LAB 1 - MOISTURE CONTENT IN SOIL

LAB 2 SPECIFIC GRAVITY

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LAB 1 - MOISTURE CONTENT IN SOIL

SAMPLES

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PURPOSE

Important for performing weightvolume calculations

Is a good measure of the shrink-swell
potential and strength characteristics
of cohesive soils e.g. clays.

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MOISTURE CONTENT MASS RELATIONSHIP

Ratio of Mass of Water to Mass of Solid

Mass of moist Soil = Water Mass + Solid

Mass
After drying a moist soil, we can calculate
the mass of the water in the soil:
Water Mass = Moist Soil Mass Dry Soil
Mass

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MOISTURE CONTENT

Also known as water content

Often, we express moisture content (w
%) as a percentage
Can range from a few percent in dry
sands up to more than 100% in some
clays and 500% in some organic soils

Not to be confused with Degree of

Saturation (Volume Relationship)

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EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

Hand Auger
(4) Zip-top bags
Markers to label bags
Scale (measuring to nearest 0.1 g)
Oven (110C)
(4) Disturbed Moist Soil Samples
(4) Moisture Cans
Excavation Tools
Measuring Stick
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PROCEDURES

Courtesy of
www.eglin.af.mil

Courtesy of
dec.alaska.gov

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LAB 2 SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL

PARTICLES

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SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Denoted as Gs

Important for performing weightvolume calculations

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SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Ratio of the density of soil solids to the density of

water

Water volume is equivalent to the volume of solids

Shows how much heavier soil particle is compared
to water
Common Gs for Sand 2.65 (Quartz)
Common Gs for Clay 2.7 - 2.8
Temperature Correction

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EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

100g Oven Dried Sample

500 mL Volumetric Flask
Distilled Water
Scale (measuring to nearest 0.1g)
Vacuum Pump
(1) Moisture Can
Thermometer
Funnel
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Procedure
Questions?