Determining the Specific Gravity of Soil - Soil Properties: Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation - page 71

Soils Testing Laboratory
Specific Gravity Determination

Sample No. Project No.

Boring No. Location

Depth

Description of Sample

Tested by Date

[A] Calibration of Pycnometer

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

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

[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
at test temperature, M pws,t (g)

Test Temperature, T t (°C)

Mass of pycnometer + water at T t
M pw,t (g)

Evaporating dish no.

Mass of evaporating dish, M d (g)

Mass of evaporating dish +
oven-dried soil, M ds (g)

Mass of solids, M s (g)

Conversion factor, K

Specific gravity of soil,

KM s

G s@ 20°C

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

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