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IS 10077:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for equipment for determination of shrinkage factors. This standard specifies the requirements for the equipment used in determining the shrinkage factors of soils, such as shrinkage limit, shrinkage ratio, and volumetric shrinkage. It details the dimensions, materials, and construction of apparatus like the shrinkage dish, glass cup, and pronged glass plate.
! The test involves mercury, which is hazardous. All handling must be done with extreme caution in a well-ventilated area following strict safety protocols.
! Ensure the inside of the shrinkage dish is smooth and clean to prevent the soil pat from sticking, which would lead to inaccurate results.
! The volume of the shrinkage dish must be accurately calibrated before use, as this value is fundamental to all subsequent calculations.
Standard Test Method for Shrinkage Factors of Cohesive Soils
Specifies apparatus and the complete test procedure for determining soil shrinkage factors, including the shrinkage limit.
BS 1377-2:1990BSI, United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes. Classification tests
Clause 6 of this standard details the equipment and method for determining the shrinkage limit of soils.
ASTM D427-04ASTM International, USA
HighWithdrawn
Standard Test Method for Shrinkage Factors of Soils
The historical predecessor to ASTM D4943, it specified very similar apparatus for the mercury displacement method.
Key Differences
≠IS 10077:1982 exclusively specifies the equipment, whereas international standards like ASTM D4943 and BS 1377-2 describe the entire test procedure, with apparatus as one section.
≠ASTM D4943 provides an alternative method (Method B) using molten wax to coat the soil pat for volume determination, which is not detailed in the Indian Standard framework.
≠IS 10077 provides detailed engineering drawings with specific tolerances for the apparatus (e.g., glass cup, prong plate), while international standards tend to focus on performance requirements and critical dimensions rather than fabrication drawings.
≠The dimensions of the glass cup for mercury displacement differ slightly; IS 10077 specifies a height of 25 mm, whereas BS 1377-2 specifies a height of 30 mm for a similar diameter cup.
Key Similarities
≈All standards are based on the same fundamental principle: determining the volume of a soil pat before and after drying to calculate shrinkage factors.
≈The core apparatus for the mercury displacement method is consistent across standards, including a shrinkage dish, evaporating dish, spatula, balance, oven, and mercury displacement setup.
≈The use of mercury displacement to determine the volume of the dried, irregular soil pat is a common method specified in IS 10077 (via test procedure IS 2720-6), ASTM D4943 (Method A), and BS 1377-2.
≈All standards specify a similar oven drying temperature, typically in the range of 105°C to 110°C, for bringing the soil specimen to a constant weight.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Shrinkage Dish Internal Diameter
45 mm
Approx. 1.75 in. (44.5 mm)
ASTM D4943-18
Shrinkage Dish Internal Height
15 mm
Approx. 0.5 in. (12.7 mm)
ASTM D4943-18
Glass Cup (for Mercury) Internal Diameter
50 mm
50 mm
BS 1377-2:1990
Glass Cup (for Mercury) Internal Height
25 mm
30 mm
BS 1377-2:1990
Drying Oven Temperature
105 to 110 °C (per IS 2720)
110 ± 5 °C
ASTM D4943-18
Balance Readability
0.01 g (per IS 2720)
0.01 g
ASTM D4943-18
Glass Plate with Prongs (Prong Length)
3 prongs, 4 mm projection
3 pins, projecting about 3 mm
BS 1377-2:1990
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Shrinkage dish internal diameter45 mm
Shrinkage dish internal height15 mm
Glass cup internal diameter at top50 mm
Glass cup internal height25 mm
Glass plate with prongs size75 x 75 x 3 mm
Balance sensitivity0.01 g
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Shrinkage Dish
Clause 4 - Glass Cup
Clause 5 - Glass Plate with Prongs
Clause 8 - Balance
Frequently Asked Questions4
What is the standard size of the shrinkage dish?+
It is a flat-bottomed circular dish with an internal diameter of 45 mm and an internal height of 15 mm (Clause 3.1).
What material is the shrinkage dish made of?+
It can be made of monel metal, stainless steel, porcelain, or any other non-corroding material (Clause 3.1).
Which standard specifies the test procedure using this equipment?+
The procedure for determining shrinkage factors is detailed in IS 2720 (Part 6).
What is the purpose of the glass plate with three prongs?+
It is used to press the soil pat into the dish and to securely hold the dish when it is submerged in mercury for volume determination (Clause 5).