RUBBER BALLOON METHOD

(ASTM Designation D-2167)

 This method can be used to determine the place
density and unit weight of natural inorganic soil deposits,
soil aggregates mixtures, or other similar firm materials
Apparatus Required
Balloon density meter
Rubber Bulb Pump
Rubber Balloons
Soil Auger or Trowel
Moisture Tight Container
Weight Balance
Drying Oven
RUBBER BALLOON TEST PROCEDURE
1. Prepare a flat and smooth surface

2. Place the density plate on the prepared surface and fixed it using
fasteners.
 3. Position the balloon density meter exactly at the
hole provided by density plate.
4. Place the rubber bulb pump in the control valve
and pump water into the balloon
5. Water is pumped until the water level in the density meter
reached its lowest position.
 6. Invert the rubber bulb pump and pump the water
back into its original position
7.Remove the density meter and dig a hole using
auger or trowel. The hole dug should be minimum 4
inches in diameter and 5 inches deep.
8. Collect the excavated soil completely and place it in a moisture
tight container.
9.Place the balloon density meter over the excavated
hole and pump the water back into the balloon using
rubber bulb pump.

10.When the water level reached its lowest position, note the
reading as the final volume(V2)
11. Pump the water back into its original level using a rubber
bulb pump
Observations and Calculations
 Weight of soil excavated= W
Volume of hole excavated, V=V1-V2
Where V1= initial reading of balloon density meter
V2= final reading of balloon density meter

Field density or wet density of soil

DW =W Weight of wet soil taken from test hole
V Volume of hole
 Water content of excavated soil
W= Weight of moisture
Weight of dry soil

Dry Density of soil

D= (DW x 100) = Wet density x 100
(100+W) 100 + moisture content
Why Rubber Balloon Method?
It is less time consuming

More accurate than other methods

Suitable for wide range soils