Experiment no 7

DETERMINATION OF POROSITY
Objective:To find the porosity of a soil sample on laboratory. Porosity is a property of soil which explains
the nature of soil mass in water absorption and permeability.
Theory:-The porosity of soil is the ratio of volume of void in it and volume of soil mass. It is
defined by the ratio:

where VV is the volume of void-space (Volume of air + water) and VT is the total or bulk volume
of material, including the solid and void components. Both the mathematical sample and are
used to denote porosity.
Porosity is a fraction between 0 and 1, typically ranging from less than 0.01 for solid granite to
more than 0.5 for peat and clay. It may also be represented in percent terms by multiplying the
fraction by 100.
However this cannot be determined in laboratory in any direct test, so we perform an indirect
test.
We have to transform the equation of porosity in the form of dry density and solid density of soil,
which can be found in laboratory.
dry density of soil( d)
n =1- solid density of soil ( s)
The dry density of soil can be found by core cutter test
And solid density can be found by pycnometer test.
Porosity of surface soil typically decreases as particle size increases. This is due to soil aggregate
formation in finer textured surface soils when subject to soil biological processes. Aggregation
involves particulate adhesion and higher resistance to compaction. Typical bulk density of sandy
soil is between 1.5 and 1.7 g/cm3. This calculates to a porosity between 0.27 and 0.36.

Apparatus required:1. Core cutter test:a)

b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Cylindrical core cutter, 100mm internal diameter and 130mm long

Steel rammer, mass 9kg, overall length with the foot and staff about 900mm.
Steel dolley, 25mm high and 100mm internal diameter
Weighing balance, accuracy 1g.
Palette knife
Straight edge, steel rule grease etc

2. Pycnometer test:a) Pycnometer

b) Sieve(4.75 mm)
c) Oven
d) Weighing balance
e) Glass rod
Procedure:1. CORE CUTTER TEST:i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.

Determine the internal diameter and height of the core cutter to the nearest 0.25mm
Determine the mass (M1) of the cutter to the nearest gram.
Expose a small area of the soil to be tested. Level and trim the surface, about 300mm
square in area.
Place the dolley over the top of the core cutter and press the core cutter into the soil mass
using the rammer. Load applied should be vertically so to avoid tilt of cutter. Stop the
pressing when about 15mm of the dolley protrudes above the soil surface.
Remove the soil surrounding the core cutter, and take out the core cutter. Soil would
project from the lower end of the cutter not avoid the sample. Remove the dolley. Trim
the tip and bottom surface of the core cutter carefully using a straight edge.
Weigh the core cutter filled with the soil to the nearest gram (M2).
Remove the core of the soil from the cutter. Take a representative sample for the water
content determination.
Determine the water content.

2. PYCNOMETER TEST:i.

Dry the pycnometer and weigh it with its cap(W1)

ii.

Take about 200 g to 300 g of oven dried soil passing through 4.75mm sieve into the
pycnometer and weigh again(W2)

iii.

Add water to cover the soil and screw on the cap.

iv.

Shake the pycnometer well and heat it on heater to remove entrapped air for about 10 to
15 minutes.

v.

After the air has been removed, fill the pycnometer with water and weigh it (W3).

vi.

Clean the pycnometer by washing thoroughly.

vii.

Fill the cleaned pycnometer completely with water upto its top with cap screw on.

viii.

Weigh the pycnometer after drying it on the outside thoroughly (W4).

CALCULATION: dry
1
n=
solid
Mass of the soil

Bulk density, b = Volume of cutter =

(3201994 )
999.811

Natural moisture content, w=18%

b

Dry Density, d = 1+ w
2.207

= 1+.18 =1.8703g/cc

=2.207g/cc

Pycnometer test result

W 2W 1
GS = ( W 2W 1 )(W 3W 4 )
8749

= ( 8749 )(171.5148) = 2.6207

Solid density s =Gsw=2.6207 g/cc (w = 1 g/cc )
1.8703

n =1 - 2.6207
= 0.2863

Conclusion:The porosity of soil is 28.63%.This soil is medium dense soil. However there is no any
classification on the basis of porosity, the soil may be classified as silty clay.
References:

Soil mechanics and foundation engineering - Dr. K.R. Arora.

Geotechnical Engineering by C.Venkatramaiah.

Soil Mechanics and Foundation by Dr. BC Punmia, Asok Kumar Jain , Arun Kumar
Jain