STP 205-12

Standard Test Section: SOILS

Procedures Manual Subject: SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Date: 1993 11 30 Page 1 of 4
1. SCOPE
1.1. Description of Test
This method covers determination of the specific gravity of soils by means of a
pycnometer. The specific gravity test is made on that portion of soil which passes the No.
2.00 mm sieve.
1.2. Units of Measure
The definition of specific gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a given volume of a
material at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of distilled water
at a stated temperature.
2. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
2.1. Equipment Required
Pcynometer - glass bottle of 50 ml capacity with a fitted glass stopper.
Stopper - glass with small hole through centre to permit emission of air and water.
Balance - 0.001 g sensitivity.
Oven - capable of 110
o
C.
Thermometer - 25
o
C.
Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 205-12
Section: Subject:
SOILS SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Page: 2 of 4 Date: 1993 11 30
3. PROCEDURE
3.1. Test Procedure
3.1.1. Calibration of Pcynometer
Clean, dry, weigh pcynometer.
Fill pcynometer.
Fill pycnometer with distilled water.
Weigh pycnometer and water carefully to 3 decimals, = W
a
.
Determine temperature of water to nearest degree = T
i
.
From the weight W
a
determined at temperature T
i
prepare a table of value of
weights W
a
for a series of temperatures that are likely to prevail for later testing.
Calculate each value of W
a
as follows:
W
a
(@T
x
) = (dens. water @ T
x
/dens. water @ T
i
)
x (W
a
@ T
i
) - W
f
) + W
f
Where:
W
a
= weight of pycnometer and water, g
W
f
= weight of pycnometer, g
T
i
= observed temperature of water,
o
C
T
x
= any other desired temperature,
o
C
Obtain densities of water from Table 205-12.
Repeat the calculation using a range of value of T
x
and prepare a table showing
W
a
vs. temperature.
3.1.2. Specific Gravity
Oven dry sample to constant weight at 110
o
C.
Crush sample to pass 2.00 mm sieve.
Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 205-12
Section: Subject:
SOILS SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Date: 1993 11 30 Page: 3 of 4
Weigh out about 10 g crushed soil, and weigh to
0.001 g = W
o
.
Place in pcynometer, taking care not to lose any soil.
Fill pycnometer half full with distilled water.
Let sit overnight.
Remove entrapped air by boiling gently for 10 minutes occasionally rolling
pycnometer to assist in removal of air.
Cool pycnometer and contents to room temperature.
Fill pycnometer with distilled water, then stopper.
Clean and dry outside of pycnometer.
Weigh pycnometer and contents accurate to 0.001 g.
4. RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS
4.1. Calculations
Obtain temperature of contents = T
x
Calculate the specific gravity of the soil, based on water at a temperature T
x
as follows:
Specific gravity, T
x
/T
x
= W
o
/[W
o
+ (W
a
- W
b
)]
Where:
W
o
= weight of sample of over-dry soil, g
W
a
= weight of pycnometer filled with water at temperature
T
x
g (from table previously prepared under calibration).
W
b
= weight of pycnometer filled with water and soil at
temperature T
x
g.
T
x
= temperature of contents of pycnometer when weight W
b
was
determined,
o
C.
Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 205-12
Section: Subject:
SOILS SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Page: 4 of 4 Date: 1993 11 30
Unless otherwise required, report specific gravity values at 20
o
C. The value based on
water at 20
o
C is calculated from the value based on water at the observed temperature T
x
as follows:
Specific Gravity T
x
/20
o
C = Kx Specific Gravity,
T
x
/T
x
Where:
K = correction factor from Table 205-12
TABLE 205-12
Temperature Relative Density Correction
Degrees C of Water Factor K
18 0.9986 1.0004
19 0.9984 1.0002
20 0.9982 1.0000
21 0.9980 0.9998
22 0.9978 0.9996
23 0.9975 0.9993
24 0.9973 0.9991
25 0.9970 0.9989
26 0.9968 0.9986
27 0.9965 0.9983
28 0.9963 0.9980
29 0.9960 0.9977
30 0.9957 0.9974
5. ADDED INFORMATION
5.1. References
ASTM D854
5.2. General
Since small amounts of soil are used in the test, extreme care must be taken with
weighing, transferring of soil to flask and boiling so as not to lose any sample.
Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 205-12
Section: Subject:
SOILS SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Date: 1993 11 30 Page: 5 of 4
APPROVAL SHEET
New Revision X Date of Previous Document 82-04-01
Effective Date: - -
Description of Revision (Reason for Revision):
Format of test procedure updated.

Review/Implementation Process:
Reviewed by the Materials Section of the Technical Standards and Policies
Branch.
Other Manuals/Policies Affected:
Nil
Follow Up/Training Required:
Nil
Comments/Concerns/Implications (Budget/Environment/Stakeholders):
Prepared and Recommended by D. MacLeod 93-11-30
Materials Standards Engineer Date
Approval Recommended by R.A. Widger - -
Senior Materials Engineer Date
Approval Recommended by A.R. Gerbrandt - -
Dir., Technical Standards & Policies Br. Date
Approved by D.G. Metz - -
Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Date
Electronic File Updated - -
Update Mailed - -