Table of Content

I. Theory 2

II. Objectives 2

III. Apparatus 2

IV. Procedures 2&3

V. Data 3&4

VI. Calculation 5

VII. Discussion or analysis 5

VIII. Conclusion 5

IX. References 5

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Theory : Specific Gravity, Gs is defined as the ratio of the weight of a certain volume of
soil solids to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at a constant
temperature: i.e. it is the most accurate method. Whereas the specific gravity flask
or pycnometer methods are on ly suitable for coarse grained soils.

Objectives : To determine the specific gravity of soil using density bottle.

Apparatus : Density bottle with stopper having capillary hole at its center, wash bottle,
de-aired distilled water, alcohol, ether balance, vacuum sets, constant temperature
water bath, etc.

Procedures: 1. The density bottle and stopper is cleaned and dried properly.

2. The dried bottle with stopper is weighed and the mass is being recorded (m1).

3. 10 – 20 gm of oven-dried soil sample that cooled in dessicator is poured

carefully into the density bottle. The bottle with soil and stopper is weighed and
the mass is being recorded (m2).

4. About 10 ml de-aired distilled water is poured in the bottle to soak the soil and
left for a period of 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Some more distilled water is poured to make the bottle half full. The entrapped
air is removed by applying partial vacuum.

6. Some more distilled water is poured into the bottle completely without any
entrapped bubble with the stopper on.

7. The bottle is kept on the stand in constant temperature water bath for 5 to 10
minutes.

8. The bottle is then taken out from the water bath and wiped clean and dry from
the outside. The capillary of the stopper is filled with drops of distilled water if it
is not full.

9. The bottle filled with water, soil samples and stopper is weighed and the mass
is recorded (m3).

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 10. The bottle is empty and cleaned properly. The bottle is then entirely filled
with distilled water till there are no entrapped air bubbles.

11. The stopper is put and the bottle is dried from the outside. Then its is weighed
and the mass is recorded (m4).

12. steps 2 to 11 are repeated for two observation to obtain an average G s of the
sample.

Data:

                   
PARTICLE DENSITY OF
UiTM SOIL PD2
       
BH/Pit
Job no     Site         no  
Sample
Project no  
Depth
Client               (m)  
Soil
descrp                  
Preparation
method Test method Method B - Small Pycnometer
Density bottle no.         # 1 2 3
Mass of density bottle + stopper (gm)     m1 27.9 27.5 29.7
Mass of density bottle + stopper + dry soil (gm)   m2 37.7 37.4 39.7
Mass of density bottle + stopper + dry soil + water (gm) m3 83.5 83.4 85.6
Mass of density bottle + stopper + soil + full of water
(gm) m4 77.3 77.2 79.4
m2 -
Mass of dry soil used (gm)       m1 9.8 9.9 10
m3 -
Mass of water used (gm)       m2 45.8 46 45.9
Mass of water to fill density bottle m4 -
(gm)   m1 49.4 49.7 49.7
Temperature (degree
celcius)       T 25 25 25
Particle denstity of (Mg/m
soil       ) ρs 2.72 2.68  2.63 
(Mg/m
AVERAGE PARTICLE DENSITY   ) ρs   2.68  
                   

3
   
  Particle density, ρs = (m2 - m1) / (m4 - m1) - (m3 - m2)    
   
                   
Remark
s  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Tested
by     Checked by     Date    
Soil Mechanics Laboratory, University Teknologi MARA   © BBB 2004

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Calculation:
Directly calculated by using the table.

Discussions or analysis:
 Actually the formula of particle density, ρs is defined as:
ρ s=Gs ρw

Where Gs is the specific gravity of the soil which defined as:

mass of soil
Gs =
mass of water displaced by soil

Since the density of water, ρw is taken as 1.00 Mg/m3, so the value for ρs of a soil can be
calculated directly from the equation for Gs which meant that the value is still the same
but with the unit ‘ Mg/m3 ‘.

 The density bottle with the stopper used in this experiment is specially for the
determination for the particle density of the fine soil whereas for coarse soil, a 500ml or
1000ml container or pycnometer is used.

Conclusion:
Based on the experiment, data have been collected and being calculated to obtain the value of
particle density of the soil tested. The experiment also being repeated thus the agreeable value
gained from the average of the three final data. Thus the particle density of the soil tested is 2.68
Mg/m3 hence satisfying the objective of the experiment which is to determine the particle density
by using density bottle.

References:
 Whitlow, Roy, 2004, Prentice Hall, Basic Soil Mechanics Fourth Edition.

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