Field Density Test

(Sand-Cone Method)

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu

Kevin Janes, Tim Koch, Jordan Streby, George Williams

CE 312 Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Section 1
October 1st, 2012
sh

Submitted October 8th, 2012

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00

[Link]
 Introduction
Laboratory 4 included two processes, the calibration of the sand-cone apparatus, and the
field procedure. The overall purpose of the field density laboratory was to determine the
in-situ field density of soil using a standardized field density procedure. Calibrating the
sand cone apparatus is an important step that is carried out to reduce the likelihood of
errors within the laboratory procedure. The procedures used to determine field density
include the sand cone method, balloon method, and the nuclear method. The sand cone
method was used in the laboratory. Determining the field density of soil is beneficial
because it allows further calculations such as wet density of the soil, dry density of the
soil, and water content of the excavated soil. These characteristics and calculations are
significant for our future as Civil Engineering students and professional engineers
because determining field density allows other soil data to be identified and used.

m
er as
Procedure

co
eH w
To begin the laboratory procedures, some calibration was required. The sand-cone must
be calibrated in order to obtain positive results. The calibration begins by weighing the

o.
rs e
apparatus containing the sand and the attached cone and recording this weight. Then, the
valve was closed and the apparatus was turned upside down in the center of the base
ou urc
plate. The valve was then opened and sand flowed into the cone section of the apparatus,
once the flow of sand ended the valve was closed and the apparatus weighed again. The
weight of sand needed to fill the cone can now be calculated. These weights are all
o

provided in Table 1. The sand is poured back into the apparatus. The apparatus is
aC s

weighed one more time with the sand replaced and this weight is the field weight of the
vi y re

original apparatus.
Finally the test can be taken to the field. Once a level spot without any vegetation is
determined, the base plate was placed down and the digging commenced. All soil
ed d

removed from the hole was placed in a plastic bag so that the moisture content did not
ar stu

change. The hole was dug to about 10 cm deep. Once the hole was 10 cm deep the
remaining loose soil was placed in the bag and the base plate was cleaned off. The sand-
cone was then placed over the hole and the valve was opened. After the flow stopped the
is

valve was closed and the apparatus was weighed and recorded. The excavated soil was
also weighed and recorded. Then a portion of the soil was placed in an evaporating dish
Th

that was previously weighed. The weight of the soil and dish were recorded and then
microwaved for 10 minutes. Following the drying stage, the dish and soil were weighed
again. From this, the moisture content was calculated. To clean up, the sand in the hole
sh

was removed and the soil placed back into the hole.

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00
2

[Link]
 Calculations
There are several calculations during this test that are crucial to finding the density of the
soil in the field. The first of which is to calculate the mass of the sand to fill the hole.
This calculation is shown in Equation (1). Note that Mi denotes initial mass of the
apparatus, Mf denotes the final mass of apparatus, and Mc denotes the mass of sand to fill
the cone.

1.76 kg = 1220 g
(1)

m
Using Equation (1) and other known information, the volume of the hole can be

er as
calculated. The volume is calculated using Equation (2). Note that the density of Ottawa

co
Sand is 1.547 g/cm3.

eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
cm3 (2)
o

Now, important steps in order to calculate the moisture content are to find the mass of the
aC s

dry soil and the mass of the moisture. These calculations can be seen in Equations (3) and
vi y re

(4).
ed d

g
ar stu

(3)
is

g (4)
Th

The moisture content can be calculated using the above information. This calculation can
sh

be seen in Equation (5).

(5)

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00
3

[Link]
 The wet density of the soil can now be calculated using Equation (6).

g/cm3 (6)

Finally, the dry density of the soil excavated from the hole can be calculated. This
calculation is done using the wet density and the water content. See Equation (7), below.

g/cm3 (7)

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
Results
rs e
ou urc
Table 1 depicts the calibration data performed on the sand cone apparatus in the lab. This
data was used to determine the amount of sand was used to fill the excavated hole in the
field.
o
aC s
vi y re

Table 1. Calibration
ITEM VALUE
Initial mass of sand-cone apparatus (kg) 6.64
ed d

