ASTM D4546-03

Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Settlement Potential of Cohesive Soils

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover three alternative laboratory methods for determining the magnitude of swell or settlement of relatively undisturbed or compacted cohesive soil.  
Note 1—Refer to Section 5 to determine the best method for a particular application.  
1.2 The test methods can be used to determine (a) the magnitude of swell or settlement under known vertical (axial) pressure, or (b) the magnitude of vertical pressure needed to maintain no volume change of laterally constrained, axially loaded specimens.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values stated in inch-pound units are approximate.  
1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026.
1.4.1 The method used to specify how data are collected, calculated, or recorded in this standard is not directly related to the accuracy to which the data can be applied in design or other uses, or both. How one applies the results obtained using this standard is beyond its scope.
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2003
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.05 - Strength and Compressibility of Soils

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4546-96 - Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Settlement Potential of Cohesive Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D4546-08 - Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Collapse of Cohesive Soils
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM D3550/D3550M-17 - Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D2435/D2435M-11(2020) - Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4829-21 - Standard Test Method for Expansion Index of Soils
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003

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:D4546–03
Standard Test Methods for
One-Dimensional Swell or Settlement Potential of Cohesive
1
Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4546; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* D698 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Character-
3
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12.400 ft-lbf/ft (600
1.1 These test methods cover three alternative laboratory
3 2
kN-m/m ))
methods for determining the magnitude of swell or settlement
2
D854 Test Method for Specific Gravity of Soils
of relatively undisturbed or compacted cohesive soil.
D1557 TestMethodforLaboratoryCompactionCharacter-
3
NOTE 1—Refer to Section 5 to determine the best method for a
istics of Soils Using Modified Effort (56.000 ft-lbf/ft
particular application.
3 2
(2.700 kN-m/m ))
2
1.2 The test methods can be used to determine (a) the
D1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils
magnitude of swell or settlement under known vertical (axial)
D2216 TestMethodforLaboratoryDeterminationofWater
2
pressure, or (b) the magnitude of vertical pressure needed to
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock
maintain no volume change of laterally constrained, axially
D2435 Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation
2
loaded specimens.
Properties of Soils
2
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
D3550 Practice for Ring-Lined Barrel Sampling of Soils
standard. The values stated in inch-pound units are approxi-
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
mate.
EngagedIntheTestingand/orInspectionofSoilandRock
2
1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
as Used In Engineering Design and Construction
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
D3877 Test Methods for One-Dimensional Expansion,
2
Practive D6026.
Shrinkage, and Uplift Pressure of Soil-Lime Mixtures
1.4.1 The method used to specify how data are collected,
D4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil
2
calculated,orrecordedinthisstandardisnotdirectlyrelatedto
Samples
theaccuracytowhichthedatacanbeappliedindesignorother
D4318 Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and
2
uses, or both. How one applies the results obtained using this
Plasticity Index of Soils
standard is beyond its scope.
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechni-
2
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
cal Data
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Terminology
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1 Definitions—Refer to Terminology D653 for standard
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
definitions of terms.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.1 heave (L)—increase in vertical height, D h,ofa
2.1 ASTM Standards:
columnofinsitusoilofheight hfollowingabsorptionofwater.
2
D422 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils
3.2.2 percent heave or settlement, %—increase or decrease
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
in the ratio of the change in vertical height, D h, to the original
2
Fluids
height of a column of in situ soil; h 3 100 or D h/ h 3 100.
3.2.3 settlement, L—decrease in vertical height, D h,ofa
1 column of in situ soil of height h.
ThesetestmethodsareunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoil
and Rock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.05 on Structural 3.2.4 swell, L—increase in elevation or dilation of soil
Properties of Soils.
column following absorption of water.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2003. Published February 2003. Originally
3.2.5 free swell, %—percent heave, D h/h 3 100, following
approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 1996 as D4546 –96.
2
absorption of water at the seating pressure s .
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.08. se
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D4546–03
3.2.6 primary swell, L—an arbitrary short-term swell usu- tion test is subsequently performed in accordance with Test
ally characterized as being completed at the intersection of the Method D2435. Rebound data is used to estimate potential
tangent of reverse curvature to the curve of a dimensional heave.
change-logarithm of time plot with the tangent to the straight
5. Significance and Use
lineportionrepresentinglong-termorsecondaryswell(Fig.1).
5.1 The relative sw
...