Kirkuk University

College of Engineering

Civil Engineering Department

Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Experiment Name:
Field density test (Sand Replacement method)

Stage: 3rd , Group: (A5)

Number of Experiment: (6)

Date of Experiment: Nov/17/2019

Date of Report Submission: Nov/24/2019

Group members:
1. Mahmood Younis M.Ali
2. Muhammed Abs M.Ali
3. Zaytun Ihsan
4. Veyan Ismail
5. Hanna

Introduction:
In most specifications for earthwork, the contractor is instructed to achieve
a compacted field dry unit weight of 90 to 95% of the maximum dry unit
weight determined in the laboratory by either the standard or modified
Proctor test. This is a specification for relative compaction, which can be
calculated based on the laboratory maximum dry density and in-situ
density of soil. The specification for field compaction based on relative
compaction or on relative density is an end-product specification. The
contractor is expected to achieve a minimum dry unit weight regardless of
the field procedure adopted. Sand replacement method covers the
determination in-situ of the density of natural or compacted fine and
medium grained soil for which a sand pouring cylinder is used in
conjunction with replacement sand. It is suggested that this method to be
applied to layers of soil not exceeding 150 mm in thickness.

Purpose:
To ensure that the compaction process is satisfied and achieve the aim of
soil filling

Reference:
(IS : 2720 - PART – 28)

Types of field density tests:

1-Sand cone test (Currently used for this report)
2-Rubber balloon test
3-Core cutter test

Equipment:
1-Dry sand passing #20 and retained on #40 or passing #30 and retained
on #50

2-Sand cone

3-Drilling tools ; 4-Balance

Test Procedure:
1. In the lab determine density (used sand is called Ottawa
sand)

weight of sand
Psand=
volume of mold

2. Determine the sand weight that filled the cone only

3. Drill a pit (hole) in the soil for 7 to 10 cm (Half ball in

shape) (8 cm drilled in the test)

Calculations:
W1= Weight of jar filled with sand before the test
W2= Weight of jar with sand after the test
W3= Weight of sand in cone only
W4= Weight of sand in the hole
W4= W1-W2-W3

Weight of sand∈hole
Psand=
Volume of hole

Volume of hole = Volume of excavated soil

Pmoisture Field=Weight of excavated soil ¿ hole ¿
Volume of Hole
Pmoisture
Pdry=
1+ w

Test Calculations:

Weight of empty mold =4365 gm

Weight (mold+ sand) =5635 gm

Weigh sand= 5635-4365=1270

π
Volume = *(10.15^2)*11.6=941.835 cm^3
4
w sand
ꙋsand =
v mold
1270
ꙋsand = =1.348 gm/cm^3
941.835
w1=7700 gm

w2=4400 gm

w3=1505 gm

w4=7700-4400-1505=1795 gm

w4
volume (hole)=
ρ sand
1795
= =1331.602 cm^3
1.348
3300∗9.81
Ρ field= =
1331.602
Container empty=20 gm

Container empty + soil=85 gm

Weight of wet sample=65 gm

Weight of dry sample + cv=84 gm

Weight of dry sample=64 gm

Weight of water=1 gm

ww 1
Wc= = =0.015625
ws 64
w 2336
Ρm= = =1.754277
v 1331.602
Ρm 1.754
Ρd = = =1.727
1+ ws 1+ 0.015625

Discussion :-
In this Experiment that the objective of sand replacement test is to
determine the field density of natural using sand pouring cylinders.
There are several error in thiss experiment that we must to correct.
In stage 2, which is measurement of soil density, make sure the
excavated hole must be equal to the volume of the calibrating
container. While calibrating the bulk density of sand, make sure great
care has to be taken
The apparatus that we need in this test are sand pouring cylinder,
tools for excavating holes, cylindrical calibrating container, metal
tray and weighing balance. The different method for.