DLSU Civil Engineering Department

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory 1 (LBYCVG1)

Experiment No. 1
Determining the Moisture Content of Soil
(Conventional Oven Method)
(Referenced Standard: ASTM 2216)

Name: Dacullo, Kathleen Ann R.

Date Submitted: October 3, 2016

Group No.: 1

Date Performed: September 26, 2016

CRITERIA
1. Ability to work well
with other members
of the group (5%)
2. Ability to start and
finish the
experiment promptly
(5%)
3. Ability to follow
experimental
procedures (10%)
4. Ability to gather
and analyze data
correctly (40%)
5. Laboratory Report
(40%)
TOTAL

RATING

I.

Objectives
In outdoor environments, water is added to soil naturally through rainfall or purposely
with the irrigation of plants. As the pores in the soil become filled with water at the expense
of air, the soil moisture increases. The mass of moist soil consists of the mass of the dry soil
particles, plus the mass of the water within the soil. The dry mass of the soil particles is fixed,
whereas the amount of water within moist soil can vary. Therefore, moisture content is
calculated on a dry basis, rather than a total mass basis, to ensure consistency. The moisture
content of soil is described as the ratio of the mass of water held in the soil to the dry soil.
The mass of water is determined by the difference before and after drying the soil.
In almost all soil tests, natural moisture content of the soil is to be determined. The
knowledge of the natural moisture content is essential in all studies of soil mechanics. To
sight a few, natural moisture content is used in determining the bearing capacity and
settlement. The natural moisture content will give an idea of the state of soil in the field.
An oven has been found to be satisfactory for determining soil moisture content. This test
is used to determine the water content of a materials by drying a sample to constant mass at a
specified temperature of 110 5C.

II.

Experimental Results
Soil Type 1:
Conventional
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 1

Trial 2

S1

S2

S3

S4

57.83

54.16

91.91

121.76

54.75

51.65

83.99

108.78

Mass of container, Mc (g)

30.82

30.91

30.83

30.92

Mass of water, Mw (g)

3.08

2.51

7.92

12.98

Mass of solid particles, Ms (g)

23.93

20.74

53.16

77.86

Moisture content, w (%)

12.87

12.10

14.90

16.67

Container Label
Mass of container + wet specimen,
Mcws (g)
Mass of container + oven-dried
specimen, Mcs (g)

III.

Soil Type 2:
Sand

Analysis and Discussion

For this laboratory experiment, the first actual step thats needed to be done is collect soil
samples and transfer them into the laboratory. But since the soil samples were already
prepared, the first thing we did was to weigh four aluminum dishes, and to accurately record
the weight of each dishes using the balance. Next, we put an adequate amount of

conventional moist soil into two of the aluminum dishes and sand on the remaining two, then
reweighed the dishes (see Appendix for pictures of conventional and sand). Afterwards, we
placed the four samples in an oven set to 105C for about 30 minutes to dry. When the time
was up, we checked on the samples and it seemed that 30 minutes wasnt enough to dry them,
so we let stay in the oven a little bit more, and just constantly checked on them from time to
time. It took more or less one hour to let the conventional soil samples to dry, while one sand
sample took an hour and a half. The other sand sample was left to dry overnight since we
noticed that it was still too wet to take out of the oven. We carefully removed the three
samples from the oven (while wearing gloves), and placed them on the table to allow the
material and the container to cool to room temperature or until the container can be handled
comfortably with bare hands so as to the operation of the balance will not be affected by
convection currents or its being heated. When the dry samples were cool enough, we
reweighed them using the same balance and recorded the total weight.
For the moisture content, we used the data taken from the procedures mentioned above,
and did some calculations to obtain the remaining necessary information. The mass of water
was computed by subtracting the mass of the oven-dried full dish sample to the mass of the
full dish with wet sample. On the other hand, the mass of the solid particles was obtained by
subtracting the mass of the aluminum dishes to the mass of its respective oven-dried sample
they contain. Lastly, the moisture content was acquired by dividing the mass of water by the
mass of solid particles, then multiplying the quotient to 100 since moisture content should be
in a percentage.
Comparing the data was then done after completing all the needed data for this
experiment. We noticed that the time required to obtain constant mass varies depending on
the type of material, size of specimen, maybe even the oven type and its capacity, and other
factors as well. Another thing that we observed was the difference in the moisture content of
both the conventional soil and sand. In our experimental results which can be seen in part II
of this laboratory report, the conventional soil moisture content result of trials one and two
differed by 0.77 while the sand moisture content trials differed by 1.77. These differences are
not considered as errors because there should really be significant alterations in the moisture
content of each trial per sample since moisture content is directly proportional to the mass of
water present. However, just like any other experiments, errors cant be avoided, thus, if there
was an error present in our data, the most probable cause of the error would be would be the
time how long we placed the samples inside the oven to dry. As mentioned in the
procedures we did in the first paragraph, instead of allowing the samples to dry overnight, we
took them out in just an hour or so. Although the sample seemed to be dry just by looking at
their physical appearances, it wasnt guaranteed that the water content in the sample was
completely taken out.
IV.

Conclusions and Recommendations

There are different ways on how to determine the moisture content of soil, and
conventional oven method is just one of them. Before doing this experiment, I thought
moisture content of a specific sample would be the same all throughout no matter what
mass of the sample is since they are of the same material. However, after performing

the
the
the
the

actual method, observing the samples, and recording the necessary values for the experiment,
I learned that the moisture content may vary even if the samples are of the same type. This is
due to the fact the moisture content is directly proportional to the amount or mass of water
present in the sample. Also, the mass of water could be affected by the amount or mass of
sample youve taken to be used in the experiment. Furthermore, when it comes to the possible
errors that may have occurred in this experiment, although not evident, would be due to the
following:
- Improper use of the balance
- Sample weighed may not be cool enough after removing from the oven (temperature
may alter the operation of the balance)
- The constant opening and closing of the oven (may alter the temperature inside the
oven or may cause the sample to take in moisture from outside)
- Placing of newly wet samples to samples that are being dried (when wet samples are
placed in the drying device with nearly dry samples, completion of the drying may be
restarted)
- Time spent to allow the sample to dry in the oven
By knowing the possible causes of errors when it comes to determining of the moisture
content of soil by conventional oven method listed above, it can be easily avoided next time
so as not just to lessen errors, but to have a more accurate data as well.
V.

References
(1) ASTM, 1998 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, West Conshohocken, PA, 1998.
Copyright, American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.
(2) Chowdhury, M. (n.d.). Determination of water content of soil sample by different
methods. Retrieved October 01, 2016, from
https://www.academia.edu/11292879/DETERMINATION_OF_WATER_CONTENT_OF
_SOIL_SAMPLE_BY_DIFFERENT_METHODS
(3) Method for determining moisture content by oven drying. (1999, November). Retrieved
October 1, 2016, from
https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ConstructionMgt/OnlineDocs/Specifications/2013
CMS/700/CT_226.pdf

VI.

Appendix