ASTM F3013-13(2018)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Density of Topsoil and Blended Soils In-place by the Core Displacement Method
Standard Test Method for Density of Topsoil and Blended Soils In-place by the Core Displacement Method
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method can be used to determine in-place density of topsoil and blended soils prior to planting or in the development of a maintenance programs for natural turf sports fields, planting areas, lawns and golf courses.
5.2 This test method can provide builders and maintenance staff with a quick assessment of the turf growing medium density without the delays associated with formal lab testing programs. During construction and prior to seeding or sodding having a method to quantify in-place soil density will assist the builder in providing an appropriate soil density at the time of planting thus improving overall turf establishment.
5.3 The use of this test method is generally limited to soil in an unsaturated condition. This test method is not recommended for soils that are soft or friable (crumble easily) or in a moisture condition such that water seeps into the hand excavated hole. The accuracy of this test can be affected by stones or other material that can create grooves or loose material along the side walls or bottom of the test core. Test core locations within areas subject to vehicle travel may result in higher densities and such locations should be noted in the report.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the undisturbed (in-situ) in-place bulk-density, moisture content and unit weight of topsoil and blended soil growing mediums using the Core Displacement Method.
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appreciable amounts of rock or coarse material exceeding 1 inch in size. Further it is only suitable for soils in-which the natural void or pore openings in the soil are small enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering the voids and impacting the test results. Unlike Test Method D1556, this test method is suitable for organic and plastic soils due to the use of a core apparatus, and not hand excavation methods. The material shall have adequate cohesive material or particle attraction to provide a stable core (core hole) for the duration of the test without deforming or sloughing. Therefore this method is not suitable for unbound granular soils that cannot maintain stable sides. This test method is applicable for assessing compaction of surface layers of topsoil (or blended soils) using a soil small core unlike Test Methods D4914, which uses a large volume soil pit excavation.
1.3 This test method is intended for soil typical of growing mediums suitable for sports fields, golf courses and lawn areas that may include organic material, silts, clays and sand.
1.4 This test method is not applicable for soil conditions in-which the root mass is excessive or in-which the root mass includes woody roots.
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 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.
General Information
Relations
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: F3013 − 13 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Test Method for
Density of Topsoil and Blended Soils In-place by the Core
Displacement Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3013; 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.
1. Scope Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the undis-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
turbed(in-situ)in-placebulk-density,moisturecontentandunit
weight of topsoil and blended soil growing mediums using the
2. Referenced Documents
Core Displacement Method.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appre-
D1556Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
ciable amounts of rock or coarse material exceeding 1 inch in
Place by Sand-Cone Method
size. Further it is only suitable for soils in-which the natural
D4914Test Methods for Density of Soil and Rock in Place
void or pore openings in the soil are small enough to prevent
by the Sand Replacement Method in a Test Pit
the sand used in the test from entering the voids and impacting
F1815Test Methods for Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity,
the test results. Unlike Test Method D1556, this test method is
Water Retention, Porosity, and Bulk Density of Athletic
suitable for organic and plastic soils due to the use of a core
Field Rootzones
apparatus,andnothandexcavationmethods.Thematerialshall
have adequate cohesive material or particle attraction to
3. Terminology
provide a stable core (core hole) for the duration of the test
3.1 Definitions:
without deforming or sloughing. Therefore this method is not
3.1.1 bulk density of soil, D —massofdrysoilperunitbulk
b
suitable for unbound granular soils that cannot maintain stable
–3
volume, (Mg m ).
sides. This test method is applicable for assessing compaction
–3
3.1.2 density, D—mass per unit volume, (Mg m ).
ofsurfacelayersoftopsoil(orblendedsoils)usingasoilsmall
core unlike Test Methods D4914, which uses a large volume 3.1.3 density of water, D —mass per volume of water, (Mg
w
–3
soil pit excavation.
m ).
3.1.4 particle density of soil, D —density of the soil
1.3 This test method is intended for soil typical of growing
p
mediums suitable for sports fields, golf courses and lawn areas particles, the dry mass of the particles being divided by the
solid (not bulk) volume of the particles, in contrast with bulk
that may include organic material, silts, clays and sand.
–3
density, (Mg m ).
1.4 This test method is not applicable for soil conditions
in-which the root mass is excessive or in-which the root mass
4. Summary of Test Method
includes woody roots.
