ASTM D7263-21
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Density and Unit Weight of Soil Specimens
Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Density and Unit Weight of Soil Specimens
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Density is a key element in the phase relations, phase relationships, or mass-volume relationships of soil and rock (Appendix X1). When particle density, that is, specific gravity (Test Methods D854) is also known, dry density can be used to calculate porosity and void ratio (see Appendix X1). Dry density measurements are also useful for determining degree of soil compaction. Since water content is variable, total/moist soil density provides little useful information except to estimate the weight of soil per unit volume, for example, grams per cubic centimeter, at the time of sampling. Since soil volume shrinks with drying of swelling soils, total density will vary with water content. Hence, the water content of the soil should be determined at the time of sampling.
5.2 Densities and unit weights of remolded/reconstituted specimens are commonly used to evaluate the degree of compaction of earthen fills, embankments, and the like. Dry density values are used to calculate dry unit weight values to create a compaction curve (Test Methods D698 and D1557).
Note 2: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on several factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of these factors.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods describe two ways of determining the total/moist/bulk density, dry density, and dry unit weight of intact, disturbed, remolded, and reconstituted (compacted) soil specimens (Note 1). Intact specimens may be obtained from thin-walled sampling tubes, block samples, or clods. Specimens that are remolded by dynamic or static compaction procedures are also measured by these methods. These methods apply to soils that will retain their shape during the measurement process and may also apply to other materials such as soil-cement, soil-lime, soil-bentonite or solidified soil-bentonite-cement slurries. It is common for the density to be less than the value based on tube or mold volumes, or of in situ conditions after removal of the specimen from sampling tubes and compaction molds. This change is due to the specimen swelling after removal of lateral pressures.
Note 1: The adjectives total, moist, wet or bulk are used to represent the density condition. In some professions, such as Soil Science and Geology, the term “bulk density” usually has the same meaning as dry density. In the Geotechnical and Civil Engineering professions, the preferred adjective is total over moist and bulk when referring to the total mass of partially saturated or saturated soil or rock per unit total volume. For more detailed information regarding the term density, refer to Terminology D653.
1.1.1 Method A (Water Displacement)—A specimen is coated in wax and then placed in water to measure the volume by determining the quantity of water displaced. The density and unit weight are then calculated based on the mass and volume measurements. Do not use this method if the specimen is susceptible to surface wax intrusion.
1.1.2 Method B (Direct Measurement)—The dimensions and mass of a specimen are measured. The density and unit weight are then calculated using these direct measurements. Usually, the specimen has a cylindrical or cuboid shape. Intact and reconstituted/remolded specimens may be tested by this method in conjunction with strength, permeability/hydraulic conductivity (air/water) and compressibility determinations.
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only and are not considered standard. ...
General Information
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D7263 − 21
Standard Test Methods for
Laboratory Determination of Density and Unit Weight of Soil
1
Specimens
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7263; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for
1.1 These test methods describe two ways of determining
information only and are not considered standard. Reporting of
the total/moist/bulk density, dry density, and dry unit weight of
test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as
intact, disturbed, remolded, and reconstituted (compacted) soil
nonconformance with this standard.
specimens (Note 1). Intact specimens may be obtained from
1.2.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used
thin-walled sampling tubes, block samples, or clods. Speci-
when dealing with inch-pound units. In the system, the pound
mens that are remolded by dynamic or static compaction
(lbf) represents a unit of force (weight), while the units for
procedures are also measured by these methods. These meth-
mass is slugs. The slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F =
ods apply to soils that will retain their shape during the
ma) calculations are involved.
measurement process and may also apply to other materials
1.2.2 It is common practice in the engineering/construction
such as soil-cement, soil-lime, soil-bentonite or solidified
profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit
soil-bentonite-cement slurries. It is common for the density to
of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This practice implicitly
be less than the value based on tube or mold volumes, or of in
combines two separate systems of units; the absolute and the
situ conditions after removal of the specimen from sampling
gravitational systems. It is scientifically undesirable to com-
tubes and compaction molds. This change is due to the
bine the use of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a
specimen swelling after removal of lateral pressures.
single standard. As stated, this standard includes the gravita-
NOTE 1—The adjectives total, moist, wet or bulk are used to represent
tional system of inch-pound units and does not use/present the
the density condition. In some professions, such as Soil Science and
slug unit of mass. However, the use of balances and scales
Geology, the term “bulk density” usually has the same meaning as dry
3
recording pounds of mass (lbm) or recording density in lbm/ft
density. In the Geotechnical and Civil Engineering professions, the
preferred adjective is total over moist and bulk when referring to the total shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
mass of partially saturated or saturated soil or rock per unit total volume.
