specific gravity test
specific gravity test
(OP)
Since the average range of specific gravity for soils is from 2.6 to 2.8, why is this test still requested? Especially, when you can determine visually (or by partical analysis) that the soil is mostly clay or mostly sand.





RE: specific gravity test
The other point is that a large number of calculations really do require an accurate determination of Specific Gravity.
I deal with Silty Clays (CL-ML)mixed with Silts and Lean Clays, Variable amounts of sand. It is not obvious what soil types I am dealing with. These soils also have a slight to very large amount of Soluable Sulfate Salts. The Specific Gravity is very important in my analysis.
RE: specific gravity test
RE: specific gravity test
As I mentioned above, the addition of significant amounts of sulfate (gypsum) makes for some very interesting answers. Volcanics and some ores can throw things way off.
For most commen (non-specification) applications I use the Shrinkage Limit calculations for plastic soils. I have also used several methods of back calculating to 'guess' the Specific Gravity I do not believe that most computations require a Specific Gravity closer than 0.03 (resulting in a sequence of 2.60, 2.63, 2.66 ....) but enough check tests should be made to be reasonably sure that strange soils or materials are not being encountered and ignored.
RE: specific gravity test
RE: specific gravity test