Lets solve an example; You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Finally, the bulk specific gravity (OD) is the ratio of the ovendry mass of the particles to the mass of a volume of water equal to the gross volume of the particles: OD bulk w gross wnet wpores AA A A G VVV ACBABC which, again, is the formula given in the ASTM specification. ASK AN EXPERT. Each one uses a slightly different way to determine specimen volume and may result in different bulk specific gravity values. 5.9.15 BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND UNIT WEIGHT OF COMPACTED HOT MIX ASPHALT (HMA) (Kansas Test Method KT-15) 1. The degree of saturation is normally expressed in a percentage. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. $V_v = V_w + V_a$, total weight = weight of solids + weight of water 5. Dry Unit Weight, d The International Information Center for Geotechnical Engineers, Step-by-Step Guide for Grain Size Analysis, VertekCPT: All you need to know about Soil Liquefaction, Using Terzaghis Equation in Foundation Design, Geotechnical Engineering Lab Manual, by Prof. William A. Kitch (Angelo State University), A list of Videos on Laboratory Testing to support Online Instruction, Splitting Tensile Strength Test (Brazilian), Volumetric flask marked with a thin ring at a specific point of its neck (graduation mark), Weigh the empty and clean volumetric flask (. (Note: Specific gravity of any element is unit less parameter). Particle density is approximated as 2.65 g/cm3 , although this number may vary considerably if the soil sample has a high concentration of organic matter, which would lower particle density, or high-density minerals such as magnetite, garnet, hornblende, etc. This can be done with a water-filled container on top of a scale or with a basket suspended in water under a scale (Figure 2). Specific gravity Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the weight of a given volume of soil solids at a given temperature to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at that temperature, both weights being taken in air. One method for determining bulk density is the core method. Soil is a three-phase materialthat consists of solid particles and voids which are filled with water and air. w at 4C is 1gm/ml, 1000 kg/m 3 or 1 Mg/m 3 Basic Soil Relationships Symbols and Notations, m = unit weight, bulk unit weight, moist unit weightd = Dry unit weightsat = Saturated unit weightb, ' = Buoyant unit weight or effective unit weights = Unit weight of solidsw = Unit weight of water (equal to 9810 N/m3) = Weight of soil solid in a given soil mass. Want to create or adapt books like this? Briefly describe the processes of soil structure (aggregate) formation. Weight of soil mass at moist condition: 56.6 kg. A (relatively) undisturbed, cylindrical soil core is collected using a device like the one shown in Figure 8.1. The relationship between the the void ratio e, and the porosity n is given by: Derivation is as follows Particle density is similar to the specific gravity of a solid and is not impacted by land use. The bulk specific gravity test measures a HMA samples weight under three different conditions (Figure 1): Using these three weights and their relationships, a samples apparent specific gravity, bulk specific gravity and bulk SSD specific gravity as well as absorption can be calculated. If the sample is actually still wet on the surface then the mass of the SSD sample will be higher than it ought to be, which will cause a lower calculated bulk specific gravity. Relation Between Void Ratio, Water Content, Degree of Saturation & Specific Gravity In this article, we will make a formula or equation or relation between void ratio (e), water content (w), degree of saturation () and specific gravity (G). m = Mass of the Soil Cool the aggregate to a comfortable handling temperature. An incorrect bulk specific gravity value will result in incorrectly calculated air voids, VMA, VFA and ultimately result in an incorrect mix design. Porosity, the percent by volume of a soil sample not occupied by solids, is directly related to bulk density and particle density. These two (water and air) are called voids which occupy between soil particles. The figure shown below is an idealized soil drawn into phases of solids, water, and air. m = Mass of the Soil Mathematically, ASTM D 854 This method is applicable for soils composed of "Particles smaller than 4.75mm in size". With the dimensions of the cylinder and the weight of oven-dry soil inside the cylinder, we can calculate the bulk density. It is denoted by G. To get the answer and workings of the bulk density using the Nickzom Calculator The Calculator