ASTM D421-85(1998)

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-May-1998
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.03 - Texture, Plasticity and Density Characteristics of Soils

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D421-85(2002) - Standard Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants
• 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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: D 421 – 85 (Reapproved 1998)
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
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 4.4 Sampler—A riffle sampler or sample splitter, for quar-
tering the samples.
1.1 This practice covers the dry preparation of soil samples
as received from the field for particle-size analysis and the
5. Sampling
determination of the soil constants.
5.1 Expose the soil sample as received from the field to the
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
air at room temperature until dried thoroughly. Break up the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
aggregations thoroughly in the mortar with a rubber-covered
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
pestle. Select a representative sample of the amount required to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
perform the desired tests by the method of quartering or by the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
use of a sampler. The amounts of material required to perform
2. Referenced Documents the individual tests are as follows:
5.1.1 Particle-Size Analysis—For the particle-size analysis,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
material passing a No. 10 (2.00-mm) sieve is required in
D 2217 Practice for Wet Preparation of Soil Samples for
amounts equal to 115 g of sandy soils and 65 g of either silt or
Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Con-
2 clay soils.
stants
5.1.2 Tests for Soil Constants—For the tests for soil con-
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur-
3 stants, material passing the No. 40 (425-μm) sieve is required
poses
in total amount of 220 g, allocated as follows:
3. Significance and Use
Test Grams
3.1 This practice can be used to prepare samples for
Liquid limit 100
particle-size and plasticity tests where it is desired to determine
Plastic limit 15
Centrifuge moisture equivalent 10
test values on air-dried samples, or where it is known that air
Volumetric shrinkage 30
drying does not have an effect on test results relative to samples
Check tests 65
prepared in accordance with Practice D 2217.
6. Preparation of Test Sample
4. Apparatus
6.1 Select that portion of the air-dried sample selected for
4.1 Balance, sensitive to 0.1 g.
purpose of tests and record the mass as the mass of the total test
4.2 Mortar and Rubber-Covered Pestle, suitable for break-
sample uncorrected for hygroscopic moisture. Separate the test
i
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