EXPERIMENT 1

 EXPERIMENT 1
WATER CONTENT DETERMINATION 
Purpose:  This test is performed to determine the water (moisture) content of soils.  The water content is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the mass of “pore” or “free” water in a given mass of soil to the mass of the dry soil solids.
Standard Reference:  ASTM D 2216 - Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures
Significance:  For many soils, the water content may be an extremely important index used for establishing the relationship between the way a soil behaves and its properties.  The consistency of a fine-grained soil largely depends on its water content.  The water content is also used in expressing the phase relationships of air, water, and solids in a given volume of soil.
Equipment:  Drying oven, Balance, Moisture can, Gloves, Spatula.

Test Procedure:   (1) Record the moisture can and lid number. Determine and record the mass of an empty, clean, and dry moisture can with its lid (MC)
 (2) Place the moist soil in the moisture can and secure the lid.  Determine and record the mass of the moisture can (now containing the moist soil) with the lid (MCMS).
 (3) Remove the lid and place the moisture can (containing the moist soil) in the drying oven that is set at 105 °C.  Leave it in the oven overnight.
 (4) Remove the moisture can.  Carefully but securely, replace the lid on the moisture can using gloves, and allow it to cool to room temperature.  Determine and record the mass of the moisture can and lid (containing the dry soil) (MCDS).
 (5) Empty the moisture can and clean the can and lid.

Data Analysis:  (1) Determine the mass of soil solids.    SC MCDSMSM −=  (2) Determine the mass of pore water.  CDS MCMSMWM −=  (3) Determine the water content.                             
100 x Ms