Experiment No.
3b
HYDROMETER ANALYSIS OF SOIL
Scope
This method describes a procedure for the quantitative determination of particle sizes in fine-
grained soil by means of a hydrometer.
Apparatus and Supplies
1. Balance, sensitive to 0.01 gram
2. Mechanical stirring apparatus with a metal paddle and dispersion cup
3. Hydrometer
4. l-L graduated cylinder
5. Thermometer (graduated to 0.1 'C)
6. Set of standard sieves
7. Water bath
8. Evaporating dish
9. Oven with temperature control
10. Timing device
11. Drying Pan
12. Spatula
13. Glass Dessicator
14. Deflocculating agent
15. Distilled water supply
Procedure
Hydrometer Analysis of Fractions, Passing No. I0 Sieve
1. Dispersion of sample: Weigh 50 grams of the air-dried sample (100 grams for sandy
soil), place in a beaker, and fill with distilled water to about half the depth and allow to
soak for at least 18 hours. After soaking, add 20 ml. of sodium silicate as a deflocculating
agent, and wash the contents into the dispersion cup. Add distilled water until it is about 2
inches from the brim and disperse the contents for 1 minute in the mechanical stirring
apparatus.
2. Transfer the mixture to the graduated cylinder and add distilled water to bring the water
level to the 1000 mL mark. Place the cylinder in the constant temperature bath. Stir the
suspension frequently to avoid settlement of particles.
3. Remove the cylinder from the water bath as soon as the temperature of the suspension
and the water bath are the same. Shake thoroughly the mixture for I minute by turning the
cylinder upside down and back, using the palm of the hand as stopper. The soil should
not stick to the bottom of the cylinder when upside down.
4. Insert carefully the hydrometer in the suspension and start the timer.
5. Take hydrometer readings at total elapsed time of ½ and 1 minute without removing the
hydrometer from the suspension. Read the hydrometer at the top of the meniscus formed
around its stem. Repeat the shaking and reading procedure until a consistent set of
readings are obtained.
6. Restart the test but this time; take readings after 2,5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes. Insert
carefully the hydrometer about 15 to 20 seconds before each of these readings. Dry the
stem before insertion. It should be removed carefully and placed in a cylinder of distilled
water after each reading. Take the temperature of the suspension immediately following
each hydrometer reading and record. Between hydrometer readings, the top of the
cylinder should be covered to retard evaporation and to prevent the collection of dust or
dirt from the air.
7. After the final reading, wash the suspension on a No.200 sieve. Dry the fraction retained,
and performs the sieve analysis procedure using the No. 40, 60, and 200 sieves.
Calculations
1. Hygroscopic Moisture (%)
wt. of air-dried soil - wt. of oven-dried soil
= × 100%
wt. of oven-dried soil
2. The air-dry weight of the fraction passing No. 10 sieve is calculated by subtracting the
oven-dried weight of the fraction on the No. 10 sieve from the total weight of the air-
dried sample.
3. The corrected dry-weight of the fraction passing No. 10 sieve is obtained by multiplying
the air-dry weight by the expression:
100
100 + % Hygroscopic Moisture
4. Total dry weight of sample is the sum of the corrected dry weight of fraction passing No.
10 sieve and the oven-dry weight of the fraction retained on No. 10 sieve.
5. The percentage passing in the different sieves are calculated on the basis of total dry
weight of sample.
Percentage of Soil in Suspension, P
6. Hydrometer readings made at temperature other than the calibration temperature are
corrected by appropriate correction factors. Temperature correction curve should be
prepared for each hydrometer used.
7. The percentage of soil in suspension is represented by the different hydrometer readings,
and is calculated as follows:
R•a
P= × 100%
WS
where:
P = percentage of soil in suspension based on dry weight of soil dispersed (%)
R = corrected hydrometer reading
WS =dry weight of soil dispersed
a = a constant depending on the density of the suspension. It varies with the specific
gravity, GS, of the suspended particles.
In routine tests, it will sufficiently accurate to use the constant a opposite to the nearest specific
gravity of Table 3.
8. To convert percent of soil in suspension, P , to percent of total sample, multiply P by the
percentage passing No. 10 sieve, (as obtained in step 4).
Diameter of Particle in Suspension, D
9. The maximum diameter, D, of the particle in suspension, corresponding to each hydrometer
reading, is calculated from
Stoke's Equation
30μ L
D=
980 ( Gs − Gm ) T
where:
D = maximum particle diameter, mm.
n = coefficient of viscosity of suspending medium, poise. It varies with temperature of
medium, See Table 6
L =distance from the surface of the suspension to the level where the density of the
suspension is being measured. For convenience draw a hydrometer calibration curve
to get the values of L for every hydrometer reading.
