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IS : 2720 ( Part XL) - 1977
( Reaffirmed 2011 )
(Reaffirmed 2016) 
Indian Standard  
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
(Reaffirmed 2015) 
PART XL DETERtJilNATION OF FREE SWELL
INDEX OF SOILS  
(Third Reprint AUGUST 1997 ) (Reaffirmed 2014) 

 
UDC 624.131.434
(Reaffirmed 2013) 

(Reaffirmed 2012) 

(Reaffirmed 2011) 

(Reaffirmed 2010) 

(Reaffirmed 2009) 

 
~;) Copyright 1978
(Reaffirmed 2008) 
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN. 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG  
NEW DEUfl 110002
(Reaffirmed 2007) 
Gr 2 March 1978
 

(Reaffirmed 2006) 
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IS : 2720 ( Part XL ) -1977

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART XL DETERMINATION OF FREE SWELL
INDEX OF SOILS

Soil Engineering Sectional Committee, BDC 23

Chairman Representing
PROF DINESH MOHAN Central Building Research Institute (CSIR).
Roorkee
Members
ADDITIONAL CHIEF ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of Uttar
Pradesh
SHRI D. C. CHATURVEDI (Alternate)
AODITIONAL DIRECTOR RESEARCH Railway Board ( Ministry of Railways)
(ROSO)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR RESEARCH
( RDSO) ( Alternate)
PROF ALAM SINGH University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
LT-COL AVTAR SINGH Engineer-in-Chief's Branch, Army Headquarters
MAJ V. K. KANITKAR ( Alternate)
DR A. BANERJEE Cementation Co Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI S. GUPTA ( Alternate)
CHIEF ENGINEER ( D & R ) Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab
DIRECTOR ( IPRI ) (Alternate)
SHRI K. N. DADINA In personal capacity (P-820, ' P' New Alipore.
Calcutta 700053 )
SHRI A. G. DASTIOAR In personal capacity (5 Hungerford Sireet, 12{1
Hungerford Court, Calcutta 700017)
SHRI R. L. DEWAN Irrigation Research Institute, Khagaul, Patna
DR G. S. DmLLoN Indian Geotechnical Society, New Delhi
SHRI A. H. DIVANJI Asia Foundations & Construction ( P) Ltd, Bombay
SHRI A. N.JANGLE (Alternate)
DR SHASHI K. GULHATI Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
DR G. V. RAO (Alilmale)
SHRI V. G. HEGDE National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI S. H. BALCHANDANI ( Al!ernate )
SHRI O. P. MALHOTRA Public Works Department, Government of Punjab
SHRI J. S. MARY A Roads Wing (Ministry of Shipping & Transport),
New Delhi
SHRI N. SEN (Alternate)
( Continued on page 2 )

@) Copyright 1978
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act (XIV of 1957) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
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IS : 2720 ( Part XL ) - 1977

( Continued from pagr I )

Members RepTls«nting
SHRI R. S. MELKOTE Central Water Commission, New De hi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (CSMRS) (Alternate)
SHRI T. K. NATARAJAN Central Road Research Institute (CSIR),
New Delhi
REPRESENTATIVE Hindustan Construction Co Ltd, Bombay
RESEARCH OFFICER Building & Roads Research Laboratory,
Chandigarh
SHRI K. R. SAXENA Engineering Research Laboratories, Hyderabad
SECRETARY Central Board of Irrigation & Power, New Delhi
DEPUTY SECRETARY (Alternate)
*DR SHAMSHER PRAKASH University of Roorkee, Roorkee
DI!. GOJ'AL RANJAN (A/lernau)
SHRI H. D. SHARMA Irrigation Research Institute, Roorkee
SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of Tamil
Nadu
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (Alternate)
SHRI B. T. UNWALLA Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SHRI T. M. MENON (Alternate)
SHRI H. C. VBRMA All India Instruments Manufacturers & Dealers
l\ssociation, Bombay
SHRI V. K. VASUDEVAN ( Alternate )
SHRI D. AJITHA SumA, Director General, lSI ( Ex-officio Member)
Director ( Civ Engg)
Secretary
SHRI G. RAMAN
Deputy Director (Civ Engg), lSI

Soil Testing Procedures and Equipment Subcommittee, BDC 23: 3

Convener
PROF ALAN SINGH University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
Members
SHRI AMAR SINGH Central Building Research Institute ( CSIR ),
Roorkee
LT-COL AVTAR SINGH Engineer-in-Chief's Branch, Army Headquarters
MAJ V. K. KANITKAR (Allernale)
SHRIR. L.DEWAN Irrigation Research Institute, Khagaul, Patna
D E PUT Y DIRECTOR RESEARCH Railway Board (Ministry of Railways)
( SOIL MECHANics-I) ( RDSO )
Ass IS TAN T DIRECTOR
RESEARCH (SOIL
MECHANics-I) (RDSO) (Alternate)
DIRECTOR (I & C ) Reas Dams Projects, Talwara Township
SHRI K. S. PREM ( Alt,rnate )
SHRI H. K. GUHA Geologist Syndicate Pvt Ltd, Calcutta
SHru N. N. BRATTACHARAYA (Alternate )
SHRI SHASHI K. GULHATI Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
SHRI R. K. JAIN United Technical Consultants ( P ) Ltd, New Delhi
DR P. K. DB (Alternate )

-Also rcprcsents Institution of Engineers ( India ), Delhi Ccnue.

