1. Field Density (Sand Cone Method) ASTM D 1556/02
Experiment No. 4
Field Density
(Sand Cone Method)
ASTM D 1556/02
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

2. Direct Goal Quality control for Compactionw d
Compaction specifications
Compare!
d,field = M/V wfield = ?
compacted ground
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

3. How to Get the Volume of the Hole
(a)
Methods
(a) Sand cone
(b) Balloon
(c) Oil (or water) method
(b)
Calculations
Know Ms and Vh
Get d field and w (water content)
Compare d field with d max-lab and calculate relative compaction R.C.
(c)
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density
Holtz and Kovacs, 1981

4. Sand Cone Method Properties of calibrated sand Uniformly graded.
Spherical in shape.
Known density.
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

5. REQUIRED APPARATUS
Density apparatus, consisting of a jar with attached cone and base plate
Speedy Moisture Tester.
Balance.
Clean, dry
uniform sand of
known density
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

6. In the Lab Determine the density of calibrated sand
Type of Sand:
Weight of Calibrated Mold:
Volume of Calibrated Mold:
Weight of mold + sand:
Trial # 1:
Trial # 2:
Trial # 3:
Average weight of mold + sand:
Weight of sand:
Density of sand: calibrated sand
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

7. In the Lab Determine the weight of sand to fill the cone
Trial # 1
Trial # 2
Trial # 3
Wt. of filling jug after used
Wt. of filling jug before used
Wt. of sand used
Average weight of sand used:
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

8. In the Field Density of Soil: Wet density: wet= Wwet/Vh
Weight of jug + cone before used:
Weight of jug + cone after used:
Weight of sand used (hole + cone) =
Weight of sand in the hole: Wsand =
Volume of the hole: Vh = Wsand /calibrated sand
Weight of wet soil + can:
Weight of can:
Weight of wet soil = Wwet
Red of speedy moisture content: R
Water content from speedy moisture apparatus: 1.25*R
Density of Soil:
Wet density: wet= Wwet/Vh
Dry density: dry= wet /(1+wc)
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density

9. Relative Compaction Dry ,max 1 min=0.95Dry ,max 3 4 2 wopt Wopt-2%
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density
wopt

10. How To Adjust the compaction to be accepted
If our point lays in area 1 the Compaction is accepted
If our point lays in area 2 we must increase the water content and compaction effort to meet specification
If our point lays in area 3 we must increase the compaction effort
If our point lays in area 4 we must Decrease the water content and Increase compaction effort
Soil Mechanics Lab CE350
Field Density