ASTM D1556-07
(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 intact 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 11/2 in. (38 mm), and granular soils having high void ratios.
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable amounts of particles larger than 11/2 in. (38 mm), or when test hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft3 (2830 cm 3) are required, Test Method D 4914 or D 5030 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/ft 3 should not be regarded as nonconformance with this test method.
1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D 6026 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 users objectives; it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits or 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 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 − 07
StandardTest Method for
Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone
1
Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1556; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* tional system of units when dealing with the inch-pound
system.Inthissystemthepound(lbf)representsaunitofforce
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the in-place
(weight). However, the use of balances or scales recording
density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
3
pounds of mass (lbm), or the recording of density in lbm/ft
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appre-
should not be regarded as nonconformance with this test
1
ciable amounts of rock or coarse materials in excess of 1 ⁄2 in.
method.
(38 mm) in diameter.
1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
1.3 Thistestmethodmayalsobeusedforthedetermination
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
ofthein-placedensityandunitweightofintactor in situsoils,
Practice D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
providedthenaturalvoidorporeopeningsinthesoilaresmall
1.7.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected,
enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering the
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
voids. The soil or other material being tested should have
industry standard. In addition they are representative of the
sufficientcohesionorparticleattractiontomaintainstablesides
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
onasmallholeorexcavation,andbefirmenoughtowithstand
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
theminorpressuresexertedindiggingtheholeandplacingthe
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
apparatus over it, without deforming or sloughing.
ations for the user’s objectives; it is common practice to
1.4 Thistestmethodisnotsuitablefororganic,saturated,or increase or reduce significant digits or reported data to be
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
highly plastic soils that would deform or compress during the
excavation of the test hole. This test method may not be of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical
suitable for soils consisting of unbound granular materials that methods for engineering design.
will not maintain stable sides in the test hole, soils containing
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1
appreciable amounts of coarse material larger than 1 ⁄2 in. (38
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
mm), and granular soils having high void ratios.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable
1
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
amounts of particles larger than 1 ⁄2 in. (38 mm), or when test
3 3
hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft (2830 cm ) are required, Test
2. Referenced Documents
Method D4914 or D5030 are applicable.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.6 It is common practice in the engineering profession to
D653Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm)
Fluids
andaunitofforce(lbf).Thisimplicitlycombinestwoseparate
D698Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
systems of units, that is, the absolute system and the gravita-
3
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft (600
tionalsystem.Itisscientificallyundesirabletocombinetheuse
3
kN-m/m ))
of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single
D1557Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
standard. This test method has been written using the gravita-
3
istics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft
3
(2,700 kN-m/m ))
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
2
Construction Control Tests. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2007. Published October 2007. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D1556–00. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D1556-07. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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