Experiment #1

Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination

of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
[ASTM D 2216]

M cws −M cds Mw
w= ×100 %= ×100 %
M cds−M c Ms

where:

w=water ( moisture ) content of soil , % M w =mass of water ∈the soil sample [ M cws −M cds ] , g
M s=mass of solid particles of soil sample [ M cds−M c ] , gM c =mass of empty container , g
M cws =mass of container ∧wet specimen , g M cds=mass of container∧oven dry specimen , g
¿ Allmasses may be expressed ∈any units of mass but should be consistent .
It is advisble for this experiment ¿ use grams [ g ] forconsistency

I. Apparatus and Supplies

 Drying Oven, thermostatically-controlled and capable of maintaining a uniform of

temperature throughout the drying chamber
 Electronic or Digital Balance, with readability or accuracy of 0.01 g
 Specimen containers (Moisture cans with lids), must be resistant to corrosion and
change in mass upon repeated heating and cooling
 Container handling apparatus: gloves, tongs, or suitable holder for moving and
handling hot containers after drying
 Miscellaneous: pans/bowls, knives, spatulas, scoops, quartering cloth, sample
splitters, etc.
 Sprayer bottle containing enough water for the experiments
 Soil: silty sand and kaolin clay

II. Procedure

1) Determine and record the mass of the clean, dry and empty container together with its
lid. Make sure to have it labelled.
2) Place an adequate amount of certain soil to be tested in a pan/bowl. Then sprinkle
ample volume of water. While sprinkling, stir it uniformly until it becomes a past-like
mixture.
3) Select an estimated cubic centimetre of the moist test specimen for testing and put it
in the labelled container provided for a certain sample. Then, cover it with its lid
immediately.
4) Determine and record the mass of the container and moist material with its lid.
5) Remove the lid and place the container with moist material in the drying oven.
Maintain the drying oven at 100±5°C. The time required to be used is a minimum of
24 hours to obtain constant mass.
6) After the material has dried, remove the container from the oven and cover it with its
matching lid right away. Allow the material and the container to cool to room
temperature or until the container can be handled comfortably with bare hands and
the operation of the balance will not be affected by convection currents or its being
heated.
7) Determine the mass of the container and oven-dried material using the same balance
as used in (4) Record this value.