ASTM D3017-96e1
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
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.
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Designation: D 3017 – 96
Standard Test Method for
Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear
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.
e NOTE—Table 1 was corrected editorially in December 1997.
1. Scope (Moisture) Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate
Mixtures
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
gate and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow
neutrons where the neutron source and the thermal neutron
Depth)
detector both remain at the surface.
D 2937 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the
1.2 The water content in mass per unit volume of the
Drive-Cylinder Method
material under test is determined by comparing the detection
D 4643 Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture)
rate of thermalized or slow neutrons with previously estab-
Content of Soil by the Microwave Oven Method
lished calibration data.
D 4718 Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
standard. The inch-pound equivalents may be approximate.
1.3.1 It is common practice in the engineering profession to
3. Significance and Use
concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm)
3.1 The test method described is useful as a rapid, nonde-
and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two systems of
structive technique for the in-place determination of water
units, that is, the absolute system and the gravitational system.
content of soil and rock.
This standard has been written using the absolute system for
3.2 The test method is used for quality control and accep-
water content (kilograms per cubic metre) in SI units. Conver-
tance testing of compacted soil and rock for construction and
sion to the gravitational system of unit weight in lbf/ft may be
for research and development. The non-destructive nature
made by multiplying by 0.06243 or in kN/m by multiplying
allows repetitive measurements at a single test location and
by 9.807. The recording of water content in pound-force per
statistical analysis of the results.
cubic foot should not be regarded as non-conformance with
3.3 The fundamental assumptions inherent in the test
this standard although the use is scientifically incorrect.
method are that the hydrogen present is in the form of water as
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
defined by Test Method D 2216, and that the material under
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
test is homogeneous.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.4 Test results may be affected by chemical composition,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
sample heterogeneity, and, to a lesser degree, material density
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and the surface texture of the material being tested. The
2. Referenced Documents technique also exhibits spatial bias in that the apparatus is more
sensitive to water contained in the material in close proximity
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to the surface and less sensitive to water at deeper levels.
D 1556 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the
Sand-Cone Method
4. Interferences
D 2167 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
2 4.1 The chemical composition of the sample may dramati-
Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
cally affect the measurement and adjustments may be neces-
D 2216 Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water
sary. Hydrogen in forms other than water, as defined by Test
Method D 2216, and carbon will cause measurements in excess
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil
of the true value. Some chemical elements such as boron,
and 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.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1996. Published February 1997. Originally
surements lower than the true value.
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published as D 3017 – 72. Last previous edition D 3017 – 88 (1993) .
4.2 The water content determined by this test method is not
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 3017
necessarily the average water within the volume of the sample 6.2 Effective operator instruction together with routine
involved in the measurement. The measurement is heavily safety procedures such as source leak tests, recording and
influenced by the water content of the material closest to the evaluation of film badge data, use of survey meters, etc., are a
surface. The volume of soil and rock represented in the recommended part of the operation of equipment of this type.
measurement is indeterminate and will vary with the water
content of the material. In general, the greater the water content 7. Standardization
of the material, the smaller the volume involved in the
7.1 All nuclear water content instruments are subject to
3 3
measurement. At 160 kg/m (10 lbf/ft ), approximately 50 % of
long-term aging of the radioactive source, detectors, and
the typical measurement results from the water content of the
electronic systems, which may change the relationship between
upper 50 to 75 mm (2 to 3 in.).
count rate and water content. To offset this aging, instruments
4.2.1 If samples of the measured material are to be taken for
are calibrated as a ratio of the measurement count rate to a
purposes of correlation with other test methods or rock
count rate made on a reference standard. The reference count
correction, the volume measured can be approximated by a
rate should be in the same or higher order of magnitude than
200-mm (8 in.) diameter cylinder located directly under the
the range of measurement count rates over the useful water
center line of the fast neutron source and thermal neutron
range of the equipment.
detector. The height of the cylinder to be excavated is approxi-
7.2 Standardization of equipment on the reference standard
mated by:
is required at the start of each day’s use and a permanent record
Moisture Content Cylinder Height Volume
3 3 3 3 of these data shall be retained. The standardization shall be
kg/m lbf/ft mm in. m ft
performed with the equipment located at least 8 m (25 ft) away
80 5 250 10 0.0079 0.29
160 10 200 8 0.0063 0.23
from other gages and clear of large masses of water or other
240 15 150 6 0.0047 0.17
items which may affect the gage readings.
320 20 125 5 0.0039 0.15
400 25 112 4.5 0.0035 0.13
7.2.1 Turn on the instrument and allow for stabilization in
480 30 100 4 0.0031 0.12
accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. If the
NOTE 1—The volume of field compacted material sampled by the test
instrument is to be used either continuously or intermittently
can effectively be increased by repeating the test at immediately adjacent
during the day, it is generally best to leave it in the “power on”
(vertically or horizontally) locations and averaging the results.
condition to prevent having to repeat the stabilization. This will
4.3 Other neutron sources must not be within 8 m (25 ft) of provide more stable, consistent results.
equipment in operation.
7.2.2 Using the reference standard take at least four repeti-
tive readings at the normal measurement period and obtain the
5. Apparatus
mean. If available on the instrument, one measurement at a
5.1 While exact details of construction of the apparatus may
period of four or more times the normal period is acceptable.
vary, the system shall consist of:
This constitutes one standardization check.
