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The density difference method for relative density control of sand fills
La méthode des différences de densité pour le contrôle de la densité relative des remblais en sable

S.S.SANDRONI, Visiting Lecturer, COPPE/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Geotechnical Adviser, Engevix S.A., Brazil

SYNOPSIS: Based on the empirically established fact that in sands the maximum and minimum densities
correlate linearly and at 45 degrees, this work presents relations between the relative density and
the difference between field density and minimum density. Experimental data which support the cor­
relations and basic equations are presented in the text.
A methodology for density control of sand fills, which has been used with success in several pro­
jects is developed and explained. This methodology attenuates the fluctuations of relative density
values and allows adaptations for the case of particularly heterogeneous sand deposits.

1 INTRODUCTION be found in the literature such as in Poulos &

Hed (1972).
Relative Density (RD) is defined as: Experimental support, therefore, seems to ex­
ist for the relation:
^àtn ati, 'fì/i - ifd niln (2 )
(1 )

There will always be scatter of points around

where : maximum dry density? id min : mini- relation (2) . Let dij be the height of the band
mum dry density; and in situ dry density. formed by two straight lines parallel and equi­
The maximum and minimum densities are refer­ distant to (2), and including % of the points.
ence values which show both variability (varia­ Then the following relation defines the bound­
tion of results obtained by different laborato­ aries of the band:
ries) and reproducibility (variation of results
in a given laboratory) problems (Tavenas et al
1972). £dnuttt ~ «Wn * (t* (3)
Apart from experimental fluctuations, the re­
ference values usually span a considerable range
in any given deposit as a consequence of natural Now, if we define Density Difference (DD) as
heterogeneity.
Relative density is widely used in the study Do • (4)
of properties and in specifications for quality
control of sand fills. The variability of the equation (1) becomes:
reference values and the heterogeneity of the
deposits frequently cause awkward situations such
as excessive scatter and absurdly high or low RD « --T DP • ~ ^ <5)
relative density values. “ dtnm ■*■&£> b
This work reports a simple procedure for treat­
ment of the reference values and relative density Equation (5) gives the average value of the re­
data which mitigates these uncomfortable situa­ lative density as a function of b and DD.
tions. The procedure is based on the empirically Equation (5) is practically independent of the
established fact that minimum and maximum densi­ minimum density value for the usual range, say,
ties correlate linearly and has been used suc­ 12 to 20 kN/m3 , and therefore can be used with
cessfully in several jobs. an average value of the minimum density without
significant loss of accuracy. Also, equation (5)
is practically equal to RD = DD/b but use is not
2 CORRELATION AND EQUATIONS made of this simpler relation due to the fact
that the calculations involved are already easy
The values of the maximum and minimum densities enough and thus there is no good reason to in­
obtained via the ASTM D2049 procedure for 36 troduce the approximation that would be involv­
sands have been plotted in figure la. Included in ed .
this figure are sands with D60/D10 between 1.25 Since there is a scatter in the minimum density
and 25. As can be seen, the least squares vs. maximum density relation, the DD vs. RD re­
straight line correlation has an inclination lation will also fluctuate around the average.
practically identical to 45 degrees. The amplitude of this fluctuation can be obtained
This same relation has been observed in seve­ by inserting (3) in (5):
ral heterogeneous sand deposits investigated by
CESP for'hydro projects (Ferreira 1986), one of 5d .
(6 )
which is shown in figure 2. Similar trends can

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RD
<%)

AVERAGE

BAND FOR ri= loo %

dm in. ( k N /m 3 )

Figure 1. Study of several sands tested via ASTM D2049 ( from several references and jobs )

I 2 3 3,42
DD ( k N / m3 )

Figure 2. Study of a single heterogeneous deposit ( Ferreira, 1986 )

310
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It is convenient to normalize the fluctuation by 4.3 Specifications for small jobs

eliminating DD. Thus, dividing (6) by (5):
In the case of small to medium fills where there
might not be time or resources for a detailed
oRO _ _ b. mm _ __ (7i
testing campaign, use may be made of the fact that
U * tfjwrt 4 b"2"- d rf any clean sand, say with up to 5% fines, with or
without small amounts of gravel or mica, will be­
Equation (7) relates the variation of relative long to the set collected in figure 1. Therefore,
density with the average relative density as a part (b) of this figure can be used as a basic re­
function of b and . As with (5), equation (7) ference DD vs. RD curve. For example, if DD = 2.10
is practically independent of the minimum dens­ kN/m3, the relative density of practically any
ity value and so can be used without loss of ac­ sand will be between some 50% and 85%. In other
curacy with an average value of minimum density. words, it will suffice to specify an acceptable
DD value based on figure lb.

3 METHODOLOGY
The proposed procedure involves the following
steps (follow with figure 1):
1. Obtain a representative quantity of maximum
and minimum density values and plot them against
each other.
2. Through the mean point of the data trace a
straight line with an inclination of 45 degrees
(average line). Obtain the value b as the dif­
ference between the maximum and minimum density
values at any point of this line.
3. Draw two straight lines parallel to and
equidistant from the average line, so that rj %
of the points are included in the band. The
height of this band will be dr..
4. With the value of b and the average value
of the minimum density, use formula (5) to pro­
duce a graph relating DD to the RD. This is the
average DD vs. RD relation.
5. With the values b and dtj, use formula (7)
and obtain &RD/RD. Calculate the value of ¿RD
for a few values of RD and draw the band of RD
values which will be ¿'RD/2 above and &RD/2 be­
low the average DD vs. RD relation obtained in
(4) .
4.4 Major fills
In large jobs the present methodology should be
used as a "data base" which is started in the de­
sign phase and grows during the construction stage
by including the results of the quality control
tests. At any time, evaluations can be made about
changes in the characteristies of the source depo­
sit and corresponding adaptations can be imple­
mented, such as a change in the b or d^ values or
re-grouping of data in more convenient sets.
REFERENCES
Ferreira, R.C. (1986). Personal communication.
Poulos, S.J. & Hed, A. (1972). Density measure­
ment in a hydraulic fill. ASTM, STP 523.
Tavenas, F., Ladd, R.S. & La Rochelle, P. (1972).
Accuracy of relative density measurements: Re­
sults of a comparative test program. ASTM, STP
523.

4 PRACTICAL COMMENTS

4.1 Simplicity of the field tests

The field testing procedures connected with the

present methodology is very simple and quick to
carry out. Apart from the in situ density, the
value of the minimum density is needed. This is
obtained in a few minutes using the same mater­
ial collected for the in situ test and with no
need for special equipment utilizing the ASTM
D2049 procedure. It is advisable to make three
determinations of the minimum density and to
take the average value. A place far from the
vibrations of the construction activities must
be chosen to carry out the tests,

4.2 Choice of the value in very heterogeneous

deposi ts

The width of the band in the DD vs. RD graph de­

pends on the scatter of the maximum vs. minimum
density relation which is reflected in the value
of d- . If the scatter in the maximum vs. mini­
mum qraph is large, the RD range may become much
larger.In such a case, most probably, any other
method of treating the relative density data
would also run into trouble. With the present
methodology we might reduce the r value, leaving
a larger portion of the points outside the band
considered in the maximum vs. minimum graph.

311