ASTM D3017-01

Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of water content of soil and rock by the thermalization or slowing of fast neutrons where the neutron source and the thermal neutron detector both remain at the surface.
1.2 The water content in mass per unit volume of the material under test is determined by comparing the detection rate of thermalized or slow neutrons with previously established calibration data.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound equivalents may be approximate.
1.3.1 It is common practice in the engineering profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two systems of units, that is, the absolute system and the gravitational system. This standard has been written using the absolute system for water content (kilograms per cubic metre) in SI units. Conversion to the gravitational system of unit weight in lbf/ft  may be made by multiplying by 0.06243 or in kN/m by multiplying by 9.807. The recording of water content in pound-force per cubic foot should not be regarded as non-conformance with this standard although the use is scientifically incorrect.
1.4 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-Jun-2001
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.08 - Special and Construction Control Tests

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3017-96e1 - Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2001
• Replaced By: ASTM D3017-04 - Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6031/D6031M-96(2015) - Standard Test Method for Logging In Situ Moisture Content and Density of Soil and Rock by the Nuclear Method in Horizontal, Slanted, and Vertical Access Tubes
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D2321-20 - Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe for Sewers and Other Gravity-Flow Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2001

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: D 3017 – 01
Standard Test Method for
Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear
1
Methods (Shallow Depth)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3017; 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.
1. Scope D 2216 Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water
2
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
1.1 This test method covers the determination of water
D 2922 Test Methods for Density of Soil and Soil Aggre-
content of soil and rock by the thermalization or slowing of fast
2
gate in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
neutrons where the neutron source and the thermal neutron
D 2937 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the
detector both remain at the surface.
2
Drive-Cylinder Method
1.2 The water content in mass per unit volume of the
D 4643 Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture)
material under test is determined by comparing the detection
2
Content of Soil by the Microwave Oven Heating
rate of thermalized or slow neutrons with previously estab-
D 4718 Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water
lished calibration data.
2
Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The inch-pound equivalents may be approximate.
3. Significance and Use
1.3.1 It is common practice in the engineering profession to
3.1 The test method described is useful as a rapid, nonde-
concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm)
structive technique for the in-place determination of water
and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two systems of
content of soil and rock.
units, that is, the absolute system and the gravitational system.
3.2 The test method is used for quality control and accep-
This test method has been written using the absolute system for
tance testing of compacted soil and rock for construction and
water content (kilograms per cubic metre) in SI units. Conver-
3
for research and development. The non-destructive nature
sion to the gravitational system of unit weight in lbf/ft may be
3
allows repetitive measurements at a single test location and
made by multiplying by 0.06243 or in kN/m by multiplying
statistical analysis of the results.
by 9.807. The recording of water content in pound-force per
3.3 The fundamental assumptions inherent in the test
cubic foot should not be regarded as non-conformance with
method are that the hydrogen present is in the form of water as
this test method although the use is scientifically incorrect.
defined by Test Method D 2216, and that the material under
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
test is homogeneous.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.4 Test results may be affected by chemical composition,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sample heterogeneity, and, to a lesser degree, material density
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
and the surface texture of the material being tested. The
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
technique also exhibits spatial bias in that the apparatus is more
2. Referenced Documents sensitive to water contained in the material in close proximity
to the surface and less sensitive to water at deeper levels.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1556 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
4. Interferences
2
Place by the Sand-Cone Method
4.1 The chemical composition of the sample may dramati-
D 2167 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
2
cally affect the measurement and adjustments may be neces-
Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
sary. Hydrogen in forms other than water, as defined by Test
Method D 2216, and carbon will cause measurements in excess
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and of the true value. Some chemical elements such as boron,
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
chlorine, and minute quantities of cadmium will cause mea-
Construction Control Tests.
surements lower than the true value.
Current edition approved June 10, 2001. Published August 2001. Originally
e1
published as D 3017 – 72. Last previous edition D 3017 – 96 .
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
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D 3017
4.2 The water content determined by this test method is
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