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Dept of Civil Engg.

Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology, Pune

Part Time Degree Course in Civil Engineering


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Dept of Civil Engg.

Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology, Pune

Determination of Specific Gravity (By Pycnometer)


Experiment No. Date of Experiment Signature of Teacher with date Remarks Evaluation Timely / late / Attendance Performance Understanding Lab Quiz Neatness /2 /2 /3 /2 /1 / 10

Aim: To determine the specific gravity of soil grains by pycnometer. Reference: I.S. 2720 (Part II & III) Theory: The Specific gravity of solid particles (G) is defined as the ratio of the mass of
given volume of soils to the mass of equal volume of distilled water at 4 C. Both weights are taken in air.

G= s/w
The mass density of water w at 4 C is 1 g/ml. The specific gravity of solids for most natural soils falls in range of 2.65 to 2.80, the smaller values are of the coarse grained soils. The specific gravity of the different particles in a soil mass may not be the same. Whereas, when the specific gravity of the soil mass is indicated, it is the average value of all the solid particles present in the soil mass. Mass Specific Gravity (GM): It is defined as ratio of the mass density of the soil to the mass density of the water

GM= /w
The value of the mass specific gravity of a soil is much smaller than the value of specific gravity of solids. The mass Specific gravity is also known as apparent specific gravity. Absolute specific gravity (Ga): The soil solids are not perfect solids but contain voids. Some of these voids are permeable through which water can enter, whereas others are impermeable. Since permeable voids get filled when the soil is wet, these are in reality a part of voids space in the total mass & not a part of soil solids. The remaining volume is true or absolute volume of solids. The mass density of absolute solids is used for determination of the absolute specific gravity of solids.

Ga= (s)a/w
The absolute specific gravity is not of much practical use, as it is difficult to differentiate between the permeable & impermeable voids The specific gravity of solid particles can be determined in the laboratory using following methods. 1) Density Bottle Method 2) Gas Jar Method 4) Pycnometer Method 5) Shrinkage Limit Method

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Dept of Civil Engg. 3) Measuring Flask Method

Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology, Pune 6) Voluminometer

Density bottle method is suitable for fine grained soils, with more than 90% passing through 2mm-I.S. sieve. This method is also used for medium & coarse grained soils if they are pulverized such that the particles pass through 2mm- I.S. sieve. Pycnometer method is used for all types of soils, but is more suitable for medium grained soils (Sand), with more than 90% passing through 20mm I.S. Sieve & for Coarse grained soils with more than 90% passing through 40mm I.S. Sieve. Measuring flask method is suitable for the fine grained and medium grained soils. Specific gravity of very coarse fraction i.e., gravels, pebbles is calculated by using voluminometer.

Applications: Specific gravity of soil grains is an important property & is used in


calculating void ratio, porosity, and degree of saturation if density & void ratio are known. Its value helps to some extent in indication & classification of soils. It gives an idea about the suitability of soil as a construction material, higher value of specific gravity gives more strength for roads & foundations. It is used in computing the soil particle size by hydrometer analysis. It is also used in estimating the critical hydraulic gradient in soil when a soil boiling condition is being studied and in zero air void calculations in the compaction theory of soils. Its value ranges as follows: Coarse grained soils: 2.6 to 2.7. Fine grained soils: 2.7 to 2.8. Organic soils: 2.3 to 2.5. Specific gravity of soil grains,

Gs =

( M 2 - M1 ) Mass of dry soil = Mass of equal volume of water (M 2 - M1 ) ( M 3 - M 4 )


Where, M1 represents mass of the empty pycnometer M2 represents mass of the pycnometer + dry soil M3 represents mass of the pycnometer + dry soil + water M4 represents mass of the pycnometer + water Mass of soil grains Ms = M2 - M1 Mass of equal volume of distilled water = (M2 - M1) (M3 M4)

Apparatus:
i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. Pycnometer Weighing balance (accuracy 1g) Oven (interior of non corroding material, thermostatically controlled) Desiccator. Glass rod Vacuum pump 4.75 mm I.S sieve. Distilled water.

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Dept of Civil Engg.

Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology, Pune

Procedure:
i. ii. iii. iv. Clean the pycnometer & dry it. Find the Mass of the pycnometer, brass cap & washer, accurate to (M1) g. Take about 200 g to 400 g of oven-dried soil & put it in the pycnometer. Weigh the pycnometer plus soil etc (M2). Fill the pycnometer to half its height with distilled water & mix it thoroughly with glass rod. Add more water & stir it. Replace the screw top and fill the pycnometer flush with the hole in the conical cap. Dry the pycnometer from outside, & weigh it (M3) Empty the pycnometer; clean it thoroughly & fill it with distilled water, to the hole of the conical cap and weigh it (M4) Repeat steps 2 to 4 for 2 or more determinations of specific gravity.

v. vi.

Observation Table:
Determination No. Pycnometer No. Mass of Pycnometer (M1) g Mass of pycnometer. + dry soil (M2) g Mass of pycnometer + dry soil +water (M3) g Mass of pycnometer + water (M4) g Specific Gravity (Gs) Average Specific Gravity 1 2 3

Calculations:
The specific gravity is calculated from the equation

Gs =

( M 2 - M1 ) Mass of dry soil = Mass of equal volume of water (M 2 - M1 ) ( M 3 - M 4 )

Result: The Average Specific Gravity of a given soil sample is, Gs = ________%

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Dept of Civil Engg.

Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology, Pune

Questionnaire:
1. Explain what Specific Gravity of material is. 2. What is the significance of specific gravity of soil in civil engineering? 3. What is the principle of pycnometer method of determination of specific gravity of soil? 4. What is the reason of using conical brass cap in pycnometer? 5. Which are the other tests by which you can determine specific gravity? 6. What are the applications/uses of specific gravity?

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