p



p 
 p
 


‡ This number indicates how much

heavier/lighter a material is than water.

‡ In soils, SG refers to the mass of solid matter of

a given soil sample as compared to an equal
volume of water.
 p
 

‡ For example: A material with SG of 2 is twice as heavy as
water (2x 62.4 lbs/ft3 ) = 124.8 lbs/ft3

‡ Equation Form: SG = Ms/Vsƕwater

‡ We use the SG of soils to calculate other engineering

properties like the volume of solids in a sample«.

‡ This leads to the phase diagram (like last class) and«

² S, ë,
 p
 


Soil Solids Water

1 ft3 1 ft3

W = 187.2 lbs W= 62.4 lbs

SG= 187.2/62.4 = 3.0

 

 
pp 
‡ Sand 2.63 ² 2.67
‡ Silt 2.65-
2.65-2.7
‡ Clay & Silty Clay 2.67-
2.67-2.9
‡ Organic Soils <2.0
 m

p
 

p
See Chapter 3, Page 55 For Your Data Sheet

APPARATUS:
500 ml flask
Ice
Heating Plate
Thermometer C
Scale (readability .1g)
Evaporating Dish
Distilled Water
 m



 !
1. Dry specimens to constant mass in oven at 110 C.
2. Select a 500 ml flask and record mass (g)
3. Fill with distilled water to 500 ml line and record mass (g)
4. Record temperature of water in degrees Celsius (T1).
5. Pour 2/3 of water back into distilled container
8. Weigh out 100g of sandy soil and transfer to flask
9. Add distilled to 2/3 full and boil gently for 10 minutes
10. Bring temperature back to T1 using cooling bucket w/ice.
11. Add distilled to 500 ml line and record mass (g)
12. Record mass of evaporating dish (g)
13. Pour ALL sample into dish and dry to constant weight.
14. Record mass of oven dried dish/sample.
15. Complete calculations on data sheet, including correction for
temperature «. SG is always reported at 20 C.
16. See page 44 for correction factors.