Experiment No.

Experiment Name: Determination of bulk and dry density of the soil by core cutter
method

Aim: To determine the bulk and dry density of the soil by core cutter method.

Standard Reference: IS 2720 (Part XXIX)-1975

Apparatus Required:

• Cylindrical cast iron core-cutter of 130 mm long and 100 mm ID

• Steel dolly of 25 mm high and 100 mm ID
• Steel Rammer
• Crowbar/Pick Axe or Spade
• Trowel
• Spatula or straight edge
• Sample extruder
• Scale or weighing balance to an accuracy of 0.01g, and
• Oven
Theory:
The in-situ/in-place/field density determination is essential when dealing with
ascertaining the degree of compaction of compacted soil, which helps to determine
bearing capacity of soils, stability analysis, and for calculation of settlement, etc. In this
technique core cutter is drive into the soil mass in order to extract known volume of soil
sample for determining in-situ bulk and dry density. This method is suitable for soft and
fine-grained soils (i.e., soil 90% of which passes the 4.75 mm-IS sieve) and the selected
site should be free from stones, aggregations, and rocks. It is less accurate than the sand-
replacement method and is not recommended unless speed is essential or unless the soil is
well compacted. The value of bulk density is typically 15 kN/m3 for many top soils, but
can vary between 11 kN/m3 for loose dry soils to 18 kN/m3 for dense wet soils.

B.SC Dept. of Agriculture K L Deemed to be University

Procedure:

1. Clean the core-cutter and measure its internal volume (V) in cm3. Record the
mass of core cutter (M1) to the possible nearest gram, apply the grease or oil
inside portions of the core cutter, and dolly properly.
2. Clean and level, the selected exposed area where in-situ density need to
determined. Insert the dolly on top of the core cutter and place this assembly on a
leveled and cleaned site. Later, drive this assembly vertically in to soil layer with
the help of steel rammer until only about 15 mm of the dolly protrudes or projects
above the ground surface.
3. Dig out the soil outside around the core-cutter with the help of crowbar and
remove it. Lift the core-cutter separated it from the surrounding soil carefully with
the help of a trowel.
4. Separate dolly from core cutter with out disturbing extruded soil sample and trim
the top and bottom surfaces of the extracted soil sample in to core cutter using
spatula or a straight edge. Record the Mass of the core-cutter with in-situ wet soil
(M2).

B.SC Dept. of Agriculture K L Deemed to be University

 5. Extrude the soil sample from the core-cutter with the help of a sample extruder
and collect the soil sample from top, middle and bottom portions of the extracted
cylindrical core for determining its in-situ water content using oven drying
method.

Calculations Formula:
The bulk density of the soil can be calculated as follows:

Bulk density (kN/m3), b =   V

Dry density, kN/m3, d =   (1+w)

Void ratio = e = (G w / d ) – 1

Degree of saturation, Sr = w G/ e

Observations:

Data Sheet for Determination of Specific Gravity:

Soil type:

Observation and 1 2 3
calculations
observations for
density
Core cutter No.
Internal diameter, D

B.SC Dept. of Agriculture K L Deemed to be University

Internal height, H
Mass of empty core
cutter, (M1)
Mass of core cutter
with in-situ soil,
(M2)
observation for
water content
Container No.
Mass of empty
container, (M3)
Mass of container
with wet soil, (M4)
Mass of container
with dry soil, (M5)
Calculations
Mass of wet soil in
core cutter, M=M2-
M1
Volume of core
cutter, V=AH
Water content,
w = (M4 – M5) /
(M5 – M3)

bulk density,
b=M/V
dry density,
d=b/(1+w)

B.SC Dept. of Agriculture K L Deemed to be University

Calculation:
For Sample 1:

For Sample 2:

For Sample 3:

Average value:

Results:

bulk density of the soil sample (kN/m3) =

dry density of the soil sample (kN/m3) =

B.SC Dept. of Agriculture K L Deemed to be University

Observations and Inference:

Review/conceptual questions:
• Where does this method best suitable in practical application?
• Can this method be suitable for pavements, earthen embankments, railway, and
roads?
• Write down the possible values of bulk and dry densities for different soils?
• What is relative density of a soil? Can you able to determine it using this method?

B.SC Dept. of Agriculture K L Deemed to be University