ISO 17892-2:2014

Overview - ISO 17892-2:2014 (Determination of bulk density)

ISO 17892-2:2014 is part of the ISO 17892 series on laboratory testing of soil and specifies three approved laboratory methods for determining the bulk density of soils used in geotechnical investigations. The standard defines the scope, required equipment, specimen preparation and measurement procedures for:

• Linear measurement method (for specimens of regular shape: rectangular prisms or cylinders)
• Immersion in fluid method (weighing in air and apparent mass when suspended in fluid)
• Fluid displacement method (measuring mass of fluid displaced by immersion)

The standard also explains when specimens must be coated to prevent fluid penetration, and how to calculate dry density from measured bulk density and known water content. Bulk density results are routinely used to estimate in situ overburden stress with depth.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Methods: linear measurement, immersion, fluid displacement - selection depends on specimen shape and size.
• Specimen size: test specimens should be at least 50 cm in volume (larger specimens preferred for representativity).
• Equipment and accuracy:
  • Balance: accurate to 0.01 g or 0.1% of mass.
  • Callipers/readings: 0.1 mm or 0.1% of dimension.
  • Thermometer: accurate to ±1 °C for fluid temperature corrections.
  • Containers, cradles, siphon systems and coatings (e.g., paraffin wax) where fluid penetration is possible.
• Preparation: for the linear method, specimens must be trimmed to flat parallel faces or cylindrical form with strict tolerances (flatness/right angles specified). For immersion/displacement methods, lumps of suitable size are required and coating is recommended if the fluid can penetrate.
• Calculations: procedures for volume determination, bulk density (mass per unit volume), and conversion to dry density using water content are included.
• Calibration, maintenance and procedural checks are covered in the normative annex.

Practical applications and users

Who uses ISO 17892-2:

• Geotechnical engineers and engineering consultants conducting site investigation and lab testing.
• Soil mechanics laboratories and QA/QC technicians responsible for standardised density measurements.
• Construction and foundation designers estimating in situ overburden stresses and settlement analyses.
• Researchers and academics studying soil physical properties.

Typical applications:

• Determining soil bulk/dry density for settlement and bearing capacity assessments.
• Verifying compaction and quality control for earthworks and embankments.
• Supporting parameter selection for numerical models that use mass/volume-related soil properties.

Related standards

• ISO 17892 series (other parts such as Part 1: water content, Part 3: particle density)
• ISO 14688-1 (soil identification and description)
• Notes: ISO 17892-2 aligns with requirements for geotechnical investigation in standards such as EN 1997.

Keywords: ISO 17892-2:2014, bulk density, geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing of soil, linear measurement method, immersion method, fluid displacement method, dry density, paraffin coating, specimen preparation.