1 AS 1289.1.2.

1 — 1998

Australian Standard ®
Methods of testing soils for engineering
purposes

Method 1.2.1: Sampling and preparation of

soils—Disturbed samples—Standard method

1 SCOPE This Standard outlines considerations and specifies procedures for taking
disturbed samples of soils for engineering purposes such as earthworks and pavements,
subdividing the samples and details for packing and forwarding them for examination and
testing. In order to obtain appropriate representative samples, sampling is to be carried out
by operators properly trained in the procedures and considerations given in this Standard
and in general sampling techniques.
The Standard does not cover undisturbed sampling of soils or sampling soils for tests for
environmental purposes.
Disturbed soil samples may be suitable for visual identification and for classification,
chemical, density tests and strength tests on remoulded specimens.
The selection of sites from where samples are to be taken is not covered by this Standard.
Random selection of sampling sites, when required, is covered by AS 1289.1.4.1 or 1.4.2.

2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this

Standard:
AS
1141 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates
1141.3.1 Method 3.1: Sampling — Aggregates
1141.3.2 Method 3.2: Sampling — Rock spalls, boulders and drill core
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1289 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes

1289.1 Method 1: Preparation of disturbed soil samples for testing
1289.1.4.1 Method 1.4.1: Sampling and preparation of soils — Selection of sampling or
test sites — Random number method
1289.1.4.2 Method 1.4.2: Sampling and preparation of soils — Selection of sampling or
test sites — Stratified random number method
1289.5.4.1 Method 5.4.1: Soil compaction and density tests — Compaction control
test — Dry density ratio, moisture variation and moisture ratio
1289.5.7.1 Method 5.7.1: Soil compaction and density tests — Compaction control
test — Hilf density ratio and Hilf moisture variation (rapid method)
1289.6.3.1 Method 6.3.1: Soil strength and consolidation tests — Determination of the
penetration resistance of a soil — Standard penetration method (SPT)

3 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard the definitions below apply.
3.1 Sample — the material to be forwarded for examination or testing.
3.2 Sample-increment — the amount of material taken directly from the conveyor, bin,
truck, section of a stockpile or from material taken after quartering the soil from each
layer or type of material present.
3.3 Stockpile — a heap or stack of material held in stock for future use.

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 AS 1289.1.2.1 — 1998 2

4 APPARATUS The following apparatus is required:

(a) Sampling containers which prevent loss of fines and, if required, which can be
sealed to prevent moisture loss.
(b) Durable labels, indelible marking pens and the like.
(c) Shovel or appropriate scoop.
(d) The following apparatus may be required depending on the procedure used and
whether samples are divided and weighed in the field:
(i) Balance or scale to determine the mass of samples (see Notes 1 and 2).
(ii) Sample divider (riffle splitter) complying with the requirements of
AS 1289.1.
(iii) Face sampling shield or board.
(iv) When sampling from stockpiles, windrows or channels, either a shovel or
scoop, with sides at least 25 mm high to avoid loss of material from the
sides.
(v) Appropriate mechanical plant.
(vi) Hand or power auger.
(vii) Pick or other excavating device.
(viii) Impermeable groundsheet.
(ix) Quartering cross.

5 CONSIDERATIONS
5.1 General considerations In sampling, the aim is to obtain samples of adequate size,
number and distribution to represent the true nature and condition of the bulk of the
deposit or source of material or defined portions of it. Sample quantities are determined
by the particle size and the tests required (see AS 1289.1).
Samples shall only contain material which appears to be the one soil type or layer, unless
it is intended that the total material being sampled is to be mixed to produce a relatively
uniform product.
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The end result of the sampling operation is a quantity of material upon which testing or
examination is carried out. The sample may be obtained by combining a number of
sample-increments.
When sampling from pits, trenches or exposed faces, operators shall be aware of the
safety aspects of the site and relevant local and national safety regulations. In cases when
it is unsafe to enter the site to take a sample, suitable mechanical methods may be adopted
to ensure personal safety, or the sampling may need to be abandoned.
5.2 Specific considerations In planning sampling, the following shall be taken into
account:
(a) The type of material to be sampled.
(b) The purpose for which the sample is being taken.
(c) The tests to be performed on the sample and the quantity of material required.
(d) The number of layers or strata of material present, the amount of material to be
sampled from each layer or stratum, and whether or not each layer or stratum is to
be sampled.
(e) The accuracy to which depths of layers or strata are to be measured, e.g. to the
nearest 10 mm for pavement layers or to the nearest 100 mm for bore holes.

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 3 AS 1289.1.2.1 — 1998

(f) Orientation of trenches and excavations in relation to the strata.

(g) The equipment to be used for sampling and sample reduction.
(h) Safety of operators when taking samples.

