Soil-Cement Inspector Manual PCA
Soil-Cement Inspector Manual PCA
Soil-Cement Inspector Manual PCA
I~ORTLAND
CEMENT
ASSOCIATION
SOIL-CEMENT
INSPECTORS
MANUAL
PAO5O.O 3
SOIL-CEMENT
INSPECTORS
MAN UAL
PORTLAND
CEMENT
ASSOCIATION
Foreword
Contents
Foreword
An introduction to Soil-Cement
Chapter 1 Checklist
8
8
8
11
13
15
15
31
44
46
47
48
49
57
57
57
Appendix
Equipment for Field Tests
Form Sheets
. . .
59
59
60
An Introduction
to Soil-Cement
Soil-cement is a mixture of pulverized soil material and meas
ured amounts of portland cement and water, compacted to
high density. As the cement hydrates, the mixture becomes a
hard, durable paving material. A bituminous wearing course
is placed on the soil-cement base to complete the pavement.
Only three basic ingredients are needed for soil-cement:
soil material, portland cement, and water. The soil in soilcement can be a wide variety of materials. Either in-place or
borrow material can be used. Old granular-base roads, with
or without their bituminous surfaces, can be recycled to make
soil-cement.
Soil-cement is sometimes called cement-treated base or
cement-stabilized-aggregate base. Regardless of what it is
called, the principles governing its composition and construc
tion are the same.
Before construction with soil-cement starts, the soil mate
rials that will be treated with cement should have been identi
fied and representative samples of each type tested. These
tests determine the minimum cement content required to
harden each material adequately and the approximate opti
mum moisture content and density values for use in construc
tion.
Soil-cement road construction involves two stepsprepa
ration and processing. Variations in these steps are dictated
by the type of mixing equipment used. Regardless of the
equipment and methods used, it is essential to have an ade
quately compacted, thorough mixture of soil material with the
proper amounts of cement and moisture. The completed soilcement must be adequately cured.
Soil, cement, and water can be (1) mixed in place using trav
eling mixing machines, or (2) mixed in a central mixing plant.
The types of mixing equipment are
1. Traveling mixing machines
a. Flat-transverse-shaft type
Single-shaft mixer
Multiple-shaft mixer
b. Windrow-type pugmill
4
Chapter 1
Ch ec
IS
Chapter 2
Co
w
C
x
I
ICC
ICC
C.)
Co
Co
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w
I
IC.
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D
Co
~h
Site Preparation
Areas of unstable subgrade must be corrected before proc
essing starts, since proper compaction of soil-cement will not
be possible if the subgrade cannot support the compaction
equipment.
Unstable subgrade soils, which usually contain excess
moisture, can generally be detected by observing their stabil
ity under the wheels of the motor grader as it shapes the area
prior to soil-cement processing. Shallow wet spots can be im
proved by aerating and drying. When deep unstable areas are
encountered, it is usually necessary to remove the underlying
soil and replace it with better material. An alternate method of
correction is to treat the subgrade with cement.
When in-place soil materials are used, the grade at the start
of construction will influence the final cross section. There
fore, before processing is started, the roadway should be
shaped to approximate crown and grade. Maintenance of
8
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~ 11111111 ~ll
~
r~ ~ ii ~
-~ill~ll ~
Equipment Check
All equipment necessary for construction must be at the jobsite and in good operating condition before processing begins.
A short trial run is valuable in assuring proper operation and
adjustment of equipment.
Listed below are items that should be checked prior to proc
essing.
Central Mixing
1. Cement feed, Is the cement meter on the central plant in
good condition and in an exposed location where it can
conveniently be calibrated? Does the plant include a surge
tank between the cement silo and the feeder to maintain a
constant head of cement for the feeder? Have air jets been
installed in the hoppers to produce a loose, uniform, accu
rate flow of cement? Is there a positive connection between
the soil feed and cement feed apparatus so that if the ce
ment feed stops, the soil supply will stop?
2. MIxer. Are the paddles all in place and in good condition?
Does the spraybar give a uniform, constant spray of water?
Can the required quantity of water be delivered through the
plant under maximum production?
3. Transporting equIpment. Is the equipment of sufficient
capacity to meet the production requirements? Are protec
tive covers provided for use during bad weather?
