Reference

IS-13030-1991- Method of test for laboratory determination of water content, porosity, density and related properties of rock material.

Objective

Determination of mass of water contained in a rock sample.

Clean the container and lid, dry it and determine the mass M1.
Place the rock sample in the container. Weigh the container with sample and record it as M2.
Remove the lid and place the container with the sample in the oven. Allow it to dry till it attains a constant mass.
After complete drying of sample, remove it from oven, replace the lids and allow it to cool in a desiccators for 30 minutes.
Weigh the oven dried sample with container and lid and record the weight as M3.

Water content is calculated using the following formula.

Water content, w = (Pore water mass, Mw/Grain mass, Ms)*100

= ((M2-M3)/(M3-M1))*100

Where, M1 = Mass in ‘g’ of the container and lid

M2 = Mass in ‘g’ of the container + lid + sample

M3 = Mass in ‘g’ of the container + lid + oven dried sample

Water content is reported to the nearest 0.1%.