Experiment No.

4
PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS BY
HYDROMETER
Introduction

Grain size distribution of soil which contain significant amount of finer particles (silt and clay) cannot
be done by sieve analysis. Hydrometer analysis is required to determine the grain size distribution of
the finer portion. For many natural soils we require both sieve analysis and hydrometer analysis to
obtain the complete gradation of the coarse and fine fraction. In the sieve analysis test you have used
#200 sieve (opening 0.074 mm) as the finest sieve. Now you will perform hydrometer analysis on a
fine grained soil that passes #200 sieve.1

According to ASTM D422, when combined analysis is required, the sample is to be divided into two
parts. Sieve analysis is to be done on the coarser portion and hydrometer analysis is to be done into
finer portion. Division of the sample into two portion is to be done by either of #4 (4.75mm), #10
(2.00 mm), #40 (0.425mm) or #200 (0.074 mm) sieve depending on the sp.gr. of particles. However,
for our natural soils separation on #200 sieve will be sufficient.

Determination particle diameter

Determination of particle diameter using hydrometer is based on Stoke’s Law which states that the the
terminal velocity (v) of a freely falling sphere through a medium is proportional to the square of the
diameter (D) of the particle i.e. v α D2. From this we obtain

Therefore, if the velocity of fall v is known, then diameter of the particle can be calculated as

To understand the details of hydrometer analysis it is necessary to have an idea about the
apparatus “hydrometer”. There are two types of ASTM soil hydrometers. One is designated ASTM
151H and the other is designated ASTM 152H. The readings obtained from these two hydrometers
have different meanings. Both can be used for hydrometer analysis. But, calculation procedures
for these two are different. Here we have described the procedure for ASTM 152H hydrometer
that you will use.

The hydrometer, made of glass, has a stem and a bulb. When it is inserted into a liquid, it floats or
submerges in an upright position with its bulb on the downside. The stem of the hydrometer has
graduation. ASTM 152H hydrometers are calibrated such that when inserted in a soil water
suspension the reading on the hydrometer stem indicates grams of soil that are in 1000cc
suspension of the density at the center of the bulb. Thus, when the hydrometer reading is zero, it
indicates pure water and when the reading is 30 it means that there are 30 gms of soil in 1000cc
soil suspension. Usually there are readings from 0 to 60 on a hydrometer stem. It can be easily
conceived that as the density of suspension increases, more of the stem will come out of the
suspension, and so the hydrometer reading will be increased. If we prepare a soil suspension in a
jar and take hydrometer readings at different time intervals from the instant when the suspension is
 not disturbed by stirring or any other means, then successive hydrometer readings will decrease
because particles of soil will start to fall and finally settle at the bottom of the jar resulting in
reduced density of the suspension. Now, suppose at any time interval t, the distance from the c.g.
(center of gravity) of the bulb to the surface of suspension is L. Because the location of c.g. of the
hydrometer bulb is related to the sp.gr. of the suspension around it, L may be considered to be the
distance of fall of a particle in time t. Therefore, velocity of the particle will be v=L/t.

Therefore,

If we want to put t in minute, L in cm, ὴ in poise ( 1 gm-sec per square cm =g poise =980.7 poise)
and want to obtain D in mm then the above equation should be modified as

which upon simplification becomes

The above equation is sometimes written as

However, when we insert the hydrometer in a soil-water suspension we do not measure L

directly. Instead, if we measure the distance L1 and L2 from the c.g. of the bulb
corresponding to two hydrometer readings R1 and R2 then we can calculate L easily for
any hydrometer reading R from the equation (see fig.1 )

(1)

Here we need to notice that as we insert the hydrometer in the jar containing the soil-
water hydrometer bulb by half of this i.e. 2V. Abj from the level where it would be if this
rise have not occurred (see Fig 4.1d ); Vb =Volume of the hydrometer bulb and Aj =
Cross-sectional Area of the hydrometer jar. Thus equation 1 need to be modified as
𝐿 𝐿 −𝐿 𝑉
L = 2𝑏 + 𝐿 − 𝑅1 −𝑅2 (𝑅𝐿 − 𝑅1 ) − 2𝐴𝑏 (2)
2 1 𝑗
 Figure 4.1 Schematic diagrams showing hydrometer readings and corrections.

