ASTM D1556/D1556M-15
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone Method
Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone Method
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to determine the density and water content of compacted soils placed during the construction of earth embankments, road fill, and structural backfill. It often is used as a basis of acceptance for soils compacted to a specified density or percentage of a maximum density determined by a test method, such as Test Methods D698 or D1557.
5.1.1 Test Methods D698 and D1557 require that mass measurements of laboratory compacted test specimens be determined to the nearest 1 g, so that computed water contents and densities can be reported to three and four significant digits, respectively. This standard is a field procedure requiring mass measurements to the nearest 0.01 lbm [5 g]. As such, water content calculations should only be reported to nearest 1 % and density to three significant digits.
5.2 This test method can be used to determine the in-place density of natural soil deposits, aggregates, soil mixtures, or other similar material.
5.3 The use of this test method is generally limited to soil in an unsaturated condition. This test method is not recommended for soils that are soft or friable (crumble easily) or in moisture conditions such that water seeps into the hand excavated hole. The precision of the test may be affected for soils that deform easily or that may undergo a volume change in the excavated hole from vibration, or from standing or walking near the hole during the test (see Note 1).
Note 1: When testing in soft conditions or in soils near saturation, volume changes may occur in the excavated hole as a result of surface loading, personnel performing the test, and the like. This can sometimes be avoided by the use of a platform that is supported some distance from the hole. As it is not always possible to detect when a volume change has taken place, test results should always be compared to the theoretical saturation density, or the zero air voids line on the dry density versus water content plot. Any in-place densit...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the in-place density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appreciable amounts of rock or coarse materials in excess of 11/2 in. [38 mm] in diameter.
1.3 This test method may also be used for the determination of the in-place density and unit weight of intact or in situ soils, provided the natural void or pore openings in the soil are small enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering the voids. The soil or other material being tested should have sufficient cohesion or particle attraction to maintain stable sides on a small hole or excavation, and be firm enough to withstand the minor pressures exerted in digging the hole and placing the apparatus over it, without deforming or sloughing.
1.4 This test method is not suitable for organic, saturated, or highly plastic soils that would deform or compress during the excavation of the test hole. This test method may not be suitable for soils consisting of unbound granular materials that will not maintain stable sides in the test hole, soils containing appreciable amounts of coarse material larger than 11/2 in. [38 mm], and granular soils having high void ratios.
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable amounts of particles larger than 11/2 in. [38 mm], or when test hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft3 [2830 cm3] are required, Test Method D4914 or D5030/D5030M is applicable.
1.6 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.6.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, th...
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Designation: D1556/D1556M − 15
StandardTest Method for
Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1556/D1556M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.6.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used
when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the in-place
(lbf) represents a unit of force (weight).
density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
1.6.2 It is common practice in the engineering profession to
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appre-
concurrently use units representing both mass and force unless
1
ciable amounts of rock or coarse materials in excess of 1 ⁄2 in.
dynamic calculations (F = Ma) are involved. This implicitly
[38 mm] in diameter.
combines two separate systems within a single standard.These
1.3 This test method may also be used for the determination
test methods have been written using inch-pound units (gravi-
of the in-place density and unit weight of intact or in situ soils,
tational system); however, conversions are given in the SI
provided the natural void or pore openings in the soil are small
system.Theuseofbalancesorscalesrecordingpoundsofmass
3
enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering the
(lbm), or the recording of density in lbm/ft should not be
voids. The soil or other material being tested should have
regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
sufficientcohesionorparticleattractiontomaintainstablesides
1.6.3 The sieve designations are identified using the “stan-
on a small hole or excavation, and be firm enough to withstand
dard” system in accordance with Specification E11, such as 25
the minor pressures exerted in digging the hole and placing the
mm and 75 µm, followed by the “alternative” system of 1 in.
apparatus over it, without deforming or sloughing.
and No. 200, respectively.
1.4 This test method is not suitable for organic, saturated, or
1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
highly plastic soils that would deform or compress during the
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
excavation of the test hole. This test method may not be
Practice D6026.
suitable for soils consisting of unbound granular materials that
will not maintain stable sides in the test hole, soils containing 1.7.1 For purposes of comparing, a measured or calculated
1
appreciable amounts of coarse material larger than 1 ⁄2 in. [38 value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated
mm], and granular soils having high void ratios. value(s) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal or significant
digits in the specified limits.
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable
1
1.7.2 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
amounts of particles larger than 1 ⁄2 in. [38 mm], or when test
3 3
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft [2830 cm ] are required, Test
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
Method D4914 or D5030/D5030M is applicable.
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
1.6 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
equivalents; therefore each system shall be used independently
increase or reduce significant digits or reported data to be
of the other. Combining values from the two systems may
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
result in non-conformance with the standard.
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical
methods for engineering design.
1 1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Thistestmethodisunder the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Construction Control Tests.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2015. Published March 2015. Originally
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2007
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D1556 − 07 D1556/D1556M − 15
Standard Test Method for
Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1556;D1556/D1556M; the number immediately following the designation indicates
the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the in-place density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
1
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appreciable amounts of rock or coarse materials in excess of 1 ⁄2 in. (38
mm)[38 mm] in diameter.
1.3 This test method may also be used for the determination of the in-place density and unit weight of intact or in situ soils,
provided the natural void or pore openings in the soil are small enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering the voids.
The soil or other material being tested should have sufficient cohesion or particle attraction to maintain stable sides on a small hole
or excavation, and be firm enough to withstand the minor pressures exerted in digging the hole and placing the apparatus over it,
without deforming or sloughing.
1.4 This test method is not suitable for organic, saturated, or highly plastic soils that would deform or compress during the
excavation of the test hole. This test method may not be suitable for soils consisting of unbound granular materials that will not
1
maintain stable sides in the test hole, soils containing appreciable amounts of coarse material larger than 1 ⁄2 in. (38 mm),[38 mm],
and granular soils having high void ratios.
1
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable amounts of particles larger than 1 ⁄2 in. (38 mm),[38 mm], or when test hole
3 3
volumes larger than 0.1 ft (2830[2830 cm )] are required, Test Method D4914 or D5030D5030/D5030M areis applicable.
1.6 Units—It is common practice in the engineering profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm)
and a unit of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two separate systems of units, that is, the absolute system and the gravitational
system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the use of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single standard. This
test method has been written using the gravitational system of units when dealing with the inch-pound system. In this system the
pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight). However, the use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm), or the
recording of density in lbm/ftThe values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded
separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore each system shall be used
3
independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems should not be regarded as nonconformance with this test
method.may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.6.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound (lbf)
represents a unit of force (weight).
1.6.2 It is common practice in the engineering profession to concurrently use units representing both mass and force unless
dynamic calculations (F = Ma) are involved. This implicitly combines two separate systems within a single standard. These test
methods have been written using inch-pound units (gravitational system); however, conversions are given in the SI system. The
3
use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm), or the recording of density in lbm/ft should not be regarded as
nonconformance with this standard.
1.6.3 The sieve designations are identified using the “standard” system in accordance with Specification E11, such as 25 mm
and 75 μm, followed by the “alternative” system of 1 in. and No. 200, respectively.
1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and Construction
Control Tests.
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2007Feb. 1, 2015. Published October 2007March 2015. Origin
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