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Introduction
The hydrometer analysis, also called sedimentation method, is used to determine the grain
size distribution for the fraction of soil that is smaller than the No. 10 (2.00 mm) sieve. Fine soil
particles are dispersed by soaking the soil sample in a dispersing agent and by rapid stirring to
neutralize the charges between the soil particles. The test uses a Type 152H hydrometer
calibrated to give the mass of solids with specific gravity equal to 2.65 in suspension and the
settling velocity of the dispersed soil particles. The soil grain diameter D (mm) is computed by
application of Stokes Law, a theoretical equation for the terminal settling velocity of spheres in
a fluid, according to the following equations.
v =
D =
where
2 G s - G1 D
h
9
2
(1)
30 h v
980(G s - G1 )
(2)
Since the soil particles are particles are not spheres, the hydrometer analysis gives the diameters
of spheres that would be settling at the same velocity as the soil particles. This approximation to
the particle size distribution is useful for such engineering purposes as estimating the percentage
of fine grained particles and the percentage of clay sized particles.
Apparatus
1. Balance capable of measuring to 0.1 g
2. Evaporating dish
3. Mechanical mixer and mixing cup to assist in dispersing the soil
4. Type 152H hydrometer which reads grams of soil per 1000 ml. of slurry
5. 2 - 1000 ml. cylinders, 1 - 1000 ml. glass sedimentation cylinder
6. Rubber stopper
7. Thermometer
Hydrometer Analysis 1
Procedure
Calculations
For Type 152H hydrometers, the velocity v is equal to L/T, and Equation 2 is written as
D = K L /T
where
(3)
K = a constant depending on the specific gravity of the solids and the temperature of
the fluid (mm x (min/cm)1/2), given in the Table 1;
L = effective depth in cm. of the hydrometer which is the distance from the surface of
the suspension to the center of the hydrometer bulb (cm);
T = elapsed time (min).
For Type 152H hydrometers, the effective depth can be given as
L = 16.3 0.164 R
(4)
where R is the reading on the hydrometer in grams of solids per liter of suspension. The
effective depth is the distance that the soil has settled that can then be used to calculate velocity.
The equation for the percentage of the soil remaining in suspension is
P = (Rc a / M s) x 100%
(5)
1.65 Gs
2.65 (Gs - 1)
M s = oven dry mass in g of the soil sample dispersed in preparation step (2).
a=
Results
Complete the Table 2 on the next page using Equations 3 though 7 and temperature
dependent constants provided in Table 1. The grain size distribution is plotted on Figure 1, since
the particle diameter and percent of soil in suspension, equivalent to the percent finer, are
computed.
Hydrometer Analysis 3
(7)
CT
-0.90
-0.70
-0.50
-0.30
0.00
+0.20
+0.40
+0.70
+1.00
+1.30
+1.65
+2.00
+2.50
+3.05
+4.80
2.60
0.0146
0.0144
0.0142
0.0140
0.0139
0.0137
0.0135
0.0134
0.0132
0.0131
0.0129
0.0128
0.0126
0.0125
0.0124
2.75
0.0139
0.0138
0.0136
0.0134
0.0133
0.0131
0.0129
0.0128
0.0126
0.0125
0.0124
0.0122
0.0121
0.0120
0.0118
Group __________
Soil Description
Oven Dry Soil Mass, M s
Specific Gravity, Gs
Zero Correction, Cz
Specific Gravity Correction, a
Elapsed Hydrometer
Time
Reading
Temp.
L
min
R
(oC)
(K) (cm)
D
(mm)
2
5
15
30
60
Hydrometer Analysis 4
CT
Date _________
Corrected
Reading,
Rc
Percent
Finer,
P
100%
Percent Finer
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
1.000
0.100
0.010
0.001
Particle Diameter, mm
Figure 1 Grain Size Distribution of Fine-Grained Soil
Conclusions
Is the grain size distribution curve representative of the type of soil tested in the laboratory?
How would it affect the results if the test were conducted when the temperature was 5o C
higher?
What is the percent finer than the # 200 sieve (0.075 mm) and the percent finer than
0.002mm (clay particles)?
What correction would be required if the soil was first sieved and it was determined that the
hydrometer sample included only 60% of the total soil sample, i. e. the other 40% was
larger in diameter than any of the grain diameters measured?
Hydrometer Analysis 5
1000-ml Cylinders
Hydrometer
Thermometer
And Timer
Rubber
Stopper
Picture 1 !000-ml Cylinders and Hydrometer
Mixer
and
Mixing Cup
Evaporating Dish
Picture 2 Mixer and Mixing Cup
Hydrometer Analysis 6