Final mass of sand-cone apparatus (kg) 4.88

Mass of sand to fill the attached cone (kg) 1.76

Table 2 contains data collected during the field portion of this experiment. Once the
Th

excavation was complete, the soil was taken to the lab and weighed, then dried and
weighed again. This data, which is also contained in Table 2, was used in calculating the
moisture content of the excavated soil, as well as its dry density. These final calculations
are depicted in Table 3, below.
sh

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00
4

[Link]
 Table 2. Field procedure
ITEM VALUE
Initial mass of sand-cone apparatus (kg) 6.64
Final mass of sand-cone apparatus (kg) 3.66
Mass of sand to fill the attached cone & excavated soil (kg) 2.98
Mass of the excavated soil in moist condition (kg) 1.0355
Mass of the evaporating dish (kg) 0.0754
Mass of the evaporating dish with soil (kg) 0.2094
Mass of the evaporating dish with dry soil (kg) 0.2007

Table 3. Final results for soil sample

m
er as
Moisture Content 6.90%

co
eH w
Dry Desnsity (g/cm3) 0.1561

o.
rs e
ou urc
Discussion
o

The dry density of the excavated soil in this experiment– approximately 0.16 g/cm 3 – was
aC s

much lower than what was expected. Based on a table compiled by Reade, the average
vi y re

dry density of excavated loam is 78 lb/ft3, or about 1.25 g/cm3 (Reade). There are a
couple possible reasons for this discrepancy including poor calibration of the sand cone
apparatus from an improper density of the Ottawa Sand, and a contaminated sample.
ed d

For this experiment, the assumed density of Ottawa Sand was 1.547 g/cm 3. This density
ar stu

was used to calibrate the sand-cone apparatus as specified by ASTM D-1556 (Standard
Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone Method).
During the experiment, sand was emptied into trays with traces of debris and then reused
(extraneous particles were visible in the Ottawa Sand stock). Because of this, it is
is

possible that the sand’s density could have been affected. As a result, the volume of the
Th

excavated hole could have been miscalculated (Equation 2), leading to an inaccurate dry
density calculation for the field sample. While the affect of contaminated Ottawa Sand
was probably minimal, the results of such impurity must be considered.
sh

Weighing the contaminated sand most likely yielded a higher weight than desired. Using
this assumption, Equation 2 would yield a lower volume and the subsequent in situ
density calculation of the sample would yield a higher result. Furthermore, Equation 7
would yield a higher dry density, which would more accurately reflect the value in the
table provided by Reade.

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00
5

[Link]
 A severely contaminated, diverse sample most likely had the most impact on its
calculated dry density. During and after excavation it was clear that the sample was
extremely diverse and contained not only soil, but several other constituents. In the
sample were several small sticks, pieces of root matter, and even asphalt. According to
the Reade table, both asphalt and wood have relatively low densities compared to soil.
Because these materials were large constituents in the sample, it is very likely that their
presence lowered the sample’s calculated dry density. These extraneous objects also
created large voids in the sample, further decreasing its dry density. To prevent this in the
future, soil should be excavated from a less contaminated site to ensure more accurate
density calculations.

Conclusion
This experiment was conducted to calculate the in-situ field density of soil using the sand

m
cone method, as specified by ASTM D-1556. The dry density of a sample excavated from

er as
a site near the engineering building on Michigan State’s campus was found to be 0.16

co
g/cm3. This value was determined to be low based on the average dry density of

eH w
excavated loam (Reade). Error existed primarily in the sample itself, since it was
contaminated with fragments of wood and asphalt. These extraneous particles most likely

o.
rs e
lowered the calculated density, yielding an inaccurate value for the dry density of the soil
ou urc
itself. While the sand cone method is often useful in determining the density and water
content of compacted soils placed during the construction of earth embankments,
structural backfill, and road fill, the errors present in this lab rendered the process useless.
While it is not useful with a contaminated sample, as demonstrated in this experiment,
o

this process is typically useful in checking the dry unit weight (density) of a compacted
aC s

field sample. This information is critical in assessing whether or not a soil will meet
vi y re

certain contract specifications.

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00
6

[Link]
 Works Cited

"ASTM D1556 - 07." Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place
by the Sand Cone Method. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012.
<[Link]

"Specific Gravity Weights Of Materials from READE." Specific Gravity Weights Of

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
sh

This study source was downloaded by 100000781294143 from [Link] on 06-06-2021 [Link] GMT -05:00
7

[Link]
Powered by TCPDF ([Link])