4. Spreader. Is it in good operating condition and adjusted to
spread the mixed soil-r.ement to the proper loose depth and
width?
Mixed in Place
1. Cement spreader. Is the conveyor belt or chain on the
cement spreader in good condition? Does the spreader run
11
Motor Grader
Is the motor grader blade in good condition and not worn excessively?
Compaction Equipment
Fig. 3. Checking for water truck spraybar leakage.
Is the tamping roller filled with water or sand? Are the tamping
feet the proper size, shape, and length for the type and thick
ness of soil to be processed? Are the rubber-tire and steelwheel rollers of the proper weight?
Pulverization
Most soil materials require little if any pulverization before
processing starts. However, the heavier clayey soils do re
quire some preliminary work. The keys to pulverization of
clayey soils are proper moisture control and proper equip
ment.
Most specifications require that, at the completion of moist
mixing, 80% of the soil-cement mixture pass the No. 4 (4.75mm) sieve and 100% pass the 1-in. (25-mm) sieve, exclusive
of gravel or stone retained on these sieves. This is checked
by making a pulverization test. The test consists of screening
a representative sample of soil-cement through a No. 4(4.75mm) sieve. Any gravel or stone retained on the sieve is picked
13
out and discarded. The clay lumps retained and the pulverized
soil passing the No.4(4.75-mm) sieve are weighed separately
and their dry weights determined. The degree of pulverization
is calculated as follows:
dry weight of soil-cement mixture
passing No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve
% pulverization dry weight of total sample exclusive 100
of gravel retained on No.4(4.75-mm)
sieve
.
Chapter 3
Cement Application
Since cement hydration practically ceases when tempera
tures approach freezing, cement should not be applied when
air temperature is 40F (4 C) or lower. Cement must not be
applied when the soil material or subgrade is frozen.
The amount of cement required is specified either as a per
centage of cement by weight of oven-dry soil material, or in
pounds of cement per cubic foot (kilograms per cubic meter)
of compacted soil~cement.* Fig. 5can be used to convert from
one to the other if the maximum dry density of the compacted
soil-cement is known.
EXAMPLE 1.
15
AASHTO
Soil Group
Cement,
pounds per
cubic foot of
compacted
soil-cement
Cement
percentage
by weight of
soil
Cement,
kilograms per
cubic meter of
compacted
soil-cement
1600-
iOO
IS
15-
i7
is
14
230
220
210
15
14
A-i-a
A-i-b
A-2-4
3-5
5-8
5-7
7-8
80-110
110-130
5-9
7-9
110-140
A-2-7 ~
A-3
A-4
A-S
A-6
A-7
7-il
7-12
8-13
9-15
10-16
8-11
8-il
8-11
9-13
9-13
130-180
130-180
130-180
140-210
140-210
los
iz
190
i2
180
iio
170
iO
iSoo-
percentage
Material
Caliche
Chat
Chert
Cinders
Limestone screenings
Marl
Red dog
Scoria containing plus
No 4 material
Scoria (minus No 4
material only)
Shale or disintegrated
shale
Shell soils
Slag (air-cooledl
Slag (water-cooled)
by weight of
soil
Cement,
pounds per
cubic foot of
compacted
soil-cement
s
~8-
Cement,
kilograms per
cubic meter of
compacted
soil-cement
7
7
8
8
5
11
8
8
8
8
8
7
10
8
130
130
130
130
110
160
130
11
ii
180
130
10
7
7
12
10
8
8
9
160
130
130
140
2000-
125
2100-
30
~6
-s
___~
35
2200-
-1306
-20~
-iso~
i60
25
1900-
16
200
i3
i700-
240
-ioo
-90
-140
-80
2300-i45
120
us
bOoth
0,10 .10111
im
Fig. 6. Quantity of cement per unit length for given depth and
width of treatment for specified cement contents.
