Density and specific gravity of soil particles

The density of soil particles (pj is defined as the ratio of the mass of soil particles solids (MJ to the corresponding volume of soil particles (Vj). In other words  

The specific gravity of a soil (g or y) is the ratio of the weight in air of a given volume of soil particles at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of distilled water at the stated temperature. 

The term density is used by EN specifications while the term specific gravity is usually 

The density or specific gravity of soils can be determined in the laboratory by using a pyknometer or flasks of various sizes. The procedure is similar to the one followed for the determination of density or specific gravity of aggregate materials (see Section 2.12). 

However, details regarding laboratory investigation of density and specific gravity of soils can be found in CENISO/TS 17892-3 (2005), ASTM D 854 (2010) or AASHTO T100 (2010). 

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