T = period of sedimentation, minutes
Gm = specific gravity of suspending medium at time of test. See Table 3
Gs = specific gravity of soil
Questions
1. What is the purpose of hydrometer analysis? On which physical principles is hydrometer
analysis is founded?
2. Does hydrometer analysis determine the size of soil particles exactly?
3. Why do you correct the distance of fall of particles during hydrometer analysis?
4. What physical quantity is read on the stem of a 152H hydrometer? In what unit is this
quantity expressed?
5. What corrections are made on the hydrometer reading?
6. What modifications would be required if one wanted to carry out a hydrometer analysis
in a 200-m1 cylinder instead of a 100- ml cylinder?
7. Does the hydrometer go up or down during the sedimentation of soil particles?
8. What is the purpose of the dispersing agent? Does its use require a correction?
9. Is there a correction for the specific gravity of soil particles when one uses a I52H
hydrometer?
10. What physical quantity does the hydrometer measure? At what location does it measure?
11. Why do you measure the water temperature during the hydrometer analysis?
12. What is the purpose of the hydrometer calibration? What quantities does it relate?
13. Why does the meniscus correction always have the same sign? What is this sign
14. For what reason do you agitate the suspension at the beginning of the hydrometer test?
15. What is the usual duration of a hydrometer analysis? Why does the sedimentation part
take so much time?
TABLE 3 Values of Correction Factor a, for Different Specific Gravities of Soil Particles
Specific Gravity Correction Factor
2.95 0.94
2.90 0.95
2.85 0.96
2.80 0.97
2.75 0.98
2.70 0.99
2.65 1.00
2.60 1.01
2.55 1.02
2.50 1.03
2.45 1.05
TABLE 4 Value of Effective Depth Based on Hydrometer and Sedimentation Cylinder of
Specified Sizes
Length L, cm
Length L, cm
Length L, cm
Length L, cm
Hydrometer
Hydrometer
Hydrometer
Hydrometer
Effective
Effective
Effective
Effective
Original
Original
Original
Original
Reading
Reading
Reading
Reading
0 16.3 16 13.7 31 11.2 46 8.8
1 16.1 17 13.5 32 11.1 47 8.6
2 16 18 13.3 33 10.9 48 8.4
3 15.8 19 13.2 34 10.7 49 8.3
4 15.6 20 13 35 10.6 50 8.1
5 15.5 21 12.9 36 10.4 51 7.9
6 15.3 22 12.7 37 10.2 52 7.8
7 15.2 23 12.5 38 10.1 53 7.6
8 15.2 24 12.4 39 9.9 54 7.4
9 14.8 25 12.2 40 9.7 55 7.3
10 14.7 26 12 41 9.6 56 7.1
11 14.5 27 11.9 42 9.4 57 7
12 14.3 28 11.7 43 9.2 58 6.8
13 14.2 29 11.5 44 9.1 59 6.6
14 14 30 11.4 45 8.9 60 6.5
15 13.8
TABLE 5 Specific Gravity of Distilled Water Temperature, ºC
Temperature, °C Specific Gravity
20 0.9982
21 0.9980
22 0.9978
23 0.9976
24 0.9973
25 0.9971
26 0.9968
27 0.9965
28 0.9963
29 0.9960
30 0.9957
31 0.9954
32 0.9951
33 0.9947
34 0.9944
35 0.9941
36 0.9937
37 0.9934
38 0.9930
39 0.9928
40 0.9926
TABLE 6 Viscosity of Water, poise
Temperature, °C Specific Gravity
20 0.01009
21 0.00984
22 0.00961
23 0.00938
24 0.00916
25 0.00895
26 0.00875
27 0.00855
28 0.00836
29 0.00818
30 0.00800
31 0.00783
32 0.00767
33 0.00751
34 0.00736
35 0.00731
36 0.00706
37 0.00692
38 0.00679
39 0.00666
40 0.00654
PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET
Name: ________________________________ Group No. ______________________
Course/Section: _________________________ Date: __________________________
Experiment No. 3b
HYDROMETER ANALYSIS OF SOIL
Temperature Corrected Maximum Grain
Time Hydrometer
Hydrometer Diameter in
(min) Reading
°C °F Reading Suspension (mm)
½
1
2
5
15
30
60
Time % of Soil in
(min) Suspension
½
1
2
5
15
30
60
_____________________________ ____________________________
Student’s Signature Instructor’s Signature
FINAL DATA SHEET
Name: ________________________________ Group No. ______________________
Course/Section: _________________________ Date: __________________________
Experiment No. 3b
HYDROMETER ANALYSIS OF SOIL
Temperature Corrected Maximum Grain
Time Hydrometer
Hydrometer Diameter in
(min) Reading
°C °F Reading Suspension (mm)
½
1
2
5
15
30
60
Time % of Soil in
(min) Suspension
½
1
2
5
15
30
60
_____________________________
Student’s Signature
