Standard Method of Test Jor Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand-Cone Method AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 191-93 (ASTM DESIGNATION: D 1556-64 (1982)) 1. SCOPE 1.1 This method of testis intended for determining the in-place density of soils. The apparatus described herein is restricted to tests in soils containing par- ticles not larger than 50 mm (2 in.) in ameter. 1.2 The following applies to all spec- ified limits in this standard: For the pur- poses of determining conformance with hese specifications, an observed value ‘or a calculated value shall be rounded off “Wo the nearest unit” in the last right- hhand place of figures used in expressing the limiting value, in accordance with the rounding-off method of R11, Rec ommended Practice For Indicating Which Places Of Figures Are To Be Considered Significant In Specified Lim= iting Values. 2. APPARATUS 2A Density Apparatus—The density apparatus shall consist of a 4 L (1 gal) Jar and a detachable appliance consisting ‘of a cylindrical valve with an orifice 12.7 mm (' i.) in diameter and having 2 small funnel continuing to a standard G mason jar top on one end and a large funnel on the other end. The valve shall have stops to prevent rotating the valve past the completely open or completely Closed positions. The apparatus shall conform to the requirements shown in Figure 1 (Note 1), NOTE 1—The apparatus described here ‘represenis design that has proven satisfac. tory. Other apparatus of similar proportions ‘will perform equally well so long as the base principles of the sand.volume determination fare observed, This apparatus, when full. can bbe used with test holes having a volume of approximately 0.1 ev ft The baseplate shown in the drawing is optional: its use may make leveling mote dificult but permits (est holes of larger diameter and may reduce loss in lwansferrng soil from tes-hole to container 85 well as afford a more constant base for tests in soft soils, When the base plate is Used it shal be considered a par ofthe funnel inthe procedures ofthis test method. 22 Sand—Any clean, dey. free- flowing, uncemented sand having fev, if any, panicles passing the 0.075-mm for retained on the 2.00-mm sieves. In selecting @ sand for use several bulk density determinations should be made using the same representative sample for ‘each determination, To be acceptable the sand shall not have 2 variation in bulk density greater than 1 percent 23° Balances—A balance conform- ing to the requirements of M 231, Class 620. Also, s balance conforming to the requirements of M 231, Class G2, 24 Drving Equipment-—Stove or ‘oven or other suitable equipment for dry- ing moisture content samples. 25 Miscellaneous Equipment — Small pick, chisels, or spoons for digging test hole; 254 mm (10 in.) frying pan oF any suitable container for drying moisture samples: buckets with lids, seamless cin ‘cans with lids, canvas sacks or other si able containers for retaining the density sample, moisture sample or density sand respectively; thermometer for determin- ing the temperature of water; small paint- ‘ype brush, slide rule, notebook, ete 3. PROCEDURE 3.1_Determine the volume of the jar and attachment up to and including the volume of the valve orifice as follows (Note 2): 3.11 Weigh the assembled apparatus and record 3.1.2 Place the apparatus upright and ‘open the valve 3.1.3. Fill the apparatus with water ‘uml it appears over the valve 34 Close valve and remove ex- cess water 3.1.5 Weigh the apparatus and water and determine the temperature of the wate, 3.1.6 Repeat the procedure described in steps (1) to (5) at least twice. Convert the mass of water, in grams, to mliliters by correcting for the temperature a: given in Section 4.1. The volume used shall be the average of three determinations with ‘2 maximum vasiation of 3 mb. NOTE 2—The volume determine in this procedure Is constant as long a the jar and attachment are in the same relative position. If the two are wo be separated match marks should be made 1 permit. reassembly to ‘his poston 32. Determine the bulk density of the sand t0 be used in the field test as follows (Notes 3 and 4) 3.21 Place the empty apparatus up- right on a firm level surface. close the valve and fill the funnel with sand 32.2 Open the valve and, keeping funnel at least half full of sand, fill the apparatus. Close the valve sharply and empty excess sand. 3.2.3. Weigh apparatus with the sand and determine the net mass of sand by subtracting the mass of the apparatus, NOTE 3_vitraton of the sand during any mass-volume determination may increase "he bulk density ofthe sand and decrease the accuracy of the determination, Appreciable time intervals Between the bulk: density deter ‘mination of the sand and its use im the field may result in change in the bulk density ‘caused by a change in the moisture content or effective gradation, NOTE 41 is possible to determine the ‘bulk density of the sand in other containers fof known volume tat dinencionally approx mate the largest test hole that ‘The general procedure use368, METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING Meuse Equivalents a om ", 286 Sh 6s rT 8s 1 soas. FIGURE 1 Density Apparatus ion 34 for determining the volume of the test hole. If ths procedure isto be followed it shall be determined that the resting bulk ‘density equals that given bythe ar determina 3.3. Determine the mass of sand {quired to fil the funnel as follows (Notes 5 and 6) 33.1. Put sand in the apparatus and secure mass of apparatus and sand. 33.2. Seat the inverted apparatus on 4 clean, level, plane surface. 