Cement content.
pounds per
cubic foot of
compacted
soil-cement
cement spread,
pounds per square
yard per inch of
thickness of
compacted
soil-cement
Cement content.
kilograms per
cubic meter of
compacted
soil-cement
Cement spread,
kilograms per square
meter per 10mm
of thickness of
compacted
soil-cement
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
80
8.5
9.0
9.5
10.0
105
11.0
11.5
12.0
12.5
13.0
13.5
14.0
14.5
15.0
15.5
160
3.38
3.75
4.13
4.50
4.88
5.25
5.63
6.0
6.38
6.75
7.13
7.50
7.88
8.25
8.63
9.0
9.38
9.75
10.13
10.50
1088
11 25
1163
12.0
72
80
88
96
104
112
120
128
136
144
152
160
168
176
184
192
200
208
216
224
232
240
248
256
0.72
0.80
0.88
0.96
1.04
1.12
1 20
128
1.36
1.44
1.52
1.60
168
1 76
184
1 92
2.00
2.08
2.16
2.24
2.32
2.40
248
256
:::~
4 ~:~jj~::
IouaIou
IfS
Lip _uaAo
JO
LJ&IaM
Lq ~uawa, lu;ond
558ft(170m)
I.
1 tonne
1000 kg
1 Mg
23
Cit
I
-/
RPM
setting
EXAMPLE 6.
0
0
---~
or
~~= 167 U.S. gal per minute (632 L/min)
or 139 imperial gallons per minute
8
Soil:
Cement:
11.5%
1111
~1
Water Application
One of the five control factors for soil-cement is proper mois
ture content. The optimum moisture content determined in the
laboratory is used as a guide when starting construction. At
the conclusion of moist-mixing, a moisture-density test,
AASHTO T134 or ASTM D558, is made on a representative
sample of the mixture taken from the roadway. This test deter
mines the optimum moisture and maximum density to be used
for field control of the section under construction. These re
sults may differ from laboratory values due to minor variations
in the soil material or due to the effects of partial hydration of
the cement during the mixing period.
In the moisture-density test, the soil-cement mixture is
compacted in three layers of approximately equal thickness
in a 1 30-cu-ft (943-cm ) mold with collar attachment, some
times called a Proctor mold. The mold should be on a rigid, uni
form foundation.
Each layer is compacted by 25 uniformly distributed vertical
blows of a 5 -lb (2.5-kg) rammer with a free fall of 12 in. (305
mm). The thickness of the layers is controlled so that the third
layer extends above the top of the mold about 2 in. (13 mm)
into the collar extension. After the collar is removed, the soilcement is trimmed to the exact height of the mold: then the
assembly is weighed. The net wet weight of the compacted
Fig. 15. Running a field moisture-density test.
..,
ii
MOISTURE-DENSITY RELATIONS
MOISTURE-DENSITY RELATIONS
STATE
DATE
cou~nv
ROUTE
LOCATION:
PROJECT N
PROJECT
PROJECT NO
REMARKS
TEST NUMBER
iii Wetweightspecimen + mold
lb
lb
lb
I + (lv)
~
i29_0_ 131i
~ ~
~
~
5~_.
~
Ib/Cuft
~ .974.
kg
.3_Sos
kg
(4)
2058.
ZL40.
.2J.45..
._SL..
..._$L .........Z8....
........
g
g
L~..
.554..
-i-
(1 +
(to)) 100
._~..o..
(11))
kgb5
I 883
Euxe.se~iasadecmai
Maximum Density
ISO
120.0
Muximum Density
lb/cu ft
1922
~ 19
Optimum Moisture
11.8
ite
Inspector
10
MOISTURE CONTENT,ft.
10
MOISTURE CONTENT.%
19CC
Inspector
kg/m5
Optimum Moisture
z
a
32
kgb5
E0r.SS.dflad.o,,,&
9.815.
Cm
.52.4.... ....584....
~
.uL~... 1.LS..
kg
.105....
~~~__
TEST NUMBER
(1) Wet mass specimen + mold
(3) Net wet muss specimen )t) (2)
.SL
12.95.. .12.96.
cx ft
lb/Cu ft
i7i
L2..40
Ii
15
dry weight calculated and plotted against ittoform a moisturedensity curve(Figs.16 and 1 7).The optimum mo sture content
is that at which the greatest dry density is obtained. This den-
33
Moisture Test
In order to estimate mixing-water requirements, representa
tive moisture samples are obtained from the raw soil prior to
mixing and water application.
The moist samples are weighed, then dried and reweighed.
The moisture content is computed as follows:
wet weight dry weight
Percent moisture =
x 100
dry weight
For field testing, samples containing gravel retained on the
No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve should weigh at least 750 g. Samples
containing no gravel should weigh at least 400g. Tables 4 and
5 can be used to determine moisture contents for moist sam
ples weighing either 750 or 400 g when their dry weights are
known.