6 PROCEDURE
6.1 General In order to ensure that there is sufficient sample to allow for additional
tests or for repeat tests, samples larger than the minimum required for the tests to be
performed shall be obtained.
If samples for moisture content are required, they shall be taken during excavation as
soon as the layer is exposed and placed in a container, which is then sealed to ensure
moisture is not lost.
Samples may be reduced in the field by quartering. The quartering shall be performed on
an impermeable surface preferably on an impermeable groundsheet with a quartering
cross.
The sample shall be thoroughly mixed by heaping it into a cone and turning it over to
form a new cone until the operation has been carried out 3 times. Each cone shall be
formed by depositing each scoopful of the material on the apex of the cone, so that the
portions which slide down the sides will be distributed as evenly as possible and the
centre of the cone will not be displaced. If some of the large pieces of rock roll and
scatter round the base, these shall be pushed back to the edge of the cone.
The third cone formed from the mixed sample shall be flattened by repeated vertical
insertions of the edge of a shovel or board, commencing about the centre and working
radially round the cone, the shovel or board being lifted clear of the material after each
insertion. The flattened heap shall be uniform in thickness and diameter and its centre
shall coincide with the centre of the original cone.
The flattened heap shall then be quartered along two diameters which intersect at right
angles. The use of a quartering cross of wood or sheet metal, which can be forced through
the heap, will facilitate this operation. One pair of diagonally opposite quarters shall be
discarded and the remainder shall be shovelled into a heap. The process of sample mixing
and reduction shall be repeated on the heap until the required mass of the sample is
obtained from a pair of diagonally opposite quarters.
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6.2 Sampling from stockpiles Sampling of plant mixed materials, crushed rock, sands
and other soils placed in stockpiles shall be performed in accordance with AS 1141.3.1.
6.3 Sampling from windrows Sampling of materials from windrows shall be
performed in accordance with AS 1141.3.1.
6.4 Sampling from layers in earthworks or pavement Samples shall be taken as
follows:
(a) Uncompacted Uncompacted layers of soil in earthworks or pavements shall be
sampled in accordance with Clause 6.3.
(b) Compacted Excavate a hole with essentially vertical sides to the depth of the layer
being tested. Excavate the hole to provide enough material for all the testing
required. (See also AS 1289.5.4.1 and AS 1289.5.7.1 for sampling at field density
test sites.)
6.5 Sampling from in-situ material
6.5.1 Hand excavated pit or trench Any local and national regulations concerning entry
into pits and trenches shall be followed when using this procedure.

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A trench or pit shall be dug to obtain samples. The procedures shall be as follows:
(a) Remove vegetation and topsoil and excavate a pit or trench with essentially vertical
sides to enable a sample to be taken from each layer of soil.
(b) For each identifiable layer of soil, carefully excavate the soil while ensuring that the
sides of the pit or trench are essentially vertical. Increase the depth of excavation
until a change of material type is encountered.
(c) Recover the excavated material and place the selected sample in a container.
6.5.2 Hand auger drilling A manual auger shall be used to obtain samples of soil. The
procedure shall be as follows:
(a) Remove vegetation and topsoil.
(b) Commence augering and lay out each auger full of material in sequence of depth on
a ground sheet until a change in the material is encountered. Ensure that the hole is
essentially vertical.
(c) Recover the excavated material and place the selected sample in a container.
6.5.3 Power auger drilling There are inherent difficulties in obtaining a uniform
sample using a power auger as mixing of different materials may occur in the auger
flights.
A flight auger may be used to sample materials where a hole can be drilled without
collapse. Weakly cemented particles may suffer breakdown when using this procedure.
The procedure for obtaining samples using a power auger shall be as follows:
(a) Remove vegetation and topsoil.
(b) Commence augering, lifting the auger at discrete intervals of not more than
300 mm, to locate the interface between different soil types. Recover the loosened
material from the flights. Cover the material whilst continuing the augering to avoid
contamination.
(c) Sample each layer of material as required to the full depth of the augering.
6.5.4 Machine-excavated pit or trench An excavator, bulldozer or backhoe may be used
to expose soils and soft rock intended for earthworks so that sampling can be carried out.
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The excavation should permit the sampling of the material as it is excavated, or provide a
face from which samples may be taken.
Trenches cut in weak rock with moderately to steeply dipping strata (30° to 90°) should
be oriented perpendicular to the direction of strike unless detailed otherwise in the
sampling plan.
Excavated trenches shall be entered only as allowed by applicable regulations and site
safety rules.
The procedure for obtaining samples of soil shall be as follows:
(a) Remove all vegetation and topsoil from the area to be excavated and, if required,
from an adjacent area upon which the excavated material is to be placed.
(b) Excavate in strips, taking care not to mix materials of apparently different type or
quality. Place each different type of material in a separate heap.
(c) Obtain a representative sample of the material from the required heap in accordance
with Clause 6.1.
(d) Place the sample in a container.

