Grain-Size Analysis by Buoyancy Method
Bardet J-P, Young JG
(Received 12 August 1996; accepted 7 July 1997)

Abstract
A new routine experiment referred to as buoyancy analysis is proposed to determine the grain-size distribution of fine-grained soils. The buoyancy analysis is based on the sedimentation principles of the hydrometer and pipette analyses. It determines the percent by weight finer than a given grain size by measuring the buoyant weight of a 2.5-cm-diameter sphere immersed in the soil suspension. The buoyancy analysis is slightly more accurate than the hydrometer analysis, has a shorter duration, and its readings can be fed directly into a computer. It yields results identical to those of the hydrometer analysis when the sphere is immersed within the depth range of the hydrometer bulb.

Keywords:
buoyancy, grain-size distribution, particle size, sedimentation, soil testing

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Author Bardet J-P, Young JG Title Grain-Size Analysis by Buoyancy Method Symposium , Committee on