CE 215 Geotechnical Engineering Lab I

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Department of Civil Engineering
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GUWAHATI

DETERMINATION OF GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION BY

HYDROMETER ANALYSIS
1. OBJECTIVE
To determine the particle-size distribution of a soil sample finer than 75 microns using a
hydrometer.
2. NEED AND SCOPE
The purpose of this test is to determine the grain size distribution (i.e.; grain size versus
percent by weight) of soil passing through 75 micron sieve. In some instances, the gradation
curve cannot be reliably quantified at smaller grain sizes (less than a millimetre) using sieve
analyses because the smaller clay particles in soil form clods and cannot pass through the
screens individually. However, this portion of the gradation curve can be obtained using the
hydrometer analysis.
3. REFERENCES
IS 2720-4 (1985): Grain size analysis. ASTM D422 & D1140.
4. APPARATUS REQUIRED
(i) Hydrometer conforming to IS: 3104-1965.
(ii) Two measuring cylinders of 1000 ml capacity
(iii) Thermometer
(iv) 75 micron sieve
(v) Balance accurate to 0.001g
(vi) Stop watch
(vii)Wash bottles containing distilled water
(viii) Reagent (sodium hexametaphosphate and sodium carbonate)
5. PROCEDURE
i) Calibrate the hydrometer with the measuring cylinder for determining the effective depth
corresponding to any hydrometer reading (Follow Table 6(a)) and draw a graph .
ii) Fill a measuring cylinder up to 1000 ml with distilled water including 100 ml of dispersing
agent solution. Insert the hydrometer and note the top meniscus and bottom meniscus
readings on the stem. The difference between the top meniscus reading and 1 (Sp. gravity of
water) gives the composite correction (C) which may be +ve or -ve. The difference between
the top and the bottom meniscus readings gives the meniscus correction (Cm). It is +ve.
iii) Take about 50 g oven dried soil sample passing 75 micron sieve in a dispersion cup and
add 100ml of the dispersing agent solution. Stir the mixture for about 15 minutes using a
high-speed stirrer. Transfer the soil suspension, completely, to the measuring cylinder. Fill
the measuring cylinder by adding distilled water to increase the volume up to the 1000 ml
mark.
iv) Shake the measuring cylinder, using the palm of one hand on open end of the cylinder,
turn the cylinder upside down and back for a number of times. After shaking, place the the
cylinder on a levelled surface and start a stopwatch simultaneously. Immediately, insert the

hydrometer carefully and read the top meniscus readings at , , 1, and 2 minute intervals.
v) Remove the hydrometer and float it in another cylinder containing distilled water. Rinse it
by a twisting motion to remove any soil particles that may have adhered on it.
vi) For any subsequent reading, the hydrometer is reinserted just before reading. Further
readings are taken after periods of 4, 8, 15 and 30 minutes, and again after 1, 2 and 4 hours.
After the end of 4 hours, readings are to be taken twice within 24 hours and the final reading
is recorded at the end of 24 hours.
vii) Record the temperature of the suspension once during the first 15 minutes and then after
every reading taken.
Calculations:
Before starting the experiment, first determine the following,
A = Cross-sectional area of the cylinder in cm2
Cd = Dispersion agent correction
STEPS:
1. Determine the Hydrometer reading (RH) at different time intervals t (in minutes).
2.Calculate/obtain He from the calibration graph based on Table 6(a).
3. Determine D from Equation 1

where K is a factor, equal to

" #$ %#& '&

He = Effective depth in cm
t = Time in minutes
= Viscosity in poise (from table)
g = 981 cm/sec2
Gs = Specific gravity of soil
Gw = Specific gravity of water (~ 1under normal temperature conditions)
w = Density of water (g/cc)
4. Calculate corrected hydrometer reading
Rc = {(Rh + Cm Ct Cd)-1} x 1000 ---------------- (2)
5. Determine N using Equation 3
(
)* +
,

#$

#$

. 10 . 22 ---------------- (3)
%$

Where, Ms = Mass of dry soil in g

Ct = Temperature correction (+ve for higher temp; -ve for lower temp)
Cd = Dispersion agent correction
6. Plot the graph between D (in log scale on X-axis) and N (on Y-axis).
The diameter of the particle in suspension at any time is calculated using eq. given below by
taking the value of He from the calibration curve for reading Rh.
2

Coefficient of viscosity of water (values in millipoise)

T C
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

17.94
17.32
16.74
16.19
15.68
15.19
14.73
14.29
13.87
13.48

T C
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

13.10
12.74
12.39
12.06
11.75
11.45
11.16
10.88
10.60
10.34

T C
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

T C
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

10.09
9.84
9.61
9.38
9.16
8.95
8.75
8.55
8.36
8.18

8.00
7.83
7.67
7.51
7.36
7.21
7.06
6.92
6.79
6.66

Temperature corrections (Ct)

T C
20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
22.0
22.5
23.0
23.5
24.0
24.5
25.0

Ct
Nil
0.00009
0.00017
0.00027
0.00037
0.00049
0.00058
0.00068
0.00081
0.00092
0.00102

T C
25.5
26.0
26.5
27.0
27.5
28.0
28.5
29.0
29.5
30.0
30.5

Ct
0.00116
0.00127
0.00139
0.00150
0.00163
0.00178
0.00191
0.00206
0.00219
0.00232
0.00247

T C
31.0
31.5
32.0
32.5
33.0
33.5
34.0
34.5
35.0

Ct
0.00262
0.00278
0.00291
0.00320
0.00350
0.00380
0.00400
0.00420
0.00470

CALIBRATION OF HYDROMETER
1. Measure the volume Vh of the hydrometer by partly filling the 1000 ml cylinder and
observing the increase in volume of the water when the hydrometer is fully immersed in it.
2. Find the sectional area A of the cylinder. This is equal to the volume included between any
two graduations on the cylinder divided by the distance between the two graduations.
3. Measure the height of the bulb h, i.e., the distance between the neck to the bottom of the
bulb.
4. Measure the distance H from the neck of the bulb to the various
major graduations Rh on the stem.

Rh

Calculation:
The effective depth He corresponding to any hydrometer reading Rh is
given by
3

56
8
4
Plot a graph between Rh and He (Calibration plot)
7

Neck

6. OBSERVATIONS
Table: 6 (a) Calibration Table
Rh(g/ml)

Neck

1.030

1.025

1.020

1.015

1.010

1.005

1.000

0.995

H(cm)
He(cm)
Table: 6 (b) Calculations Table
Time,
t(min)

Hydrometer Effective
Reading
Depth
(He)
(Rh)

(from
Calibration
plot)

0.25
0.5
1
2
4
8
15
30
60
120
240
480
960
1440

Temp. Meniscus
(T0C) Correction
(Cm)

Deflocculating
agent correction
(Cd)

Temp.
Correction
(Ct)

Corrected
Hydrometer
Reading (R) poise
Eqn. (2)

% finer w.r.t
mass (N)%
(mm)

Eqn. (1)

Eqn. (3)