( ContinUld on page 5 )

2
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IS: 2720 (Part XL ) ~ 1977

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART XL DETERMINATION OF FREE SWELL
INDEX OF SOILS

o. FOR E W 0 R D

0.1 This Indian Standard (Part XL) was adopted by the Indian
Standards Institution on 30 December 1977, after the draft finalized by the
Soil Engineering Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil
Engineering Division Council.

0.2 With a view to establish uniform procedures for the determination of

different characteristics of soils and also for facilitating comparative
studies of the results, the Indian Standards Institution has brought out this
Indian Standard Methods of test· for soils (IS: 2720) which is being
published in parts. Forty-one parts of this standard have been published.
This part [IS: 2720 ( Part XL )-1977] deals with the method of test for
the determination of free swell index of soils. Free swell is the increase in
volume of a soil, without any external constraints, on submergence in
water. The possibility of damage to structures due to swelling of expensive
clays need be identified, at the outset, by an investigation of those soils
likely to possess undesirable expansion characteristics. Inferential testing
is resorted· to reflect the potential of the system to swell under different
simulated conditions. Actual magnitude of swelling pressures developed
depends upon the dry density, initial water content, surcharge loading and
several other environmental factors.

0.3 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been giv~n to
international co-ordination among the standards and practices prevailing
in different countries in addition to relating it to the practices in the field
in this country.

0.4 In reporting the result of a test or analysis made in accordance with

this standard, if the final value, observed or calculated, is to be rounded off,
it shall be done in accordance with IS : 2·1960· •

• Rules (or rounding off numerical values ( ,,,,;Sed).

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IS I 2720 ( Part XL ) • 1977

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard ( Part XL) covers a test for the determination of free
swell index of soil which helps to identify the potential of a soil to swell
which might need further detailed investigation regarding swelling
and swelling pressures under different field conditions.
2. APPARATUS
2.1 Sieve - 425-micron IS Sieve.
2.2 Glass Graduated Cylinders - Two, 100-ml capacity (see IS: 8iB-
1956* ).
3. PROCEDURE
3.1 Take two 10 g (see Note) soil specimens of oven dry soil passing
through 425-micron IS Sieve.
NOTE - In the case of highly swelling soils, such as sodium bentonites, the sample
size may be 5 g or alternatively a cylinder of 250 ml capacity may be used.
3.2 Each soil specimen shall be poured in each of the two glass graduated
cylinders of 100 ml capacity. One cylinder shall then be filled with
kerosene oil and the other with distilled water up to the 100 ml (see Notc
under 3.1) mark. After removal of entrapped air (by gentle shaking or
stirring with a:)glass rod), the I'loils in both the cylinders shall be allowed
to settle. Suffiment time (not less than 24 h ) shall be allowed for the soil
sample to attain equilibrium state of volume without any further change in
the volume of the soils. The final volume of soils in each of the cylinders
shall be read out.
4. CALCULATION
4.1 The level of the soil in the kerosene graduated cylinder shall be read
as the original volume of the soil samples, kerosene being a non-polar
liquid does not cause swelling of the soil. The level of the soil in the
distilled water cylinder shall be read as the free swell level. The free
swell index of the soil shall be calculated as follows:
VII - Vk
Free swell index, percent = Vic X 100

where
VII = the volume of soil specimen read from the graduated
cylinder containing disti!!ed ,vater, and
VI: = the volume of soil specimen read from the graduated
cylinder containing kerosene .

• Specification for graduated measuring cylinders.

4
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IS : 2720 ( Part XL ) - 1977

( Continued from page 2)

Members ReprtSenting
SHRI O. P. MALHOTRA Building & Roads Research Laboratory, Chandigarh
RESEARCH OFFICER (Bl.DG &
ROADS) (Alternate)
SHRI R . S. MELKOtE Centra l Water Commission, New Ddhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (CSMRS ) ( Alternate)
SHRI P. JAGANNATHA RAO Central Road Resc Irch Institute ( CSIR ),
New Delhi
SHRI N. SEN Ministry of Shipping & Transport (Roads Wing ) ,
New Delhi
SHRJ P. K. THOMAS ( Alternate)
SHRI M . M. D. SETH Public Works Department, Government of Uttar
Pradesh
DR B. L. DHAWAN (Alternate)
SHRI V . V. S. RAO In personal capacity ([i·.. 24, Green Park, New Delhi)
SHRI H. C. VERMA Associated Instruments Manufacturers ( I) Pvt Ltd.
New Delhi
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