Determining the Specific Gravity of Soil - Soil Properties: Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation - page 68

Soils Testing Laboratory
Specific Gravity Determination

Sample No. 16 Project No. SR2828

Boring No. B-7 Location Newell, N.C.

Depth 4 ft

Description of Sample Brown silty clay

Tested by John Doe Date 1/23/08

[A] Calibration of Pycnometer

(1) Mass of dry, clean pycnometer, M p 158.68 g
(2) Mass of pycnometer water at calibration temperature, M pw,c 656.43 g

(3) Observed temperature of water at calibration, T c °C

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[B] Specific Gravity Determination

Test Method used (check one) □ Method A
Method B
Maximum particle size of test specimen (check one)
No. 4 (4.75 mm)
□ No. 10 (2 mm)

Determination No.: 1 2 3

Mass of pycnometer + soil + water

718.52

at test temperature, M pws,t (g)

Test Temperature, T t (°C)

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Mass of pycnometer + water at T t

656.67

M pw,t (g)

Evaporating dish no.

1A

Mass of evaporating dish, M d (g)

289.14

Mass of evaporating dish +

387.15

oven-dried soil, M ds (g)

Mass of solids, M s (g)

98.01

Conversion factor, K

0.99957

Specific gravity of soil,

2.71

KM s

G s@ 20°C

M pw,t - 1 M pws,t - M s 2

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