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    Tittle: Field Density Test. Scope: To Determine Density of Soil at The Field Itself Apparatus

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    Chathura Chamikara
    This document describes procedures for conducting a field density test to determine the density of soil in the field. The test involves excavating a hole with a 100mm diameter to a maximum depth of 150mm, weighing the excavated soil to determine its wet density. Sand is then poured into the hole and weighed to determine the volume of the hole. Calculations are made to find the dry density of the soil, moisture content, and degree of compaction by comparing to maximum dry density from compaction tests. Care must be taken to ensure a smooth hole and avoid vibrations during testing. Periodic calibration of the sand density is also recommended. The test provides important information to ensure compaction specifications are met for earth structures.

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    Tittle: Field Density Test. Scope: To Determine Density of Soil at The Field Itself Apparatus

    Uploaded by

    Chathura Chamikara
    90 views6 pages
    This document describes procedures for conducting a field density test to determine the density of soil in the field. The test involves excavating a hole with a 100mm diameter to a maximum depth of 150mm, weighing the excavated soil to determine its wet density. Sand is then poured into the hole and weighed to determine the volume of the hole. Calculations are made to find the dry density of the soil, moisture content, and degree of compaction by comparing to maximum dry density from compaction tests. Care must be taken to ensure a smooth hole and avoid vibrations during testing. Periodic calibration of the sand density is also recommended. The test provides important information to ensure compaction specifications are met for earth structures.

    Original Description:

    Standard test method for sand cone test.

    Original Title

    Sand-cone Test

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    This document describes procedures for conducting a field density test to determine the density of soil in the field. The test involves excavating a hole with a 100mm diameter to a maximum depth of 150mm, weighing the excavated soil to determine its wet density. Sand is then poured into the hole and weighed to determine the volume of the hole. Calculations are made to find the dry density of the soil, moisture content, and degree of compaction by comparing to maximum dry density from compaction tests. Care must be taken to ensure a smooth hole and avoid vibrations during testing. Periodic calibration of the sand density is also recommended. The test provides important information to ensure compaction specifications are met for earth structures.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    90 views6 pages

    Tittle: Field Density Test. Scope: To Determine Density of Soil at The Field Itself Apparatus

    Uploaded by

    Chathura Chamikara
    This document describes procedures for conducting a field density test to determine the density of soil in the field. The test involves excavating a hole with a 100mm diameter to a maximum depth of 150mm, weighing the excavated soil to determine its wet density. Sand is then poured into the hole and weighed to determine the volume of the hole. Calculations are made to find the dry density of the soil, moisture content, and degree of compaction by comparing to maximum dry density from compaction tests. Care must be taken to ensure a smooth hole and avoid vibrations during testing. Periodic calibration of the sand density is also recommended. The test provides important information to ensure compaction specifications are met for earth structures.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 6

    TITTLE: FIELD DENSITY TEST.

    SCOPE : TO DETERMINE DENSITY OF SOIL AT THE FIELD ITSELF


    APPARATUS:
    1 Sampling tools; large spoon, dibber, hammer, chisel, a scraper to make leveled surface.

    2 Containers.

    3 Balance, readable to 1g.

    4 Glass plate, at least 10mm thickness and 500 mm2 areas.

    5 Metal tray or container, to take excavated soil. Diameter shall be 300mm and the height
    shall be 40mm.
    6 A cylindrical steel core cutter 130mm long and 100+/- 2mm internal diameter with 3mm
    wall thickness, for fine grained cohesive soils.
    7 Sand cone density apparatus

    8 A metal tray with 300mm2 area and 40mm depth with 100mm diameter hole in the
    centre.

    PROCEDURE:

    -The site was selected to test at random.


    -All loose material was removed and scraped at the location.
    -The surface of 450mm square area was exposed and leveled.
    -The base plate was pined securely in position with spikes provided.
    -Metal tray was laid with the hole over the portion of the soil to be tested & hole
    was excavated to have 100mm diameter to maximum depth of 150mm.
    -Excavated material was then carefully removed and weigh was taken to the nearest 1g.
    After that, the pouring cylinder which is filled to constant mass was placed, concentrically
    to cover the hole by the base of the cylinder.
    -Subsequently the shutter was opened & allows sand to run out.
    -Cylinder was removed & the mass was measured to the nearest 1g.
    CALCULATION:

    Volume of cone = weight of sand to fill cone/ unit weight of sand

    Volume of density hole and cone = weight of sand to fill hole and cone/unit weight of sand

    Density of soil = weight material removed/ volume of density hole

    Moisture content = weight of moisture /weight of dry sample x100

    Degree of Compaction = Field Dry Density / Maximum Dry Density

    Refer attached sheet.

