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Experiment No. 4
OBJECTIVE
Standard reference:
ASTM D 854-00 – Standard Test for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water
Pycnometer
Pycnometer Jar
#10 Sieve with Pan and Cover
Dropper
Mortar and Pestle
Spatula
2 Circular Pans
Oven
Balance
PROCEDURE
1. Determine and record the weight of the pycnometer filled with 500 ml of water,
WA.
2. Place 50g of an oven dried soil sample (passed through the No. 10 sieve) in the
pycnometer. Remember to remove an amount of water to the pycnometer before
placing the 50g soil sample.
3. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water to the mark, which is 500ml, clean the
exterior surface of the pycnometer with a clean, dry cloth.
4. Determine the weight of the pycnometer and contents (water + soil sample), WB.
5. Empty the pycnometer and clean it. Clean the exterior surface of the pycnometer
with a clean, dry cloth.
Calculate the specific gravity of the soil solids using the following
formula:
Where:
Wo = weight of oven dry sample
WA = weight of pycnometer filled with water
WB = weight of pycnometer + water + soil
Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6
Wo, g
WA, g
WB, g
Specific Gravity, GS
Average Specific Gravity
COMPUTATIONS
REMARKS
REFERENCE/S