DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF SOIL, IN-PLACE BY THE SAND-CONE METHOD SIGNIFICANCE Density of soil is defined as the weight/mass per unit volume. It is a very significant engineering property of soils as strength is dependent upon density. The field density test is widely used as a control test in embankment construction to ensure adequate compaction. Highway specifications usually require that embankment should be compacted to not less than 95 % of a maximum density. Another application of the test in highway work is in nection with the determination -of “pay quantity" of borrow materials, when the borrow pit is not amenable to direct volumetric measurements. APPARATUS /MATERIALS 1. Density Apparatus - shall consist of 4 liters capacity (1 gal.) jar and a detachable cone consisting of a cylindrical valve with an orifice 12.7 mm (1/2 inch.) in diameter. The valve shall have stops to prevent rotating the valve past the completely open or completely closed positions. A guide or base plate shall be provided for more constant base for tests of soft soils. 2. Sand - any clean, dry, free-flowing, uncemented sand having few, if any, particles passing the 0.075 mm (No. 200) or retained on the 2.00 mm (No. 10) sieves. Note: Passing No. 10 and Retained No. 200 3. Balances - 10 kg capacity accurate to 1.0 g and balance of 500 g capacity accurate to 0.1 g. 4. Oven with temperature control, 5. Digging tools, such as earth auger, crowbar or chisel 6. Soil pans, MC cans, plastic bags, labeling materials PROCEDURE A. Determination of Volume of Density Jar 1. Weigh the assembled apparatus ¢ record. 2. Place the apparatus upright and open the valve 3. Fill the apparatus with water until it appears over the valve 4. Close the valve and remove the excess water. 5. Weigh the apparatus and water. 6. Repeat the procedure described in steps (1) to (5) at least twice. 54Determination of Bulk Dengity of the Sand to be used in the Field Le 4. Place the empty apparatus upright on a firm level surface, close the valve and fill the funnel with sand Open the valve, keeping funnel at least half full of sand, fill the apparatus. Close the valve sharply and empty excess sand. Weigh the apparatus with sand Determination of Mass of Sand required to fill the funnel Put sand in the apparatus and secure mass of the apparatus and sand. Seat the inverted apparatus on a clean, level, plane surface. Open the valve and keep open until after the sand stops running. Close the valve sharply, weigh the apparatus with remaining sand and determine the loss of sand. This loss represents the mass of sand required to fill the funnel. Determination of the Soil Density in Place 1 Smooth off a representative spot of sufficient size and lay flat the guide plate on the surface of the seil layer to be tested. Dig the test hole inside the center hole in the base plate with an auger, knife or any digging tool to the full depth of the layer under test. Trim the hole carefully to make the sides more or less vertical and bottom, level. Place all the loosened soil in a container being careful to avoid losing any material. Protect the material from any loss of moisture. Weigh the material. Weigh the Density Apparatus and sand. Position the Density Apparatus to the inverted. position leveled to the guide plate above the test hole. Open the valve to release the calibrated sand. Take care to avoid jarring or vibrating the apparatus on the ground during this Step. Close the valve after the sand has stopped and determine the mass of sand used in the test. Mix the material thoroughly and obtain a representative sample for moisture content determination or use the entire sample. Dry and weigh the moisture sample. Remove the sand from the test hole, clean for future use. 55The minimum test hole volumes suggested in determining the in-place density of soil mixtures are given in Table 1. TABLE 1 Minimum Test Hole Volumes and Minimum Moisture Content Samples Based on Maximum Size of Particle Maximum Minimum Minimum Minimum Particle Size Test Hole Test Hole Moisture Vol. (cm3) Vol. (£t3} Content Sample, 9 4.75 710 0.025 100 12.5 1420 0.050 250 25 2120 0.075 500 50 2830 0.100 1000 56Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways BUREAU OF RESEARCH AND STANDARDS EDSA, Diliman, Quezon City WORK SHEET FOR FIELD DENSITY TEST Project iwambery (Wane) (Gity/Province) Kind of material Spec's Item No. Test hole: Depth Location (station © Reference to Center Line} Representing (Layer No.) (Depth) (Station to Station) (Width) Tested by (Name and designation) (Office) (Date Computed by (Name and designation) (Office) ~(Datey sand Actual moisture content 1. Container full of water, kg 11. Container + wet soil, g 2. Container, kg 12. Container + dry soil, g 3. Water, kg (1) ~ (2) 13. Moisture, g (11)-(12) _ 4. Container, m3 (3)/1000 14. Container, g 5. Container filled with air 18. Dry soil, g (12)-(14) dry sand, kg 16. Actual moisture content, & 6. Air-dry sand, kg (5) - (2) (131/(25) x 100 7. Unit weight of dry sand, 17. Average actual moisture kg/m? (6) /(4) content, & Mass of Sand to Fill Funnel 8. Mass of Jar + Sand, kg 9. Mass of Jar + Sand, kg (after pouring) 10. Sand in Funnel, kg (8)-(9) Field Density 18. Total material taken from hole, kg 19. Mass of Jar + Sand, kg 20. Mass of Jar + Sand, kg (after pouring) 21. Sand to fill hole kg (19)~(20)~(10) 22. Volume of hole, m? (21)/(7) 23. Wet unit weight, kg/m} (18) /(22) 24. Dry unit weight, kg/m? (23)/{(17)/100) + 1 -25. Laboratory compaction test data (a) Maximum dry density, kg/m? (b) optimum moisture content, § 26, Degree of compaction, § (24)/(25a) x 100 REMARKS/RECOMMENDATION CERTIFIED CORRECT: (Name and designation) (Office) (Date) 97