Issue #

METHOD STATEMENT 00

Rev. #
IN SITU DENSITY TEST (LARGE POURING CYLINDER) 04

Applicable Location All Lonestar Locations

Department Civil Testing

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REV # DATE REVIEWED BY APPROVED BY PAGES AFFECTED/DESCRIPTION

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00 15/11/07 J. Pillai M.G.N.Rao New Issue
Reviewed But No Changes.
01 01/06/09 J. Pillai Curtis Grigg Formatted Cover page to be in line
with LGC Format.
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3.2: Include QA and QC
responsibilities
4.3: Added different depths of
calibration container
4.4: Added excavating tools
5.1: Clarity of silica sand added
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02 14/11/13 Shareef S. J. Pillai 5.2 – 5.9: Calibration added
6.1: Added mass of sand
6.2: Sealing of sample added
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6.4: Mass of sand with bottle added

8.4: Degree of compaction added
10.0: Changed as per new
documents

03 20/11/17 Shareef S. J. Pillai Reviewed, but changes done

Cl. 11 Reference, BS 1377 P2

04 8/1/2020 Shareef S. J. Pillai
removed

S. J. Pillai 08-01-2020

Approved By Signature Date

Ref.: CIV-MS-018-04-Insitu Density Test by Sand Replacement-Large Pouring Cylinder Page 1 of 5

THIS DOCUMENT SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR FULL WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF LONESTAR
 Issue #
METHOD STATEMENT 00

Rev. #
IN SITU DENSITY TEST (LARGE POURING CYLINDER) 04

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................ 3

2.0 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................. 3

3.0 APPARATUS ....................................................................................................................... 3

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4.0 MATERIAL ........................................................................................................................... 3

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5.0 PROCEDURE ...................................................................................................................... 4

6.0 CALCULATION ................................................................................................................... 5

7.0
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REPORT .............................................................................................................................. 5

8.0 INFORMATION OPTIONAL ................................................................................................ 5

9.0 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 5

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THIS DOCUMENT SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR FULL WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF LONESTAR
 Issue #
METHOD STATEMENT 00

Rev. #
IN SITU DENSITY TEST (LARGE POURING CYLINDER) 04

1.0 PURPOSE
1.1 This document’s purpose to carry out the in situ of the density of natural or compacted soil
containing coarse-grained particles.

2.0 SCOPE
2.1 This procedure applies for the jobs undertaken by the Material testing laboratory (Civil &
Geotechnical Section) of the company.

3.0 APPARATUS
3.1 A pouring cylinder

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3.2 Suitable tools for excavating hole
3.3 Cylindrical metal calibrating containers(three numbers) with an internal diameter of 200+5mm

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and different internal depth of 250mm, 200mm and 150mm.
3.4 A metal tray about 500mm square and about 50mm deep with a 200mm diameter hole in the
center
3.5 An oven capable of maintaining of temperature 105+5oC and 80˚C
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3.6 Balance capable of weighing to an accuracy of 0.1g and 1g/10g for fine/ medium/ coarse
grained soils
3.7 Suitable tools for excavating holes
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4.0 MATERIAL
4.1 The replacement sand shall be clean closely graded silica sand which provides a bulk density
that is reasonably consistent. The grading of the sand shall be such that 100% passes a 600
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microns test sieve and 100% is retained on a 63 microns test sieve. In addition it shall be free
from flaky particles, silt, clay and organic matter
4.2 Calibrations
Determine the mass of sand with bottle nearest to 10g (m1) (Initial mass of sand with bottle) in
accordance with the depth of Calibrating container(250mm,200mm150mm). Sufficient sand
should be used so that about 4kg to 5kg of sand is left in the pouring cylinder after the
calibration is completed. Maintain this mass constant throughout the test for which calibration
is used
4.3 Place the pouring cylinder with metal tray on the calibrating container as the base of the
cylinder covers the calibrating container concentrically. Fill the pouring cylinder with a given
initial mass of sand (m1), weighed to the nearest 10g. Keep the shutter on the pouring
cylinder closed during this operation. Open the shutter and allow sand to run out; during this
period do not vibrate the pouring cylinder or the surrounding area. When no further movement
of the sand takes place, close the shutter. Remove the pouring cylinder and pour the
remaining sand back in to the same bottle and determine the mass of sand with bottle (m 3) to
the nearest 10g.
4.4 Collect by wiping the sand placed on the top of the calibrating container which was filled in the
cone of the pouring cylinder. Pour this sand( sand in cone) in to the same bottle (m3) and
determine its mass nearest to 10g.(m5)

Ref.: CIV-MS-018-04-Insitu Density Test by Sand Replacement-Large Pouring Cylinder Page 3 of 5

