JORDAN UNIVERSITY OF SCINCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

Geotechnical
engineering laboratory

Calculating Specific
Gravity

Name : Saif Mohannad Zaid Al-Omari

ID : 20130023221
Section : 4
Experiment : 1
Abstract:
The following experiment will explain how to
determine the specific gravity for the soil.

Introduction :

In generally, we describe specific gravity as the

ratio between unit weight of soil solids to unit
weight of water.

This value will different between soil types.

Test Specimens :

We will use a sample of soil with 100 g weight for

this experiment.

( Soil from the lab )

Equipment:

1. (Volumetric flask 250 ml) 2. (Distilled water) 3. (Cup for soil)

4. (Sensitive balance) 5. (Vacuum pump)

Procedure:

Water in flask
Bring the flask and fill it with distilled water to 250ml.

Then weight the flask on the balance.

You have now W1

Soil in the cup

Bring the cub and fill it with 100g of soil. (Weight it by the balance)

You have now W3

Mixing soil with water

Reduce the content of water in the flask ( determine it ).

Put the soil inside the flask and mix it.

Use vacuum pump to remove air content from the mix.

 Add the same amount of water that you remove it. (you have now
W2 )

Calculations

Gs = (W3)/( (W1 + W3) - W 2 ).

Test results:
Mass of the soil W3
W3 = 100g

Mass of flask and water W1

W3 = 645.2g

Mass of flask, water , and soil W2

W3 = 706.8g

Gs = 100/((100+645.2)-706.8) = 2.604 (Not final

calculation)
Analysis and discussion:
In our experiment, we did it at 25c , which is mean:
have to make a correction in our final answer, it must be
at 20c, now , apply the following equation :

Gs(20c) = Gs(25c) * (water at 25c / water at 20c)

= 2.604 * (9781/9790)

= 2.601

Our group repeat the experiment twice !!, because we

have fall in a mistake, which it :
When we weight the soil sample we measured the
weight of the metal cup with the weight that we need, (
cup weight + soil weight = 100g).
Because of that we repeat the experiment another time.

In another group , they get 2.8 as a specific weight

Our group 2.6, which mean we have more accurate
answer than them ( true GS = 2.63-2.67 ).

Take care of an important point, which is :

Add the same amount of water to the flask as the
amount of water that you removed it when you add the
soil.
 Dont forget to do the temperature correction.

Conclusions:
Our group has Gs = 2.6, and we are the most
accurate result.

Appendix:
Gs = (W3)/( (W1 + W3) - W2 ).

Gs(20c) = Gs(25c) * (water at 25c / water at 20c)

References:
ASTM (American Standard for Testing Materials).

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Soil mechanics laboratory manual (4th edition)