BIALYSTOK TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF GEOTECHNICS
Laboratory Instruction
Civil Engineering
Erasmus
Soil mechanics laboratory
Determination of soil bulk density using hydrostatic lift method ,
determination density of solid particles
Test No: III
Elaborated : dr eng. Małgorzata Jadwiga Glinicka
1
1. Determination of bulk density of soil
Definition:

mm
3
, g/cm
V
where:
mm – mass of specimen,
V – volume of specimen.
Laboratory method

mm
m p  m pw
w

3
, g/cm
m p  mm
p
where:
mm – mass of soil specimen, g,
mp – mass of soil specimen with paraffin, g,
mpw – mass of soil specimen with paraffin into water, g,
3
ρw – density of pore water, 1 g/cm ,
3
ρs – density of paraffin, 0,93 g/cm .
Determine type of soil
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2
Results of soil bulk density test
Bulk density ρ
Number of sample
1
2
Mass of soil specimen
mm
[g]
Mass of soil specimen with
paraffin
mp
[g]
Mass of soil specimen with
paraffin into water
mpw
[g]
Density of pore water
ρw
[g/cm3]
1
Density of paraffin
ρp
[g/cm3]
0,93
Bulk density of soil
ρ
[g/cm3]
Average value of bulk soil density ρ
[g/cm3]
Conclusion :
Check and compare value of result in Polish Standard PN-81/B-03020
3
2. Determination of density of soil particles
Definition:
s 
ms
,
Vs
3
g/cm
Laboratory test
The density of soil particles determines in pycnometer ( volumetric bottle)
s 
m  m 
 m  m  m
g
mwt
t
g
w
t
3
, g/cm
wg
where:
mg – mass of pycnometer and dry soil, g
mwt – mass of pycnometer plus water ,g
-
The temperature for mwt should be the same as for determination mwg.
-
The pycnometer calibration should be done.
-
The water into the bottle should be to calibration line at the bottle.
mwg – mass of pycnometr, soil, water, g
mt – mass of clean, dry pycnometer ,
ρw – density of pore water .
Fig.1
Pycnometer
Density of soil particles depends on mineral composition of soil and rock. It amounts from 1,4 to 3,2
3
g/cm .
3
For mineral soils ρs = 2,65÷2,78 g/cm .
Determine type of soil
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4
Results of test of soil particles density
Density of soil particles ρs
Mass of pycnometer
mt
[g]
Mass of pycnometer and
dry soil
mg
[g]
Mass of dry soil
m s = m g - mt
[g]
Mass of pycnometer
with soil and water
mwg
[g]
Mass of pycnometer
with water
mwt
[g]
Density of soil particles ρs
3
[g/cm ]
Average value of density of soil particles ρs
Conclusion :
Check value of result in Polish Standard PN-81/B-03020
5