Jack Flynn Lab 03

LAB # 3 Specific Gravity of Soils Name: Jack, Flynn Quarter: Fall Year: 2023 CVTE 475 SOILS IN CONSTRUCTION

CVTE 475, Specific Gravity of Soils Lab 03: Determination of the Specific Gravity of Soil Outcome: 1. Determine the specific gravity of mineral grains that comprise the solid phase of the soil. Apparatus: 1. Volumetric flask (500 ml) 2. Thermometer 3. Balance 4. Distilled Water 5. Heat source 6. Evaporation dish 7. Dropper or Plastic Squeeze Bottle 8. Drying Oven Steps: 1. Measure the weight of the clean volumetric flask. 2. Add de-aired distilled water up to the 500 ml calibration mark 3. Measure the weight of the volumetric flask plus water. 4. Record the water temperature at different depths in the volumetric flask. 5. Pour out approximately 50% water from the volumetric flask. 6. Place 150 gm oven-dried soil into an evaporating dish. 7. If the soil is coarse-grained transfer directly to the volumetric flask that is roughly half full of water. 8. Remove all the air that is entrapped inside the water-soil mixture. Sometimes, a heat source is used for this purpose. However, this step is not included here. 9. Once all of the entrapped air is removed fill the volumetric flask with distilled water up to the 500 ml mark. 10. Measure the weight of the flask plus contents. 11. Measure the weight of the evaporating dish. 12. Pour the contents in an evaporating dish and rinse the volumetric flask well so that no soil particles are left behind. 13. Place the evaporating dish with the soil contents in an oven and dry for 24 hrs. 14. Measure the weight of the oven-dried soil. Data Sheet: Plugin the Values in the attached sheet. An EXCEL chart will be posted on Moodle. Later, Plug-in the values in that Excel Spread Sheet and obtain the Specific Gravity.

Photos of apparatus: Figure 1.) The soil used in this experiment (sieved soil used) Figure 2.) Working on the calculations.

Discussion: Through our experiments we were able to understand the concept of how we can determine the specific weight of certain mineral soils in order to better understand the soil. This is very important because it can provide information on the health of the soil, as well as letting us know if the soil would be safe to build on.