DLSU – Civil Engineering Dept.

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory (LBYCVG1)

Experiment No. 2
Specific Gravity of Soil
(Referenced Standard: ASTM D854)

Name: Phi, Jeffrey; Cacanando, Carlo Date Submitted: October 10, 2018
Gonzales, Shean; Lucelo, Angelo
Zamora, Louie

Group No.: 2 Date Performed: September 19, 2018

CRITERIA RATING

1. Ability to work well with other members of the group (5%)

2. Ability to start and finish the experiment promptly (5%)

3. Ability to follow experimental procedures (10%)

4. Ability to gather and analyze data correctly (40%)

5. Laboratory Report (40%)

TOTAL
 I. Introduction

Based on the American Standard Test Method (ASTM D854), this test method covers the
determination of the specific gravity of soil solids that passes through a 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve,
by means of a water pycnometer. However, due to the unavailability of the water pycnometer, an
Erlenmeyer Flask was used as a substitute.

For this experiment, two types of samples were to be analyzed: Kaolin Clay and Ottawa
Sand. However, due to time constraints, the groups were only assigned Ottawa Sand as the soil
sample. The data from the Kaolin Clay samples would be obtained through the other groups
assigned to it. In addition, the vacuuming of the soil sample was done for 5 minutes, as opposed
to the 10 minutes stated in the procedures.

II. Objectives

By the end of the experiment, one must be able to:

1. To be able to determine the specific gravity of the assigned soil.

2. To understand the benefits of knowing the specific gravity of soil

III. Data

Weight of dry, clean pycnometer, W p = 496.67 g.

Weight of pycnometer + water, W pw = 996.90 g.
Observed temperature of water, T i = 25.4 ℃
 Table 3.1. Specific gravity determination data
Determination No. Ottawa Sand Kaolin Clay

Weight of pycnometer + 1099.80 1119.60

soil + water , W pws (g)

Temperature, T x (℃
℃) 25.4 25.6
(for 300, 400 and 500 mL
levels)

Weight of pycnometer + 996.90 1024.70

water at T x , W pw (g)

Weight of evaporating 227.80 217.49

dish, W d (g)

Weight of evaporating 377.90 365.00

dish + oven-dried soil,
W ds (g)

Weight of solids, W s (g) 150.10 147.60

Conversion factor, K 0.9989 0.9987

Specific Gravity of soil, 3.18 2.80

Gs

IV. Computations and Graphs

*Please refer to the corresponding excel file for the computation*

V. Analysis and Discussion

Specific gravity is defined as ​the “ratio of the mass of soil solids to the mass of an equal
volume of water.”(Roy & Bhalla, 2017) Specific gravity of soil is crucial especially in the civil
engineering field since this value will be the basis whether or not it is suitable for construction
purposes is it safe to be used as a foundation for a structure. The value for specific gravity can be
correlated to the soil’s density, void ratio, degree of saturation, etc. According to Roy and
Bhalla(2017), a study by Roy and Dass shows that a high specific gravity value has high shear
strength parameters and high strength of subgrade materials that can be used in road
construction. Per Verma(2018), specific gravity values greater than 2.5 can be considered as
good for construction purposes.

In the experiment proper, the group was assigned to test and determine the specific
gravity of Ottawa sand. For comparison, the group was able to gather the data to a group whose
specified soil for testing is Kaolin clay, as shown in Table 3.1. Per Bastidas(2016), in reference
to ASTM D854-14, the specific gravity of Ottawa sand is 2.65. Whereas for Kaolin clay, based
from the website Minerals.net(n.d.), the specific gravity is 2.6. The computed values for Ottawa
sand and Kaolin clay by the respective groups were 3.18 and 2.80, respectively. The values
would mean that both Ottawa sand and Kaolin clay can be considered for construction. However,
the notable observation that can be seen is the large discrepancies between the standard value
and the calculated value for both Ottawa sand and Kaolin clay.

Per the website The Constructor(n.d.), “two main reasons for error in the calculation are
weighing inaccuracies and the presence of entrapped air”. To further add, “entrapped air have to
be eliminated completely before testing the sample.”(The Constructor,n.d.) Aside from the two
possible sources of error, another possible error is the usage of tap water instead of the
prescribed distilled water.

