ASTM D421-85(2002)

Standard Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the dry preparation of soil samples as received from the field for particle-size analysis and the determination of the soil constants.  
1.2  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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 limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-2002
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.03 - Texture, Plasticity and Density Characteristics of Soils

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D421-85(1998) - Standard Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM D421-85(2007) - Standard Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants (Withdrawn 2016)
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D1241-15 - Standard Specification for Materials for Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses (Withdrawn 2024)
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D3282-15 - Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction Purposes
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D6276-19 - Standard Test Method for Using pH to Estimate the Soil-Lime Proportion Requirement for Soil Stabilization
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D6836-16 - Standard Test Methods for Determination of the Soil Water Characteristic Curve for Desorption Using Hanging Column, Pressure Extractor, Chilled Mirror Hygrometer, or Centrifuge
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D421–85(Reapproved2002)
Standard Practice for
Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis
and Determination of Soil Constants
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 421; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
No. 4 (4.75-mm)
No. 10 (2.00-mm)
1.1 This practice covers the dry preparation of soil samples
No. 40 (425-µm)
as received from the field for particle-size analysis and the
4.4 Sampler—A riffle sampler or sample splitter, for quar-
determination of the soil constants.
tering the samples.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Sampling
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 Expose the soil sample as received from the field to the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
air at room temperature until dried thoroughly. Break up the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
aggregations thoroughly in the mortar with a rubber-covered
2. Referenced Documents pestle. Select a representative sample of the amount required to
perform the desired tests by the method of quartering or by the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
use of a sampler. The amounts of material required to perform
D 2217 Practice for Wet Preparation of Soil Samples for
the individual tests are as follows:
Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Con-
5.1.1 Particle-Size Analysis—For the particle-size analysis,
stants
material passing a No. 10 (2.00-mm) sieve is required in
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur-
3 amounts equal to 115 g of sandy soils and 65 g of either silt or
poses
clay soils.
3. Significance and Use 5.1.2 Tests for Soil Constants—For the tests for soil con-
stants, material passing the No. 40 (425-µm) sieve is required
3.1 This practice can be used to prepare samples for
in total amount of 220 g, allocated as follows:
particle-sizeandplasticitytestswhereitisdesiredtodetermine
Test Grams
test values on air-dried samples, or where it is known that air
dryingdoesnothaveaneffectontestresultsrelativetosamples
Liquid limit 100
prepared in accordance with Practice D 2217.
Plastic limit 15
Centrifuge moisture equivalent 10
Volumetric shrinkage 30
4. Apparatus
Check tests 65
4.1 Balance, sensitive to 0.1 g.
6. Preparation of Test Sample
4.2 Mortar and Rubber-Covered Pestle, suitable for break-
ing up the aggregations of soil particles.
6.1 Select that portion of the air-dried sample selected for
4.3 Sieves—A series of sieves, of square mesh woven wire
purposeoftestsandrecordthemassasthemassofthetotaltest
cloth, conforming to Specification E 11. The sieves required
sample uncorrected for hygroscopic moisture. Separate the test
are as follows:
sample by siev
...