EN ISO 17892-3:2015 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 17892-3:2015 - "Geotechnical investigation and testing - Laboratory testing of soil - Part 3: Determination of particle density" specifies laboratory methods for measuring the particle density (density of solid particles) of soils. Published by CEN/ISO, this part of the ISO 17892 series defines two pycnometer methods (by fluid displacement and by gas displacement) used in geotechnical investigations and laboratory soil testing.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Applicable to laboratory determination of soil particle density for geotechnical investigations. Fulfils requirements of EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2.
• Two test methods:
  • Fluid pycnometer (liquid displacement) - intended for soils with particle sizes up to about 4 mm (or soils crushed to this size); larger pycnometers are specified for coarser materials.
  • Gas pycnometer (gas displacement) - specimen size limited by the dimensions of the instrument’s specimen container.
• Apparatus and calibration:
  • Equipment calibration and maintenance requirements are included (see Annex A in the standard).
  • Example requirement from the standard: balance accuracy of 0.01 g or 0.1% of mass, whichever is greater.
• Specimen preparation and test execution: Sections define specimen requirements, reference measurements, and procedures for deriving particle density from measured mass and volume values.
• Limitations and notes:
  • Presence of dissolved salts in pore water can influence results; compensation techniques exist but are outside the standard’s scope.
• Reporting: The standard includes required test-report content to ensure reproducibility and traceability.

Practical applications

• Provides robust, repeatable methods for determining the solid-particle density used in:
  • Calculating porosity, void ratio and degree of saturation.
  • Converting between bulk density and solids content for foundation design, earthworks and underground construction.
  • Material characterization for geotechnical site investigation, laboratory testing programs and research.
• Useful for soils labs when selecting between fluid pycnometer and gas pycnometer based on particle size and sample constraints.

Who should use this standard

• Geotechnical engineers, soil-testing laboratories, materials testing specialists, consultants, contractors and researchers conducting laboratory soil characterization as part of site investigations and design.

Related standards

• EN ISO 17892 series (Parts 1, 2, 4, etc.) covering water content, bulk density and particle size distribution.
• EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2 (geotechnical design and investigation) - EN ISO 17892-3 supports their testing requirements.

Keywords: EN ISO 17892-3:2015, particle density, pycnometer, fluid pycnometer, gas pycnometer, geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing of soil, soil testing standards.