FDD-By Sand Replacement Method {IS:2720 Part 28}

 It is done to check the in-situ dry density of soil or pavement layers.

 Core cutter method can only be used on soft soils and the result is approximate while
Sand replacement method may done on any kind of soil and result is far more accurate
than core cutter method.

 Soil classification: For determination of dry density by field dry density test, soil may
be classified as.

1. Fine-grained soils: Soil containing not less than 90 % passing 2 mm IS sieve.

2. Medium-grained soil: Soil containing not less than 90 % passing 20 mm IS sieve.
3. Coarse-grained soil: Soil containing not less than 90 % passing 40 mm IS sieve.

 Apparatus Required:

1. Sand pouring cylinder

S. Type of soil Total Height of Total base Thickness of Internal Capacity

N. used Height cone diameter Hole Diameter
1 Fine & Medium 380 mm 85 mm 200 mm 13 +/- 0.1 115 mm 3 Ltrs
mm
2 Fine, Medium 610 mm 175 mm 350 mm 25 +/- 0.1 215 mm 16.5 Ltrs
& Coarse mm

2. Excavating tools
 Hand excavator or Dibber as required.

3. Cylindrical Calibrating container

Used with small pouring Used with Large pouring

cylinder cylinder
Internal 100 mm Internal 200 mm
Diameter Diameter
Depth 150 mm Depth 250 mm

4. Balance accurate to 1 gram.

5. Plane glass plate or other plane surface of about 450 mm2 and 9 mm thick.

6. Metal container, to collect excavated soil, of size 150 mm diameter and 200 mm deep
with removable cover.

7. Metal tray, with central hole of 100 mm diameter, of about 300 mm 2 and 40 mm
deep.

8. Uniformly graded natural sand passing 1 mm sieve and retained on 600 micron IS
sieve.

 Procedure:

1. Calibration of apparatus

a. Fill the sand pouring cylinder with calibrating sand leaving 10 mm from the top.
Record the weight W1

b. Now, put the sand pouring cylinder over calibrating cylindrical container and allow
the sand from sand pouring cylinder to run off in calibrating container by opening the
shutter.
When there is no movement of sand occurs, close the shutter. Weigh the weight of
sand pouring cylinder W2
c. Now, put the sand pouring cylinder over the glass plate and open the shutter to flow
out the sand. Close the shutter when there is no movement of sand occurs. Weigh the
sand on glass plate W3

d. Weight of sand required to fill the calibrating container

W4 = {W1-W2-W3}g

e. Volume of calibrating container

V = π/4 * D2 * H D= 100 mm
H= 150 mm

f. Bulk density of sand ꝨS = M/V = W4/V g/cc or kg/m3

*Note Bulk density is used to find the volume of excavated hole i.e. Vhole = W4/ ꝨS

2. Determination of Dry density

This method is suitable for fine and medium grained soil using small sand pouring
cylinder also to the pavement layer of thickness not exceeding 150 mm.

a. A flat area of about 450 mm2 shall be get prepared for the test.

b. A metal tray with central hole shall be laid on the prepared surface of the soil. The
hole in the soil shall then be excavated using the reference of hole pattern to the depth
of 15 cm.

c. Excavated soil then carefully collected and weighed. Record its weight Ww

d. Take a small sample of soil from excavated soil and determine the moisture content
by any standard methods. Record w
e. Now, fill the sand pouring cylinder with calibrating sand leaving 10 mm gap from top.
Place the sand pouring container over the excavated hole concentrically to the hole of
metal tray. Allow the sand to flow out to the hole by open the shutter.
When there is no further movement of sand occurs, close the shutter and record the
weight of sand pouring cylinder. Record W5

f. The weight of sand required to fill the excavated hole is

Wa = {W1-W5-W2}g W2 = Mean weight of sand in

cone

g. We have bulk density of sand ꝨS

Vhole = Wa/ ꝨS cc

h. Now, bulk density of wet excavated soil Ꝩb

Ꝩb = Ww/Vhole g/cc or kg/m

3

i. Dry density of soil Ꝩd = 100 Ꝩb / (100+w) g/cc or kg/m3

Take observation as per quality assurance manual in MORTH

*Note We have already calculated MDD by proctor density test in laboratory by which
we can determined the degree of compaction.

% Compaction = Ꝩd / ꝨMDD * 100

*Note

i. In case of the layer thickness exceeds 150 mm and up-to 250 mm, large sand pouring
cylinder with large calibrating container may use to perform the test.

ii. Metal tray of 450 mm2 and 50 mm deep with 200 mm diameter central hole in the
center as well as glass plate of about 600 mm2 and 10 mm thick may also use. A flat area
of 600 mm2 shall be prepared for the test.

iii. If for any reason it is necessary to excavate holes to depth other than 250 mm, the
calibrating container should be replaced by the calibrating container of same depth as of
hole or its effective depth is reduced to that of the excavated hole.
iv. For medium and coarse grained soils with considerable amount of gravel fraction,
the water content and dry density shall be determined as:

After obtaining the wet weight WW, the soil shall be separated into plus 4.75 mm
fraction and minus 4.75 mm fraction by 4.75 mm IS sieve. This should be done rapidly to
avoid loss of water.

The fraction retained on the 4.75 mm IS sieve (gravel) shall washed on the sieve using a
minimum of water, blotted dry with a towel to a wet surface-dry condition and weighed
Wg

The volume of the gravel Vg in a wet surface dry condition, shall be then determined by
displacement of water from a siphon-container from which the over-flow can be
measured, or by weighing in air and water. The specific gravity of the gravel particles Gg
should then be computed.

The wet gravel W’g shall be placed in an oven and the oven dry weight and water
content wg shall be determined.

The water content wg in percentage of the soil fraction passing the 4.75 mm IS sieve
shall also be determined by oven drying a representative sample.