-
20-
~I950
1900
850
(I)
110-
10
15
MOISTURE CONTENT. %
Dry weight,
g
649.0
648.0
647.0
646.0
645.0
644.0
643.0
642.0
641.0
640.0
639.0
638.0
637.0
636.0
635.0
0.8
0.9
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.2
2.3
2.5
2.6
2.7
% moisture
12.1
12.3
12.4
12.6
12.8
13.0
13.1
13.3
13.5
13.6
13.8
14.0
14.2
14.3
14.5
14.7
14.9
15.0
15.2
15.4
744.0
743.0
742.0
741.0
740.0
739.0
738.0
737.0
736.0
735.0
734.0
733.0
732.0
731.0
730.0
Dry weight,
g
669.0
668.0
667.0
666.0
665.0
664.0
663.0
662.0
661.0
660.0
659.0
658.0
657.0
656.0
655.0
654.0
653.0
652.0
651.0
650.0
634.0
633.0
632.0
631.0
630.0
714.0
713.0
712.0
711.0
710.0
719.0
718.0
717.0
716.0
715.0
724.0
723.0
722.0
721.0
720.0
729.0
728.0
727.0
726.0
725.0
0.1
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.7
749.0
748.0
747.0
746.0
745.0
Dry weight,
g
% moisture
Dry weight,
g
18.3
18.5
18.7
18.9
19.0
17.4
17.6
17.7
17.9
18.1
16.5
16.6
16.8
17.0
17.2
15.6
15.7
15.9
16.1
16.3
% moisture
5.0
5.2
5.3
5.5
5.6
4.3
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.9
3.6
3.7
3.9
4.0
4.2
2.9
3.0
3.2
3.3
3.4
% moisture
614.0
613.0
612.0
611.0
610.0
619.0
618.0
617.0
616.0
615.0
624.0
623.0
622.0
621.0
620.0
629.0
628.0
627.0
626.0
625.0
Dry weight,
g
694.0
693.0
692.0
691.0
690.0
699.0
698.0
697.0
696.0
695.0
704.0
703.0
702.0
701.0
700.0
709.0
708.0
707.0
706.0
705.0
Dry weight,
g
22.1
22.3
22.5
22.7
23.0
21.2
21.4
21.6
21.8
22.0
20.2
20.4
20.6
20.8
21.0
19.2
19.4
19.6
19.8
20.0
% moisture
8.1
8.2
8.4
8.5
8.7
7.3
7.5
7.6
7.8
7.9
6.5
6.7
6.8
7.0
7.1
5.8
5.9
6.1
6.2
6.4
% moisture
594.0
593.0
592.0
591.0
590.0
599.0
598.0
597.0
596.0
595.0
604.0
603.0
602.0
601.0
600.0
609.0
608.0
607.0
606.0
605.0
Dry weight,
g
674.0
673.0
672.0
671.0
670.0
679.0
678.0
677.0
676.0
675.0
684.0
683.0
682.0
681.0
680.0
689.0
688.0
687.0
686.0
685.0
Dry weight,
26.3
26.5
26.7
26.9
27.1
25.2
25.4
25.6
25.8
26.0
24.2
24.4
24.6
24.8
25.0
23.2
23.4
23.6
23.8
24.0
% moisture
11.3
11.4
11.6
11.8
11.9
10.5
10.6
10.8
10.9
11.1
9.6
9.8
10.0
10.1
10.3
8.9
9.0
9.2
9.3
9.5
k moisture
~,,
Dry weight,
g
349.5
349.0
348.5
348.0
347.5
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.6
% moisture
11.3
11.4
11.6
11.7
11.9
12.0
12.2
12.4
12.5
12.7
12.8
13.0
13.2
13.3
13.5
13.6
13.8
14.0
14.1
14.3
397.0
396.5
396.0
395.5
395.0
394.5
394.0
393.5
393.0
392.5
392.0
391.5
391.0
390.5
390.0
Dry weight,
g
359.5
359.0
358.5
358.0
357.5
357.0
356.5
356.0
355.5
355.0
354.5
354.0
353.5
353.0
352.5
352.0
351.5
351.0
350.5
350.0
342.0
341.5
341.0
340.5
340.0
344.5
344.0
343.5
343.0
342.5
347.0
346.5
346.0
345.5
345.0
382.0
381.5
381.0
380.5
380.0
384.5
384.0
383.5
383.0
382.5
387.0
386.5
386.0
385.5
385.0
389.5
389.0
388.5
388.0
387.5
0.1
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
399.5
399.0
398.5
398.0
397.5
Dry weight,
g
% moisture
Dry weight,
g
17.0
17.1
17.3
17.5
17.6
16.1
16.3
16.4
16.6
16.8
15.3
15.4
15.6
15.8
15.9
14.4
14.6
14.8
14.9
15.1
% moisture
4.7
4.8
5.0
5.1
5.3
4.0