Encyclopedia. Soil deposits consist of the soil particles and the void space between the particles. The complete procedure can be found in: Other standard tests available to determine bulk specific gravity that are not described in this section are: A compacted HMA sample (usually a SGC compacted laboratory sample or a field-obtained HMA core) is weighed dry, saturated surface dry (SSD) and submerged (Figure 1). The bulk specific gravity test is used to determine the specific gravity of a compacted HMA sample by determining the ratio of its weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. The volume expansion of the solid mineral is insignificant. Home Science Classical Physics. $\gamma ' = \gamma_{sat} - \gamma_w$, $\gamma ' = \dfrac{(G + e)\gamma_w}{1 + e} - \gamma_w$, $\gamma ' = \dfrac{(G + e)\gamma_w - (1 + e)\gamma_w}{1 + e}$, $\gamma ' = \dfrac{G\gamma_w + e\gamma_w - \gamma_w - e\gamma_w}{1 + e}$, $\gamma ' = \dfrac{G\gamma_w - \gamma_w}{1 + e}$, Unit weight of water = 9.81 kN/m3 = 9810 N/m3 = 62.4 lb/ft3. The following description is a brief summary of the test. Particle density is a measure of the mass of soil solids per given volume (g/cm3 ); however, pore space is not included as it is with bulk density. Shake the container to release any entrapped air before weighing. Stop when the cap of the barrel is flush with the soil surface. If more than 2 percent water by volume is absorbed by the sample then this method is not appropriate. Table.1: Observations and Calculations for Specific Gravity of Soil These masses are used to calculate the various specific gravities and absorption using the following equations: Note that the quantity (B C) is the mass of water displaced by the SSD aggregate sample. Bulk density is a commonly measured soil property by agriculturalists and engineers. Using the recommended reading and viewing resources and the introduction to this lab, answer the questions listed below. On oven drying, the density drops to 1.74 gm/cc. Absorption should typically be below 2 percent. Each test takes approximately 7 minutes to conduct excluding preparation time. The specific gravity (G S) of a soil refers to the ratio of the solid particles' unit weight to the unit weight of water. The pu What is Soil Consolidation? The specific gravity (GS) of a soil refers to the ratio of the solid particles unit weight to the unit weight of water. In this laboratory, additional physical properties will be measured, and their implications for land management will be discussed. Now, enter the values appropriately and accordingly for the parameters as required by the Density of water (w) is 22 andDensity of soil (s) is 11. Apple (Paid)https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nickzom-calculator/id1331162702?mt=8 Bulk density is defined as the mass of the many . The formulas for calculating bulk density and particle density follow: Bulk density, b = mass of oven dry soil total soil volume Bulk density, b = mass of oven dry soil total soil volume Particle density, p = mass of oven dry soil volume of soil solids Particle density, p = mass of oven dry soil volume of soil solids Figure 8.1. An undisturbed sample of clayey soil is found to have a wet weight of 285 N, a dry weight of 250 N, and a total Volume of 14*103 cm3.If the specific gravity of soil solid is 2.7, determine the water content, void ratio, and degree of saturation. Measure the length and diameter of the metal cylinders. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. This discards small aggregate particles clinging to the retained large particles. GS is a significant parameter of soil mechanics since it can be associated with the soils mineral composition and weathering. Aggregate absorption is a useful quality because: It is generally desirable to avoid highly absorptive aggregate in HMA. How to Calculate and Solve for Air Content of the Soil | Soil Mechanics and Foundation, How to Calculate and Solve for Water Content | Soil Mechanics and Foundation, How to Calculate and Solve for Inter-atomic Spacing | Braggs Law, How to Calculate and Solve for Conversion of Volume Fraction to Mass Fraction | Phase Transformation, How to Calculate and Solve for Net Force between Two Atoms | Crystal Structures, How to Calculate and Solve for Planar Density | Crystal Structures, How to Calculate and Solve for Linear Density | Crystal Structures, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.nickzom.nickzomcalculator, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nickzom.nickzomcalculator, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nickzom-calculator/id1331162702?mt=8. Degree of saturation is the ratio of volume of water to the volume of voids. Dry overnight. You can get this app via any of these means: Webhttps://www.nickzom.org/calculator-plus, To get access to theprofessionalversion via web, you need toregisterandsubscribeforNGN 2,000perannumto have utter access to all functionalities. The difference in weights can then be used to calculate the weight of water displaced, which can be converted to a volume using the specific gravity of water. The final specific gravity is calculated following the specific gravity of soil formulas in the test method, along with the density of water and temperature coefficient tables. Also called buoyant density or buoyant unit weight (b). emax = void ratio of the soil at its loosest condition So, be careful if the question is like that; derive the relation between bulk density, dry density and water content, therefore, the answer will be same.] Bulk Specific Gravity Calculator. Return any soil sample remaining in beaker to sample storage container and dry clean beaker. s) = Ws/Vs; 12. SSD is defined as the specimen condition when the internal air voids are filled with water and the surface (including air voids connected to the surface) is dry. Once, you have obtained the calculator encyclopedia app, proceed to theCalculator Map,then click onAgriculturalunderEngineering. Dry the sample to a saturated suface dry (SSD) condition. Soil represents a unique arrangement of solids and voids. If the room temperature is different from 27 o C, the following correction should be done:-G' = kG where, G' = Corrected specific gravity at 27 o C Q & A about Specific Gravity of Soil. s /? V = Volume of the Soil = 4. The results are as follows: Aggregate A: Bulk specific gravity=2.814; absorption=0.4% Aggregate B: Bulk specific gravity=2.441; absorption=3.0% What is the specific gravity of a mixture of 35% aggregate A and 65% aggregate B by weight? The coarse aggregate specific gravity test measures coarse aggregate weight under three different sample conditions: Using these three weights and their relationships, a samples apparent specific gravity, bulk specific gravity and bulk SSD specific gravity as well as absorption can be calculated. Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. (Troxler). Porosity is the ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of soil. Figure 8: The basket used for underwater weighing. This is because in the normal procedure the water may not be able to penetrate the pores to the center of the aggregate particle during the soaking time. High bulk density soils are soils with little pore space, so water infiltration is reduced, root penetration is inhibited, and aeration is restricted reducing agricultural productivity. The Soil Specific Gravity is defined as the ratio of the weight of a given volume of the material to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water. $\gamma_{sat} = \dfrac{W_{sat}}{V_{sat}}$, $e = \dfrac{n}{1 - n}$ and $n = \dfrac{e}{1 + e}$, MATHalino - Engineering Mathematics Copyright 2023. Question. Web page on the Troxler web site. Superpave mix design is a volumetric process; it relies on mixing constituent materials on the basis of their volume. Some state agencies specify minimum aggregate specific gravities or maximum percent water absorption to help control aggregate quality. S = Weight of Dry Piece Soaked in Fluid. However, measuring the volume of pores in a soil sample is difficult. Void Ratio, e The basket should be pre-conditioned to the water bath temperature. (2000c). Download Solution PDF. w= Density of Water The density is given by 850/0.5 = 1700 kg/m^3. Specific gravity of solid = 2.65. m = Mass of the Soil = 45. Porosity is usually expressed as a decimal, but it can also be expressed as a percentage by multiplying the decimal form by 100%. Weight-Volume Relationship from the Phase Diagram of Soil i.e, G =ps/pw The specific gravity of solids varies from 2.65 to 2.80 for most natural soils. Dr = relative density Q.3: Give the formula to determine the specific gravity (Gs). However, of specific concern is the mass of the SSD sample. The wet soil in the box weighed 450 g. The dry soil weighed 375 g. Now calculate the bulk density. Therefore, after the wax sets there is no possibility of it draining out and, theoretically, a more accurate volume can be calculated. The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. Add the second 25 mL of soil sample and stir again to remove air bubbles. Home Science Classical Physics. When dealing with soil samples, the average particle density of soil is 2.66 g/ (cm^3). The simplest method is to dry the sample in a conventional oven: [latex]\text{Mass of water}=(\text{mass of beaker}+\text{moist soil})-(\text{mass of beaker}+\text{dry soil})[/latex], [latex]\text{Mass of dry soil}=(\text{mass of beaker}+\text{dry soil})-\text{mass of beaker}[/latex], [latex]\text{Percent moisture}=\frac{\text{mass of water in soil}}{\text{mass of oven dry soil}}\times100\text{%}[/latex], [latex]\text{Dry weight}=\frac{\text{wet weight}}{1+(\frac{\text{percent moisture}}{100\text{%}})}[/latex]. Upon completion of this exercise you should be able to: From Brady and Weil, The Nature and Properties of Soils, 13 th Ed. High values can indicate non-durable aggregate. The specific gravity of solid particles is defined as the ratio of the mass of a given volume of solids to the mass of an equal volume of water at 4 C. Figure 5: CoreLok vacuum chamber with sample inside. In practice, the paraffin is difficult to correctly apply and test results are somewhat inconsistent. W b = Weight of Pycnometer filled with water and soil. The most common method (and the one described in the Test Description section), calculates the specimen volume by subtracting the mass of the specimen in water (Figure 2) from the mass of a SSD specimen. = Weight of water. The procedure that is followed towards that goal is the following: To better understand how the Specific Gravity is calculated, the aforementioned measured quantities are presented in Figure 1. This results in less total pore volume. Answer (1 of 3): What is the relationship between bulk density and specific gravity? The specific gravity of soil is determined using the relation: Where M 1 =mass of empty Pycnometer, M 2 = mass of the Pycnometer with dry soil M 3 = mass of the Pycnometer and soil and water, M 4 = mass of Pycnometer filled with water only. Soils Laboratory Manual by Colby J. Moorberg & David A. Crouse is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Units of density are typically expressed in g cm3 or Mg m-3. Your answer should be 1.5 g/cm 3. Pores that absorb water are also referred to as water permeable voids. The standard coarse aggregate specific gravity and absorption test is: Specific gravity is a measure of a materials density (mass per unit volume) as compared to the density of water at 73.4F (23C). From $\gamma = \dfrac{(G + Se)\gamma_w}{1 + e}$ and $\gamma = \dfrac{(G + Gw)\gamma_w}{1 + e}$, S = 0 and w = 0, Saturated Unit Weight (S = 1) Measuring flask method Measuring flask is of 250 ml (or 500 ml) capacity . The specific gravity G of the soil = (W 2 - W 1) / [(W 4 - 1)-(W 3-W 2)] The specific gravity should be calculated at a temperature of 27 o C and reported to the nearest 0.01. Engineering Civil Engineering A sand sample has a bulk density of 20kN/m and a degree of saturation of 70%. In practice, porosity is normally calculated using the formula: [latex]\text{Porosity, }=1-\frac{_\text{b}}{_\text{p}}[/latex]. The equipment for this experiment is shown in Fig. This lab is performed to determine the specific gravity of soil by using a pycnometer. Make sure to use cloth and not paper towels. i av = N d at middle of heave soil prism /unit length pile. Soil density is relatively simple and cheap to measure. Specific gravity is a unitless measurement of a sample's density relative to water. Remove the aggregate from the water and dry it until it maintains a constant mass. s = Density of Soil = 156. Although the Test Description section describes the standard AASHTO T 166 saturated surface dry (SSD) water displacement method, there are a number of other methods available. Apple (Paid)https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nickzom-calculator/id1331162702?mt=8 Bulk SSD specific gravities can be on the order of 0.050 to 0.100 higher than bulk oven dry specific gravities, while apparent specific gravities can be 0.050 to 0.100 higher still. Calculating the Mass of the Soil when the Bulk Density and the Volume of the Soil is Given. Coarse aggregate bulk SSD specific gravity. Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it. High bulk density soils are soils with little pore space, so water infiltration is reduced, root penetration is inhibited, and aeration is restricted - reducing agricultural productivity. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University 3- Specific Gravity, Gs Definition; specific gravity, Gs, of soil solids is the ratio of the density of the aggregate soil solids to the density of water. ( w) The mean density of water (default is 1,000 kg/m 3) Standard Reference: ASTM D 854-00 - Standard Test for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids The specific gravity of solids, G is determined using following equation: G= (M2-M1)/[(M2-M1)-(M3-M4)] Where M 1 = mass of empty pycnometer M 2 = mass of pycnometer and dry soil M 3 = mass of pycnometer, soil, and water M 4 = mass of pycnometer filled with water only. Ww = Weight of water First, find the bulk density of the heavier soil sample. Organic matter and porous particles may havespecific gravityvalues below 2.0 and Soil which has heavy substances or particles may have values above 3.0. $\gamma_s = G\gamma_w$, $\dfrac{W_s}{V_s} \cdot \dfrac{W_w}{W_w} = G\gamma_w$, $\dfrac{W_w}{V_s} \cdot \dfrac{W_s}{W_w} = G\gamma_w$, $\dfrac{W_w}{V_s} \cdot \dfrac{1}{W_w/W_s} = G\gamma_w$, $\dfrac{\gamma_w V_w}{V_s} \cdot \dfrac{1}{w} = G\gamma_w$, $\dfrac{V_w}{V_s} \cdot \dfrac{1}{w} = G$, $\dfrac{V_w}{V_s} \cdot \dfrac{V_v}{V_v} = Gw$, $\dfrac{V_w}{V_v} \cdot \dfrac{V_v}{V_s} = Gw$. Figure 6: CoreLok sample vacuum sealed in a plastic bag. The difference between Gsa and Gsb is the volume of aggregate used in the calculations. Rather, specific gravity is an aggregate quality needed to make required volume calculations. This method determines volume similarly to the water displacement method but uses a melted paraffin wax instead of water to fill a specimens internal air voids (Figure 3). The voids, or pore space, are important for air and water movement and storage. Find the bulk density when the mass of the soil is 24 and the volume of the soil is 6. m = Mass of the Soil = 24 s = Density of Soil = 11. In this case, use AASHTO T 275, Bulk Specific Gravity of Compacted Bituminous Mixtures Using Paraffin-Coated Specimens or AASHTO TP 69, Bulk Specific Gravity and Density of Compacted Asphalt Mixtures Using Automatic Vacuum Sealing Method. Calculation Examples. Remove the barrel from the sampler and gently push the core out of the top of the barrel, taking care to keep the core intact. \ (\mathrm {Gm}=\frac {\text { Weight of soil of given soil }} {\text { weight of standard fluid of same volume }}\) [4] 2 Use the relationship between volume and density to derive your equation. Given that the specific gravity of soil particle is 12 and the density of soil is 156. To compute for specific gravity of soil particle, two essential parameters are needed and these parameters areDensity of water (w)andDensity of soil (s). This page titled 1.9: Bulk Density, Particle Density, and Porosity is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Mark W. Bowen via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request. The figure shown below is an idealized soil drawn into phases of solids, water, and air. Ws = Weight of solid particles Weigh and record graduated cylinder plus compact soil weight (C). Relative Density = Mass of the Aggregate / Mass of equal volume of water. If particle density remains constant, as bulk density increases porosity decreases. It is not a complete procedure and should not be used to perform the test. The formula for calculating bulk density: sb= Bulk Density Repeat this process in ten mL intervals until you reach the 50 mL mark. $V = V_s + V_v$, volume of voids = volume of water + volume of air Volume of water in soil is also often expressed by equivalent depth of water, D e: D Lets solve an example; The Specific Gravity of Soil is defined as the ratio of the weight of a given volume of the material to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water. NTP - Normal Temperature and Pressure - defined as 20 o C (293.15 K, 68 o F) and 1 atm ( 101.325 kN/m2, 101.325 kPa, 14.7 psia, 0 psig, 30 in Hg, 760 torr); Molecular weights can be used to calculate Specific Gravity if the densities of the gas and the air are evaluated at the same pressure and temperature. Use a vacuum pump to gradually apply vacuum and remove the entrapped air while spinning the flask to remove the air bubbles. Correct and accurate material specific gravity determinations are vital to proper mix design. Known values: total mass of the soil sample, Mt=30.2 g, dry mass of the soil sample, Ms=23.3 g. air mass Ma is negligible. First, you need to obtain the app. To help gather more support for these initiatives, please consider sharing this post further (you don't need a ResearchGate account to see it), and I will continue to update it with other . When several samples are tested the test time per sample can be reduced. Porosity is the ratio of the volume of the pores in a soil sample to the total volume of the sample: [latex]\text{Porosity, }=\frac{\text{volume of pores}}{\text{total soil volume}}[/latex]. specific gravity, also called relative density, ratio of the density of a substance to that of a standard substance. For instance, if a quarry operation constantly monitors the specific gravity of its output aggregate, a change in specific gravity beyond that normally expected could indicate the quarrying has moved into a new rock formation with significantly different mineral or physical properties. Requirements: Calculating the Volume of the Soil when the Bulk Density and the Mass of the Soil is Given. Dry unit weight is the weight of dry soil per unit volume. Required fields are marked *. You can also try thedemoversion viahttps://www.nickzom.org/calculator. Read More: Water Content of Soil Test Procedure, Result & Report, Specific Gravity Test of Soil IS Code: IS 2720-3-2 (1980). Absorption can indicate the amount of asphalt binder the aggregate will absorb. The difference between these weights is the weight of absorbed water in the aggregates permeable voids. 1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the specific gravity of soil solids that pass the 4.75-mm (No. The following formulas are taken from unit weights of soil: = ( G + S e) w 1 + e = ( G + G w) w 1 + e d = G w 1 + e s a t = ( G + e) w 1 + e = ( G 1) w 1 + e Where m = mass of soil V = volume of soil W = weight of soil = density of soil d = dry density of soil sat = saturated density of soil ' = buoyant density of soil Therefore, by definition, water at a temperature of 73.4F (23C) has a specific gravity of 1. Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of unit volume of soil at a stated temperature to the mass of the same volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature. The difference between Gsb and bulk (SSD) specific gravity is the weight of aggregate used in the calculations. g/cm3 ), including solids and pore spaces. As with all calculations care must be taken to keep consistent units throughout. The terms density and unit weight are used interchangeably in soil mechanics. Absorptions above about 5 percent tend to make HMA mixtures uneconomical because extra asphalt binder is required to account for the high aggregate absorption. Find the density of soil when the specific gravity of soil particle is 12 and the density of water is 9. w= Density of Water Posted by Dinesh on 21-07-2021T12:27. Their common symbols are: Pavement Interactive was developed by thePavement Tools Consortium, a partnership between several state DOTs, the FHWA, and the University of Washington, as part of their effort tofurther develop and use computer-based pavement tools. The formula for calculating specific gravity of soil particle: G s = s / w Where: G s = Specific Gravity of Soil Particle w = Density of Water s = Density of Soil Let's solve an example; Find the specific gravity of soil particle when the density of water is 22 and the the density of soil is 11. Degree of Saturation, S Any water that escapes from the sample during weighing is considered part of the saturated specimen. s= Density of Soil In materials science, bulk density, also called apparent density or volumetric density, is a property of powders, granules, and other "divided" solids, especially used in reference to mineral components (soil, gravel), chemical substances, (pharmaceutical) ingredients, foodstuff, or any other masses of corpuscular or particulate matter ().. C = mass of SSD sample in water (g). w s sws w w s s w s s M M . V = Volume of the Soil Three different masses are recorded during the test. Now add exactly 50 mL of water to the graduated cylinder, record volume (E). Fill the flask with distilled water up to the graduation mark. Android (Free)https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nickzom.nickzomcalculator Q.2: Why unit weight of water is taken at 4C. This method has shown promise in both accuracy and precision. They are also useful as study notes for exams. Now, Click onSoil Mechanics and FoundationunderAgricultural, Now, Click on Specific Gravity of Soil Particle underSoil Mechanics and Foundation. The bulk specific gravity test is used to determine the specific gravity of a compacted HMA sample by determining the ratio of its weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. Android (Free)https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nickzom.nickzomcalculator A cubic metre of it might weigh 1600 kg. What is the typical range of bulk density values for mineral soils? It is represented as 'Gm'. If this water is not weighed, significant error can result. Porosity, n Grain size analysis is a typical laboratory test conducted in the soil mechanics field. Some lightweight shales (not used in HMA production) can have specific gravities near 1.050, while other aggregate can have specific gravities above 3.000. Immerse the aggregate in water at room temperature for a period of 15 to 19 hours (Figure 7). The determination of the specific gravity method is as follows: The measuring flask with 1000ml capacity is weighed for the determination of its empty weight denoted by W 1.