Standard Practices for Obtaining Undisturbed Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Undisturbed block samples are suitable for laboratory tests where large-sized samples of undisturbed material are required or where such sampling is more practical than conventional tube sampling (Practices D 1587 and D 6519), or both.
This method of sampling is advantageous where the soil to be sampled is near the ground surface. This is the best available method for obtaining large undisturbed samples of very stiff and brittle soils, partially cemented soils, and some soils containing coarse gravel.
Excavating a column of soil may 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.
The chain saw has proved advantageous in sampling difficult soils, which are blocky, slickensided, or gravelly, 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 D 3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective sampling. Users of this practice are cautioned that compliance with Practice D 3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D 3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This designation outlines the procedures for obtaining undisturbed block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
1.2 Undisturbed block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the undisturbed 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, >0.75 m) bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater than about 1 to 11/2 meters 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 D 1587), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D 6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger (D 6151), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required. This practice does not address environmental sampling; consult Guides D 6169 and D 6232 for information on sampling for environmental investigations.
1.5 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 undisturbed samples (see Practice D 4220, Group D).
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units are included in this standard.
This practice offers 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 this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without conside...

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ASTM D7015-04 - Standard Practices for Obtaining Undisturbed Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D7015–04
Standard Practices for
Obtaining Undisturbed Block (Cubical and Cylindrical)
1
Samples of Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 7015; 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.
1. Scope intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
1.1 This designation outlines the procedures for obtaining
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
undisturbed block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.
a project’s many unique aspects. The word 9Standard9 in the
1.2 Undisturbed block samples are obtained for laboratory
title of this document means only that the document has been
teststodeterminethestrength,consolidation,permeability,and
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
other geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
undisturbed soil.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. PracticeAcovers
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
block sampling.
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use. For specific
1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and
hazard statements, see Section 6.
are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of
large diameter (that is, >0.75 m) bored shafts of circular
2. Referenced Documents
cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater than about
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1
1to1 ⁄2 meters or depths below the water table, the cost and
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
difficulties of excavating, cribbing, and dewatering generally
Fluids
make block sampling impractical and uneconomical. For these
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils
conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube soil sampler (Prac-
for Geotechnical Purposes
tice D 1587), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D 6519), or
D 1785 Specification for Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plas-
Hollow-Stem Auger (D 6151), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil
tic Pipe, Schedules 40, 80, and 120
core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required.
D 2488 Practice for Determining Unified Soil Classification
Thispracticedoesnotaddressenvironmentalsampling;consult
(Visual Method)
Guides D 6169 and D 6232 for information on sampling for
D 2937 Test Method for Density of Soils in Place by the
environmental investigations.
Drive-Cylinder Method
1.5 Successful sampling of granular materials requires suf-
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
ficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to
Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
moisture tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a
as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
column shape without undergoing excessive deformations.
D 4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil
Additionally, care must be exercised in the excavation, pres-
Samples
ervation and transportation of undisturbed samples (see Prac-
D 5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explora-
tice D 4220, Group D).
tions of Soil and Rock
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
D 6151 Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geo-
standard. No other units are included in this standard.
technical Exploration and Soil Sampling
1.7 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
D 6169 Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
Devices Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Investi-
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
gations
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
D 6232 Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
1 2
ThesepracticesareunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Related Field Testing for Soil Investigations. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2004. Published February 2004. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Co
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