Standard Method of Test for Determining Minimum Laboratory Soil Resistivity 1. SCOPE L.A. This test method covers the labo- ratory determination for the minimum resistivity of a soil. 1.2 The principal use of this test method is to determine a soi’s corrosiv- ity and thereby identify the conditions ‘under which the corrosion of metals in soil may be sharply accentuated. This standard is divided into two parts. The first part involves obtaining and prepar- ing the sample to size for testing and the second part describes the test method for determining the minimum laboratory soil resistivity. 13 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard, REFERENCED DOCUMENTS 2A. AASHTO Standards: T2 Sampling Aggregates T 248. Reducing Field Sam- ples of Aggregate to Testing Size PART INITIAL PREPARATION OF TEST SAMPLES 3. SCOPE, 3.1 This method covers the dry prep aration of soil and soil-aggregate sam- ples, as received from the field for soil resistivity determination. 3.2. The following applies toll spee- ified limits in this standard: For the pur- pose of determining conformance with these specifications, an observed value or calculated value shall be rounded off “to the nearest unit” in the last right hhand place of figures used in expressing the limiting value, in accordance wi the rounding-off method R11, Recom- mended Practice for Indicating Which AASHTO DESIGNATION T 288-91 Places Of Figures Are To Be Considered Significant In Specified Limiting Values. 4. APPARATUS 4.1 A balance with a 5-Kg capacity and shall conform to the requirements ‘of M231, forthe class of general purpose ‘balance required for the principal sample ‘mass of the sample being tested. 42. Drying Apparatus—Any suit- able device capable of drying samples at a temperature not exceeding 60°C (40°F). 43 Sieves—A series of the follows sizes: 6.3 mm ('/in.), 4.75 mm (No. 4), 2.00 mm (No. 10) and pan as required for preparing the sample for the mini- ‘mum soi resistivity test. The sieves shall conform to M 92, Sieves for Testing Purposes (Note 1). 44 Pulverizing Apparatus—Bither a ‘mortar and rubber-covered pestle or any device suitable for breaking up the aggre~ gations of soil particles without reducing the size of the individual grains of soil (ote 2). 45 Sample Spliter—A suitable rif- fle sampler or sample splitter for propos tional splitting of the sample and capable of obtaining representative portions of the sample without appreciable loss of fines. The width of the container used to feed the riffle sampler spliter should bbe equal to the total combined width of the riffle chutes. Proportional spliting of the sample on a canvas cloth is also permitted. NOTE 1—The sieve sizes which have an opening size of 63 mm ('%, in.) oc larger shall conform tothe requirements specified in M092 excluding column no, 7. This exclusion permits the use of heavier screens in non: Standard frames which are larger than the 203.2-mm (Bn. round frames. NOTE 2—Other types of apparatus are satisfactory if the aggregations of soil pat- cles are broken up without reducing the size the individual grains 5. SAMPLE SIZE 5.1 The amount of soil material re- quired to perform the minimum soil re sistivity testis as follows: Sieve Size — Tes _Approx. Mass (g) Finer Than, Ressiviy 2.00 mm 10) 6. INITIAL PREPARATION OF ‘TEST SAMPLES 6.1 The sample as received from the field shall be dried in air or a drying apparatus not exceeding 6OC (I40°F). A representative test sample of the amount required to perform the minimum soil re- sistvity test shall then be obtained with the sampler, or by spliting or quartering ‘The aggregations of soil panicles shall then be broken up inthe pulverizing appa: ratus until the aggregation of soil particles are separated into individual grains in such a way as to avoid reducing the natural size of the individual particles (Note 3). NOTE 3—Samples dried in an oven ot other drying apparatus at a temperanre not exceeding 60°C (140°F) are considered to be ais dried 6.2 The portion of the dried sample selected for minimum soil resistivity test ing shall be separated into fractions by cone of the following methods: 621 Altemate Method Using 2.00- ‘mm (No. 10) Sieve—The dried sample shall be separated into two fractions us- ing 2.00-mm sieve, The fraction re- tained on the sieve shall be ground with ‘a pulverizing apparatus until the aggrega- tions of the soil particles are broken into separate grains. The ground soil shall then be separated into two fractions using, the 2.00-mm sieve. 62.2. Altemote Method Using 4.75- ‘mm and 2.00-mm (No. 4 and No. 10) 763764 Sieves—The dried sample shall first be ‘separated into two fractions using a 4.75- ‘mum sieve. The fraction retained on this sieve shall be ground with a pulverizing apparatus until the aggregations of soil particles are broken into separate grains and again separated on the 4.75-mm siove. The fraction passing the 4.75-mm sieve shall be mixed thoroughly and, by the use of the sampler or by spliting and quartering, a representative portion adequate for testing shall be obtained, ‘This split-off portion shall then be sepa- rated on the 2.00-mm sieve, and pro- essed as in Section 6.2.1 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING 623 Alternate Method Using 6.3- ‘mm and 2.00-mm ('Jein. and No. 10) Sieves—The dried sample shall first be separated into two fractions using a 6.3 mm sieve. The fraction retained on this sieve shall be ground with a pulverizing apparatus until the aggregations of soil particles are broken into separate grains and again separated on the 6.3-mm sieve. ‘The fraction passing the 63-mam sieve shall be mixed thoroughly and, by the use of the sampler or by spliting and quartering, a representative portion ade- uate for testing shall be obtained. This split-off portion shall then be separated wor ro SCALE 4 T 288 on the 2.00-mm sieve, and processed as in Section 6.2.4 PART 2 MINIMUM SOIL RESISTIVITY DETERMINATION 7. SCOPE 7.1 This method covers the labora tory procedure for determining the mini- ‘mum resistivity of soil samples. The val- tues obtained from this method are relat- _ TYPICAL Al. ml FRONT VIEW oS ee weseials ockon © 1 fe, 17 ae x 127 a 2 127 we fends 28. 