---
title: "Apparent and bulk specific gravity of sand"
subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:specific-gravity-sand-numerical"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/specific-gravity-sand-numerical
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Apparent and bulk specific gravity of sand

Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 1: Introduction to concrete and concrete materials

- Asked in: 2082 Baisakh, 5 marks
- Video: [Specific gravity of fine aggregates by pycnometer calculations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU40GsYkw8o) — Concrete Engineers
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/specific-gravity-sand-numerical
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-1

## Question

Calculate the apparent specific gravity and bulk specific gravity of sand if: mass of sand (oven-dry) = 480 g; mass of sand (SSD) = 490 g; mass of pycnometer full of water = 1400 g; mass of pycnometer plus sand and topped up with water = 1695 g.

## Short answer

Apparent specific gravity = oven-dry mass / [oven-dry mass – (pycnometer+sample mass – pycnometer+water mass)] = 480 / (480 – 295) = 2.59. Bulk specific gravity (oven-dry) = 480 / (490 – 295) = 2.46.

## Answer

Following IS 2386 Part 3 (pycnometer method).

**Given:** oven-dry mass $A = 480$ g; saturated surface-dry mass $S = 490$ g; mass of pycnometer full of water $B = 1400$ g; mass of pycnometer + sand + water (topped up) $C = 1695$ g.

Taking $B$ as the pycnometer filled with water only (as given) and $C$ with sand and water topped up:

Mass of water displaced by the sand in the SSD condition (equivalent weight) = $S - (C - B)$, with $C - B = 1695 - 1400 = 295$ g (net gain due to sand under water).

$$
\begin{aligned}
\text{Volume of sand (SSD), incl. pores} &= S - (C - B) = 490 - 295 = 195\ \text{cm}^3 \\
\text{Volume of solids (excl. permeable pores)} &= A - (C - B) = 480 - 295 = 185\ \text{cm}^3
\end{aligned}
$$

**Apparent specific gravity**

$$
G_{app} = \frac{A}{A - (C - B)} = \frac{480}{185} = 2.59
$$

**Bulk specific gravity** (oven-dry basis)

$$
G_{bulk} = \frac{A}{S - (C - B)} = \frac{480}{195} = 2.46
$$

Bulk specific gravity (SSD basis) = $490/195 = 2.51$. Water absorption = $(490-480)/480 \times 100 = 2.08\%$.

**Answer: Apparent specific gravity = 2.59; bulk specific gravity (oven-dry) = 2.46** (SSD basis 2.51).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Apparent specific gravity is:
   A. A/(S - (C - B))
   B. A/(A - (C - B))
   C. S/(A - (C - B))
   D. (C - B)/A
   Answer: B. G_app = A/(A - (C - B)) = 480/185. (Key point: Apparent SG formula)

2. The apparent specific gravity is about:
   A. 2.46
   B. 2.51
   C. 2.08
   D. 2.59
   Answer: D. 480/185 = 2.59. (Key point: Apparent SG value)

3. Bulk specific gravity (oven-dry basis) is about:
   A. 2.46
   B. 2.59
   C. 2.51
   D. 1.95
   Answer: A. 480/195 = 2.46, using SSD volume 490 - 295 = 195. (Key point: Bulk SG)

## Related in Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure

- [Admixture vs additive; apparent vs absolute specific gravity](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aspecific-gravity-differences) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 1

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