33.3. Open the valve and keep open wotil after the sand stops runnin Sot Close the walve sharply. the apparatus with remaining sand and setermine the loss of sand. This loss represents the mass of sand required to fill the funnel 33.5 Replace the sand removed in the funnel determination and close the valve, NOTE S—This determination may be omic if the procedure piven in Note 7 is followed, When the base pate is used it shall be considered a part of the funnel, NOTE 6—wnere fst holes of maximum volume are desined i is possible, after the bulk density determination, to sete the saad Tis by viration and inceease the weight of sand in the apparatus. ahs procedire is followed sbwermined by se-veighing 3A Determine the density of the soil as follows: Prepare the surface of the loca ‘ion to be tested So tha its a level plane 3.4.2 Seat the inverted apparatus on the prepared plane surface and mark the outline of the funnel (Note 7) NOTE Ton soils suet that leveling not successful a preliminary test shall be un at this point measuring the volume bounded by the funnel and ground surface This step equies balances atthe test site or emptying and refilling the apparatus. After this mea surement is completed, carefully brush the sand from the prepared surface, NOTE Sit may be desired 19 express the ineplace density asa percentage of some ‘other density: for example. the laboratory ‘maximum density determined in accordance With the Method of Test for Moisture Density Relations of Soils (T 99). Ths sclation cat be determined by cviding the in-place density by the maximum density” and. mutiplying fy a6. 344 Seat the apparatus in the pre- viously marked position, open the valve tnd after the sand has stopped flowing ‘lose the valve (Note 3), 35 Weigh the apparatus with re- maining sand and determine the mass of sand used in the test 34.6 Weigh the material that was Femoved trom the test hole, 347 Mix the material thoroughly and secure and weigh a representative sample for moisture determination 34.8 Dry and weigh the soil sample for moisture content determination in ac cordance with T 265 or in accordance with rapid methods such as T'217, ASTM D 4959. or ASTM D 4643, The results obtained using these or other rapid test ‘methods must be corrected to the values ‘obtained in accordance with T 265 3.5. The minimum test hole volumes suggested in determining the in-place ensity of soil mixtures are given in Table 1. This table shows the suggested ‘minimum mass of the moisture content sample in relation to the maximum part le size in soit mixturesMosimom Patite Toe Hoke Moistue Sue Volume, sim _Mhstate BS an ons 380 Linas 500 into 4. CALCULATIONS 441 Calculate the volume of the den sity apparatus as follows: v= or here Vi, = volume of the density apparatus in cubic centimeters, G = grams of water required to fill the apparatus. and T= water temperature-volume core: tion shown in column 3 of Table 2 4.1 Calculate the volume of the density apparatus to the nearest 0.0001 4.2 Calculate the balk density of the sand as follows METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING W, = bulk density of the sand in pounds per eubie foot, p< tans uf sand regio fo 80 ae Spparatus (Section 3.2.3). and ¥, = volume of apparatus. in cubie cen tmeters (Section 4.1), 42.1 Calculate she bulk: density ot the sand to the nearest 0.1 Itt 43° Calculate the moisture content and the dry mass of material removed From the est hole as follows Wy =, x 100 W, ye where w= percentage of moisture. in mate- Tia from test bole. W, = moist mass of moisture sample, W, = dey mass of moisture sample, in W, = moist mass of the materia from the test hole, in grams, and W, = dry mass of material from the test hole. in pounds. 434. Calculate the moisture content wearest 0.1 percent, Calculate the dry mass of mate Fial removed from the test hole <0 the nearest 0.01 1b 44 Calculate thein-place dey density 369, TABLE 2 lame of Water per Gram sedan Tempero ———Bemyae sot em op ir ‘eons ones 100320 one hole. in euble fect, sand used (Section 45), grams of sand in funnel (Section W = aby density of the tested material iw pounds per eubic foot. 44.1 Calculate the in-place dry den sity of the material tested to the nearest 4 Mo”