GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LAB(1506)

NAME – SRIRAM KUMAR

REG. NO-2018UGCE040
EXPERIMENT. NO.-3

FIELD DENSITY OF SOIL (BY SAND REPLACEMENT

METHOD)

• INTRODUCTION:
The field density test of soil is conducted in the field to know whether the specified

compaction is achieved or not. Normally Sand Replacement Method is adopted for this

purpose. Sand Replacement Method is also known as Sand Cone Method.

The apparatus used in this field density test consists of a sand pouring cylinder, with pouring

cone at its base.There is a shutter between the cylinder and the cone. The cylinder is first

calibrated to determine the unit Weight of sand.

For good results, the sand used should be uniform, dry and clean passing a 1.0 mm sieve and

retained on a 600-micron sieve.

• OBJECTIVES:
This test is done to determine the field density of soil by sand replacement method as per IS :

2720-PART-28.

• APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. Sand pouring cylinder

2. Calibrating can

3. Metal tray with a central hole

4. Dry sand (passing through 600 micron sieve)

5. Balance

6. Moisture content bins

7. Glass plate

8. Metal tray

9. Scraper tool

• DIAGRAM:

• THEORY:
Determination of field density of cohesion less soil is not possible by core cutter method,

because it is not possible to obtain a core sample.

In such situation, the sand replacement method is employed to determine the unit weight. In
sand
replacement method, a small cylindrical pit is excavated and the weight of the soil excavated
from the

pit is measured. Sand whose density is known is filled into the pit. By measuring the weight of
sand

required to fill the pit and knowing its density the volume of pit is calculated. Knowing the
weight of

soil excavated from the pit and the volume of pit, the density of soil is calculated.

Therefore, in this experiment there are two stages, namely

1. Calibration of sand density

2. Measurement of soil density

(a) Calibration of Apparatus.

The cylinder is filled with sand weighed. A calibrating container is placed below the pouring

cylinder, and the shutter is opened.

The sand fills the calibrating container and the cone.

The weight of the sand in the container and the cone is equal to the difference between the two

observations.

The pouring cylinder is again filled to the initial weight.

The sand is allowed to run out of the cylinder, equal to the volume of the container and the

shutter is closed.

The cylinder is then placed over a plain surface, and the shutter is opened, the sand runs out of

the of the cylinder and fills the cone.

The shutter is closed when no further movement of sand takes place. The cylinder is removed

and the sand formerly filling the cone is collected and weighed.

The unit weight of the sand is determined as under:

γ = (w1-w2)-w3 / Vc
Where,

w1 = initial weight of cylinder, with sand.

w2 = weight of sand in the cone only.

w3 = weight of cylinder after pouring sand into the cone and the container.

Vc= Volume of the container.

(b) Measurement of volume of the hole.

A tray with a central hole is placed on the prepared ground surface which had been cleaned and

properly levelled.

A hole about 100 mm diameter and 150 mm deep is excavated in the ground, using the hole in

the tray as a pattern.

The soil removed, is carefully collected and weighed (w).

The sand pouring cylinder is placed over the excavated hole. The shutter is opened, and the
sand

is filled in the cone and the hole.

When the sand stops running out, the shutter is closed. The cylinder is removed and weighed.

The volume of the hole is determined by the weight of sand filled in the hole and the unit
weight

of sand.

γs = (w1-w2)-w3 / Vc.

Where,

w1 = weight of cylinder and sand before pouring into the hole.

w2 = weight of sand in the cone only.

w3= weight of cylinder after pouring sand into the hole.

γs= unit weight of sand, as found from calibration.

The bulk unit in-situ soil is determined from the weight of soil excavated and the volume of the
hole.

The Wet density or bulk density of soil is computed as:

γ = W/V

• PROCEDURE:
1. Calibration of cone apparatus should be done firstly:

2. Weigh the sand cone apparatus full of known density sand.

3. Seat the density plate on levelled clean test ground.

4. Dig out soil 4” to 6″ deep with the same diameter as the density plate hole. Clean all loose
soil out

of the test hole with brush and spoon.

5. Collect all the excavated soil and weigh it.

6. Invert the sand cone apparatus over the density plate and open the valve to tilt the hole with

sand. When the sand stops flowing, close the valve and remove the apparatus from the test
hole.

7. Weigh the sand cone apparatus with remaining sand.

8. Collect as much of the sand from the hole as possible.

9. Put a sample of the excavated soil in the weighed moisture container and place it in the oven
for

water content determination.

• OBSERVATIONS & RESULTS:

Initial wt. of Cylinder + cone + sand, before filling the hole. 10400 gm.

Final wt. of cylinder + cone + sand, after filling the hole. 5500 gm.

Wt. of sand in hole + cone. 4900 gm.

Wt. of sand in cone. 1700 gm.

Wt. of sand in hole. 3800 gm.

Density of sand. 1.71 gm/c.c.

Volume of hole (V). 1871.34 c.c.

Wt. of excavated soil. (W) 4800 gm.

Wet density (bulk density) of soil = r =W/V. 2.56 gm/c.c.

Water Content Determination of Sand Replacement Method.

Moisture Container No. S4.

Wt. of Container = w1. 15.9 gm.

Wt. of container + wet soil. = w2. 34 gm.

Wt. of container + wet soil. = w3. 33.2 gm.

Wt. of water (w2-w3) = 18.1 gm.

Wt. of dry soil (w3-w1) = 17.3 gm.

Water Content = m.c. = (w2-w3)/(w3-w1) x100. 46 %.

Moisture Container No. S4.

Dry density, rd = r/1+m.c = 2.44 gm/c.c

• Result of Sand Replacement Method:

The field dry density of soil is 2.44 gm/c.c.

• COMMENTS:
Density is a measure of the strength of the soil. It is useful in estimating bearing capacity of
soils,

settlement of footings, earth pressure behind the retaining walls and embankments. The field

compaction is controlled by the density.

• PRECAUTIONS:
1. Sand used in this test should be dry.

2. Excavated soil should be collected as the whole.

3. Sample collected for determination of water content should be kept covered.

4. Calibration of cone apparatus should be done before starting the test.

• REFERENCE:

• https://www.engineeringcivil.com/determine- the-in-situ-dry-density-of-soil-by-core-
cuttermethod.html

• https://cementconcrete.org/geotechnical/dry- density-of-soil-by-core-cutter-method-
forcompaction-in-field/1748/

• https://civilseek.com/core-cutter-method/