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.6
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.8
3.9
2.7
2.8
3.0
3.1
3.2
% moisture
332.0
331.5
331.0
330.5
330.0
334.5
334.0
333.5
333.0
332.5
337.0
336.5
336.0
335.5
335.0
339.5
339.0
338.5
338.0
337.5
Dry weight,
g
372.0
371.5
371.0
370.5
370.0
374.5
374.0
373.5
373.0
372.5
377.0
376.5
376.0
375.5
375.0
379.5
379.0
378.5
378.0
377.5
Dry weight,
g
20.5
20.7
20.8
21.0
21.2
19.6
19.8
19.9
20.1
20.3
18.7
18.9
19.0
19.2
19.4
17.8
18.0
18.2
18.3
18.5
% moisture
7.5
7.7
7.8
8.0
8.1
6.8
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.4
6.1
6.2
6.4
6.5
6.7
5.4
5.5
5.7
5.8
6.0
% moisture
322.0
321.5
321.0
320.5
320.0
324.5
324.0
323.5
323.0
322.5
327.0
326.5
326.0
325.5
325.0
329.5
329.0
328.5
328.0
327.5
Dry weight,
g
362.0
361.5
361.0
360.5
360.0
364.5
364.0
363.5
363.0
362.5
367.0
366.5
366.0
365.5
365.0
369.5
369.0
368.5
368.0
367.5
Dry weight,
g
24.2
24.4
24.6
24.8
25.0
23.3
23.5
23.6
23.8
24.0
22.3
22.5
22.7
22.9
23.1
21.4
21.6
21.8
22.0
22.1
% moisture
10.5
10.7
10.8
11.0
11.1
9.7
9.9
10.0
10.2
10.3
9.0
9.1
9.3
9.4
9.6
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.7
8.8
% moisture
cJ
S
*
~n
I
0
I.,
I
g~
cJ
I
0
c~i
I
~
I
0
-~
Suissa~ojd ~0 LBPIM
...
PROCEDURE:
1. Convert weight of soil material per unit length of windrow
at its in-place moisture content to weight of the ovendry
soil material:
460
= 436 lb ovendry soil material
(1.0 + 0.055)
per linear foot (649 kg/rn)
2. Quantity of cement required per unit length of windrow:
436 x 0.06 = 26.2 lb per foot (39 kg/rn)
3. Quantity of dry soil material plus cement per unit length
of windrow:
436 + 26.2 = 462.2 lb per foot (688 kg/rn)
4. Quantity of water in soil material per unit length of windrow:
460 436 = 24 lb per foot (35.7 kg/rn)
-
0.135
_.
45
Compaction
The principles governing compaction of soil-cement are the
same as those for compacting the same soil materials without
cement treatment. The soil-cement mixture at optimum mois
ture should be compacted and finished immediately. Moisture
loss by evaporation during compaction and finishing, indica
ted by a greying of the surface, should be replaced with light
applications of water.
Tamping (sheepsfoot) rollers are generally used for initial
compaction except for the more granular soils. To obtain ade
quate compaction, it is sometimes necessary to operate the
rollers with ballast to give greater unit pressure. The general
rule is to use the greatest contact pressure that will not exceed
the bearing capacity of the soil-cement mixture and that will
still walk out in a reasonable number of passes.
When tamping rollers are used for initial compaction, the
mixed material must be loose so that the feet will pack the bot
tom material and gradually walk out on each succeeding pass.
If penetration is not being obtained, the scarifier on a motor
grader or a traveling mixer can be used to loosen the mix dur
ing start of compaction, thus allowing the feet to penetrate.
