Holy Angel University

School of Engineering and Architecture

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 5

DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT

OF SOIL

Group: White

Members: Bautista Carla Jean

Bernardo Marc Ryan

Carreon Julius Leo

Mandap Japer

Ocampo Anna Katrina

Tayag Kyle

July 7 2017

Engr. Neal Lorenzo P. Castillo

 II. ABTRACT

The aim of this laboratory exercise is for students to know what the

significance of water plays in a stability of a foundation. For aspiring future civil

engineers knowing the content of water of a soil is very important.

We used oven drying method for the experiment. After the said

experiment, you can differentiate the water content of an undisturbed soil

sample and a disturbed soil sample and know which is a better material.
III.Table of Contents

Objective and Introduction 1

Theory and Experimental Methods 2

Results and Discussion 7

Conclusion 9

References 10
IV. Objective and Introduction

The water content (w) is also called natural water content or natural

moisture content is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of the solids in

a given mass of soil. This ratio is usually expressed as percentage. Before

constructing a structure, determining the water content of a soil is the first action

engineers perform. Water has a significant influence on soil, the natural moisture

content provides an indicator of the soil's compressibility, strength, and potential

expansion characteristics.

By using oven drying method this experiment aims to determine the

amount and percentage of moisture in a given soil sample. The water content of

soils aids in determining soil properties and behavior.

V.Theory and Experimental Methods:

The moisture content of soil also referred to as water content is an indicator of

the amount of water present in soil. By definition, moisture content is the ratio of
the mass of water in a sample to the mass of solids in the sample, expressed as a
percentage. In equation form,

= %

Where:

= moisture content of soil (expressed in percentage)

Mw = mass of water (initial mass of moist soil minus mass of oven dried soil)

MS = mass of soil solids (the soils oven dried mass)

Mw and MS may be expressed in any units of mass, but both should be expressed
in the same unit.

To determine the mass of a moist soil. We need to subtract the mass of the can
from the mass of the moist soil in the can.
= ( + )
Where:
MM = Mass of moist soil
MC = Mass of can
After attaining the mass of the moist soil we must get the mass of the dry soil. We
need to subtract the mass of the can from the mass of the dry soil in the can.
= ( + )
Where:
MD = Mass of dry soil
MC = Mass of can
Once we acquire the data for the masses of the samples. We can now get the
mass of the water. Simply subtract the mass of the moist soil to the mass of the
dry soil.
=
Where:
MW = mass of water
MM = Mass of moist soil
MD = Mass of dry soil
Now we all have the required data, we can now use the formula for the water
content:

= %

VI.Results and Discussion:

After collecting and analyzing the data we gathered from the experiment

we can say that the water content of undisturbed soil is greater that the water

content of the disturbed soil, the explanation of this conclusion is simply because

disturbed soil is more exposed to heat coming from the sunlight that causes the

evaporation of the water present inside the soil while the undisturbed soil is still

hidden under the first layer of soil which protects it from sunlight that helps it to

conserve the moisture of the soil. (Data shown from the table below)
 Determination of Water Content of Soil
Soil Sample Disturbed Soil Undisturbed Undisturbed
(500grams) Soil Sample Soil Sample
no.1 no.2
Weight of
Container and 571g 111.5g 130.9g
Wet soil
Weight of
Container and 539.3g 87.1g 64.7g
Dry soil
Weight of
Water 31.7g 24.4g 26.2g
Weight of
Container 37g 8.4g 8.8g
 Weight of Dry
Soil 502.3g 78.7g 95.9g

Water Content 6.311% 31.004% 27.32g

(%)
Average Water Content = 21.545%

As you can see from the table above. The water content of the disturbed

soil is way lower than the water content of the undisturbed soil simply because of

the loss of moisture of the disturbed soil due to the exposure from the sun.

VII. Conclusion:

We observed the difference between undisturbed and disturbed soil, the

experiment made us realize that undisturbed soil has more moisture content

compared to the disturbed soil which is determined by measuring the mass of

sample when it was still moist and after we put it in an oven to dry it out. You can

also say that undisturbed soil is a better type of soil to serve as a foundation for

building because it is less brittle compared to the disturbed soil which is a bit dry

or has less moisture content. Having the proper knowledge or information in

determining the water or moisture content of a soil is one of the major keys in
studying and practicing soil mechanics, because it would help in determining

whether a certain area is a good place to construct buildings and other structures.

VIII.References:

https://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/MNL/PAGES/MNL12165M.htm

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=204697

http://www.engineeringcivil.com/determining-water-content-in-soil-oven-drying-

method.html

http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0cdl--00-0----0-10-0---0---

0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0--4----0-0-11-10-0utfZz-

8-00&cl=CL1.136&d=HASH3105beaa24976abbef784e.7.2&gt=1
https://eng.ucmerced.edu/snsjho/files/MHWG/Laboratory/Soils/Protocol/Chapte

r_3_Moisture_content.pdf

https://www.cefns.nau.edu/capstone/projects/CENE/2014/FlagstaffFireshedHydr

ology/documents/soilmoisture.pdf

http://eerc02-iiith.virtual-labs.ac.in/exp1/Exp-1%20WaterContent.pdf