ASTM D6026-01e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to promote uniformity in recording significant digits for measured and calculated values involving geotechnical data. The guidelines presented are industry standard, and are representative of the significant digits that should generally be retained. The guidelines do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user's objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of this practice to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.
1.1.1 Using significant digits in geotechnical data involves the processes of collecting, calculating, and recording either measured values or calculated values (results), or both.
1.2 This practice accepts a variation of the traditional rounding method that recognizes the algorithm common to most hand-held calculators, see 5.2.3. The traditional rounding method (see 5.2) is in accordance with Practice E 29 or IEEE/ASTM SI 10.
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
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Designation: D 6026 – 01
Standard Practice for
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Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6026; 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.
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e NOTE—Section 6.1.2.3 was corrected editorially in August 2002.
1. Scope * D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
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Fluids
1.1 This practice is intended to promote uniformity in
D2905 Practice for Statements on Number of Specimens
recording significant digits for measured and calculated values
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for Textiles
involving geotechnical data. The guidelines presented are
D4356 Practice for Establishing Consistent Test Method
industry standard, and are representative of the significant
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Tolerances
digits that should generally be retained. The guidelines do not
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data,
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Determine Conformance with Specifications
special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s
E344 Terminology Relating to Thermometry and Hydrom-
objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce
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etry
significant digits of reported data to commensurate with these
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E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
considerations. It is beyond the scope of this practice to
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E833 Terminology of Building Economics
consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engi-
IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International
neering design.
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System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
1.1.1 Using significant digits in geotechnical data involves
the processes of collecting, calculating, and recording either
3. Terminology
measured values or calculated values (results), or both.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 This practice accepts a variation of the traditional
3.1.1 For common definitions of soil and rock terms in this
rounding method that recognizes the algorithm common to
standard, refer to Terminology D653.
most hand-held calculators, see 5.2.3.The traditional rounding
3.1.2 accuracy, n—thedegreeofagreementofanindividual
method (see 5.2) is in accordance with Practice E 29 or
measurement or average of measurements with an accepted
IEEE/ASTM SI 10.
reference value, or level. See Terminology E344-97
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
3.1.3 calculated value, n—the resulting value determined
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
by processing measured value(s) using an equation. See
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
Practice D4356-84(Reapproved 1996).
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
3.1.3.1 Discussion—In many cases the calculated value(s)
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
is considered a determination value(s).
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
3.1.4 determination value, n—thenumericalquantitycalcu-
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
lated by means of the test method equation from the measure-
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
ment values obtained as directed in a test method. See Practice
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
D4356-84(Reapproved 1996).
title of this document means only that the document has been
3.1.5 measurement value, n—theresultingvaluedetermined
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
by measuring a dimension, quantity, or property.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
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Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.91 on Standards Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
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Development and Review. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
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Current edition approved Nov. 10, 2001. Published January 2002. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.03.
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published as D6026–96. Last previous edition D6026–99. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
*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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D6026–01
3.1.5.1 Discussion—In many cases the term “measured 4.2 The guidelines presented herein should not be inter-
value(s)” is also referred to as “measurement value(s)”. See preted as absolute rules but as guides to calculate and report
Practice D4356-84(Reapproved 1996). observed or test data without exaggerati
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