Furthermore, in the soil-water suspension we can read the upper meniscus, whereas we need the
reading at the lower meniscus. So, if R0 be the observed reading, then to put into equation 2, RL
should be calculated as (see Fig. 4.1c)

RL = R 0 ± C m (3)
For ASTM 152H hydrometers for R1=0 the distance L1=10.5 cm and for R2=50, the distance L2 =2.3
cm, Lb=14 cm, Vb=67 cm3. Cross-sectional area of hydrometer jar is 27.8 cm2. For these values,
Equation 2 becomes
L = 16.29 + 0.164 * RL , (L in cm)
Equation 2a is sometimes presented in tabular form as in Table 1 wherefrom values of L can be
obtained for any hydrometer reading.

Table 4.1: Values of Effective depth RL for hydrometer for which (L1=10.5 cm, L2=2.3
cm, R1=0, R2=50, Lb=14.0 cm, Vb= 67 cm3, Aj=27.8 cm3)

Hydrometer Hydrometer Hydrometer Hydrometer

reading, RL L reading, RL L reading, RL L reading, RL L

0 16.3 15 13.8 30 11.4 45 8.9

1 16.1 16 13.7 31 11.2 46 8.8
2 16.0 17 13.5 32 11.0 47 8.6
3 15.8 18 13.3 33 10.9 48 8.4
4 15.6 19 13.2 34 10.7 49 8.3
5 15.5 20 13.0 35 10.6 50 8.1
6 15.3 21 12.9 36 10.4 51 7.9
7 15.1 22 12.7 37 10.2 52 7.8
8 15.0 23 12.5 38 10.1 53 7.6
9 14.8 24 12.4 39 9.9 54 7.4
10 14.7 25 12.2 40 9.7 55 7.3
11 14.5 26 12.0 41 9.6 56 7.1
12 14.3 27 11.9 42 9.4 57 6.9
13 14.2 28 11.7 43 9.2 58 6.8
14 14.0 29 11.5 44 9.1 59 6.6
 Determination of percent finer
It has been mentioned earlier that ASTM 152H hydrometers are calibrated such that for soil of
sp.gr of 2.65, the hydrometer reading after an elapsed time t, indicates the grams of soil in
suspension at that instant. This means that if Rc be the hydrometer reading, then (corresponding to
the diameter determined using this reading )
𝑅𝑐
Percent finer, N = 𝑊
∗ 100 4

where Ws = Weight (in gms) of soil used to prepare the suspension and R is obtained from R0 after
applying some corrections.

Because the sp.gr. of a soil may vary from 2.65 a correction factor is introduced in equation 4.
Thus,
𝑅𝑐
Percent finer, N = 𝑎 ∗ ∗ 100 5
𝑊

Where 'a' is the correction factor introduced to accommodate the variation of specific gravity from
2.65. The correction factor a can be computed as

Values of 'a' for different specific gravity of soil particles may also be obtained from Table 4.

The reading Rc to be used in equation 5 should be obtained from the observed hydrometer reading
Ro after applying the following corrections

(a) Correction for meniscus (Cm). This correction is always additive.

(b) Zero correction (Cz). This correction is introduced because a deflocculating agent is used in the
preparation of the soil water suspension, which increases the hydrometer reading. This
correction is always subtractive.
(c) Temperature correction (CT). ASTM 152H hydrometers are calibrated at 200C. So if the test
temperature is different from soil water suspension a correction is needed. The values for
temperature correction are given in Table 5.
Rc = Ro + Cm – Cz ± CT 7

Now consider that hydrometer analysis is performed on a soil for which percent of material
finer for #200 sieve is P. Then with respect to the original soil
𝑃
𝑁′ = 𝑁 ∗
100
Scope of the test
This test is performed to determine the percentage of different particle sizes contained within a soil.
The hydrometer method is used to determine the distribution of the finer particles.

Apparatus
 Sedimentation Cylinder
 Hydrometer
 Hydrometer Jar bath
 Dispersive agent, Sodium hexa metaphosphate (NaPO3)
 Thermometer
 Figure 4.2 Hydrometer Test Apparatus

Test Procedure
(1) Take the fine soil from the bottom pan of the sieve set, place it into a beaker, and add 125 mL of
the dispersing agent (sodium hexa metaphosphate (40 g/L)) solution. Stir the mixture until the soil
isthoroughly wet. Let the soil soak for at least ten minutes.

