TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

NAME: DATE:
CRS.YR.SEC: ENGR. MARJUN B. MACASILHIG

EXPERIMENT NO. 1

Determination of Water Content

I. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEST:

Most laboratory tests in soil mechanics require the determination of water content. Water content is defined
as

w=

II. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS:

Moisture Can(s)
Oven with temperature control
Balance
III. TEST PROCEDURE:
1. Determine the mass (g) of the empty moisture can plus its cap (W1), and also record the number.

2. Place a sample of representative moist soil in the can. Close the can with its cap to avoid loss of moisture.

3. Determine the combined mass (g) of the closed can and moist soil (W2)

4. Remove the cap from the top of the can and place it on the bottom (of the can).

5. Put the can (Step 4) in the oven to dry the soil to a constant weight. In most cases, 24 hours of drying is
enough.

6. Determine the combined mass (g) of the dry soil sample plus the can and its cap (W3).

SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

 TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
MANILA
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

IV. CALCULATION:
1. Calculate the mass of moisture = W2 W3
2. Calculate the mass of dry soil = W3 W1
3. Calculate the water content

w (%) = W3 W2 x 100
W2 W1
Report the water content to the nearest 1% or 0.1% as appropriate based on the size of
the specimen.

V. ILLUSTRATION:

SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

 TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
MANILA
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

VI. DATA AND RESULTS

Description of Soil: ______________________________ Sample No.: _____________
Location: _____________________________________________________________________
Tested by: ______________________________________ Date: __________________

Test No.
ITEM

Can No.
Mass of can, W1 (g)
Mass of can + wet soil, W2 (g)
Mass of can + dry soil, W3 (g)
Mass of moisture, W2 W3 (g)
Mass of dry soil, W3 W1 (g)
Moisture Content

Average moisture content, w = ___________________%

VII. DISCUSSION

SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

 TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
MANILA
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

VIII. CONCLUSION:

IX. RECOMMENDATION

SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY