CE 131 (GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I)

LABORATORY EXERCISE No. 3B

GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS: HYDROMETER TEST
Objective: To learn how to determine the particle size distribution of fine-grained soils by hydrometer test.
Reference: ASTM D 422 (Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils)
Apparatus:
1. Balance
2. Stirring apparatus
3. Hydrometer (151H or 152H)
4. Sedimentation cylinder
5. Thermometer (accurate 0.5C)

6.
7.
8.
9.

No. 200 Sieve

Beaker (250-mL capacity)
Timing device
Container (tin or aluminium can)

10.
11. Procedure:
12. Part I: Dispersion of Soil Sample
1. Using the No. 200 Sieve, separate the particles of soil sample (or the soil sample passing No. 10 sieve
from Laboratory Exercise No. 2). Weigh the particles passing and retained on No. 200 sieve. Record
the values.
2. Using the soil sample passing No. 200 sieve, select a representative sample for hydrometer test. When
the soil is mostly of the clay and silt sizes, weigh out a sample of air-dry soil of approximately 50 g.
When the soil is mostly sand the sample should be approximately 100 g.
3. Place the sample in the 250-mL beaker and cover with 125 mL of sodium hexametaphosphate solution
(40 g/L). Stir until the soil is thoroughly wetted. Allow to soak for at least 16 hours.
4. At the end of the soaking period, disperse the sample further, using the stirring apparatus. Stir for a
period of 1 minute.
5. Oven-dry the sample retained on No. 200 sieve. Determine the particle size distribution of the sample
using the procedures of Laboratory Exercise No. 2A.
13.
14. Part II: Hydrometer Test
1. Immediately after dispersion, transfer the soil-water slurry to the glass sedimentation cylinder, and add
distilled or demineralized water until the total volume is 1000 mL.
2. Using the palm of the hand over the open end of the cylinder (or a rubber stopper in the open end),
turn the cylinder upside down and back for a period of 1 minute to complete the agitation of the slurry.
The number of turns during this minute should be approximately 60, counting the turn upside down
and back as two turns. Any soil remaining in the bottom of the cylinder, during the first few turns,
should be loosened by vigorous shaking of the cylinder while it is in the inverted position.
3. At the end of 1 min set the cylinder in a convenient location and take hydrometer readings at the
following intervals of time (measured from the beginning of sedimentation), or as many as may be
needed, depending on the sample or the specification for the material under test: 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, 250,
and 1440 min.
4. When it is desired to take a hydrometer reading, carefully insert the hydrometer about 20 to 25 s
before the reading is due to approximately the depth it will have when the reading is taken. As soon as
the reading is taken, carefully remove the hydrometer and place it with a spinning motion in a graduate
of clean distilled or demineralized water.
15. Note: It is important to remove the hydrometer immediately after each reading. Readings shall be
taken at the top of the meniscus formed by the suspension around the stem, since it is not possible to
secure readings at the bottom of the meniscus.
5. After each reading, take the temperature of the suspension by inserting the thermometer into the
suspension.
16.
17. Part III: Hygroscopic Moisture Correction Factor
1. Weigh the container and its. Record this value.
2. Obtain a representative sample from the soil particles passing No. 200 sieve and put it in the container.
3. Weigh the container and the soil sample. Record this value.
4. Oven-dry the soil sample to constant weight at 110 5C.
5. Weigh the container and the oven-dried sample. Record this value.
6. Determine the hygroscopic moisture correction factor using the formula:
18.

Fhw =
19. Where:
20.

M c+osM c M os
=
1.0
M c+asM c M as
Fhw
Mc+ as

hygroscopic moisture correction factor

mass of container and air-dried soil sample (g)

21.
Mc+ os
22.
Mc
23.
Mas
24.
Mos
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51. Laboratory Report No.
52. Type of test:

mass of container and oven-dried soil sample (g)

mass of container (g)
mass of air-dried soil sample (g)
mass of oven-dried soil sample (g)

_______

Test No.:
Tested By:

53. Project:
54. Location:

Date:

55. Weight of Sample Used (W):

Hydrometer No.

56. Specific Gravity of Soil Sample:

Meniscus Correction

57.
58. Hygroscopic Moisture Corection
59. Total weight of air-dried sample (g), Ma

60.

61. Weight of air-dried sample retained on No. 200 sieve, Mar

62.

63. Weight of oven-dried sample retained on No. 200 sieve, Mor

64.

65. Weight of sample passing No. 200 sieve (air-dried), Mas

66.

67. Hygroscopic moisture correction factor, Fhw

68.

69. Theoretical weight of oven-dried sample (g), Mos = Fhw(Mas)

70.

71. Total weight of oven-dried sample, Mo = Mor + Mos

72.

73.
74. Hydrometer Test
75.
77.
t
T
79.
76.
78.
Ra
(m
(

80.
RM

81.
L
82.
(c

84.
D
85.
(m

83.
K

87.

86.
CT

RC
88.

89.
P
90.
(%

91.
Pa
92.
(%

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

113.

114.

115.

116.

117.

118.

119.

120.

121.

122.

123.

124.

125.

126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

131.

132.

133.

134.

135.

136.

137.

138.

139.

140.

141.

142.

143.

144.

145.

146.

147.

148.

149.

150.

151.

152.

153.

154.

155.

156.

157.

158.

159.

160.

161.

162.

163.

164.

165.

166.

167.

168.

169.

170.

171.

172.

173.

174.

175.

176.

177.

178.

179.

180.

181.

182.

183.

184.

185.

186.

187.

188.

189.

190.

191.

192.

193.

194.

195.

196.

197.

198.

199.

200.

201.

202.

203.

204.

205.

206.

207.

208.

209.

210.

211.

212.

213.

220.

221.

222.

223.

224.

218.
219.
214.
215.
216.
217.
225.
Where:
226.
t
time of reading
227.
T
temperature of reading
reading (Ra+CT)
228.
Ra
actual hydrometer reading
229.
RM
meniscus corrected reading (Ra+CM)
1)[Gs/(Gs 1)]
230.
CM
meniscus correction
[(P/P200)100]
231.
L
effective depth
232.

diameter of particles (K

No. 200 sieve

233.
234.
235.
236.
Sieve Analysis
237.
238.
Sieve
Openi
N
ng
o
(m
.
m)
242.
243.

239.

L/t

CT
RC

temperature correction
temperature corrected

percent fines
= (100,000/W)(RC

Pa

corrected percent fines

Gs

specific gravity of soil

W
eight of
Sample
Retained
(g)
244.

P200

percent finer than

240.
%
Retai
ned

241.
% Finer

245.

246.

282.
283.
284.

247.

248.

249.

250.

251.

252.

253.

254.

255.

256.

257.

258.

259.

260.

261.

262.

263.

264.

265.

266.

267.

268.

269.

270.

271.

272.

273.

274.

275.

276.

277.

278.

279.

280.

281.

Particle Size Distribution Curve

100
90
80
70
60

Percent Finer

50
40
30
20
10
0
0

0.01

Diameter (mm)

285.
286.

Soil Composition

0.1

10

287.

Gravel

289.
Sand
.075 mm)
291.
Silt
0.002 mm)
293.
Clay
0.001 mm)
295.
Colloids
297.

306.0

314.1

322.2

330.3

338.4

346.5

354.6

362.7

370.8

378.9
386.1

288.

(< 4.75mm,

290.

(< 0.75 mm,

292.

(< 0.002 mm,

294.

(< 0.001 mm)

296.

Table 3B.1 Effective depth based on hydrometer reading, L

299.L

298.R

( 4.75 mm)

301.L

(
c
m
)
307.1
6
.
3
315.1
6
.
1

300.R

323.1
6

324.1
8

331.1
5
.
8
339.1
5
.
6
347.1
5
.
5
355.1
5
.
3
363.1
5
.
2
371.1
5
379.1
4
.
8
387.1

308.1
6
316.1
7

332.1
9
340.2
0
348.2
1
356.2
2
364.2
3
372.2
4
380.2
5
388.2

303.L

(
c
m
)
309.1
3
.
7
317.1
3
.
5
325.1
3
.
3
333.1
3
.
2

302.R

341.1
3

342.3
5

349.1
2
.
9
357.1
2
.
7
365.1
2
.
5
373.1
2
.
4
381.1
2
.
2
389.1

310.3
1
318.3
2
326.3
3
334.3
4

350.3
6
358.3
7
366.3
8

(
c
m
)
311.1
1
.
2
319.1
1
.
1
327.1
0
.
9
335.1
0
.
7
343.1
0
.
6
351.1
0
.
4
359.1
0
.
2
367.1
0
.
1

305.L
304.R
M

(
c
m
)

312.4
6

313.8
.
8

320.4
7

321.8
.
6

328.4
8

329.8
.
4

336.4
9

337.8
.
3

344.5
0

345.8
.
1

352.5
1

353.7
.
9

360.5
2

361.7
.
8

368.5
3

369.7
.
6

374.3
9

375.9
.
9

376.5
4

377.7
.
4

382.4
0

383.9
.
7

384.5
5

385.7
.
3

390.4

391.9

392.5

393.7

4
.
7
395.1
4
.
5
403.1
4
.
3
411.1
4
.
2

0
394.1
1
402.1
2
410.1
3

6
396.2
7
404.2
8
412.2
9

418.1
4

419.1
4

420.3
0

426.1
5

427.1
3
.
8

428.

2
397.1
1
.
9
405.1
1
.
7
413.1
1
.
5
421.1
1
.
4
429.

.
6

.
1

398.4
2

399.9
.
4

400.5
7

401.7

406.4
3

407.9
.
2

408.5
8

409.6
.
8

414.4
4

415.9
.
1

416.5
9

417.6
.
6

422.4
5

423.8
.
9

424.6
0

425.6
.
5

430.

431.

432.

433.

434.
435.
436.Tem
pera
ture
437.(C)

449.16

459.17

469.18

479.19

440.2
.
4
5
450.0
.
0
1
5
1
0
460.0
.
0
1
5
1
1
470.0
.
0
1
4
9
2
480.0
.
0
1

Table 3B.2 Values of K for computing particle diameter

441.2
.
5
0
451.0
.
0
1
5
0
5
461.0
.
0
1
4
8
6
471.0
.
0
1
4
6
7
481.0
.
0
1

442.2
.
5
5
452.0
.
0
1
4
8
1
462.0
.
0
1
4
6
2
472.0
.
0
1
4
4
3
482.0
.
0
1

438.Specific Gravity of Soil Particles

443.2
444.2
445.2
.
.
.
6
6
7
0
5
0
453.0
454.0
455.0
.
.
.
0
0
0
1
1
1
4
4
4
5
3
1
7
5
4
463.0
464.0
465.0
.
.
.
0
0
0
1
1
1
4
4
3
3
1
9
9
7
6
473.0
474.0
475.0
.
.
.
0
0
0
1
1
1
4
3
3
2
9
7
1
9
8
483.0
484.0
485.0
.
.
.
0
0
0
1
1
1

446.2
.
7
5
456.0
.
0
1
3
9
4
466.0
.
0
1
3
7
6
476.0
.
0
1
3
5
9
486.0
.
0
1

447.2
.
8
0
457.0
.
0
1
3
7
4
467.0
.
0
1
3
5
6
477.0
.
0
1
3
3
9
487.0
.
1
3

448.2
.
8
5
458.0
.
0
1
3
5
6
468.0
.
0
1
3
3
8
478.0
.
0
1
3
2
1
488.0
.
0
1

489.20

499.

509.21

519.22

529.23

539.24

549.

559.25

569.26

4
7
4
490.0
.
0
1
4
5
6
500.
510.0
.
0
1
4
3
8
520.0
.
0
1
4
2
1
530.0
.
0
1
4
0
4
540.0
.
0
1
3
8
8
550.
560.0
.
0
1
3
7
2
570.0
.
0
1
3

4
4
9
491.0
.
0
1
4
3
1
501.
511.0
.
0
1
4
1
4
521.0
.
0
1
3
9
7
531.0
.
0
1
3
8
1
541.0
.
0
1
3
6
5
551.
561.0
.
0
1
3
4
9
571.0
.
0
1
3

4
2
5
492.0
.
0
1
4
0
8
502.
512.0
.
0
1
3
9
1
522.0
.
0
1
3
7
4
532.0
.
0
1
3
5
8
542.0
.
0
1
3
4
2
552.
562.0
.
0
1
3
2
7
572.0
.
0
1
3

4
0
3
493.0
.
0
1
3
8
6
503.
513.0
.
0
1
3
6
9
523.0
.
0
1
3
5
3
533.0
.
0
1
3
3
7
543.0
.
0
1
3
2
1
553.
563.0
.
0
1
3
0
6
573.0
.
0
1
2

3
8
2
494.0
.
0
1
3
6
5
504.
514.0
.
0
1
3
4
8
524.0
.
0
1
3
3
2
534.0
.
0
1
3
1
7
544.0
.
0
1
3
0
1
554.
564.0
.
0
1
2
8
6
574.0
.
0
1
2

3
6
1
495.0
.
0
1
3
4
4
505.
515.0
.
0
1
3
2
8
525.0
.
0
1
3
1
2
535.0
.
0
1
2
9
7
545.0
.
0
1
2
8
2
555.
565.0
.
0
1
2
6
7
575.0
.
0
1
2

3
4
2
496.0
.
0
1
3
2
5
506.
516.0
.
0
1
3
0
9
526.0
.
0
1
2
9
4
536.0
.
0
1
2
7
9
546.0
.
0
1
2
6
4
556.
566.0
.
0
1
2
4
9
576.0
.
0
1
2

2
3
497.0
.
0
1
3
0
7
507.
517.0
.
0
1
2
9
1
527.0
.
0
1
2
7
6
537.0
.
0
1
2
6
1
547.0
.
0
1
2
4
6
557.
567.0
.
0
1
2
3
2
577.0
.
0
1
2

3
0
5
498.0
.
0
1
2
8
9
508.
518.0
.
0
1
2
7
3
528.0
.
0
1
2
5
8
538.0
.
0
1
2
4
3
548.0
.
0
1
2
2
9
558.
568.0
.
0
1
2
1
5
578.0
.
0
1
2

579.27

589.28

599.29

609.30

5
7
580.0
.
0
1
3
4
2
590.0
.
0
1
3
2
7
600.0
.
0
1
3
1
2
610.0
.
0
1
2
9
8

3
4
581.0
.
0
1
3
1
9
591.0
.
0
1
3
0
4
601.0
.
0
1
2
9
0
611.0
.
0
1
2
7
6

1
2
582.0
.
0
1
2
9
7
592.0
.
0
1
2
8
3
602.0
.
0
1
2
6
9
612.0
.
0
1
2
5
6

9
1
583.0
.
0
1
2
7
7
593.0
.
0
1
2
6
4
603.0
.
0
1
2
4
9
613.0
.
0
1
2
3
6

7
2
584.0
.
0
1
2
5
8
594.0
.
0
1
2
4
4
604.0
.
0
1
2
3
0
614.0
.
0
1
2
1
7

5
3
585.0
.
0
1
2
3
9
595.0
.
0
1
2
5
5
605.0
.
0
1
2
1
2
615.0
.
0
1
1
9
9

3
5
586.0
.
0
1
2
2
1
596.0
.
0
1
2
0
8
606.0
.
0
1
1
9
5
616.0
.
0
1
1
8
2

619.
620.

Table 3B.3 Temperature correction, CT

621.T
(

C
)
627.1
5
633.1
6
639.1
7
645.1
8
651.1

623.T
622.C
T

628.1
.
1
634.0
.
9
640.0
.
7
646.0
.
5
652.-

C
)

625.T
624.C
T

C
)

626.C
T

629.2
1

630.0
.
2

631.2
6

632.1
.
6
5

635.2
2

636.0
.
4

637.2
7

638.2

641.2
3

642.0
.
7

643.2
8

644.2
.
5

647.2
4

648.1

649.2
9

653.2

654.1

655.3

650.3
.
0
5
656.3

1
8
587.0
.
0
1
2
0
4
597.0
.
0
1
1
9
1
607.0
.
0
1
1
7
8
617.0
.
0
1
1
6
5

0
1
588.0
.
0
1
1
8
8
598.0
.
0
1
1
7
5
608.0
.
0
1
1
6
2
618.0
.
0
1
1
4
9

663.

0
.
3

657.2
0

658.0

Computations:

.
3

.
8

659.

660.

661.

662.