    Weight of sand +container =8562g


    Weight of sand residue + container =4388g
    Weight of sand used =8562g-4388g
    =4174g
    Volume of sand used =4174g/ 1.37 g/ cm3
    =3047cm3
    Volume of hole =3047 cm3 - 1092 cm3
    =1955 cm3
    Weight of wet soil =3472g
    Wet density of soil =3472g/1955 cm3
    =1.78 g/ cm3

    Dry density of soil =1.78 g/ cm3/ (1+1.105)


    =1.61 g/ cm3
    DISCUSSION:
    Most of the construction sites normally do the field density test because it helps to continuing
    the construction process. When doing the field density test, the site chosen must be flat and
    smooth as possible the test.
    When place removing materials from the hole, larger stone particles (12.5mm) should be
    excepted. These stones can be replaced in the hole during the volume measurement with
    density sand.
    And also great care must be taken to get the walls of the holes as smooth as possible as this
    affects the volume measurement and the test should be done in such a way that sand cone is
    free from any vibrations or disturbances during the flowing of the sand as this affects the
    volume of the hole.
    Replacement sand should be cleaned closely grained silica sand (Bulk density is reasonably
    consistent). Grading, 100% passing 600µm sieve and 100% retained in 63µm sieve. Sand
    shall be free from flaky particles, silt, clay and organic matter. It shall be oven dried before
    use and keep in closed container to reach equilibrium with atmospheric humidity (7 days).
    This test method is specified for fine and medium grained soils. The layer thickness shall not
    be greater than 150mm. large pouring cylinder can be used for soils with layer thickness from
    150 to 250 mm.
    If the testing soil is pavement or embankment fill, degree of compaction can be found after
    a standard compaction test. In that case OMC and MDD shall be found and the degree
    of compaction can be found
    There are number of field test methods such as, water replacement method, core cutter
    method, nuclear method, etc.
    Most of the available methods depend upon the removal of a representative sample of soil
    from the pits and determining its mass and the volume is occupied before being removed.
    Mass determination is common and volume determination varies depending on the nature of
    the soil being tested.
    Periodic calibration of sand density should be carried out.
    Location preparation and collecting sample
    DISCUSSION:
    Most of the construction sites normally do the field density test because it helps to continuing
    the construction process. When doing the field density test, the site chosen must be flat and
    smooth as possible the test.
    When place removing materials from the hole, larger stone particles (12.5mm) should be
    excepted. These stones can be replaced in the hole during the volume measurement with
    density sand.
    And also great care must be taken to get the walls of the holes as smooth as possible as this
    affects the volume measurement and the test should be done in such a way that sand cone is
    free from any vibrations or disturbances during the flowing of the sand as this affects the
    volume of the hole.
    Replacement sand should be cleaned closely grained silica sand (Bulk density is reasonably
    consistent). Grading, 100% passing 600µm sieve and 100% retained in 63µm sieve. Sand
    shall be free from flaky particles, silt, clay and organic matter. It shall be oven dried before
    use and keep in closed container to reach equilibrium with atmospheric humidity (7 days).
    This test method is specified for fine and medium grained soils. The layer thickness shall not
    be greater than 150mm. large pouring cylinder can be used for soils with layer thickness from
    150 to 250 mm.
    If the testing soil is pavement or embankment fill, degree of compaction can be found after
    a standard compaction test. In that case OMC and MDD shall be found and the degree
    of compaction can be found
    There are number of field test methods such as, water replacement method, core cutter
    method, nuclear method, etc.
    Most of the available methods depend upon the removal of a representative sample of soil
    from the pits and determining its mass and the volume is occupied before being removed.
    Mass determination is common and volume determination varies depending on the nature of
    the soil being tested.
    Compaction is the most popular technique of improving soils. Compaction increases the
    strength, lowers the compressibility and reduces the permeability of a soil by rearranging its
    fabric. The soil fabric is forced into a denser configuration by the mechanical effort used in
    compaction.
    Knowledge of the optimum water content and the maximum dry unit weight of soils very
    important for construction specifications of soil improvement by compaction. Specifications
    for earth structures usually call for a minimum of 95% of maximum dry unit weight. This
    level of compaction can be attained at two water contents, one before the attainment of the
    maximum dry unit weight, the other after attainment of the maximum dry unit weight.
    Normal practice is to compact the soil at lower water content value except for swelling soils.
    When embankments construct by spreading the material in relatively thin layers and
    compacting it at moisture content close to the optimum. This improvement results largely
    because a greater dry density is obtained, which in turn results in higher strength in the soil
    mass and decreased settlement and rutting. Layered construction also produced greater
    uniformity in the material itself and in its density and moisture contents. Uniformity of
    compaction is of prime importance in preventing uneven settlement. Some settlements can be
    tolerated it is important that they are minimized, especially on the approaches to bridges and
    culverts where adequate compaction is essential.
    Compaction trials should always be carried out to determine the best way to achieve the
    specified density with the available compacting equipment.

    REFERENCE:
    1. Soil mechanics and foundations, by Muni Budhu, Professor, University of Arizona.

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