{"id":3431,"date":"2024-09-02T18:32:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T13:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/?p=3431"},"modified":"2025-08-13T11:30:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T06:00:48","slug":"gravity-of-soil-solids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids","title":{"rendered":"Gravity of Soil Solids"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Pycnometer Method <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3433 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-3.jpg\" alt=\"Pycnometer Method\" width=\"222\" height=\"171\" \/><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>This method is similar to Pycnometer method for water content determination, but here oven dry soil is taken instead of moist soil.<br \/>\nLet, W<sub>1<\/sub> = Weight of empty pycnometer<br \/>\nW<sub>2<\/sub> = Weight of pycnometer + soil sample (oven dry)<br \/>\nW<sub>3<\/sub> = Weight of pycnometer + soil solids + water<br \/>\nW<sub>4<\/sub> = Weight of pycnometer + waterWeight of solid, W<sub>s<\/sub> = W<sub>2<\/sub> \u2013 W<sub>1<br \/>\n<\/sub>= (W<sub>4<\/sub> \u2013 W<sub>1<\/sub>) \u2013 (W<sub>3<\/sub> \u2013 W<sub>2<\/sub> ) = [W<sub>2<\/sub> \u2013 W<sub>1<\/sub>] \u2013 [W<sub>3<\/sub>\u2013 W<sub>4<\/sub>]\u2234 G<sub>s<\/sub> = Weight of solid (W<sub>s<\/sub>) \/ Weight of equivalent volume of water<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3432 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-2.jpg\" alt=\"Pycnometer Method\" width=\"493\" height=\"172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-2.jpg 493w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pycnometer-method-2-300x105.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><br \/>\nwhere, W<sub>s <\/sub>= Weight of solids (or dry weight of soil)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids\/#Core-Cutter-Method\" >Core Cutter Method<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids\/#Sand-Replacement-Method\" >Sand Replacement Method<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids\/#Grain-Size-Distribution\" >Grain Size Distribution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids\/#Sedimentation-Analysis\" >Sedimentation Analysis<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/gravity-of-soil-solids\/#Stokes-Law\" >Stoke\u2019s Law<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Core-Cutter-Method\"><\/span>Core Cutter Method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>This method is used in the case of cohesive soil.<\/li>\n<li>This method cannot be used in case of hard and gravelly soils.<\/li>\n<li>Core-cutter is a cylindrical vessel with open at top and bottom with sharp edges usually having 10 cm dia and 12.5 cm height with volume nearly 1000 cc.<\/li>\n<li>The soil surface is prepared and levelled in field and cylindrical core-cutter is punched into ground and cylinder filled with soil is taken out, which is levelled at top and bottom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3434 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/core-cutter-method.jpg\" alt=\"Core Cutter Method\" width=\"504\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/core-cutter-method.jpg 504w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/core-cutter-method-300x136.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sand-Replacement-Method\"><\/span>Sand Replacement Method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>This is a field method. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3437 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sand-replacement.jpg\" alt=\"Sand replacement\" width=\"272\" height=\"259\" \/><\/li>\n<li>This method is used in case of hard and gravelly soils where core-cutter method can not be used.<\/li>\n<li>In this method, a small pit or hole is made in the ground. The excavated soil is collected in the tray and weighed, say W. Now the pit is filled with sand which is measured through calibrated cylinder. Volume of soil, V = volume of sand required to fill the pit completely.<\/li>\n<li>In-situ unit weight is obtained by dividing weight of excavated soil with volume of hole.<br \/>\n\u03b3 =\u00a0 W\/V<\/li>\n<li>The water content of the excavated soil is also determined and the dry unit weight is obtained by using<br \/>\n\u03b3<sub>d<\/sub> = \u03b3 \/ 1 + w<\/li>\n<li>This method is widely adopted in construction of highways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grain-Size-Distribution\"><\/span>Grain Size Distribution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Grain size analysis of coarse grained soils is carried out by sieve analysis, whereas analysis of fine grained soils is by sedimentation method i.e. either by hydrometer or pipette method.<\/li>\n<li>Generally, most of the soil contains both coarse as well as fine grain constituents. Hence a combined analysis is usually carried out<\/li>\n<li>In combined analysis, dry soil fraction retained on sieve size 4.75 mm is called gravel fraction which is subjected to coarse sieve analysis and soil fraction passing through 4.75 mm sieve is further subjected\u00a0 to fine sieve analysis.<\/li>\n<li>Fraction passing through 0.075 mm sieve is analysed by hydrometer or pipette method.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table class=\"table table-striped table-bordered table-condensed\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 99%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th width=\"32\"><strong>S.N.