ASTM D4944-18
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil by the Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure Tester
Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil by the Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure Tester
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The water content of soil is used throughout geotechnical engineering practice, both in the laboratory and in the field. Results are sometimes needed within a short time period and in locations where it is not practical to install an oven or to transport samples to an oven. This test method is used for these occasions.
5.2 The results of this test have been used for field control of compacted embankments or other earth structures such as in the determination of water content for control of soil moisture and dry density within a specified range.
5.3 This test method requires specimens consisting of soil having all particles smaller than the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve size.
5.4 This test method may not be as accurate as other accepted methods such as Test Method D2216. Inaccuracies may result because specimens are too small to properly represent the total soil, from clumps of soil not breaking up to expose all the available water to the reagent and from other inherent procedural, equipment or process inaccuracies. Therefore, other methods may be more appropriate when highly accurate results are required, or when the use of test results is sensitive to minor variations in the values obtained.
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 testing/sampling/inspection. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself ensure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method outlines procedures for determining the water (moisture) content of soil by chemical reaction using calcium carbide as a reagent to react with the available water in the soil producing a gas. A measurement is made of the gas pressure produced when a specified mass of wet or moist soil is placed in a testing device with an appropriate volume of reagent and mixed.
1.2 This test method is not intended as a replacement for Test Method D2216; but as a supplement when rapid results are required, when testing is done in field locations, or where an oven is not practical for use. Test Method D2216 is to be used as the test method to compare for accuracy checks and correction.
1.3 This test method is applicable for most soils. Calcium carbide, used as a reagent, reacts with water as it is mixed with the soil by shaking and agitating with the aid of steel balls in the apparatus. To produce accurate results, the reagent must react with all the water which is not chemically hydrated with soil minerals or compounds in the soil. Some highly plastic clay soils or other soils not friable enough to break up may not produce representative results because some of the water may be trapped inside soil clods or clumps which cannot come in contact with the reagent. There may be some soils containing certain compounds or chemicals that will react unpredictably with the reagent and give erroneous results. Any such problem will become evident as calibration or check tests with Test Method D2216 are made. Some soils containing compounds or minerals that dehydrate with heat (such as gypsum) which are to have special temperature control with Test Method D2216 may not be affected (dehydrated) in this test method.
1.4 This test method is limited to using calcium carbide moisture test equipment made for 20 g, or larger, soil specimens and to testing soil which contains particles no larger than the 4.75 mm (No. 4) Standard sieve size.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are mathematical conversions, which are provided for information purposes only and are not considered standard.
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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: D4944 − 18
Standard Test Method for
Field Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil by
1
the Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure Tester
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4944; 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* 1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are
1.1 Thistestmethodoutlinesproceduresfordeterminingthe
mathematical conversions, which are provided for information
water (moisture) content of soil by chemical reaction using
purposes only and are not considered standard.
calcium carbide as a reagent to react with the available water
1.5.1 Cited sieve sizes are the standard sieve sizes given in
in the soil producing a gas. A measurement is made of the gas
Table 1 of Specification E11.
pressure produced when a specified mass of wet or moist soil
is placed in a testing device with an appropriate volume of 1.6 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
reagent and mixed. guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
Practice D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
1.2 This test method is not intended as a replacement for
1.6.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected,
TestMethodD2216;butasasupplementwhenrapidresultsare
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
required, when testing is done in field locations, or where an
industry standard. In addition they are representative of the
oven is not practical for use. Test Method D2216 is to be used
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
as the test method to compare for accuracy checks and
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
correction.
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
1.3 This test method is applicable for most soils. Calcium
ations for the user’s objectives; it is common practice to
carbide, used as a reagent, reacts with water as it is mixed with
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
the soil by shaking and agitating with the aid of steel balls in
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
the apparatus. To produce accurate results, the reagent must
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical
react with all the water which is not chemically hydrated with
methods for engineering design.
soil minerals or compounds in the soil. Some highly plastic
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
clay soils or other soils not friable enough to break up may not
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
produce representative results because some of the water may
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
be trapped inside soil clods or clumps which cannot come in
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
contact with the reagent. There may be some soils containing
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
certain compounds or chemicals that will react unpredictably
For specific hazards statements, see Section 7.
with the reagent and give erroneous results.Any such problem
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
will become evident as calibration or check tests with Test
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Method D2216 are made. Some soils containing compounds or
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
minerals that dehydrate with heat (such as gypsum) which are
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
to have special temperature control with Test Method D2216
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
may not be affected (dehydrated) in this test method.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.4 This test method is limited to using calcium carbide
moisture test equipment made for 20 g, or larger, soil speci-
2. Referenced Documents
mens and to testing soil which contains particles no larger than 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the 4.75 mm (No. 4) Standard sieve size.
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Fluids
1
Thistestmethodisunder the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
2
Construction Control Tests. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2018. Published February 2018. Or
...
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: D4944 − 11 D4944 − 18
Standard Test Method for
Field Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil by
1
the Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure Tester
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4944; 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 This test method outlines procedures for determining the water (moisture) content of soil by chemical reaction using calcium
carbide as a reagent to react with the available water in the soil producing a gas. A measurement is made of the gas pressure
produced when a specified mass of wet or moist soil is placed in a testing device with an appropriate volume of reagent and mixed.
1.2 This test method is not intended as a replacement for Test Method D2216; but as a supplement when rapid results are
required, when testing is done in field locations, or where an oven is not practical for use. Test Method D2216 is to be used as
the test method to compare for accuracy checks and correction.
1.3 This test method is applicable for most soils. Calcium carbide, used as a reagent, reacts with water as it is mixed with the
soil by shaking and agitating with the aid of steel balls in the apparatus. To produce accurate results, the reagent must react with
all the water which is not chemically hydrated with soil minerals or compounds in the soil. Some highly plastic clay soils or other
soils not friable enough to break up may not produce representative results because some of the water may be trapped inside soil
clods or clumps which cannot come in contact with the reagent. There may be some soils containing certain compounds or
chemicals that will react unpredictably with the reagent and give erroneous results. Any such problem will become evident as
calibration or check tests with Test Method D2216 are made. Some soils containing compounds or minerals that dehydrate with
heat (such as gypsum) which are to have special temperature control with Test Method D2216 may not be affected (dehydrated)
in this test method.
1.4 This test method is limited to using calcium carbide moisture test equipment made for 20 g, or larger, soil specimens and
to testing soil which contains particles no larger than the No. 4 4.75 mm (No. 4) Standard sieve size.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this The
inch-pound units given in parentheses are mathematical conversions, which are provided for information purposes only and are
not considered standard.
1.5.1 Cited sieve sizes are the standard sieve sizes given in Table 1 of Specification E11.
1.6 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026 unless superseded by this standard.
1.6.1 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.
1.7 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards statements, see Section 7.
1.8 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.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and Construction
Control Tests.
Current edition app
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