Faculty of Science & Engineering

School of Engineering: Department of Civil Engineering

NATIONAL DIPLOMA: ENGINEERING: CIVIL

Initials :A

Surname : Rauzela

Student No : 214178811

Subject : Geotechnical Engineering

Task : Practical on Soil test

Topic : Relative Density of soil

Laboratory : Bitumen lab

Lab assistant : Mr. Kwababa

Date : 11 March 2019

Due date : 12 April 2018

Geotechnical engineering Page 1

 Table of contents

Determination of the relative density of soils

Contents Page

1. Over view of the practical 3

2. Definition of a relative density 3
3. Apparatus 3
4. Definition of the material 3
5. Procedure for the test 3
6. Calculations 4
7. Results 4
8. Conclusion 5

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 Determination of the relative density of soils

1. Over view of the practical

The method used below includes the determination of the relative density of soil
by two apparatus: pycnometer or density bottle. The test is done with the
material retained and passing the 4.75 mm sieve. The relative density of the soil is
the average of the two values.

2. Definition of a relative density

Is the mass of a given volume of material divided by the mass of an equal volume
of distilled water at the same temperature (room temperature )

3. Apparatus

Pycnometer -Clean dry volumetric flask 100ml capacity

- Sensitive scale balance with the accuracy of 0.01g

Material – distilled water

- oven dried material

4. Definition of the material

 The soil sample must be enough for testing (oven dry it)
 The water must be at room temperature
 The density bottle must be dry inside-out for accurate results
 Balance scale must read zero before the test

5.Procedure for the test

 Quarter the sample to equal volume
 Put the clean, dry pycnometer on sensitive balance and read the mass
 Fill the pycnometer with distilled water (make sure there’s no bubble
inside) and record the reading on the scale balance
 In the dry pycnometer pour the oven dried sample and put it on the
sensitive balance, measure the reading and record

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  Now fill distilled water into the pycnometer with the sample (ensure the is
no entrapped air) and take the reading on the sensitive balance
 Calculate the specific gravity and solid mass of the material with the
formulas below
 Repeat the procedure in the second sample

6. Calculations
(𝐵−𝐷 (𝐵−𝐷)
Spec. gravity formulas = (𝐵−𝐷)−(𝐴−𝐶)
𝐾 = (𝐶−𝐷)−(𝐴−𝐵)
𝐾
K value = 1

Where A = mass of pycnometer filled with water and solids.

B = mass of pycnometer with oven-dried sample.
C = mass of pycnometer filled with distilled water .
D = mass of pycnometer.
K = conversion factor for temperature.

7. Results

numbering Sample No.1 Sample No.2

1 A 1718.5 1723.1
2 B 981.9 984.8
3 C 1585.5 1585.5
4 D 774 774
5 B-D 207.9 207.9
6 C-D 811.5 811.5
7 A-B 736.6 735.3
8 A-C 133 137.6

(5) (5)
∴ (6)−(7)
𝐾 OR (5)−(8)
𝐾

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1 = 2.776 = 2.8

2 = 2.766 = 2.8

Spec. gravity = 2.771 g/cm3

Solid mass = 2771 kg/m3

Conclusion

Silt and clay material have a range of relative density between 2.6 – 2.9, that
means when comparing density of water to that of silt or clayey material, the
relative density should be between this range mentioned above.

The results calculated above show a relative density (2.771) that is within the
range (2.6-2.9) proving that the material can be used proudly in any earth
involving activity in the engineering.

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