1.

0 INTRODUCTION

The specific gravity of solid Gs is a dimensionless parameter that relates the density of the soil
particles s to the density of water w, or Gs = s /w . The density of the soil particles s is
defined as the mass in air of dry solids Ms at a stated temperature divided by the volume of the
solid Vs at the same stated temperature, or s = Ms / Vs.

The specific gravity (Gs) of a soil is defined as the ratio between the unit masses of soil
particles and water. Gs are useful for determining weight- volume relationships.

2.0 THEORY

The specific gravity (Gs), of a material is defined as the ratio of the weight (or mass) of a given
volume of the material to the weight (or mass) of an equal volume of water. In the case of a
density bottle method:

A sample of pre-dried soil is placed in a standard density bottle, of which the mass including the
stopper is m1. The combined mass of soil, bottle and stopper is m2. De-aired, distilled water is
added and the whole vacuumed to remove air prior to topping up and insertion of the stopper.
After drying the outside of the bottle, stopper, soil and water, m3, is determined. The bottle is
then emptied, refilled with de-aired water only, the exterior again dried and the mass of bottle,
stopper and water, m4 is recorded. Then,

mass of soil particles

GS =
mass of an equal volume of water

is found from the expression:

m 2−m1
GS =
( m4−m1 ) −( m3−m2 )
Where,
m2 – m1 is the mass of soil sample;
m4 – m1 is the mass of water contained by the density bottle;
m3 – m2 is the mass of water occupying the volume not occupied by the soil and thus;
(m4 – m1) – (m3 – m2) is the mass of water occupying a volume equal to that of the soil
particles.

Hence the specific gravity Gs of a soil is calculated as follows:

wS
GS =
w S+ w FW −w FS

Where Ws is the weight of the dry soil, WFS is the weight of the flask filled with soil and water
and WFW is the weight of the flask filled with desired water only.

3.0 APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES

1. Volumetric flasks (250 or 500 ml) with stoppers, numbered and calibrated
2. Vacuum pump.
3. Balance accurate to 0.01g
4. Distilled deaired water.
5. Thermometer, ranging from 0 to 500 C, accurate to 0.50 C
6. Drying oven
7. Evaporating dish
 Figure 1: Apparatus for Determination of Specific Gravity

PROCEDURES

1. The soil samples (pass BS sieve 2mm) were taken from the oven dried sample with
temperature of 105 -110°C. Then the samples were cooled with the dryer.
2. Washed the volumetric flasks with stoppers, keep it dry and weigh it. (m1).
3. 5 -10g soil sample were taken from soil sample passing BS 2 mm sieve and put in the
volumetric flasks and weight it with the stopper (m2).
4. Add distilled water in volumetric flask mentioned earlier and vacuum it to remove air in 1
hour. After that, shake that flask and add the distilled water to fulfill the flask and let it for
1 hour.
5. Dry the surface of flask (wipe with a cloth) and weigth the flask with the content (m3).
6. Take out the soil and water from the flask, wash and clean it. After that add distilled water
and let it for 1 hour. Add distilled water if the water level in the flask is decrease. Weight
the flask with water (m4).
7. Repeat the test to calculate additional values of Gs until the values of Gs are within 2 % of
each other.
4.0 RESULTS

Test no. 1 2 3 4
Bottle no. 1 2 3 -
Mass of density bottle + stopper (m1) 37.95 27.82 16.39 -
Mass of density bottle + stopper + oven 47.91 32.79 21.39 -
dried soil (m2)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + soil 146.47 82.77 45.76 -
+ distilled water (m3)
Mass of density bottle + stopper + 141.2 80.0 43.1 -
distilled water (m4 )
Mass of soil sample (m2 – m1) 9.96 4.97 5.0 -
Mass of water contained by the density bottle 103.25 52.18 26.71 -
(m4 – m1)
Mass of water occupying the volume not 98.56 49.98 24.37 -
occupied by the soil and thus (m3 – m2)
Mass of water occupying a volume equal to 4.69 2.20 2.34 -
that of the soil particles (m4 – m1) – (m3 – m2)
Gs = mass of soil particles 2.124 2.259 2.137 -
Mass of an equal volume of water
Gs = m2 – m1 .
(m4 – m1) – (m3 – m2)
Location : Makmal Kejuruteraan Geoteknik Loc. No. :
Soil description: Kaolin Sample No. :
Sample type : Clay Depth of Sample : m
Operator: Anis Sakinah Date Started : 01/10/2018

Average Specific gravity = 2.173 .

