38 Chapter 3 Hydrometer Analysis Figure 3.5 shows a streamlined hydrometer of the type ASTM 152 H used for hydrometer analysis. The hydrometer possesses a long stem and a bulb, The hydrometer is used for the determination of unit weight of suspensions at different depths and particular intervals of time. A unit volume of soit suspension at a depth L and at any time r contains particles finer than a particular diameter D. The value of this diameter is determined by applying Stokes’ law whereas the percentage finer than this diameter is determined by the use of the hydrometer. The principle of the method is that the reading of the hydrometer gives the unit weight of the suspension at the center of Volume of the hydrometer. The first step in the presentation of this method isto calibrate the hydrometer: Let the sedimentation jar contain a suspension of volume V with total mass of solids Mf, Let the jar be kept vertically on a table after the solids are thoroughly mixed. The initial density p, of the suspension a any depth z from the surface at time t= 0 may be expressed as Pn = (3.262) Gp, where p, = density of water at 4°C and p, density of water at test temperature T, and G, = specific gravity of the solids. For all practical purposes p, = 0, = 1 glem? After a lapse of time ¢, a unit volume of suspension at a depth z contains only particles finer than a particular diameter D, since particles coarser than this diameter have fallen a distance greater ‘than z as per Stokes’ law. The coarsest diameter of the particle in a unit volume of the suspension at depth z and time ris given by Eq. (3.24) where z= L. Let M, be the mass of all particles finer than Din the sample taken for analysis. The density of the suspension p, after an elapsed time t may be expressed as Mo,» Mo v GV (3.260) = Mass of particles of diameter smaller than diameter D in the unit volume of suspension at depth z at an elapsed time « From Eq, (3.26b) we may write (3.26) ‘The ASTM 152 H type hydrometer, normally used for the analysis, is calibrated to read from 0 10 60 g of soil in a 1000 mL. soil-water mixture with the limitation that the soil particles have a specific gravity G, = 2.65. The reading is directly related to the specific gravity of the suspension. In Eq. (3.26c) the mass of the solids M, in the suspension varies from 0 to 60 grams. The reading Ron the stem of the hydrometer (corrected for meniscus) may be expressed as Vip, —1)= 1.6061x10%p, -D) (3.268) M,=-o— oG-) where, G,= 2.65, and V = 1000 mL 1p, = density of suspension per unit volume = specific gravity of the suspension, i i é 5 3 E ifSoll Phase Relationships, Index Properties and Soil Classification 39 From Eq. (3.26), itis clear that the ASTM 152H hydrometer is calibrated in such a way that the reading on the stem will be R=0when = land ® = 60 when p= 1.0378 ‘The ASTM 152 H hydrometer gives the distance of any reading Ron the stem to the center of volume and is designated as L as shown in Fig. 3.5. The distance L varies linearly with the reading, R. An expression for L may be written as follows for any reading R for the ASTM 152 1 hydrometer (Fig. 3.5). 4 Ley+e 3.27 wy G27) where L, = distance from reading R to the top of the bulb = length of hydrometer bulb = 14 em for ASTM 152 H hydrometer ‘When the hydrometer is inserted into the suspension, the surface of the suspension rises as shown in Fig. 3.6. The distance L in Fig. 3.6 is the actual distance through which a particle of diameter D has fallen. The point at level A, at depth L occupies the position A, (which coincides with the center of volume of the hydsometer) in the figure after the immersion of the hydrometer and correspondingly the surface of suspension rises from B, to B,. The depth Lis therefore greater than L through which the particle of diameter D hay fallen, The effective value of L can be obiained from the equation Meniscus, + | k | L shed | L | z | i L i ‘Center of bulb 3 | & | 3 | Before the immersion After the immersion a Sfbyiometer ‘sthyutomact i i Figure 3.5 ASTM 152 H type Figure 3.6 Immersion correction / hydrometer e E covtcnnn recent A40 Chapter 3 Table 3.5 Values of L (effective depth) for use in Stokes’ formula for diameters of particles for ASTM soil hydrometer 152H Orginal Original Orginal hhydrometer hydrometer hydrometer reading Effective —_ reading Effective reading Effective (corrected for depth L (corrected for depth L_— (corrected for dopth L meniscus only) cm __meniscus only}___ em —_meniscus only) __om 0 163 2 29 42 94 1 161 2 127 48 92 2 160 23 Ins aa 3.4 3 Iss Py 124 45 89 4 136 25 2 46 88. 3 Iss 6 120 a 86 6 153 7 9 48 84 1 152 8 ua 40 83 8 150 9 ns 50 81 ° 148 20 1 st 19 10 147 a 2 52 18 n las 32 ma 33 16 2 M43. 3 109 54 14 B 42 a4 103 55 73 rn 140 35 105s 56 2 15 138 36 104 3 10 16 na ” 102 5 68 7 Bs 38 10.1 so 66 18 B3 30 99 co 6s 19 132 40 97 2 Bo a 98 3.28) ‘where V, = volume of hydrometer (152 H) =67 em; A, = cross-sectional area of the sedimentation cylinder'= 27.8 em: for 1000 mL graduated cylinder For an ASTM 152 H hydromete, the value of L for any reading R (corrected for meniscus) may be obtained from L 163-01641R (3.29) Table 3.5 gives the values of L for various hydrometer readings of R for the 152 H hydrometer. Determination of Percent Finer ‘The ASTM 152 H hydrometer is calibrated to read from 0 to 60 g of soil in a 1000 mL suspension ‘with the limitation that the soil has a specific gravity G, = 2.65. The reading is, of course, directly gs Copyright © Mac! Dee. Ie. All igh ened