It is designed to determine the swelling pressure developed by a soil specimen moulded to desired densities at known moisture contents, when soaked in water.The load applied to restrain the swelling is transfered to a load measuring proving ring through a perforated swell plate and a load transitor bar. The proving ring is attached to the lead screw of load frame, hand operated, designed for the purpose. The load frame has a worm gear arrangement for initial setting and for subsequent volume change compensation. A soaking tank is provided for saturating the specimen and the base of the mould has channeis and radial grooves with connecting holes.