THIS DOCUMENT SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR FULL WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF LONESTAR
 Issue #
METHOD STATEMENT 00

Rev. #
IN SITU DENSITY TEST (LARGE POURING CYLINDER) 04

4.5 Place the metal tray on a glass plate which is placed on a plane and leveled surface. Place
the pouring cylinder concentrically on the top of the metal tray. Keep the shutter on the
pouring cylinder closed during this operation. Pour the sand (m5) in to the pouring cylinder
and Open the shutter and allow sand to run out to the cone of pouring cylinder. During this
period do not vibrate the pouring cylinder or the surrounding area. When no further movement
of the sand takes place, close the shutter. Remove the pouring cylinder and pour back the
remaining sand in to the same bottle and determine its mass nearest to 10g.(m6)
4.6 Repeat these process at least three times and calculate the mean value of the sand in
cone(m2)
4.7 Calculation
4.8 Calculate the mass of sand required to fill the calibrating container, ma (in g), from the

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equation
ma = m1– m3 – m2

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Where
m1 is the initial mass of sand with bottle before pouring in to the calibrating container
m2 is the mean mass of sand in the cone
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m3 is the mass of the sand after pouring in the calibrating container
4.9 Calculate the bulk density of sand, ρa (in Mg/m3), from the equation
ρa = ma/ V
where V is the volume of the calibrating container (in mL)
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5.0 PROCEDURE
5.1 Determine the mass of sand with bottle m1 (Initial mass of sand with bottle) in accordance
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with the depth of test or Layer thickness to be tested. (Sufficient sand should be used so that
about 4kg to 5kg of san is left in the pouring cylinder after the test is completed.)
5.2 Expose a flat area, approximately 600 mm square, of the soil to be tested and trim it down to a
level surface. Brush away any loose extraneous material.
5.3 Lay the metal tray on the prepared surface with the hole over the portion of the soil to be
tested. Using this hole as a pattern excavate a round hole, approximately 200 mm in diameter
and the depth of the layer to be tested up to a maximum of 250mm. Do not leave loose
material in the hole and do not distort the immediate surround to the hole. Carefully collect the
excavated soil from the hole and immediately seal the sample to prevent loss of moisture and
contamination. Determine its mass (mw) to the nearest 10 g.(at laboratory)
5.4 Place a representative sample of the excavated soil in an airtight container and determine its
moisture content.
5.5 Place the pouring cylinder filled with constant mass of sand (m1) so that the base of the
cylinder covers the hole concentrically. Keep the shutter on the pouring cylinder closed during
this operation. Open the shutter and allow sand to run out; during this period do not vibrate the
pouring cylinder or the surrounding area. When no further movement of the sand takes place,
close the shutter. Remove the pouring cylinder and pour the remaining sand back in to the
same bottle and determine the mass of sand with bottle (m4) to the nearest 10g.(at
laboratory)

Ref.: CIV-MS-018-04-Insitu Density Test by Sand Replacement-Large Pouring Cylinder Page 4 of 5

THIS DOCUMENT SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR FULL WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF LONESTAR
 Issue #
METHOD STATEMENT 00

Rev. #
IN SITU DENSITY TEST (LARGE POURING CYLINDER) 04

6.0 CALCULATION
6.1 Calculate the mass of sand required to fill the excavated hole, mb (in g), from the equation:
mb = m1– m4 – m2
Where
m1 is the mass of sand before pouring in to hole
m2 is the mean mass of sand in the cone
m3 is the mean mass of the sand after pouring in to the hole
6.2 Calculate the bulk density of the soil, ρ (in Mg/m3), from the equation
ρ = (mw / mb) x ρa

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Where
mw is the mass of soil excavated

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mb is the mass of sand required to fill the hole
ρa is the bulk density of the sand
6.3 Calculate the dry density ρd (Mg/m3), from the equation:
ρd = (100 x ρ / 100 + w)
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Where
w is the moisture content of the soil (in %)
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7.0 REPORT
Test report shall include the following information
7.1 The test method of test used
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7.2 The in-situ bulk and dry densities of the soil (in Mg/m3), to the nearest 0.01 Mg/m3
7.3 The moisture content, as a percentage, to two significant figures.
7.4 Degree of compaction nearest to 1%
7.5 The information required by clause 9 of BS 1377-1-1990

8.0 INFORMATION OPTIONAL

And other laboratory and project information as follows
8.1 Name and address of the customer
8.2 Name of project and project No
8.3 Name of Consultant
8.4 Project Location

9.0 REFERENCES
9.1 BS 1377part 9 1990 Amd: 8264 (95)

Ref.: CIV-MS-018-04-Insitu Density Test by Sand Replacement-Large Pouring Cylinder Page 5 of 5

THIS DOCUMENT SHALL NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR FULL WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF LONESTAR