ASTM D1556-00
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method
Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method
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 1 1/2 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 undisturbed 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 1 1/2 in. (38 mm), and granular soils having high void ratios.
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable amounts of particles larger than 1 1/2 in. (38 mm), or when test hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft3 (2830 cm3) are required, Test Method D4914 or D5030 are applicable.
1.6 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/ft3 should not be regarded as non-conformance with this test method.
1.7 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 limitations prior to use.
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Designation:D1556–00
Standard Test Method for
Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1556; 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.
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1. Scope* pounds of mass (lbm), or the recording of density in lbm/ft
should not be regarded as nonconformance with this test
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the in-place
method.
density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appre-
1 safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ciable amounts of rock or coarse materials in excess of 1 ⁄2 in.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
(38 mm) in diameter.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.3 This test method may also be used for the determination
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of the in-place density and unit weight of undisturbed or in situ
soils, provided the natural void or pore openings in the soil are
2. Referenced Documents
small enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the voids. The soil or other material being tested should have
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
sufficientcohesionorparticleattractiontomaintainstablesides
2
Fluids
on a small hole or excavation, and be firm enough to withstand
D 698 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Character-
the minor pressures exerted in digging the hole and placing the
3
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft.lbf/ft (600
apparatus over it, without deforming or sloughing.
3
2
kN·m/m ))
1.4 This test method is not suitable for organic, saturated, or
D 1557 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Character-
highly plastic soils that would deform or compress during the
3
istics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft
excavation of the test hole. This test method may not be
3 2
(2,700 kN-m/m ))
suitable for soils consisting of unbound granular materials that
D 2216 TestMethodforLaboratoryDeterminationofWater
will not maintain stable sides in the test hole, soils containing
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(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock
1
appreciable amounts of coarse material larger than 1 ⁄2 in. (38
D 3584 Practice for Indexing Papers and Reports on Soil
mm), and granular soils having high void ratios.
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and Rock for Engineering Purposes
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
1
amounts of particles larger than 1 ⁄2 in. (38 mm), or when test
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Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft (2830 cm ) are required, Test
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as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
Method D 4914 or D 5030 are applicable.
D 4253 TestMethodsforMaximumIndexDensityandUnit
1.6 It is common practice in the engineering profession to
2
Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm)
D 4254 Test Method for Minimum Index Density and Unit
and a unit of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two separate
2
Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density
systems of units, that is, the absolute system and the gravita-
D 4643 Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture)
tional system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the use
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Content of Soil by the Microwave Oven Method
of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single
D 4718 Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water
standard. This test method has been written using the gravita-
2
Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
tional system of units when dealing with the inch-pound
D 4753 Specification for Evaluating, Selecting, and Speci-
system. In this system the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force
fying Balances and Scales for Use in Testing Soil, Rock,
(weight). However, the use of balances or scales recording
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and Related Construction Materials
D 4914 Test Methods for Density of Soil and Rock in Place
1
This test method is underthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
Construction Control Tests.
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Current edition approved March 10, 2000. Published April 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
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published as D 1556 – 58 T. Last previous edition D 1556 – 90 (1996) . Discontinued; see 1995 Annual Book of Standards, Vol 04.0
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