Lab Services: Soil testing

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Test Method Title

Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer

Reference Number

ASTM D854

Material

Soil

Test Property

Specific Gravity

Description of Test

This test method covers the determination of the specific gravity of soils that pass the 4.75-mm (#4) sieve, by means of a pycnometer. When the soil contains particles larger than the 4.75-mm sieve, Test Method C 127 shall be used for the material retained on the 4.75-mm sieve and this test method shall be used for the material passing the 4.75-mm sieve. The specific gravity of a soil is used in calculating the phase relationships of soils (that is, the relative volumes of solids to water and air in a given volume of soil). The term solid particles is typically assumed to mean naturally occurring mineral particles that are not readily soluble in water. Therefore, the specific gravity of materials containing extraneous matter (such as cement, lime and the like), water-soluble matter (such as sodium chloride), and soils containing matter with a specific gravity less than one, typically require special treatment or a qualified definition of their specific gravity.

Preferred Test Sample Size

Number of Test Specimens

1

Test Specimen Size

20-100 grams dry, passing the #4 sieve

Keywords

soil, specific gravity