Wj

W. = mass of pcynometer and water. in grams. W = mass of pycnometer, in grams. T, = observed temperature of water, in degrees Celsius,and T. = any other desired temperature, in degreesCelsius.
NOTE 3: This melhod provides a procedure Ihal is mosl convenien! for laboratorios rnaking rnany delerminalions wilh Ihe sapycnomelero 1I is equally applicable !o a single delermination. Bringing the pycnometerand conlents lo some designaled lemperalure when ma W. and W, are laken. requires considerablelime. 1I is much more convenienllo prepare a lable of masses W. for various lemperalures likely to prevail when massesW, are lakeno 1I is importanl that massesW. and W, be based on water allhe satemperature. Valuesfor Ihe relativo densilY of water allemperatures from 18 to 30 C are given in Table l.

6. SAMPLE 6.1 The soil to be used in the specific gravity test mar contain its natural moisture or be ovendriedoThe massof the test sample on an oven-dry basis shall be at least 25 g when the volumetric tlask is lo be uscd. and at least 10 g when the stoppered bottle is to be used. 6.2 SamplesContaining Natural Moisture--When the sample contains its natural moisture,the massofthe soil. Wo. on an oven-dry basis shall be determined at the end ofthe test by evaporating the water in an oyen maintained at 110.:1:.5 C (230.:1:. 9 F) (Note 4). Samplesof cIar soils containing their natural moisture content shall be dispersed in distilled water before placing in the tlask. using the dispersing equipment specified in AASHTO T 88. 6.3 Oven-Dried Samples-When an oven-dried sample is to be used, the sample shall be dried t'or at least 12h, or,to constant mass at 110.:1:.5 C (230.:1:.9 F) (Note4). transferred to pycnometerand weighed. The sample shall then be soakedin distilled water for at least 12 h.
NOTE4-Drying of certain soils al 110 C may bring aboulloss of moislure 01' composilion or hydraliono and in such casesdrying shall be done. if desiredo in reduced air pressureand al a lower lemperalureo

7. PROCEDURE
7.1 The sample containing natural moisture shallbe placed in the pycnometer,Cl11C oeing taken not to lose any of the soil in case the mass of the sample has beendetermined. Distilled water shall be added to fill the volumetric tlas~ about three.fourths full or the stopperedbottle about half full. 7.2 Entrapped air shall be removed by either of the following methods: (J) by subjecting the CI)ntcntsto a partial vacuum (air pressure not exceeding 100 mm of mercury) or (2) by boiling gently

328

METHOOS OF SAMPLING ANO TESTING

lo.. at least 10 mino while occasionally rolling the pycnometer to assist in the removal of the air. Subjcction of the contents to reduced air pfessure may be done either by connecting the pycnometer dircctly to an aspirator or vacuum pump. or by useof a bell jaro Some soils boj] vio]ently when subjected to rcduced air pressure. It will be necessary in thosecasesto reduce the air pressure at a slowerrate or to use larger tlask. Samp]esthat are heatedshall be cooled to room temperature. 7.3 The pycnometer shall then be filled with distilled water and the outside cleaned and dried with a clcan. dry cloth. The massof the pycnometer and contents. W h. and the temperature in degrees Cel!;ius. Tx' of the contents shall be determined, as described in Section4. (Note S)
Note 5- The mnimum volume of slurry that canbe prepared by dispersing equipment specitiedIn AASHTO T 88 is such that a SOO mi. Ilask i, needed as the pyncometer

8. CALCULATION ANO REPORT 8.1 follows: The specific gravity of the soil. based on water at a temperature ~\"shall be calculated as w
Specific gravity.T,IT.c = Wo + lit; a -W ~

w'.r..:
W w" ~ Tx = = = = mass of sample of oven-dry soil. in gramo. mass of pycnometer tilled with water at temperature Tx (Note ). in gramo. mas, of pycnometer filled with water and soil at temperature T .in gramo. and temperature of the contento of the pycnometer when weight W b zwas determined. in degreesCelsius

Note -This valgo shall be taken from the labIo ofvalues of Wa prepared in accordancewith 5.1 for the temperature prevailing when mas, W b was taken.

8.2 Unless otherwiserequired. specific gravity values reported shall be basedon water at 20 C. Thc value based on water at 20 C shall be calculated from the value based on water at the observed temperature ~\:' as follows:
Specitic gravity. Tx12.0C = K X specitic gravity. T /T xC, wher,,: K = a number found by dividing the relativo density of water at temperature Tx by the relativo density of water at 20 C. Values for a r'ln~e of temperatures are given in Table l.

8.3 When it is desired to report the specific gravity value based on water at 4 C. such a specific ~":lvlty value may be ca]culated by multiplying the specific gravity value at temperature Tx by the rcltive dcnsity of water ;t temperature T x. 8.4 When any portion of the original sample of soil is eliminated in the preparation of the test sample. thc portion on which the test has been made shall be reported. TABLE 1 Relative Density of Water and Conversion Factor K for Various Temperatures ""'i Re!ative
Temperature. Density

If,\! ,

IlJ,r;? ,rll .1

,.r,
18 19 20 21 22 24 25 , ;

del. Ceot.
; ;;;.'""

of Water
:,...0.9986244 0.9984347 0.9982343 0.9980233 0.9978019 0.9973286 0.9970770 1.0004 1.0002 1.0000 0.9998 0.9996 0.9991 0.9989

23

0.9975702

0.9993

26 27... 28...
ro:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

0.9968156 0.9965451 g:;;~~~~


0.9956780

0.9986 0.9983 g:;;~~


0.9974

You might also like