Test Method Title
Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method
Reference Number
ASTM D1556
Material
Field Soil
Test Property
Dry density and moisture content of in-situ soil
Description of Test
A small hole is dug in the soil layer of interest and the soil removed is retained. The volume of the hole is determined by filling the hole with a free flowing sand of known density and the volume is determined. The in-place wet density of the soil is determined by dividing the wet mass of the removed material by the volume of the hole. The water content of the material from the hole is determined and the dry mass of the materials and the in-place dry density are calculated using the wet mass of the soil, the water content and the volume of the hole.
Number of Test Specimens
project specific
Test Specimen Size
dependent upon maximum particle size; typically between 0.05 and 0.1 cubic feet
Keywords
compaction, Density, sand cone