ASTM D5918-06
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Frost Heave and Thaw Weakening Susceptibility of Soils
Standard Test Methods for Frost Heave and Thaw Weakening Susceptibility of Soils
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
These test methods can be used to determine the relative frost-susceptibility of soils used in pavement systems. Both the frost heave susceptibility and the thaw weakening susceptibility can be determined.
These test methods should be used only for seasonal frost conditions and not for permanent or long-term freezing of soil. These test methods also have not been validated for anything other than pavement systems.
These test methods cannot be used to predict the amount of frost heave or thaw weakening in the field. Its purpose is to determine the relative frost-susceptibility classification for use in empirical pavement design methods for seasonal frost regions.
SCOPE
1.1 These laboratory test methods cover the frost heave and thaw weakening susceptibilities of soil that is tested in the laboratory by comparing the heave rate and thawed bearing ratio with values in an established classification system. This test was developed to classify the frost susceptibility of soils used in pavements. It should be used for soils where frost-susceptibility considerations, based on particle size such as the limit of 3 % finer than 20 mm in Specification D 2940, are uncertain. This is most important for frost-susceptibility criteria such as those used by the Corps of Engineers, that require a freezing test for aggregates of inconclusive frost classification. The frost heave susceptibility is determined from the heave rate during freezing. The thaw weakening susceptibility is determined with the bearing ratio test (see Test Method D 1883).
1.2 This is an index test for estimating the relative degree of frost-susceptibility of soils used in pavement systems. It cannot be used to predict the amount of frost heave nor the strength after thawing, nor can it be used for applications involving long-term freezing of permafrost or for foundations of refrigerated structures.
1.3 The test methods described are for one specimen and uses manual temperature control. It is suggested that four specimens be tested simultaneously and that the temperature control and data taking be automated using a computer.
1.4 All recorded and calculated values shall conform to the guide for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D 6026.
1.4.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that should generally be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the users objectives; and 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 analysis methods for engineering design.
1.4.2 Measurements made to more significant digits or better sensitivity than specified in this standard shall not be regarded a nonconformance with this standard.
1.5 This Standard is written using SI units. Inch-pound units are provided for convenience. The values stated in inch pound units may not be exact equivalents; therefore, they shall be used independently of the SI system. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with this standard.
1.5.1 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), while the unit for mass is slugs. The rationalized slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F=ma) calculations are involved.
1.5.2 It is common practice in the engineering/construction profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two separate systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the gravitational system. It is scientifically ...
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Designation: D5918 − 06
StandardTest Methods for
1
Frost Heave and Thaw Weakening Susceptibility of Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5918; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.4.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the
1.1 These laboratory test methods cover the frost heave and
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
thaw weakening susceptibilities of soil that is tested in the
significant digits that should generally be retained. The proce-
laboratory by comparing the heave rate and thawed bearing
2 dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
ratio with values in an established classification system. This
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
test was developed to classify the frost susceptibility of soils
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
used in pavements. It should be used for soils where frost-
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
susceptibility considerations, based on particle size such as the
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
limit of 3% finer than 20 mm in Specification D2940, are
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis
uncertain. This is most important for frost-susceptibility crite-
3
methods for engineering design.
ria such as those used by the Corps of Engineers, that require
1.4.2 Measurements made to more significant digits or
a freezing test for aggregates of inconclusive frost classifica-
better sensitivity than specified in this standard shall not be
tion. The frost heave susceptibility is determined from the
regarded a nonconformance with this standard.
heave rate during freezing. The thaw weakening susceptibility
1.5 ThisStandardiswrittenusingSIunits.Inch-poundunits
is determined with the bearing ratio test (see Test Method
are provided for convenience. The values stated in inch pound
D1883).
units may not be exact equivalents; therefore, they shall be
1.2 Thisisanindextestforestimatingtherelativedegreeof
used independently of the SI system. Combining values from
frost-susceptibilityofsoilsusedinpavementsystems.Itcannot
the two systems may result in nonconformance with this
be used to predict the amount of frost heave nor the strength
standard.
after thawing, nor can it be used for applications involving
1.5.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used
long-term freezing of permafrost or for foundations of refrig-
when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound
erated structures.
(lbf)representsaunitofforce(weight),whiletheunitformass
1.3 The test methods described are for one specimen and
isslugs.Therationalizedslugunitisnotgiven,unlessdynamic
uses manual temperature control. It is suggested that four
(F=ma) calculations are involved.
specimens be tested simultaneously and that the temperature
1.5.2 It is common practice in the engineering/ construction
control and data taking be automated using a computer.
profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit
of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two
1.4 All recorded and calculated values shall conform to the
separate systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the
guideforsignificantdigitsandroundingestablishedinPractice
gravitational system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine
D6026.
theuseoftwoseparatesetsofinch-poundunitswithinasingle
standard. As stated, this standard includes the gravitational
1
ThesetestmethodsareunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoil
system of inch-pound units and does not use/present the slug
andRockandarethedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD18.19onFrozenSoils
unitformass.However,theuseofbalancesorscalesrecording
and Rock.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2006. Published December 2006. Originally pounds of mass (lbm) or recording density in lbm/ft3 shall not
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D5918–96(2001).
be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
DOI: 10.1520/D5918-06.
2
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Sometimes called California Bearing Ratio (CBR).
3
The Army Corps of Engineers uses a frost susceptibility classification proce-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
dure(TM5-818-2)basedonparticlesizecriteriaandtheUnifiedSoilClassification
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
System (MIL-STD-619) field. Furthermore, this test should only be used for
priate safety
...
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