Vibratory-steel-wheel rollers, grid rollers, and segmented
rollers can be used satisfactorily to compact soil-cement
made of granular soil materials. Vibratory-plate compactors
are used on nonpiastic granular materials.
Pneumatic-tire rollers can be used to compact coarse sand
and gravel soil-cement mixtures with very little plasticity and
very sandy mixtures such as dune, beach, or blow sand, which
have little or no binder material. Some rollers permit rapid infla
tion and deflation of the tires while compacting.
Pneumatic-tire rollers pulled by track-type tractors equip
ped with street plates can be used to compact cohesionless
sand mixtures. The weight and vibration of the tractor aid in
compaction.
46
Finishing
There are several acceptable methods for finishing soilcement. The exact procedure depends on equipment, job
conditions, and soil characteristics. Regardless of method,
the fundamental requirements of adequate compaction
and optimum moisture must be met to produce a high-quality
surface. The surface should be smooth, dense, and free of
ruts, ridges, or cracks.
Joint Construction
Nuclear Method
48
Degree of Compaction
and Final Depth Check
49
.,,-.
~
~
.,..
~r~
~
;.
,.
j51
..,
1
t
the sand-cone method. A hole is dug in the base, and the dry
weight of the material removed and the volume of the hole are
computed.
Sand-Cone Method
The sand-cone method, AASHTO Ti 91 or ASTM Dl 556, is
1 7.91 lb
(8.124 kg)
2. Weight of apparatus
4.20 lb (1 .905 kg)
3. Weight of sand, (1) -(2)
13.71 lb (6.219 kg)
4. Weight of apparatus filled with water
12.75 lb
(5.783 kg)
51
Calibration of Funnel
To determine the weight of sand required to fill the funnel, in
vert the density apparatus full of sand on the metal base plate
on a smooth, flat surface; then open the valve until the sand
stops flowing. Close the valve and remove the apparatus and
unused sand.
EXAMPLE 12.
Calculate the amount of sand needed to fill the funnel and
base plate.
PROCEDURE:
1. Weight of apparatus and sand at start
17.91 lb
(8.124 kg)
2. Weight of apparatus and unused sand
13.98 lb
(6.341 kg)
3. Weight of sand to fill funnel and base plate, (1) (2)..
3.93 lb (1 .783 kg)
-
Density Test
1. Level the surface of the test area. Using the base plate as
a guide, dig a hole approximately 5 in. (125 mm) in diam
eter almost through the depth of treatment, using a ham
mer and chisel or soil auger. To avoid enlargement of the
hole by pressure of the excavating tools, material should
be loosened in the test hole by cutting. Carefully remove
all loosened material in the test hole and place itin a tight
ly covered container. Clean the hole with a brush and re
move all loose particles. Use care during the test to avoid
losing any material removed from the test hole.
2. Determine the volume of the test hole by the use of the
density apparatus and calibrated sand. Fill the jug with
the sand and weigh the apparatus and sand. Invert the
*1 cu ft of water weighs 62.4 lb.
~1 m3 of water has a mass of 1000 kg
52
apparatus and place the funnel rim over the hole and in
the groove provided in the base plate. Open the valve and
allow the sand to fill the test hole and funnel. Avoid jarring
or vibrating the density apparatus during the test. After
the sand has stopped flowing, close the valve and weigh
the apparatus and remaining sand. The sand used to fill
the test hole is the weight of sand released in the test
minus the weight of sand in the upper cone.
3. Determine the moist weight of all material removed from
the test hole. Mix the material thoroughly, then take a rep
resentative sample and determine its moisture content.
Using this moisture content, calculate the dry weight of
material removed from the test hole.
4. For gravelly soils, determine the percentage of gravel re
tained on the No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve of the material re
moved from the test hole.
Calculations
1 The moisture content and the ovendry weight of material
removed from the test hole are calculated as follows:
% moisture of representative sample
= wet weight-dryweight ~ 100
dry weight
Dry weight of material from test hole
wet weiqht
1.0 + (% moisture/100)
% retained on No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve
= weight retained on No.4(4.75-mm) sieve
100
total dry weight of sample
2. The volume of the test hole, in cubic feet (m3), is calcu
lated as follows:
weight of sand used minus sand in upper cone, lb (kg)
unit weight of the sand, lb/cu ft (kg/rn3)
.
