Hydrometer

Objectives

To prepare a soil specimen for hydrometer analysis

To conduct a hydrometer analysis test
To obtain the particle size distribution

Introduction
Hydrometer analysis is a test used for soils with very fine particles such as clay or silt. Soil particles
passing through the No. 200 (0.075mm) sieve are used for the analysis because the grain size is too
small for sieve analysis. A soil sample suspended in water with a dispersing agent is used to conduct
the test. This mostly important with clayey soils.
Theory
The experiment is based on Stokes Law for moving spheres in viscous liquids. An equation has been
derived to calculate the diameter of a particle.

30
=
981( 1)

viscosity of water
w unit weight of water
= 16.295 0.165
Rc Corrected hydrometer reading
Gs specific gravity of soil
Apparatus

Hydrometer
Dispersing agent
Thermometer
Electronic scale
Stopwatch
Measuring cylinder 2
Glass rod
Water
Wash bottle
Glass rod
 Figure 1: Hydrometer

Figure 2: Measuring Cylinder

Procedure

First the soil specimen was prepared.

o First 50g of soil passing No. 200 sieve should be weighted.
o Then 125ml of sodium hexametaphosphate was added.
o Finally the mixture was thoroughly mixed and allowed to soak for 16 hours.
Then the soil sample was transferred to a glass measuring cylinder and water was added to until
the total volume was 1000ml.
Next after closing the end of the cylinder using the palm, it was shaken for 1 minute.
Immediately after that the hydrometer was inserted in the cylinder and the stopwatch started.
Then hydrometer readings and the temperature readings were taken during the necessary time
intervals.
Finally the hydrometer and a measuring cylinder with 1000ml solution of the same amount of
dispersing agent was used to measure the corrections for dispersing agent and meniscus.

Observation

Percentage
Percentage
Time Rwd finer
Ra (mm) Rc (mm) L D (mm) (hydrometer
finer (sieve
(min) (mm) analysis)
analysis)
0.5 45 45.5 43.5 15.57725 5.581622 0.068156 87 6.09
1 43 43.5 41.5 15.61025 3.950981 0.048244 83 5.81
2 38 38.5 36.5 15.69275 2.801138 0.034204 73 5.11
4 35 35.5 33.5 15.74225 1.983825 0.024224 67 4.69
8 31 31.5 29.5 15.80825 1.405714 0.017165 59 4.13
15 30 30.5 28.5 15.82475 1.027124 0.012542 57 3.99
30 25 25.5 23.5 15.90725 0.728177 0.008892 47 3.29
60 22 22.5 20.5 15.95675 0.515699 0.006297 41 2.87

Cd = 2mm
Cm = 0.5mm
Calculations

For 1 minute reading,

o = 2.65
o = 30
o = 0.00801
o = 0.9955683
o = 50
o 1 = 33
o 2 = 500
o =1
= +
= 45 + 0.5
= 45.5
=
= 45.5 2
= 43.5
= 16.295 0.165
= 16.295 0.165 4.35
= 15.61025cm

15.61025
=
1

= 3.950981

30
=
981( 1)

30 0.00801
= 3.950981
981(2.65 1) 0.00801

= 0.048244mm

= 100

43.5
= 1 100
50
= 83%
1
=
2
33
= 83
500
= 8.3%
Results

Discussion

Possible errors
Many errors could have affected the hydrometer test. Human errors can occur when taking
readings of hydrometer, thermometer and stopwatch. Also errors could have been made
while preparing the soil sample such as inaccurate weight and volume measurements. The
timer should be started immediately after mixing the slurry for 1 minute because the soil will
start to deposit. Also if the hydrometer is kept in the soil slurry for too long soil particles will
adhere to it leading to incorrect readings.

Assumptions
Several assumptions are made about the soil in order to apply the Stokes Law.
o Attraction forces between particles and, particles and walls of the measuring cylinder
are negligible
o Particles are small enough to ensure laminar flow
o Particles are perfect spheres
The first assumption can be satisfied using a low concentration of soil slurry. It has been
experimentally shown that the small particles used in hydrometer analysis will fulfil the
second assumption. Because the particles are not spherical, even though it would not affect
for a small number of particles, the cumulative error due to the third assumption is
considerable.

Importance of identifying size distribution of finer grade soils

The hydrometer analysis is conducted for smaller particles sizes to gain a more accurate
particle size distribution than from sieve analysis. This is essential because smaller particles
such as clay and silt have more surface area, thus more important when considering chemical
reactions and permeability. These are important in any civil engineering construction,
especially when laying foundations.
Conclusion
From this experiment the reason for using hydrometer analysis instead of sieve analysis for smaller
particle, was learnt. Also the procedure for preparing a soil specimen and conducting a hydrometer
analysis was practically experienced. Furthermore the particle size distribution for a soil sample was
obtained.
References
civilblog.org, 2017. HYDROMETER ANALYSIS OF SOIL WHAT, WHY & HOW?. [Online]
Available at: http://civilblog.org/2015/11/18/hydrometer-analysis-of-soil-what-why-how/
[Accessed 12 August 2017].

Lu N, R. G. L. W., 2013. pc-progress. [Online]

Available at: https://www.pc-progress.com/Images/Personal/NLu/Publications/NLJ18200002.pdf
[Accessed 12 August 2017].

Soil Textural Analysis, 2017. Soil Textural Analysis. [Online]

Available at: http://www.cfr.washington.edu/classes.esrm.410/texture.htm
[Accessed 12 August 2017].