During the experiment, it was mentioned that the flask containing the water and soil
should be vacuumed for a duration of 10 minutes. Due to lack of time, the professor announced
that the duration would then be halved to 5 minutes for the experiment to be completed. To
ensure that entrapped air would be vacuumed in little time, the student holding the flask must
agitate the contents. The possible error could then be associated with the shortage of time allotted
for vacuum and the way the student agitated the flask. On the other hand, the students did not
double check the weights of the containers nor tared the scale, both of which could lead to a
possibility of a weighing inaccuracy.
 Fig. 5.1. Kaolin clay(left) and Ottawa sand(right) submerged in water

During the vacuum process, there are key observations regarding the behavior of each
material. For Ottawa sand, throughout the agitation, it has been observed to remain at the bottom
and that its particles are clumped together. With regards to Kaolin clay, the particles do not
necessarily clump together in the same manner as Ottawa sand. In addition, the particles would
stick to the glass once exposed to the air, as seen in Fig. 5.1. It was observed as well that Ottawa
sand particles are visible, meaning it is coarse-grained. Whereas for Kaolin clay, the particles are
not visible with the unaided eye, making it fine-grained.

With regards to the last source of error, for laboratory experiments, it is a standard that
distilled water should be used. According to Brenner(2018), distilled water is used because
“distilled water basically contains nothing in it, since it is inert, it won't affect the outcome of
tests completed for science projects.” Tap water has not undergone treatment that would
completely take our chemicals or bits of particles that could affect the outcome of any
experiment.

VI. Conclusion

The experiment conducted was done to compare the specific gravity of Kaolin clay and
Ottawa sand. By comparing the values from the obtained, Kaolin clay and Ottawa sand are far
from the standard measurement of Specific Gravity. However, Kaolin clay has a smaller
discrepancy as compared to the Ottawa sand. One of the reasons for this was that not all air was
removed from the flask. An important factor in obtaining the specific gravity of a material is to
remove all air inside the compound. When compared the process of vacuuming with sand and
clay, the main difference is that the particles of sand and clay are different in settling rate. The
sand sticks together in the bottom even when agitated while clay moves with the flow of water,
thus allowed more air to get vacuumed. The specific gravity of soils are important for civil
engineers for it is an important component in solving for many other properties that the soil may
inherit.

VII. Recommendations

Errors encountered in the experiment have been determined to be due to the

inconsistencies with the general procedure described in the ASTM D854, diverging from the
general procedures stated may subject the experiment to unaccounted errors and as such it is
recommended that the procedures set be strictly followed. Furthermore, the agitation can also be
done via mechanical means. This will both ensure the complete agitation of the soil sample, as
well as the removal of any possible human error in the related process. Lastly, measuring the
sample used more accurately is also a benefit as not only will this further remove any error
regarding the recommended sample size, but also ensure uniformity with the experiment for all
the groups doing it.
VIII. References

ASTM International(2014). ASTM D854-14, Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil
Solids by Water Pycnometer. Retrieved Oct 7, 2018, from https://www.astm.org/Standards/D854

Bastidas, A.(2016). Ottawa F-65 sand characterization soil index properties summary. Retrieved
Oct 7, 2018, from
https://datacenterhub.org/app/site/resources/2017/06/14288/Ottawa_sand_F65_characterization_i
ndex_tests_summary.pdf

Brenner,L.(2018, April 26). Why is distilled water a good control for science projects?.
Retrieved Oct 8,2018, from
https://sciencing.com/distilled-good-control-science-projects-7418493.html

Roy, S. & Bhalla, S.(2017). Role of geotechnical properties of soil in civil engineering
structures. Retrieved Oct 8, 2018, from http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.re.20170704.03.html

Specific gravity of soil by pycnometer method - procedure and calculations.(n.d.).Retrieved Oct

7, 2018, from
https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/specific-gravity-soil-pycnometer-procedure-calculations/
2677/

The mineral kaolinite.(n.d.). Retrieved Oct 7, 2018, from

https://www.minerals.net/mineral/kaolinite.aspx

Verma, S.(2018). ​What is the use of specific gravity in civil field?. Retrieved October 8, 2018,
from https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-use-of-specific-gravity-in-civil-field