ASTM D854-14 PDF Download

The ASTM D854-14 standard provides test methods for determining the specific gravity of soil solids using a water pycnometer. The specific gravity of soil solids is a crucial parameter for calculating the phase relationships of soils, such as void ratio and degree of saturation.

The standard specifies that the soil solids to be tested should not include solids that can be altered or contaminated by the test methods or highly organic soil solids, such as fibrous matter that floats in water. The apparatus required for conducting the test includes a water pycnometer (stoppered flask, stoppered iodine flask, or volumetric flask), balance, drying oven, thermometer, dessicator, system for entrapped air removal (hot plate or Bunsen burner or vacuum pump or water aspirator), insulated container, non-corrosive smooth surface funnel, pycnometer filling tube with lateral vents, sieve, and blender with mixing blades.

The specific gravity of the soil solids can be calculated either from the density of the soil solids and the density of water at the test temperature or from the mass of the oven dry soil solids, mass of pycnometer, water, and soil solids at the test temperature, and mass of the pycnometer and water at the test temperature.

The standard also emphasizes the importance of precision and bias in determining the acceptability of the test results. It states that the quality of the results depends on the competence of the personnel, suitability of the equipment and facilities, and compliance with Practice D3740.