(2) While the soil is soaking, add 125mL of dispersing agent into the control cylinder and fill it with
distilled water to the mark. Take the reading at the top of the meniscus formed by the hydrometer
stem and the control solution. A reading less than zero is recorded as a negative (-) correction and a
reading between zero and sixty is recorded as a positive (+) correction. This reading is called the zero
correction. The meniscus correction is the difference between the top of the meniscus and the level
of the solution in the control jar (Usually about +1). Shake the control cylinder in such a way that the
contents are mixed thoroughly. Insert the hydrometer and thermometer into the control cylinder and
note the zero correction and temperature respectively.

(3) Transfer the soil slurry into a mixer by adding more distilled water, if necessary, until mixing cup
is at least half full. Then mix the solution for a period of two minutes.

(4) Immediately transfer the soil slurry into the empty sedimentation cylinder. Add distilled water up
to the mark.

(5) Cover the open end of the cylinder with a stopper and secure it with the palm of your hand. Then
turn the cylinder upside down and back upright for a period of one minute. (The cylinder should be
inverted approximately 30 times during the minute.)

(6) Set the cylinder down and record the time. Remove the stopper from the cylinder. After an
elapsed time of one minute and forty seconds, very slowly and carefully insert the hydrometer for the
first reading. (Note: It should take about ten seconds to insert or remove the hydrometer to minimize
any disturbance, and the release of the hydrometer should be made as close to the reading depth as
possible to avoid excessive bobbing).

(7) The reading is taken by observing the top of the meniscus formed by the suspension and the
hydrometer stem. The hydrometer is removed slowly and placed back into the control cylinder. Very
gently spin it in control cylinder to remove any particles that may have adhered.

(8) Take hydrometer readings after elapsed time of 2 and 5, 8, 15, 30, 60 minutes and 24 hours
 (a) (b)

(c)

(d)

(e) (f)

Figure 4.2: (a) Take the zero correction and meniscus correction (b) Weight the dispersion agent and make a
water-agent solution. (c) Take powdered soil and mix with water-agent solution in a pan. (d) Pour the mixture at
cylinder carefully (e) Shake very carefully (f) Place the hydrometer at the cylinder and take reading carefully
 Table 4.2: Values of k for Use in Equation for Computing Diameter of Particle in Hydrometer Analysis
(Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC)

Table 4.3: Temperature Correction Factors CT

(Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory
Testing Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC)
Table 4.4: Correction Factors a for Unit Weight of Solids
(Engineering Properties of Soils Based on
Laboratory Testing Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC)

Table 4.5: Properties of distilled water Table 4.6: Value of L (effective depth) for use in Stokes
formula for (h=absolute) diameters of particles for ASTM soil hydrometer 152H
 Data Sheet

Experiment Name : Particle Size Analysis by Hydrometer

Experiment Date :

Student’s Name :
Student’s ID :
Year/ Semester :
Section/ Group :

Visual Classification :

Hydrometer Model :
Specific Gravity of Soil :
Dispersing Agent : NaPO3
Weight of Soil Sample, MS : 50gm

Zero Correction :
Meniscus Correction :
Room Temperature :
Temperature Correction, CT :

Data Table :

1.65𝐺𝑆 30𝑛 𝐿 𝐿
[Correction factor, a = 2.65(𝐺 ] [From Stokes’s law, D= =K , here, n= Viscosity]
𝑆 −1) (𝐺𝑆 −1)𝑝 𝑤 𝑡 𝑡

Course Teacher :
Designation :

Signature
Particle size distribution curve
Combined Analysis of Expt. 3 and Expt. 4

For mixture of coarse-grained soil and fine-grained soil the following combined analysis was done:
(1) Oven dry the collected disturbed sample and then break up all lumps with the grinding
machine or mechanically by hammer and fingers.
(2) Run a sieve analysis as above. Then wash the soil retained on the No. 200 sieve.
(3) Weigh out to 0.01g about 50g of the dry soil retained in the pan from the sieve analysis.
(4) Run a hydrometer test on the dry soil following above procedure.
(5) Compute the particle size and percent finer for the two parts of the combined analysis as
shown in sieve analysis and hydrometer analysis. The weight of dry soil, Ws to be used in
computing the sieve analysis should be the total sample.
(6) The corrected percentage, Nʹ is found as follows:
𝑊
Nʹ = N. 𝑊1 = N. % finer than No. 200 sieve
𝑠
where N = percentage finer that was computed in Expt. No. 4.
W1 = weight of dry soil passing No. 200 sieve.
Ws = total weight of dry soil used for sieve analysis computation.