CE 215 Geotechnical Engineering Lab I

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Department of Civil Engineering
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GUWAHATI

DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY

1. OBJECTIVE
Determine the specific gravity of soil fraction passing 4.75 mm I.S sieve using density bottle.
2. DEFINITIION
Specific gravity of any substance is defined as the unit weight of the material divided by the
unit weight of the standard distilled water at standard temperature of 27 C.
3. NEED AND SCOPE
The specific gravity of soil solids is used in calculating the phase relationships of soils, such
as void ratio and degree of saturation and other calculations.
4. REFERENCES
IS: 2720 (Part III/Sec 1) 1980
ASTM D854: Standard test method for specific gravity of soils.
5. APPARATUS REQUIRED
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Density bottle of 50 ml with stopper having capillary hole.

Balance to weigh the materials (accuracy 0.001gm).
Wash bottle with distilled or fresh water.
Funnel and Spoon.
Thermometer

6. PROCEDURE
1. Take a clean and dry density bottle and measure its weight along with stopper using the
balance (W1) accurate to 0.001gm
2. Take about 1/3 rd volume of the density bottle of air-dried soil sample, and transfer it to
the bottle. Find the weight of the bottle with stopper and soil (W2) accurate to 0.001gm.
4. Fill the bottle with distilled water, so that the soil is soaked completely.
5. Add more distilled water so that the bottle is half full and place the stopper. Shake well the
bottle to remove the entrapped air.
6. Fill the bottle completely with distilled water, put the stopper.
7. Wipe the outside of bottle to make it clean and dry. Now determine the weight of the bottle
and the contents (W3).

8. Now empty the bottle and thoroughly clean it. Fill the bottle with only distilled water and
weigh it (W4).
9. Calculate the specific gravity of the soil using the equation given below.
10. Repeat the same steps 1 to 9 for 2 to 3 times, to take the average value of the specific
gravity.
11. Measure/note the room temperature (Txo C) to report the test temperature. If required
apply the correction for temperature.
6. OBSERVATIONS
Observations

W1

Weight of dry and empty density bottle (g)

W2

Weight of density bottle + dry soil (g)

W3

Weight of bottle + soil + water at temperature T xoC (g)

W4

Weight of bottle + water at temperature Txo C (g)

Specific gravity G
Average specific gravity

7. CALCULATIONS
Specific gravity G =

8. INTERPRETATION AND REPORTING

Unless or otherwise specified the specific gravity should be calculated at a temperature of
27oC and reported to the nearest 0.01. If the temperature is different from 27oC, the following
correction should be done.
G = kG
Where,

The specific gravity of the soil particles generally falls within the range of 2.65 to 2.85. Soils
containing organic matter and porous particles may have specific gravity values below 2.0.
Soils having heavy substances may have values above 3.0.