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Home > Forums > Geotechnical Engineers > Activities > Soil testing engineering Forum

organic soil

Read More Threads Like This One

inchy (Geotechnical)

14 Jun 12 11:26

thread261-293009: degree of saturation for organic soils
i have found the degree of saturation of an organic soil sample to be 234%. is it possible for the organic soils? what should be the correct oven drying temperature for organic soils. i have used both 77 and 105 degree celsius. there was not much varation.

fattdad (Geotechnical)

14 Jun 12 12:05

the degree of saturation cannot exceed 100 percent, so we're not talking the same language. Moisture content can vary from 0 to several hundred percent, so maybe that's what you're reporting.

I'd have no problem recognizing that organic soils can have natural moisture contents of 200 percent (or greater). Just saw a report today and noticed a moisture content value of about 190 percent.

Please recognize that soil that's primarily organic matter has a specific gravity of "soil" grains that's much less than soil. Moisture content is weight of water divided by weight of solids. If the solids don't weigh much (and there's a lot of water), you'll get a high value.

Nothing wrong with rechecking your work, your oven and your proceedure, but you're likely on the right track.

f-d

¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

molerat2210 (Geotechnical)

15 Jun 12 13:24

I believe ASTM D 2216 says use 40 degree C for moisture content if suspected organics.

Provide comparison of oven dry liquid limit to air dry liquid limit per ASTM D 4318 to determine if soil if organic.

Classify organic soils per D 2487.

Provide an organic content test by ASTM D 2974 as additional back-up.

Kpaudel (Geotechnical)

3 Oct 12 10:49

What about Specific Gravity of Organic Soil?

reyv (Civil/Environmental)

9 Oct 12 11:01

fattdad is correct. You can't exceed saturation of 100%. You are most likely talking about moisture content, which can be in the order of 200% (this is typical for peat).

Rey Villa, MS, PE
http://geotech-apps.com

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