DETERMINATION OF SOIL POROSITY

AIM: To determine the porosity of given soil sample.

THEORY:

The porosity of a material is the ratio of void volume over the total volume
of a sample. Diffusive movement of contaminants is controlled by
availability of pore space in the waste form through which the
contaminant can diffuse. Both aqueous- and vapour-phase diffusion are
controlled by the presence of water. Therefore, porosity and moisture
characteristic curves are important parameters in mechanistic modelling
of contaminant release from treated waste. Porosity is used in mechanistic
modelling of release from treated waste and is a fundamental modelling
input that controls both the interstitial velocity at which a given Darcian
water flux moves and the diffusive fluxes in both the aqueous and
gaseous phases. The porosity of a porous medium is the ratio of volume of
void spaces to total sample volume.

APPARATUS: Cylindrical core cutter, Dolly, Rammer, Balance (1 g accuracy), Spade,

Straight edge knife, Sample extruder, Apparatus for moisture content determination,
Pycnometer.

PROCEDURE:
Determination of porosity of soil requires determination of Solid density and Bulk density of
soil.

Determination of Solid Density:

1
2
3

Weigh a pycnometer flask with glass stopper and record the weight (W1).
Fill the flask about one-third with air-dry soil. Weigh the flask, stopper and soil.
Record the combined weight as (W2).
Add water to the soil slowly, mixing soil and water thoroughly by vigorous shaking
until the flask is full. Allow the air bubbles to rise to the surface. Float foam out of the
flask by adding a few more drops of water. Insert stopper, wipe the outside dry, weigh
and record as (W3).
Pour out entire contents into waste bucket and rinse flask. Then refill the flask with
water only, stopper, wipe the outside dry, weigh and record as (W4).

Determination of Bulk Density:

1

Measure the internal dimensions of the core cutter and weigh it.

Clean and level the site surface where the field density is to be determined.

Place the dolly on the cutter and press both into the soil using the rammer until
only about 15 mm of the dolly protrudes above the surrounding soil surface.

Remove the soil around the cutter with the spade, lift up the cutter, and trim
carefully the top and bottom surfaces of the soil sample.

Clean the outside surface of the cutter and weigh it with the soil.

Remove the soil core from the cutter and take three representative samples in
moisture cans for water content determination.

Calculate the dry density of soil based on the data of moisture content and bulk
density.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATION:

Test temperature (C) = 30. (Assume Density if water = 1 gm/cc)
Test No.
Pycnometer / Density bottle No.

Readings

Mass of pycnometer, W1 (g)

49

Mass of pycnometer + dry soil, W2 (g)

87

Mass of pycnometer + soil + water, W3 (g)

171.5

Mass of pycnometer + water, W4 (g)

148

Solid Density of soil (s)

2.62

Solid Density of soil (s) =

w*(W2 W1)
(W4 W3) (W1 W2)

Bulk Density:
Internal diameter of core cutter (cm) = 10
Height of cutter
(cm) = 12.73
Volume of cutter, V
(cm3) = 1000

1( 8749)
( 14849 )(171.587)

2.62

Field Test No.

Readings

Mass of core cutter (g), W1

994

Mass of cutter + soil (g), W2

3201

Mass of moist soil (g), (W2- W1)

2207

Average water content, w (%)

18%
2.207

Field bulk density (g/cm ),

Dry Density (g/cm3)

= (t/1+w)

1.870

Porosity is given by (n) = [1-(Dry Density/Solid Density)] = [1-(d/s)] = [1 (1.807/2.62)]

= 0.29

RESULT:
Porosity of given soil sample in field condition is 29%.

Reference:
1

Indian Standard for DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY of Fine Grained Soils, IS I 2720
(Part III) 1980 (Reaffirmed 2002)
Indian Standard for DETERMINATION OF DRY DENSITY OF SOILS INPLACE BY THE CORECUTTER METHOD, IS: 2720 (Part-29) - 1975 (Reaffirmed 2005)