Introduction

When the compaction work is progressing in the field, knowing whether the specified unit weight has been
achieved is useful. One of the standard procedures for determining the field unit weight of compaction is
the sand cone method. In the field, a small hole is excavated in the area where the soil has been
compacted. The water content of the field sample will then be determined and use to find the dry weight. By
knowing the amount of sand used to fill the hole, the volume can be founded. Finally, the dry unit weight of
the sample is determined by taking the dry weight of the soil excavated from the hole divided by volume of
the hole.

Apparatus

1. Sand container
2. Metal Funnel (Sand-Cone)
3. Base Plate
4. Balances: one with a 10-kg capacity and accuracy to 1.0 g, and one with a 500-g capacity and
accuracy to 0.1 g
5. Oven or other suitable equipment for drying moisture content samples
6. Chisels, hammers, picks, and spoons
7. Others may need: suitable containers for retaining density samples, moisture samples, and
salvaged density sand

Procedure

1. Fill testing apparatus with sand and record the total mass.
2. Select the area of compactedliftto be tested.Place the base plate over the smoothed area and
fasten down with pins.Plate must stay in this position and be stable throughoutthe test.
3. Dig atest hole within base plate opening,with the auger, trowel, or other tools.Soils that are
granular require extreme care and may require the digging of aconical-shaped hole.
4. Place all of the loosened material from the hole into anaggregate balance pan, or a moisture-tight
container if not weighed right away.
5. Place testing apparatus on the base plate and open valve.After the sand hasstopped flowing,
closethevalve;remove apparatus, and record final mass.
6. Weigh the wetsoilor soil aggregatesremoved from the hole to the nearest0.01lb.and record.
7. Take about 20g of the wet soil and place in a tare, and then put it in the oven to obtain the dry
weight of soil. Record the weight of tare, and tare + wet soil.