New Method to Determine the True Water Content of Organic Soils
O'Kelly, BC
Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland, and formerly Scott Wilson Consulting Engineers, UK

(Received 22 May 2003; accepted 12 January 2005)

Abstract
A larger error arose when the water content of the test soil (70 % organic content) was determined using the specimen dry mass recorded at 60°C rather than the standard drying temperature of 110±5°C. Longer drying times were also required for the dry mass to equilibrate, making it more inconvenient from a practical standpoint. Some oxidation of the organic solids occurred for oven specimen drying above 80°C. The true value of the water content corresponded to an oven drying temperature of 86°C.

Keywords:
drying temperature, organic soil, oven drying, soils, water content determination

Paper ID: GTJ11963
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11963

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Author O'Kelly, BC Affiliation Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland, and formerly Scott Wilson Consulting Engineers, UK Author O'Kelly BC Title New Method to Determine the True Water Content of Organic Soils Symposium , Committee on