<\/strong><\/th>\n<th width=\"121\"><strong>Type of soil<\/strong><\/th>\n<th width=\"141\"><strong>Particle size<\/strong><\/th>\n<th width=\"121\">Remark<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"32\">1.<\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">Boulder<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">&gt; 300 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"32\">2.<\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">Cobbles<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">80 mm \u2013 300 mm<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">Not considered as soil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"32\">3.<\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">Gravel<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">4.75 mm \u2013 80 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"32\">4.<\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">Sand<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">0.075 mm \u2013 4.75 mm<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">Coarse grained soil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"32\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">(4.1) Coarse sand<\/p>\n<p>(4.2) Medium sand<\/p>\n<p>(4.3) Fine sand<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">2 mm \u2013 4.75 mm<\/p>\n<p>0.425 mm \u2013 2 mm<\/p>\n<p>0.075 mm \u2013 0.425 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" width=\"32\">5.<\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">Silt<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">0.002 mm \u2013 0.075 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"121\">(6.1) Coarse<\/p>\n<p>(6.2) Medium<\/p>\n<p>(6.3) Fine<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">0.02 mm \u2013 0.075 mm<\/p>\n<p>0.01 mm \u2013 0.02 mm<\/p>\n<p>0.002 mm \u2013 0.01 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"32\">6.<\/td>\n<td width=\"121\">Clay<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">&lt; 0.002 mm<\/td>\n<td width=\"141\">Fine grained soil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3440 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/coarse-sieving.jpg\" alt=\"Coarse Sieving \" width=\"374\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/coarse-sieving.jpg 374w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/coarse-sieving-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/coarse-sieving-130x90.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sedimentation-Analysis\"><\/span>Sedimentation Analysis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Sedimentation analysis or wet analysis is used to determine grain size distribution of the soil fraction passing through 75 \u00b5m size.<\/li>\n<li>It is based on the \u2018Stoke\u2019s Law\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stokes-Law\"><\/span>Stoke\u2019s Law<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If a spherical particle falls through infinitely large medium, then it will achieve a constant terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is given as<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3442 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stoke-law.jpg\" alt=\"Stoke\u2019s Law \" width=\"455\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stoke-law.jpg 455w, https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stoke-law-300x185.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 455px) 100vw, 455px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Limitations of Stokes Law<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The analysis is based on the assumption that the falling particle is spherical. But in soils, the finer particles are never truly spherical.<\/li>\n<li>Stoke\u2019s law considers the velocity of free fall of a single sphere in a liquid of infinite extension, where as the grain size analysis is usually carried out in a glass jar in which the extent of liquid is limited.<\/li>\n<li>The fine grains of soil carry charges on their surface and have a tendency for floc formation. If the tendency of floc formation is not prevented, the diameter measured will be the diameter of the floc and not of the individual.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-danger\" role=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/phase-diagram\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&lt;&lt; Previous<\/a> | <a class=\"btn btn-success\" role=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/ce\/soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering\/atterberg-limits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Next &gt;&gt;<\/a><br \/>\n<strong> Must Read: <\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/ce\/soil-mechanics-and-foundation-engineering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pycnometer Method This method is similar to Pycnometer method for water content determination, but here oven dry soil is taken<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[957,2],"tags":[962,961,963],"class_list":["post-3431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-soil-mechanics-foundation-engineering","category-ce","tag-core-cutter-method","tag-sand-replacement-method","tag-sedimentation-analysis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3431\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}