4.1 Atestholeiscoredusingahole-cutterintothesoiltobe
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tested and the hole-cutter is retracted to remove all soil and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
saved in a container. The depth of the hole is measured at four
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
points around the diameter of the core. Points shall be at
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
approximately 90° apart. The hole is then filled with a free
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
flowing sand of know volume to determine the volume of the
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
soil removed. The volume of the soil removed is adjusted to
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
account for the volume of the hole-cutter. The removed soil is
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
weight in the laboratory and the in-place wet density of the
sample is calculated by dividing the initial moist sample mass
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.64 on Natural Playing Surfaces. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2018. Published November 2018. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2013. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as F3013–13. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F3013-13R18. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3013 − 13 (2018)
divided by the volume of hole (adjusted for the volume of the
coring apparatus) from which the sample is removed as
determined by the volume of free flowing sand. The sample is
then dried and weight to determine the in-place dry bulk-
density of the soil.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method can be used to determine in-place
density of topsoil and blended soils prior to planting or in the
development of a maintenance programs for natural turf sports
fields, planting areas, lawns and golf courses.
5.2 This test method can provide builders and maintenance
staff with a quick assessment of the turf growing medium
density without the delays associated with formal lab testing
programs. During construction and prior to seeding or sodding
havingamethodtoquantifyin-placesoildensitywillassistthe
builder in providing an appropriate soil density at the time of
planting thus improving overall turf establishment.
5.3 Theuseofthistestmethodisgenerallylimitedtosoilin
anunsaturatedcondition.Thistestmethodisnotrecommended
forsoilsthataresoftorfriable(crumbleeasily)orinamoisture
condition such that water seeps into the hand excavated hole.
The accuracy of this test can be affected by stones or other
materialthatcancreategroovesorloosematerialalongtheside
wallsorbottomofthetestcore.Testcorelocationswithinareas
subjecttovehicletravelmayresultinhigherdensitiesandsuch
locations should be noted in the report.
6. Apparatus
6.1 The testing apparatus consists of a coring device (Hole
Corer or Hole cutter), a uniform (free flowing) testing sand,
graduated cylinder, and a rule. A drying oven capable of
maintaining a temperature of 100°C (212°F) 12 h for prepara-
tion of an oven-dried sample.
6.1.1 Hole-Cutter—A10.8 cm diameter (4- ⁄4 in.) hot-rolled
steel tubing with steel shaft and sturdy handle. Tubing shall
consist of a non-scalloped shell sharpened outsides to allow
clean uniform coring into soil. Tubing shall be capable of
coring to depths of approximately 20 cm (8 in.). Hole-cutter
shall be equipped with a core removal plate that will allow
clean uniform removal of core sample.
6.1.1.1 A steel sharpened core cutting device with an
outside diameter of 10.8 cm (4.25 in.) and an inside diameter,
d, of 10.16 cm (4.00 in.).
i
FIG. 1 Hole Cutter
6.1.1.2 A handle positioned at approximately waist level
suitable for twisting the core into the soil while maintaining
vertical alignment.
passing 250 µm (No. 60 sieve). ). Sand shall be uniformly
6.1.1.3 A core with a depth, h , of at least 10.16 cm (4 in.)
gradedtopreventsegregationduringhandling,storageanduse.
c
and not more than 20.32 cm (8 in.). The core shall be marked
Sand must be free flowing and therefore non-compacting.
on the outside to indicate a 10 cm depth.
NOTE 1—Uniformly graded sand is needed to prevent segregation
6.1.1.4 A soil removal piston or other device that allows
during handling, storage, and use. Sand free of fines (and fine sand
complete removal of the cored sample.
particles) is required to avoid significant bulk-density changes which can
6.1.1.5 Details of the apparatus are shown in Fig. 1. occur due to normal daily changes in atmospheric humidity. Sand
comprised of durable, natural sub-angular, sub-rounded, or rounded
6.1.2 Free Flowing Sand—Clean, dry sand, uniform in
particles is desirable. Crushed sand or sand having angular particles may
density and grading, uncemented, durable, and free-flowing.
not be free-flowing, a condition that can cause bridging resulting in
Any gradation may be used that has a uniformity coefficient
inaccurate density determinations. Likewise, sands containing significant
(Cu5D60/D10)lessthan2.0,amaximumparticlesizesmaller
amounts of micaceous grains (which tend to be plate-shaped) should be
than 2.0 mm (No. 10 sieve), and less than 3 % by weight avoided. In selecting sand from a potential source, bulk-density variation
F3013 − 13 (2018)
between any one determination shall not be greater than1%ofthe
soil. During this procedure the apparatus shall be kept vertical
average.
to prevent deformation of the sidewalls of the core.
7.1.5 The core sample shall be extracted from the test
6.1.3 Graduated Cylinder, meeting the following param-
location using a smooth uniform motion. Slight twisting back
eters:
and forth may be required.The sample shall be extracted from
6.1.3.1 Minimum volume of 1000 mL.Where test cores are
the apparatus into a sample bag. The bag shall be labeled with
to exceed 10 cm (4 in.) in depth 2000 mL volume is
the date, site location and a suitable reference numbering or
recommended.
labeling system to identify the sample. Any loose soil in the
6.1.3.2 Measurement increments allow
...
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