6/22/11 (Revised) T 19 1

AASHTO T 191 – DENSITY IN-PLACE BY THE

SAND CONE METHOD

Consult the current edition of AASHTO for procedure in its entirety

and equipment specification details.

SCOPE

This method covers the determination of the in-place density of compacted

soil or soil-aggregate mixtures. The in-place dry density is expressed as a
percentage of the soils maximum dry density and can be compared to
specification requirements.

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

AASHTO T 265, Laboratory Determination of Moisture Content of Soils

ASTM D 4643, Determination of Moisture Content of Soil by the
Microwave Oven Method
AASHTO T 19, Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) and Voids in Aggregate

APPARATUS

Sand density apparatus and base plate

Clean, free-flowing sand consisting of -No.10 +No.200
Balance, readable to 0.1 grams
Pins, shovel, trowel, spoon, hammer, and knife
Auger, 4" diameter
Sealable container

EQUIPMENT PREPARATION

Filling the apparatus

1. Place the empty apparatus upright on a firm level surface, close the
valve and fill the funnel with sand.

2. Open the valve and keep the funnel at least half full with sand during filling.
When the sand stops flowing into the apparatus, close the valve
sharply and empty the excess sand.

3. Determine and record the mass of the apparatus filled with sand (m1).

AASHTO T 191 Page 1 of 4

Determining the mass of sand required to fill the funnel and base plate (Cone
Correction)

1. Place the base plate on a clean, level, plane surface. Invert the sand
cone filled with sand, and seat the funnel in the recess of the base plate.

2. Open the valve fully and allow the sand to flow until the sand stops flowing.

3. Close the valve sharply, remove the apparatus, and determine the mass
of the apparatus and the remaining sand (m2).

4. The mass of sand required to fill the cone and base plate is calculated
by the difference between the initial mass and final mass. Record this
mass as the cone correction: (Cc = m1 – m2).

Where:
CC = Cone correction
m1 = Mass of the apparatus filled with sand
m2 = Mass of the apparatus and remaining sand

Notes:

For each container/bag of sand there will be a unique cone correction and
sand calibration factor. Each sand-cone and matched base plate will also
have a set of unique cone corrections and bulk sand densities. If more
than one sand-cone apparatus is available, the sand-cone and base plate
should be marked and the associated correction/density factors recorded.

Vibration of the sand during any mass-volume determination may increase

bulk density of the sand and decrease the accuracy of the determination.
Appreciable time intervals between the bulk density determination of the
sand and its use in the field may result in change in the bulk density caused
by a change in the moisture content or effective gradation.

Determining the bulk density of sand (DB)

1. Replace the sand removed in the funnel determination according to the

procedure for filling the apparatus, close the valve, and determine the
mass of the apparatus and sand (m3).

2. Position the calibration container on a clean, level, plane surface. Place

the base plate on the calibration container. Invert the apparatus and seat
the funnel in the recess of the base plate.

3. Open the valve fully and keep open until the sand stops flowing.
 4. Close the valve sharply, remove the apparatus and determine
the remaining mass of the apparatus and sand (m4).

5. Calculate the mass of the sand needed to fill the container, funnel and
base plate. Subtract the final mass (Step 4), from the initial mass (Step 1).

6. The mass of the sand needed to fill the container only is determined by
subtracting the mass of the cone correction (Step 4) from the total
mass required to fill the container with the funnel and base plate (Step
5).

7. Determine the bulk density of the calibration sand (sand calibration factor).
Divide the mass of the sand needed to fill the container (Step 6), by the
volume of the calibration container as determined according to T 19M/T
19.

DB = (m3 – m4 – CC)/VC

Where:
3
DB = Bulk density of the sand in g/cm
m3 = Mass of the apparatus and sand
m4 = Remaining mass of the apparatus and the sand
CC = Cone correction
VC = Volume of the calibration container

8. Record this factor for future reference.

PROCEDURE

All information is recorded on SFN 59725 and SFN 59724.

Fill testing apparatus with sand and record the total mass.

Select the area of compacted lift to be tested. Because the surface of a

compacted area is generally loose or disturbed due to compaction
operations, remove loose material and level off an area slightly larger than
the base plate.

Place the base plate over the smoothed area and fasten down with the
accompanying pins. Plate must stay in this position and be stable
throughout the test.

Dig a test hole within base plate opening, with the auger, trowel, or other tools.
Soils that are granular require extreme care and may require the digging of a
conical-shaped hole. Place all of the loosened material from the hole into an
aggregate balance pan, or a moisture-tight container if not weighed right
away.
 Minimum Test Hole Volumes and Moisture Content Samples
Based on Maximum Size

Maximum Minimum Test Hole Minimum Sample Size

Particle Size Volume for Moisture Content
3
No. 4 (4.75 mm) 0.025 ft 100 g
3
1/2" (12.5 mm) 0.050 ft 250 g
3
1" (25.0 mm) 0.075 ft 500 g
3
2" (50.0 mm) 0.100 ft 1000 g

Place testing apparatus on the base plate and open valve. After the sand
has stopped flowing, close the valve; remove apparatus, and record final
mass.

Weigh the wet soil or soil-aggregates removed from the hole to the
nearest
0.01 lb. and record.

Use a representative portion of the soil for moisture determination. Do not

use material containing particles large enough to be retained on the No. 4
(4.75 mm) sieve. Moisture can be determined by the use of AASHTO T 265
or
ASTM D 4643. Calculate moisture to nearest 0.1%.

CALCULATIONS

Complete calculations as follows:

• (VH) Volume of Test Hole = (Initial Mass - Final Mass - CC)/DB

3
Calculate the volume of test hole to the nearest 0.0001 ft .

• (MDS) Dry Mass of Material removed from test hole = (Moist Mass removed
from test hole/ (1 + (% moisture /100))

Calculate dry mass of material to the nearest 0.01 lbs.

• (DD) Dry Density = MDS/VH

3
Calculate in-place dry density to the nearest 0.1 lbs/ft .

CALIBRATION
All new devices should be calibrated prior to being used. A calibration
check should be performed annually as a minimum, or whenever damage or
repair occurs.