5.1.1 Fast Neutron Source—A sealed mixture of a radioac-
7.2.3 If the value obtained above is within the limits stated
tive material such as americium or radium and a target material
below, the equipment is considered to be in satisfactory
such as beryllium.
condition and the value may be used to determine the count
5.1.2 Slow Neutron Detector—Any type of slow neutron
ratios for the day of use. If the value obtained is outside these
detector such as boron trifluoride or helium-3 proportional
limits, another standardization check should be made. If the
counter.
second standardization check is within the limits, the equip-
5.1.3 Readout Device—A suitably timed scaler(s). Usually
ment may be used, but if it also fails the test, the equipment
the readout device will contain the high-voltage supply neces-
shall be adjusted or repaired as recommended by the manufac-
sary to operate the detector, and low-voltage power supply to
turer.
operate the readout and accessory devices.
5.1.4 Housing—The source, detector, readout device, and
2.0 N
=
o
N # N 1 (1)
s o
power supply shall be in housings of rugged construction
F
=
which shall be water and dust resistant.
and
5.1.5 Reference Standard—A block of hydrogeneous mate-
2.0 N
rial for checking equipment operation and to establish condi- =
o
N $ N 2 (2)
s o
F
tions for a reproducible count rate. =
5.1.6 Site Preparation Device—A steel plate, straightedge,
where:
or other suitable leveling tools which may be used to plane the
N 5 value of current standardization check (7.2.2) on the
s
test site to the required smoothness.
reference standard,
5.2 Calibrate apparatus in accordance with Annex A1.
N 5 average of the past four values of N taken for prior
o s
5.3 Determine the precision of the apparatus in accordance
usage, and
with Annex A2.
F 5 value of prescale (A2.2.1).
6. Hazards
7.3 The value of N will be used to determine the count ratios
s
6.1 This equipment utilizes radioactive materials which may for the current day’s use of the equipment. If, for any reason,
be hazardous to the health of the users unless proper precau- measured water content becomes suspect during the day’s use,
tions are taken. perform another standardization.
D 3017
M 3 100
8. Procedure
m
w 5 (4)
r2 M
m
8.1 Standardize the instrument (Section 7).
8.2 Select a location for test where the instrument in test
where:
position will be at least 250 mm (10 in.) away from any vertical
w 5 water content, percent of dry density,
3 3
projection.
M 5 water content, kg/m (lbf/ft ),
m
8.3 Prepare the test site in the following manner: r 5 dry density of soil (kg/m ) or dry unit weight
d
8.3.1 Remove all loose and disturbed material, and remove
(lbf/ft ), and
additional material as necessary to reach the top of the vertical r5 wet (total) density of soil (kg/m ) or wet unit weight
interval to be tested. Surface drying and the spatial bias should (lbf/ft ).
be considered in determining the depth at which the instrument
10. Report
is to be seated.
10.1 Report the following information:
8.3.2 Prepare a horizontal area, sufficient in size to accom-
10.1.1 Make, model, and serial number of the test device,
modate the instrument, by planing to a smooth condition so as
10.1.2 Standard count and adjustment data for the date of
to obtain maximum contact between the instrument and mate-
the tests,
rial being tested. If the instrument base is to be placed below
10.1.3 Name of the operator,
the surrounding surface, the horizontal area shall be at least
10.1.4 Test site identification,
twice the area of the base of the instrument. If the depression
10.1.5 Visual description of material tested,
is greater than 25 mm (1 in.), the condition in 8.2 must be met
10.1.6 Count rate for each reading, if applicable,
by clearing a larger area.
3 3
10.1.7 Water content in kg/m or lbf/ft ,
8.3.3 The placement of the instrument on the surface of the
10.1.8 Wet and dry densities in kg/m or unit weights in
material to be tested is critical to the successful determination
lbf/ft ,
of water. The optimum condition is total contact between the
10.1.9 Water content in percent of dry density or dry unit
bottom surface of the instrument and the surface of the material
weight.
being tested. The maximum void beneath the instrument shall
not exceed approximately 3 mm ( ⁄8 in.). Use native fines of
11. Precision and Bias
similar water content or dry quartz sand to fill voids and level
11.1 Precision—Criteria for judging the acceptability of the
the excess with a rigid plate or other suitable tool. The total
water content results obtained by this test method are given in
area filled shall not exceed 10 % of the bottom area of the
Table 1. The value in column two is in the units actually
instrument.
measured by the nuclear gage. The figures in column three
8.4 Proceed with the test in the following manner:
represent the standard deviations that have been found to be
8.4.1 Seat the instrument firmly, place the source in the
appropriate for the materials tested in column one. The figures
proper position and take a count for the normal measurement
given in column four are the limits that should not be exceeded
period.
by the difference between the results of two properly conducted
8.4.2 Determine the ratio of the reading to the standard
tests. The figures given are based upon an interlaboratory study
count (Section 7). From this ratio and the calibration and
in which five test sites containing soils, with water content as
adjustment data, determine the in-place water content per unit
shown in column two, were tested by eight different devices
volume (Note 2).
and operators. The water content of each test site was deter-
NOTE 2—Some instruments have built-in provisions to compute the
mined three times by each device.
ratio, the water content per unit volume with adjustments, the dry density,
11.2 Bias—There is no accepted reference value for this test
and the water content in percent of dry density (or dry unit weight).
method, therefore, bias cannot be determined.
8.5 If the volume tested as defined in 4.2.1 is insufficient for
TABLE 1 Results of Statistical Analysis
the size of rock contained in the soil (refer to Practice D 4718),
take additional tests at adjacent locations and average the
Acceptable Range
Precision and Soil Average Standard Deviation,
of Two Results
3 3 3 3
results (Note 3).
Type kg/m (lb/ft ) kg/m (lb/ft )
3 3
kg/m (lb/ft )
NOTE 3—The water content value obtained should be compared to
Single Operator Precision:
other water contents obtained for simi
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