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6.6 Face sampling

6.6.1 General Face sampling methods are for use where a pit or cutting has been
excavated and it is desired to obtain a sample from the face. Depending on the type of
material in the face, one of two sampling methods are employed. Care shall be taken to
ensure the safety of the operator during sampling by following local and national safety
regulations.
6.6.2 Channel sampling method Where a face shows material of uniform quality, or is
composed of material in near-horizontal bands or lenses which could not be worked as
individual layers, it is desirable to channel sample the whole height of the accessible face.
If the face shows thick bands of different quality materials which could be worked as
discrete layers, a channel sample of each layer shall be obtained.
The procedure for obtaining a sample shall be as follows:
(a) Clean an area of the face, from top to bottom, of all disturbed or contaminated
material.
(b) Place a groundsheet at the base of the cleaned face and, using a pick or shovel,
excavate a channel of uniform width and depth down the face, collecting the entire
amount of material on the groundsheet.
(c) Collect the excavated material as a sample and place it in a container.
(d) To sample discrete layers in a face, proceed as in Step (a). Then excavate a channel
of uniform width and depth down the uppermost layer to be sampled, collecting the
entire amount of material on the groundsheet. Continue as in Steps (b) and (c).
(e) Sample all other layers in turn, from the uppermost to the lowest, after first
cleaning the face beneath the area just sampled.
6.6.3 Spall sampling method Sampling of spalls from an existing pit face or cutting
shall be carried out in accordance with AS 1141.3.2.
6.7 Open-drive samplers When sampling in bore holes, the base of the hole shall be
cleaned before obtaining the sample.
The procedure for obtaining the sample shall be as follows:
(a) Obtain a sample using an open-drive sampler which will retain all portions of the
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sampled soil, such as that described in AS 1289.6.3.1.

(b) Recover all the material from the sampler for the layer(s) sampled and place in a
container.

7 PACKAGING, IDENTIFICATION AND STORAGE

7.1 Containers Each sample shall be packed and sealed in one or more containers of
convenient size. Containers shall be made of material that will prevent loss of fines during
handling and transportation, and shall be strong enough to resist damage likely to lead to
loss of any of the sample or lead to alteration of the true nature and condition of the
material of the sample.
7.2 Labelling Each container shall be marked with an indelible marker, or a durable
label shall be attached to the container clearly marked with the following information:
(a) Unique sample identification mark.
(b) Where more than one container is used, the number of containers in which the
sample is packed.
(c) Any other information as appropriate

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A durable label indelibly marked with the above details shall also be placed on top of the
material inside each container.
7.3 Handling of samples The containers in which the samples are placed shall be
handled and stored in such a manner as to avoid damage, contamination and loss of
sample. Samples which require moisture content determination should be stored in an
environment to minimize evaporation and the containers so protected as to prevent
damage that will cause loss of moisture.

8 RECORDS The following information shall be recorded for each sample:

(a) Unique sample identification.
(b) Date of sampling.
(c) Sample description.
(d) Location of material represented and, when appropriate, the depths below the
surface of the material represented.
(e) The specific sampling procedure used with reference to the relevant clause(s) of this
method.
(f) Name of sampling operator.
(g) Where there is more than one container, the number of containers.
(h) Any other relevant information, as required.

9 REPORT In the event of a report being prepared, that report shall contain the
following information:
(a) Unique sample identification.
(b) Date of sampling.
(c) Sample description.
(d) Location and, when appropriate, depth of sampling.
(e) Specific sampling procedure used with reference to the relevant clause(s) of this
method.
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(f) The number of this Australian Standard, i.e AS 1289.1.2.1.

NOTES ON TESTS
1 The scale or balance used to assess the mass of samples or sample-increments need
not be calibrated but should be checked with known masses annually.
2 Normally, the masses of sample-increments or of samples are not checked in the
field and containers or bags which have a known capacity are used. Regular checks
of the capacity of the containers or bags should be made.

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NOTES
AS 1289.1.2.1 — 1998
 AS 1289.1.2.1 — 1998 8

This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee CE/9, Testing of Soils for Engineering Purposes. It was approved on
behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 2 January 1998 and published on 5 April 1998.

The following interests are represented on Committee CE/9:

Australian Geomechanics Society
AUSTROADS
Crushed Stone Association of Australia
Department of Industry, Sport and Tourism, Scientific Services Laboratory, AGAL
Institution of Engineers, Australia
National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
University of Sydney

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First published as AS 1289.1.2.1 — 1998

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 96247.

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