ASTM D7015-13
(Practice)Standard Practices for Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
Standard Practices for Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Intact block samples are suitable for laboratory tests where large-sized samples of intact material are required or where such sampling is more practical than conventional tube sampling (Practices D1587 and D6519), or both.
4.2 The intact block method of sampling is advantageous where the soil to be sampled is near the ground surface. It is the best available method for obtaining large intact samples of very stiff and brittle soils, partially cemented soils, and some soils containing coarse gravel.
4.3 Excavating a column of soil may relieve stresses in the soil and may result in some expansion of the soil and a corresponding decrease in its unit weight (density) or increase in sampling disturbance, or both. Usually the expansion is small in magnitude because of the shallow depth. Stress changes alone can cause enough disturbances in some soils to significantly alter their engineering properties.
4.4 The chain saw has proved advantageous in sampling difficult soils, which are blocky, slickensided, or materials containing alternating layers of hard and soft material.3 The chain saw uses a special carbide-tipped chain.4Note 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective sampling. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices outline the procedures for obtaining intact block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
1.2 Intact block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the intact soil.
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. Practice A covers cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical block sampling.
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of large diameter (that is, greater than 3/4 m) bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater than about 1 to 11/2 metres or depths below the water table, the cost and difficulties of excavating, cribbing, and dewatering generally make block sampling impractical and uneconomical. For these conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube soil sampler (Practice D1587), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger (Practice D6151), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required. These practices do not address environmental sampling; consult Guides D6169 and D6232 for information on sampling for environmental investigations.
1.5 Successful sampling of granular materials requires sufficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to moisture tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a column shape without undergoing excessive deformations. Additionally, care must be exercised in the excavation, preservation and transportation of intact samples (see Practice D4220, Group D).
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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.
1.7.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpos...
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Designation: D7015 − 13
Standard Practices for
Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of
1
Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7015; 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.
1. Scope* 1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
1.1 These practices outline the procedures for obtaining
Practice D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
intact block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
1.7.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
1.2 Intact block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other
industry standard. In addition they are representative of the
geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the intact
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
soil.
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. PracticeAcovers obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
ations for the user’s objectives; it is common practice to
cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical
block sampling. increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical
are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of
methods for engineering design.
3
large diameter (that is, greater than ⁄4 m) bored shafts of
1.8 These practices offer a set of instructions for performing
circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater
1
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
than about 1 to 1 ⁄2 metres or depths below the water table, the
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
cost and difficulties of excavating, cribbing, and dewatering
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of these practices
generally make block sampling impractical and uneconomical.
may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is
For these conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube soil
not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by
sampler (Practice D1587), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice
which the adequacy of a given professional service must be
D6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger (Practice D6151), Dennison,
judged, nor should this document be applied without consid-
or Pitcher-type soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and
eration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word "Stan-
coring may be required. These practices do not address
dard" in the title of this document means only that the
environmental sampling; consult Guides D6169 and D6232 for
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus
information on sampling for environmental investigations.
process.
1.5 Successful sampling of granular materials requires suf-
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
moisture tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
column shape without undergoing excessive deformations.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Additionally, care must be exercised in the excavation, pres-
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use. For specific
ervation and transportation of intact samples (see Practice
hazard statements, see Section 6.
D4220, Group D).
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2. Referenced Documents
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
standard.
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Fluids
1
ThesepracticesareunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and
2
Related Field Testing for Soil Evaluations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2013. Published August 2013. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D7015 – 07. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D7015-13. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears a
...
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: D7015 − 07 D7015 − 13
Standard Practices for
Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of
1
Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7015; 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.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 These practices outline the procedures for obtaining intact block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
1.2 Intact block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other
geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the intact soil.
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. Practice A covers cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical block
sampling.
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of large
3
diameter (that is, >0.75 greater than ⁄4 m) bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater than about
1
1 to 1 ⁄2 metersmetres or depths below the water table, the cost and difficulties of excavating, cribbing, and dewatering generally
make block sampling impractical and uneconomical. For these conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube soil sampler (Practice
D1587), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger ((Practice D6151), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil core
samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required. This practice doesThese practices do not address environmental
sampling; consult Guides D6169 and D6232 for information on sampling for environmental investigations.
1.5 Successful sampling of granular materials requires sufficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to moisture
tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a column shape without undergoing excessive deformations. Additionally, care
must be exercised in the excavation, preservation and transportation of intact samples (see Practice D4220, Group D).
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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.
1.7.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry
standard. In addition they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not
consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives;
it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is
beyond the scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical methods for engineering design.
1.8 This practice offersThese practices offer a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document
cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this
practicethese practices may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the
standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied
without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in the title of this document means only that the
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
requirements prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and Related
Field Testing for Soil Evaluations.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2007July 1, 2013. Published November 2007August 2013. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20042007
as D7015 – 04.D7015 – 07
...
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