ASTM D854-02

Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the specific gravity of soil solids that pass the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, by means of a water pycnometer. When the soil contains particles larger than the 4.75-mm sieve, Test Method C 127 shall be used for the soil solids retained on the 4.75-mm sieve and these test methods shall be used for the soil solids passing the 4.75-mm sieve.
1.1.1 Soil solids for these test methods do not include solids which can be altered by these methods, contaminated with a substance that prohibits the use of these methods, or are highly organic soil solids, such as fibrous matter which floats in water.
Note 1—The use of Test Method D 5550 may be used to determine the specific gravity of soil solids having solids which readily dissolve in water or float in water, or where it is impracticable to use water.
1.2 Two methods for performing the specific gravity are provided. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority, except when testing the types of soils listed in 1.2.1.
1.2.1 Method A—Procedure for Moist Specimens, described in . This procedure is the preferred method. For organic soils; highly plastic, fine grained soils; tropical soils; and soils containing halloysite, Method A shall be used.
1.2.2 Method B—Procedure for Oven-Dry Specimens, described in .
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D 6026.
1.3.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user's objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of these test methods to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in these test methods.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-2002
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.03 - Texture, Plasticity and Density Characteristics of Soils

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D854-00e1 - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM D854-05 - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F2747-19 - Standard Guide for Construction of Sand-based Rootzones for Golf Putting Greens and Tees
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D6528-17 - Standard Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Direct Simple Shear Testing of Fine Grain Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D7608-18e1 - Standard Test Method for Torsional Ring Shear Test to Measure Drained Fully Softened Shear Strength and Stress Dependent Strength Envelope of Fine-Grained Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D6995-21 - Standard Test Method for Determining Field VMA Based on the Maximum Specific Gravity of an Asphalt Mixture (G<inf>mm</inf>)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D5101-12(2017) - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Filtration Compatibility of Soil-Geotextile Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D698-12(2021) - Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft³ (600 kN-m/m³))
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E3163-18 - Standard Guide for Selection and Application of Analytical Methods and Procedures Used during Sediment Corrective Action
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E3268-21 - Standard Guide for NAPL Mobility and Migration in Sediment—Sample Collection, Field Screening, and Sample Handling
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D5550-23 - Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Gas Pycnometer
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D2166/D2166M-16 - Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4253-16e1 - Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D1586/D1586M-18e1 - Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D7181-20 - Standard Test Method for Consolidated Drained Triaxial Compression Test for Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D 854 – 02
Standard Test Methods for
1
Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 854; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope * of these test methods to consider significant digits used in
analysis methods for engineering design.
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
specific gravity of soil solids that pass the 4.75-mm (No. 4)
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in
sieve, by means of a water pycnometer. When the soil contains
these test methods.
particles larger than the 4.75-mm sieve, Test Method C 127
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
shall be used for the soil solids retained on the 4.75-mm sieve
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
and these test methods shall be used for the soil solids passing
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the 4.75-mm sieve.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1.1 Soil solids for these test methods do not include solids
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
which can be altered by these methods, contaminated with a
substance that prohibits the use of these methods, or are highly
2. Referenced Documents
organic soil solids, such as fibrous matter which floats in water.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 1—The use ofTest Method D 5550 may be used to determine the
C 127 Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of
specific gravity of soil solids having solids which readily dissolve in water 2
Coarse Aggregate
or float in water, or where it is impracticable to use water.
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
3
1.2 Two methods for performing the specific gravity are
Fluids
provided. The method to be used shall be specified by the
D 1140 Test Method for Amount of Material in Soils Finer
3
requesting authority, except when testing the types of soils
Than the No. 200 (75-µm) Sieve
listed in 1.2.1
D 2216 TestMethodforLaboratoryDeterminationofWater
3
1.2.1 MethodA—ProcedureforMoistSpecimens,described
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
in 9.2. This procedure is the preferred method. For organic
D 2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
3
soils; highly plastic, fine grained soils; tropical soils; and soils
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
containing halloysite, Method A shall be used.
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
1.2.2 Method B—Procedure for Oven-Dry Specimens, de-
Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
3
scribed in 9.3.
as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
D 4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
Balances and Scales for Use in Soil, Rock, and Related
3
Practice D 6026.
Construction Materials Testing
1.3.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
D 5550 Test Method for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by
3
recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the
Gas Pycnometer
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
D 6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechni-
4
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
cal Data
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur-
5
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
poses
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
E 177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
5
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
ASTM Test Methods
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1
This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
2
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 onTexture, Plasticity, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
3
and Density Characteristics of Soils. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
4
Current edition approved July 10, 2002. Published September 2002. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
e1 5
published as D 854 – 45. Last previous edition D 854 – 00 . Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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