Determination of Field Unit Weight

of Compaction by Sand Cone Method

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Introduction: In the field, during earth compaction work, it is necessary from time to
check the compacted dry unit weight of soil and compare it with the
specification drawn up for the construction. One of the simplest
methods of determining the field unit weight of compaction is by the
sand cone method which will be described in this chapter.

Equipment: 1. Sand cone apparatus. This consists of a one-gallon glass or plastic

bottle with a metal cone attached to it.
2. Base plate.
3. A one-gallon can with a cap.
4. Tools to dig a small hole in the field.
5. Balance.
6. 20-30 Ottawa sand.
7. A proctor compaction mold without extension attached to it.
8. A steel straight edge.
Figure 13-1 shows the assembly of the equipment necessary for
determination of the field unit weight.

Procedure – Laboratory Work

1. Determine the dry unit weight of the 20-30 Ottawa sand as will be
used in the field. This can be done by taking a proctor compaction
mold and filling it with Ottawa sand by a spoon. Avoid any
vibration and other means of compaction of the sand poured into
the mold. When the mold is full, strike off the top of the mold with
a steel straight edge. Determine the weight of the sand in the mold
(W1). The dry unit weight of the Ottawa sand can be given as

w1 (13.1)
d ( sand ) 
V1
where d (sand )  dry unit weight of Ottawa sand
1
V1  volume of Pr octor mold  ft 3
30

2. Calibrate the cone. That is, we need to determine the weight of

Ottawa sand that is required to fill the cone. This can be done as
follows:
Fill the one-gallon bottle with Ottawa sand. Determine the weight of
the bottle + cone + sand (W 2). Close the valve of the cone which is
attached to the bottle. Place the base plate on a flat surface. Turn the
bottle with the cone attached to it upside down and place it on the
center hole of the base plate (Fig. 13-2). Open the valve of the cone.
Sand will flow out of the bottle and gradually fill the cone. When
the cone is filled with sand, the flow of sand from the bottle will
stop. Close the valve of the cone. Take the bottle with the cone out
 and determine its weight (W3). The weight of sand necessary to fill
the cone can now be determined as.
W c  W 2  W3

3. Determine the weight of the gallon can without the cap (W4).
4. Before proceeding to the field, fill the one-gallon bottle (with sand
cone attached to it) with sand. Close the valve of the cone.
Determine the weight of the bottle + cone + sand (W5).

Procedure – Field Work

5. Now proceed to the field with the bottle with the cone attached to it
(filled with Ottawa sand-Step4), base plate, digging tools and the
one-gallon can with its cap.
6. Place the base plate on a level ground in the field. Under the center
hole of the base plate, dig a hole in the ground using the digging
tools. The volume of the hole should be smaller than the volume of
the sand in the bottle minus the volume of the cone.
7. Remove all the loose soil in the hole and put it in the gallon can.
Close the cap tightly so as not to lose any moisture. Be careful not to
move the base plate.
8. Turn the gallon bottle filled with sand with cone attached to it upside
down and place it on the center of the base plate. Open the valve of
the cone. Sand will flow from the bottle to fill the hole in the ground
and the cone. When the flow of sand from the bottle stops, close the
valve of the cone and remove it.
9. Bring all the equipment back to the laboratory. Determine the weight
(W6) of the gallon can + moist soil from the field (without the cap).
Also, determine the weight of the bottle + can + sand after use (W7).
10. Put the gallon can with the moist soil in the oven to dry to a
constant weight. Determine the weight of the can + oven dry soil
(W8).

Calculation:
1. Determine the moisture content of the soil in the field as

W6 W8 (13.3)
w%  100 
W8 W 4

2. Determine the moist unit weight of the soil in the field as follows
weight of moist soil from the hole

volume of the hole
(13.4)

Weight of moist soil from the hole = W6-W4 (13.5)

W5  W7  Wc
Volume of the hole  100
d (sand )

(13.6)

2
3. Determine the dry unit weight of soil in the field as
 (13.7)
d ( field ) 
w(%)
1
100

A sample calculation is shown in Table 13-1