1.2.3 The terms density and unit weight are often used
For more detailed information regarding the term density, refer to
interchangeably. Density is mass per unit volume, whereas unit
Terminology D653.
weight is force per unit volume. In this standard, density is
1.1.1 Method A (Water Displacement)—A specimen is
given only in SI units. After the density has been determined,
coated in wax and then placed in water to measure the volume
the unit weight is calculated in SI or inch-pound units, or both.
by determining the quantity of water displaced. The density
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
and unit weight are then calculated based on the mass and
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
volume measurements. Do not use this method if the specimen
Practice D6026, unless superseded by this test method.
is susceptible to surface wax intrusion.
1.3.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
1.1.2 Method B (Direct Measurement)—The dimensions
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
and mass of a specimen are measured. The density and unit
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
weight are then calculated using these direct measurements.
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
Usually, the specimen has a cylindrical or cuboid shape. Intact
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
and reconstituted/remolded specimens may be tested by this
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
method in conjunction with strength, permeability/hydraulic
ations for the use
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´2
Designation: D7263 − 09 (Reapproved 2018) D7263 − 21
Standard Test Methods for
Laboratory Determination of Density (Unit Weight) and Unit
1
Weight of Soil Specimens
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7263; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorially updated units of measurement statement in April 2018.
2
ε NOTE—Changes were editorially made in June 2018.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 These test methods describe two ways of determining the total/moist total/moist/bulk density, dry density, and dry densities
(unit weights) unit weight of intact, disturbed, remolded, and reconstituted (compacted) soil specimens. Densityspecimens (Note
1 (unit weight) as used in this standard means the same as “bulk density” of soil as defined by the Soil Science Society of America.
). Intact specimens may be obtained from thin-walled sampling tubes, block samples, or clods. Specimens that are remolded by
dynamic or static compaction procedures mayare also be measured by these methods. These methods apply to soils that will retain
their shape during the measurement process and may also apply to other materials such as soil-cement, soil-lime, soil-bentonite
or solidified soil-bentonite-cement slurries. It is common for the density (unit weight) of specimens after removal from sampling
tubes and compaction molds to be less than the value based on tube or mold volumes, or of in situ conditions. This conditions after
removal of the specimen from sampling tubes and compaction molds. This change is due to the specimen swelling after removal
of lateral pressures.
NOTE 1—The adjectives total, moist, wet or bulk are used to represent the density condition. In some professions, such as Soil Science and Geology, the
term “bulk density” usually has the same meaning as dry density. In the Geotechnical and Civil Engineering professions, the preferred adjective is total
over moist and bulk when referring to the total mass of partially saturated or saturated soil or rock per unit total volume. For more detailed information
regarding the term density, refer to Terminology D653.
1.1.1 Method A (Water Displacement)—Method A covers the procedure for measuring the volume of wax coated specimens A
specimen is coated in wax and then placed in water to measure the volume by determining the quantity of water displaced. The
density and unit weight are then calculated based on the mass and volume measurements. Do not use this method if the specimen
is susceptible to surface wax intrusion.
1.1.1.1 This method only applies to specimens in which the wax will not penetrate the outer surface of the specimen.
1.1.2 Method B (Direct Measurement)—Method B covers the procedure by means of the direct measurement of the dimensions
and mass of a specimen, usually one of cylindrical The dimensions and mass of a specimen are measured. The density and unit
weight are then calculated using these direct measurements. Usually, the specimen has a cylindrical or cuboid shape. Intact and
reconstituted/remolded specimens may be tested by this method in conjunction with strength, permeability permeability/hydraulic
conductivity (air/water) and compressibility determinations.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture, Plasticity
and Density Characteristics of Soils.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2018Jan. 1, 2021. Published March 2018January 2021. Originally approved in 2009 as D7263–09. Last previous edition approved in
ɛ2
20092018 as D7263D7263–09(2018) –09. DOI: 10.1520/D7263-09R18E02.10.1520/D7263-21.
*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
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D7263 − 21
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided
for information only and are not considered standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as
nonconformance with this standard.
1.2.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used when dealing with inch-pound units. In the syst
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.