Rubber-Balloon Method
As with the sand-cone method, the density hole is dug and all
the material removed is placed in a container and its dry
weight determined. The volume of the hole is then determined
directly using a calibrated apparatus containing water. A pres
sure bulb exerts pressure on the water and a rubber balloon
containing water is forced into the confines of the density hole
(ASTM D21 67, AASHTO T205). The difference between the
initial and final water volume readings is the volume of the
hole. Like other methods, the rubber-balloon method has limi
tations and care must be taken in running the test.
aAoJb ~o
~N
Q
N
~()
N
~
N
j~
ds
~iI~8
n~I
~
U,
.a_ ~
+0
55
~LX
~
U
~
U~
5~Z
~
& ~
U,
0+
S
E
B ro/q~ ~ ~G
54
55
EXAMPLE 13.
56
=
=
=
=
B +~
Curing
Soil-cement at optimum moisture contains sufficient moisture
for adequate cement hydration. After final compaction, a
moisture-retaining cover is placed over the soil-cement to
permit the cement to hydrate. Moist soil-cement is cured with
bituminous material, but other materials such as waterproof
paper or plastic sheets, wet straw or sand, fog-type water
spray, and wet burlap or cotton mats are entirely satisfactory.
The bituminous materials most commonly used are emulsified
asphalt SS-1, RC-250, MC-250, and RT-5.
The rate of application varies from 0.15 to 0.30 gal per
square yard (0.7 to 1 .4 L!m2). Before the bituminous material
is applied, the surface of the soil-cement should be moist and
free of dry, loose material. In most cases a light application of
water precedes the bituminous cure.
When the air temperature is expected to reach the freezing
point, the soil-cement should be protected from freezing for 7
days after its construction and until it has hardened.
(
.7..
Opening to Traffic
Completed portions of soil-cement can be opened immedi
ately to local traffic and to construction equipment providing
the soil-cement has hardened sufficiently to prevent marring
or distorting of the surface, and providing the curing material
is not impaired. If the bituminous moisture-retaining cover
has not dried sufficiently to prevent pick-up, sufficient sand or
grandular cover should be applied.
Maintenance
Specifications require that the contractor maintain the soilcement in good condition until all work has been completed and
accepted. Any defects that occur should be repaired immedi
ately by replacing the soil-cement for the full depth of treatment.
Areas deficient in thickness should also be remedied by replac
ing the material for full depth of treatment rather than by adding
a thin layer of soil-cement to the completed work.
58
Appendix
Equipment for Field Tests
1. Field laboratory.
2. Two-burner field stove.
3. Split moisture-density mold and rammer(1 /30-cu-ft [943cm3] mold; sleeved 5Y2-lb [2.5-kg] rammer).
4. Balance with weights, 750-g capacity.
5. Scale with weights, 20-lb (9-kg) capacity.
6. Three 3x3-ft (lxi -m) pieces of canvas.
7. Spring scale, 100-lb (45-kg) capacity.
8. Set of 8-in-diameter (200-mm) sieves: 2 in. (50 mm), 34 in.
(19 mm), and No. 4 (4.75 mm).
9. Sand-cone density apparatus with supply of dry sand of
known unit weight.
10. A 5-in.-diameter (125-mm) soil auger and No. 2 shorthandled square-pointed shovel.
11. Hammer and two 1-in. (25-mm) masons chisels.
12. Six tin pie plates and six h-gal (2-L) containers with lids.
13. Two 1 0-in-diameter (250-mm) frying pans.
14. A 100-mI glass graduated cylinder.
*-5..A 10-in. (250-mm) butcher knife, 12-in. (300-mm) steel
straightedge, and 10-in. (250-mm) trowel.