127 nme 64S 0 2D a Stes <2 Pen, 152.4 we x 66.45 am m1) an Clectrodes 2 64, 0.9 mm Staloless Seed 152.6 an a 465 an 2 tach = Hx 0.5 5 19.0 om Coe lengecd ound Head Steighecs seaet fechine Bote Uieh Rubber Usher and Scetolers Steet SOIL BOX FOR LABORATORY RESISTIVITY DETERMINATION FIGURE 17288 able to the corrosion potential that soil may exhibit 8. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS 8.1 Resistivity Meter—An alternat- ing current (AC) meter or a 12 volt direct current (DC) meter utilizing a Wien Bridge (AC bridge) with a phase sensi- tive detector and a square wave inverter that produces a nominal slterat nal at 97 Hz. (Note 4). a 6 [(——— METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING 82 100, 200, 500, and 900 ohm re- sistors with a T-percent tolerance. 83 Soil box-—See Figure | and Fig- ure 2 84 2.00-mm (No. 10) sieve com forming to the requirements of M 92. 85 Balance with a S-kg capacity conforming to the requirements of M 2B 86 Mixing Pans (non-corrosive eg. stainless steel, plastic, ete). 8.7 Graduated cylinder 100-mL. €a- pacity nor To SCALE — = + 765 88 Distilled water or deionized wa- ter that has a resistivity greater than 20000 (ohm) % (em). 89° Straight edge, 305 mm (12 in.) Fength, 9. CALIBRATION OF RESISTIVITY METER 9.1 Calibrate resistivity meter (fol: low manufacturer's instructions) (a) Zero the resistivity meter by clamp- ——— FRONT VIEW Vite 1681 mm 1 we 2 ee. MES ame tS me 6 2 hee, St A ae Meas me Be SOIL BOX FOR LABORATORY RESISTIVITY DETERMINATION FIGURE2 —NO VIEW 2 res 0.9 mm Seatalecs Seeet 152.6 0m x H6.6S am166, ing the two leads together, and adjusting the meter (if necessary). (b) Connect the leads ofthe resistivity meter 10 the 100 ohm resistor and read the meter. Repeat this process with the 200, 500, and 900 ohm resistors, (6) If the readings are within 10 per- cent of the resistance of the resistor, the meter is functioning satisfactorily 10, SOIL RESISTIVITY DETERMINATION 101 Select the material for testing in accordance with T 248 and separate ‘on a 2.00-mm (No. 10) sieve. Approxi- mately 1500 grams of the material pass- ing the 2.00-mm (No, 10) sieve will be required for testing 10.2 Add 150 mL of distilled water to the prepared soil, Mix the sample thoroughly and cover the test sample with a damp cloth and allow the sample to stabilize until equilibrium has been reached of, allow to cure a minimum of 12 hours. 103 Zero the meter as per manufac- 10.4 Clean the soil box thoroughly with distilled water, 10.5 Thoroughly mix and place the sample in the soil box in layers and ‘compact (moderate compaction with the fingers is sufficient) Trim off the excess ‘material with the straight edge METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING 10.6 Measure the resistance and cal- culate the resistivity of the soil in accor- dance with the instructions fumished with the meter and record the test value. 10.7 Remove and retain the soil from the box, add 100 mL of distilled water to the sample and mix thoroughly. Clean the soil box with distilled water prior to performing the next test. 10.8 Repeat the process of placing, ‘compacting the oil in the box, then mea. sure the resistance and calculate the soil resistivity (Note 5). 10.9 Repeat steps in Sections 10.4 to 10.8 until a minimum value can be de- termined, 10.10 The minimum value is used for computing the minimum soil resistiv- ity and reporting (Note 6). REPORT IL1 The minimum soil resistivity value which was determined above should be reported in units of (ohm) X (em), 11.2 The Minimum Soil Resistivity utilizing the typical soil box is: Minimum Soil Resistivity {minimum reading (ohms)} X (6.67 em} (See Noe 7.) NOTE 4—Most resistance meters without an inverting cieuit allow the sample under test to polarize during messurement causing the reading to vary (Le, df, T 288 NOTE Stn some soil the minimar sot resistivity occurs when the specimen i in 2 slurry condition. When this occurs it is necessary t0 thoroughly mix the soil slury and then pour the slurry water into the soit bor uni full Ifthe soil box doesn't reach i capacity with the addition of the slurry ater then add just enough of the mixed sol sto the box wat the soil box is filled and then take the reading NOTE 6—The minimum soil resistivity ean occur at any moisture content, NOTE 7—Muluplying Constant for each Soll Box is derived by: Soll Box ie derived by: Surface 1£2 of One Fletroe (em sauared) Measured Average Distance berncen Electr (om) ‘Typical Soit Box 1828 em x 4.445 en 10.16 em 661 om ‘The soil box may be constructed of either 64 or 127mm ('%, of My in.) acrylic plastic. If other size soil boxes are used, it will be necessary to determine the correct multiplier. It should also be noted that it may be necessary to prepare extra soil for testing to fill the soil box. 12. PRECISION AND BIAS 12.1 Data not available at this time,