5.0 CALCULATIONS

A specific gravity determination of test bottle no.1 (kaolin), using a density bottle yielded the
following data:
Mass of density bottle + stopper, m1 = 37.95 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + oven dried soil, m2 = 47.91 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + soil + distilled water, m3 = 146.47g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + distilled water, m4 = 141.2 g

A specific gravity determination of test bottle no.2 (kaolin), using a density bottle yielded the
following data:
Mass of density bottle + stopper, m1 = 27.82 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + oven dried soil, m2 = 32.79 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + soil + distilled water, m3 =82.77 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + distilled water, m4 = 80.0 g

A specific gravity determination of test bottle no.3 (kaolin), using a density bottle yielded the
following data:
Mass of density bottle + stopper, m1 = 16.39 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + oven dried soil, m2 = 21.39 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + soil + distilled water, m3 = 45.76 g
Mass of density bottle + stopper + distilled water, m4 = 43.1 g

Test no. 1 : Mass of kaolin = (m2 - m1) = 47.91 - 37.95 = 9.96g

Test no. 2 : Mass of kaolin = (m2 - m1) =32.79 - 26.89 = 4.97g
Test no. 3 : Mass of kaolin = (m2 - m1) = 21.39 - 16.39 = 5.0g

Mass of water contained by the density bottle 1 (m4 – m1) = 141.2 - 37.95 = 103.25g
Mass of water contained by the density bottle 2 (m4 – m1) = 80.0 - 27.82 = 52.18g
Mass of water contained by the density bottle 3 (m4 – m1) = 43.2 - 16.39 = 26.71g
Mass of water occupying the volume not occupied by test bottle no.1 (kaolin) and thus (m3 – m2)
= 146.47 - 47.91 = 98.56g
Mass of water occupying the volume not occupied by test bottle no.2 (kaolin) and thus (m3 – m2)
=82.77 - 32.79 = 49.98g
Mass of water occupying the volume not occupied by test bottle no.3 (kaolin) and thus (m3 – m2)
= 45.76g - 21.39g = 24.37g

Mass of water occupying a volume equal to that of test bottle no.1 (kaolin) and thus (m4 – m1) –
(m3 – m2) = 103.25 - 98.56 = 4.69g
Mass of water occupying a volume equal to that of test bottle no.2 (kaolin) and thus (m4 – m1) –
(m3 – m2) = 52.18 - 49.98 = 2.20g
Mass of water occupying a volume equal to that of test bottle no.3 (kaolin) and thus (m4 – m1) –
(m3 – m2) = 26.71 - 25.37 = 2.34g

Gs = mass of soil particles

Mass of an equal volume of water

Gs of test bottle no.1 (kaolin) = m2 – m1 = 9.96 g = 2. 124

(m4 – m1) – (m3 – m2) 4.69g
Gs of test bottle no.2 (kaolin) = m2 – m1 = 4.97 g = 2. 259
(m4 – m1) – (m3 – m2) 2.20 g
Gs of test bottle no.3 (kaolin) = m2 – m1 = 5.00 g = 2.137
(m4 – m1) – (m3 – m2) 2.34 g

Average Specific Gravity = (2.124 + 2.259 + 2.137) = 2.173

4
6.0 QUESTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Define specific gravity of soil.

Specific gravity of soil is defined as the ratio between the unit masses of soil particles and
water. Gs are useful for determining weight- volume relationships.

2. What typical values of the specific gravity for soil?

In general, the specific gravity of most inorganic soils is between 2.60 and 2.80.

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

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

4. What is the effect of the water temperature on the determination of the specific gravity of
soils?

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.

Discussion
In this experiment, only one type of soil was used for the test. The specific gravity for each
sample are as shown in the previous part. However, the reading of kaolin is not in the range of
the typical values of the specific gravity of inorganic soils. This is mainly because the soil
samples are not oven dried beforehand and it is used for testing in its original state, which means
there is possibility where the samples contain moisture in it. Furthermore, the vacuum pump is
not used in the entire process of the experiment. Hence, entrapped air is not removed in the
samples.
7.0 CONCLUSION

The specific gravity (Gs) of a soil is defined as the ratio between the unit masses of soil particles
and water. Gs are useful for determining weight-volume relationships.

In the experiment, for the specific gravity for all soil samples are above 2. Increase the
specific gravity, increase the density. 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.

8.0 REFERENCES

1. Das, Braja M., 2014. “Principles of geotechnical engineering”: Cengage Learning.

(TA710 .D37 2014)
2. Morris, A., 2012. “Geotechnical engineering of soil”: Auris Reference. (TA705 .G49 2012)
3. Braja, M.D., 2010. “Principle of Geotechnical Engineering”: McGrawHill. (TA710.D37
2010)
4. Cheng Liu & Jack B. Evett, 2008. “Soils and Foundations”: Prentice Hall. (TA710.L58 2008)
5. Amir Khan Suwandi and Ahmad Hakimi Mat Nor (2018), DAC21103 Geotechnical
Engineering (Volume 1): Centre of Diploma Studies, UTHM