16. Two 1 2-qt (11 -L) pails, two large spoons, and a 2-in. (50mm) paint brush.
17. A 5x5-ft (1 .5x1 .5-rn) canvas sample cloth.
18. Ruler and 50-ft (15-rn) tape.
59
Moisture-Density Relations
Moisture-Density Relations
(SI Units)
flflATIflN
DATE
STATE
ROUTE
PROJECT:
PROJECT NO
COUNTY
STATION:_________________________ REMARKS:
TESTNUMBER
(1) Wet weight specimen
1
+
lb
(2)
(4)
[I
)1t))
g
5
g
g
lb/cu It
(1
(10)] 100
(11()
kg/rn
Mammum Density
Maoimum Density
kyIm
lb/cu If
kg
kg
kg
cm
kg/mu
(7)
(9) We:ghtotcontainer
(IS) NetweightdrysarnPle(7( (9)
(it) Moisturecofltenti)8) (iO))iOO
(12) Drydensity)5)
lb
Cu It
lb/cu It
REMARKS:____________________________
TEST NUMBER
(I) Wet mass specimen + mold
(2) Mass of mold
(3) Net wet mass spec:men (1) (2)
(4) Volume of mold
lb
mold
PROJECT NO.:
STATION:
Optimum Moislure
Optimum Mc,sture
0)
C
0
~
MOISTURE CONTENT.%
60
Inspector
Inspector
MOISTURE CONTENT. %
61
Field Density
Field Density
LOCATION
PROJECT
DATE
LOCATION
DATE
PROJECT NO
PROJECT
PROJECT NO
REMARKS
REMARKS
WeaWeIglitot Sample trese Test Hole
Wet WeightotSamPle+Pe1
lb
121
Weightof Pen
(31
(2)
lb
kg
lb
kg
lnSalWeightOtApParatuO~ Sand
lb
(El
(SI
lb
(7)
lb
1W
(5)
(IS)
i~urneotTestHnle(g(
Sand
(7)
(9)
kg
kg
kg
lb
lb/cuR
kg
............kglmi
cuR
.______.cm
(I)
(2)
WeightolPan
(3)
WetWeightxlSampleFmmTestHole(1)
Pan
(2)
1203
lb
5.965
kg
3.10
lb
1406
kg
603
lb
4459
kg
1791
lb
6124
kg
646
lb
2 030
kg
6194
kg
lnibalWeightofApparatuo.Sand
b)
(61
WeighrxlbondUsad(4()b(
1149
lb
)7(
LessWeigktotgandinpunnral
3.93
lb
1.763
kg
(6)
WeighrotSandUsedroFieTeothtole)6((7)
792
lb
9411
kg
(51
(IS)
Sand
100 I
00791
lb/ca g
cuR
1603
213
kg/mr
cmi
WetWeightotbalnPle+Cmttorrem
(12)
)t3(
WeighlolCorrtainer
(14)
WeigbtotMoloture(l1(
Container
g
(12)
tb)
DryWeIghlotSaInPta(t2(
(16)
MmstureCOntentStd(
(131
(ml)
Wet WeightotSample
Container
1210
(12)
Container
1106
(13)
Weight of Coritoner
(ld)
113)
DryWeightotSemple)t2)
(16)
MoistumCorrrenr (ld(
376
(12)
04
113)
750
(151) 150
II 2
(tb((ISO
Denety
Dermeftp
(Ill
DryWaightotbanrplehOrrrTestHxle(3(
hg)
Dry Density(17)
(19)
(25)
DegreeOfCompactixflSlo)
(IS)
It
(16)9
(17)
DryWeighrolSamplehmnTesrHole(3) .-(t
lb
kg
)16(
lblcutt
kg/me
1101
(20)
DegreeotCompactionplt8)
Ibicu 9
kglm
(IS)
)rgr(
004
lb
010
kg
1177
lb/caR
1003
kglm
20.0
Ib/oult
1925
kg/m3
(t9)(rSS
90
(15)1120
Depth
Depth
(Sm)
)Sr)
Depth at Treabnent
DepthntTmabnent
6-114
109
mm
eon
emseede,.dec?d
Irapector
Related Publications
The following publications are available for purchase
from the Portland Cement Association.
]
KEYWORDS: calibration, cement application, compaction, curing,
density, equipment, finishing, inspection, maintenance, mixing
plants, moisture, moisture density, pulvenzation, site preparation,
soil-cement processing, soil identification, soil materials, uniformity,
water application.
ABSTRACT: Describes procedures for inspecting soil-cement construction. Sample problems are given that show typical calculations
required for computing material quantities, and for field test. Tables
and charts to simplify these calculations are included.
REFERENCE: Soil-Cement Inspectors Manual
Portland Cement Association, 2001.
64
(PAO5O.03),