ASTM D7015/D7015M-18
(Practice)Standard Practices for Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
Standard Practices for Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Intact block samples are suitable for laboratory tests where large-sized samples of intact material are required or where such sampling is more practical than conventional tube sampling (Practices D1587/D1587M and D6519), or both.
4.2 The intact block method of sampling is advantageous where the soil to be sampled is near the ground surface. It is the best available method for obtaining large intact samples of very stiff and brittle soils, partially cemented soils, and some soils containing coarse gravel.
4.3 Excavating a column of soil will relieve stresses in the soil and may result in some expansion of the soil and a corresponding decrease in its unit weight (density) or increase in sampling disturbance, or both. Usually the expansion is small in magnitude because of the shallow depth. Stress changes alone can cause enough disturbances in some soils to significantly alter their engineering properties.
4.4 The chain saw has proved advantageous in sampling difficult soils, which are blocky, slickensided, or materials containing alternating layers of hard and soft material.3 The chain saw uses a special carbide-tipped chain.4
Note 1: 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 sampling. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices outline the procedures for obtaining intact block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
1.2 Intact block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the intact soil.
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. Practice A covers cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical block sampling.
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of large diameter (that is, diameters greater than 0.8 m [2.5 ft]) bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater than about 1 to 11/2 meters [3 to 5 ft] or depths below the water table, the cost and difficulties of excavating, cribbing, and dewatering generally make block sampling impractical and uneconomical. For these conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube soil sampler (Practice D1587/D1587M), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger (Practice D6151/D6151M), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required.
1.5 These practices do not address environmental sampling; consult Guides D6169/D6169M and D6232 for information on sampling for environmental investigations.
1.6 Successful sampling of granular materials requires sufficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to moisture tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a column shape without undergoing excessive deformations. Additionally, care must be exercised in the excavation, preservation and transportation of intact samples (see Practice D4220/D4220M, Group D).
1.7 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units [given in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.8 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for s...
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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: D7015/D7015M − 18
Standard Practices for
Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of
1
Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7015/D7015M; 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* 1.7 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
[given in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard.
1.1 These practices outline the procedures for obtaining
The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents;
intact block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
therefore,eachsystemshallbeusedindependentlyoftheother.
1.2 Intact block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to
Combining values from the two systems may result in noncon-
determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other
formance with the standard. Reporting of test results in units
geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the intact
other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with
soil.
this standard.
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. PracticeAcovers
1.8 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
block sampling.
Practice D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and
1.8.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
large diameter (that is, diameters greater than 0.8 m [2.5 ft])
industry standard. In addition they are representative of the
bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
1
depths greater than about 1 to 1 ⁄2 meters [3 to 5 ft] or depths
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
below the water table, the cost and difficulties of excavating,
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
cribbing, and dewatering generally make block sampling
ations for the user’s objectives; it is common practice to
impractical and uneconomical. For these conditions, use of a
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
thin-walled push tube soil sampler (Practice D1587/D1587M),
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D6519), or Hollow-Stem
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical
Auger (Practice D6151/D6151M), Dennison, or Pitcher-type
methods for engineering design.
soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be
required.
1.9 These practices offer a set of instructions for performing
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
1.5 These practices do not address environmental sampling;
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
consult Guides D6169/D6169M and D6232 for information on
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of these practices
sampling for environmental investigations.
may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is
1.6 Successful sampling of granular materials requires suf-
not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by
ficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to
which the adequacy of a given professional service must be
moisture tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a
judged, nor should this document be applied without consid-
column shape without undergoing excessive deformations.
eration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word "Stan-
Additionally, care must be exercised in the excavation, pres-
dard" in the title of this document means only that the
ervation and transportation of intact samples (see Practice
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus
D4220/D4220M, Group D).
process.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1 safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ThesepracticesareunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Related Field Testing for Soil Evaluations.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2018. Published December 2018. Originally
mine the applicability of regulat
...
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.
Designation: D7015 − 13 D7015/D7015M − 18
Standard Practices for
Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of
1
Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7015;D7015/D7015M; 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*
1.1 These practices outline the procedures for obtaining intact block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
1.2 Intact block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other
geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the intact soil.
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. Practice A covers cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical block
sampling.
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of large
3
diameter (that is, diameters greater than ⁄4 m) 0.8 m [2.5 ft]) bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths
1
greater than about 1 to 1 ⁄2 metres meters [3 to 5 ft] or depths below the water table, the cost and difficulties of excavating, cribbing,
and dewatering generally make block sampling impractical and uneconomical. For these conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube
soil sampler (Practice D1587D1587/D1587M), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger (Practice
D6151D6151/D6151M), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required. These
practices do not address environmental sampling; consult Guides D6169 and D6232 for information on sampling for environmental
investigations.
1.5 These practices do not address environmental sampling; consult Guides D6169/D6169M and D6232 for information on
sampling for environmental investigations.
1.6 Successful sampling of granular materials requires sufficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to moisture
tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a column shape without undergoing excessive deformations. Additionally, care
must be exercised in the excavation, preservation and transportation of intact samples (see Practice D4220D4220/D4220M, Group
D).
1.7 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units [given in brackets] are to be regarded as standard. No other units
of measurement are included in separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore,
each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with
the standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.8 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
1.8.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry
standard. In addition they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not
consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives;
it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is
beyond the scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical methods for engineering design.
1.9 These practices offer a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of these practices may be
applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and Related
Field Testing for Soil Evaluations.
Current edition approved July 1, 2013Dec. 1, 2018. Published August 2013December 2018. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20072013 as
D7015 – 07.D7015 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/D7015-13.10.1520/D7015_D7015M-18.
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