ASTM D2216-05
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
For many materials, the water content is one of the most significant index properties used in establishing a correlation between soil behavior and its index properties.
The water content of a material is used in expressing the phase relationships of air, water, and solids in a given volume of material.
In fine-grained (cohesive) soils, the consistency of a given soil type depends on its water content. The water content of a soil, along with its liquid and plastic limits as determined by Test Method D 4318, is used to express its relative consistency or liquidity index.
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 D 3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D 3740 does not in itself ensure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D 3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the laboratory determination of the water (moisture) content by mass of soil, rock, and similar materials where the reduction in mass by drying is due to loss of water except as noted in , , and . For simplicity, the word "material" shall refer to soil, rock or aggregate whichever is most applicable.
1.2 Some disciplines, such as soil science, need to determine water content on the basis of volume. Such determinations are beyond the scope of this test method.
1.3 The water content of a material is defined in .
1.4 The term "solid material" as used in geotechnical engineering is typically assumed to mean naturally occurring mineral particles of soil and rock that are not readily soluble in water. Therefore, the water content of materials containing extraneous matter (such as cement etc.) may require special treatment or a qualified definition of water content. In addition, some organic materials may be decomposed by oven drying at the standard drying temperature for this method (110°C). Materials containing gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) or other compounds having significant amounts of hydrated water may present a special problem as this material slowly dehydrates at the standard drying temperature (110°C) and at very low relative humidity, forming a compound (such as calcium sulfate hemihydrate) that is not normally present in natural materials except in some desert soils. In order to reduce the degree of dehydration of gypsum in those materials containing gypsum or to reduce decomposition in highly/fibrous organic soils, it may be desirable to dry the materials at 60C or in a desiccator at room temperature. Thus, when a drying temperature is used which is different from the standard drying temperature as defined by this test method, the resulting water content may be different from the standard water content determined at the standard drying temperature of 110°C.Note 1
Test Method D 2974 provides an alternate procedure for determining water content of peat materials.
1.5 Materials containing water with substantial amounts of soluble solids (such as salt in the case of marine sediments) when tested by this method will give a mass of solids that includes the previously soluble dissolved solids. These materials require special treatment to remove or account for the presence of precipitated solids in the dry mass of the specimen, or a qualified definition of water content must be used. For example, see Test Method D 4542 regarding information on marine sediments.
1.6 This test standard requires several hours for proper drying of the water content specimen. Test Methods D 4643, D 4944 and D 4959 provide less time-consuming processes for determining water content. See Gilbert for details on the background of Test Method D 4643.
1.7 Two t...
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Designation: D2216 – 05
Standard Test Methods for
Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of
1
Soil and Rock by Mass
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2216; 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 Department of Defense.
determining water content of peat materials.
1. Scope*
1.1 These test methods cover the laboratory determination 1.5 Materials containing water with substantial amounts of
soluble solids (such as salt in the case of marine sediments)
of the water (moisture) content by mass of soil, rock, and
similar materials where the reduction in mass by drying is due when tested by this method will give a mass of solids that
includes the previously soluble dissolved solids. These mate-
to loss of water except as noted in 1.4, 1.5, and 1.7. For
simplicity, the word “material” shall refer to soil, rock or rials require special treatment to remove or account for the
presenceofprecipitatedsolidsinthedrymassofthespecimen,
aggregate whichever is most applicable.
1.2 Some disciplines, such as soil science, need to deter- or a qualified definition of water content must be used. For
example, see Test Method D4542 regarding information on
mine water content on the basis of volume. Such determina-
tions are beyond the scope of this test method. marine sediments.
1.6 This test standard requires several hours for proper
1.3 The water content of a material is defined in 3.2.1.
1.4 The term “solid material” as used in geotechnical drying of the water content specimen. Test Methods D4643,
D4944 and D4959 provide less time-consuming processes for
engineering is typically assumed to mean naturally occurring
2
mineralparticlesofsoilandrockthatarenotreadilysolublein determining water content. See Gilbert for details on the
background of Test Method D4643.
water. Therefore, the water content of materials containing
extraneous matter (such as cement etc.) may require special 1.7 Two test methods are provided in this standard. The
methods differ in the significant digits reported and the size of
treatmentoraqualifieddefinitionofwatercontent.Inaddition,
some organic materials may be decomposed by oven drying at the specimen (mass) required. The method to be used may be
specifiedbytherequestingauthority;otherwiseMethodAshall
the standard drying temperature for this method (110°C).
Materials containing gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) or be performed.
othercompoundshavingsignificantamountsofhydratedwater 1.7.1 Method A—The water content by mass is recorded to
the nearest 1%. For cases of dispute, MethodAis the referee
may present a special problem as this material slowly dehy-
drates at the standard drying temperature (110°C) and at very method.
1.7.2 Method B—The water content by mass is recorded to
low relative humidity, forming a compound (such as calcium
sulfate hemihydrate) that is not normally present in natural the nearest 0.1%.
1.8 Thisstandardrequiresthedryingofmaterialinanoven.
materials except in some desert soils. In order to reduce the
degree of dehydration of gypsum in those materials containing If the material being dried is contaminated with certain
chemicals, health and safety hazards can exist. Therefore, this
gypsum or to reduce decomposition in highly/fibrous organic
soils, it may be desirable to dry the materials at 60°C or in a standardshouldnotbeusedindeterminingthewatercontentof
contaminated soils unless adequate health and safety precau-
desiccator at room temperature. Thus, when a drying tempera-
ture is used which is different from the standard drying tions are taken.
1.9 Units—ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsshallberegardedas
temperature as defined by this test method, the resulting water
content may be different from the standard water content standardexcludingtheAlternativeSieveSizeslistedinTable1.
Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthistestmethod.
determined at the standard drying temperature of 110°C.
1.10 Refer to Practice D6026 for guidance concerning the
NOTE 1—Test Method D2974 provides an alternate procedure for
use of significant figures that shall determine whether Method,
A or B is required. This is especially important if the water
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content will be used to calculate other relationships such as
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
RockandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD18.03onTexture,Plasticity
and Density Characteristics of Soils.
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Current edition approved March 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally Gilbert, P.A., “Computer Controlled Microwave Oven System for R
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