ASTM D4959-07
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil By Direct Heating
Standard Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil By Direct Heating
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the water (moisture) content of soils by drying with direct heat, such as using a hotplate, stove, blowtorch, etc.
1.2 This test method can be used as a substitute for Test Methods D 2216 when more rapid results are desired to expedite other phases of testing and slightly less accurate results are acceptable.
1.3 When questions of accuracy between this test method and Test Methods D 2216 arise, Test Methods D 2216 shall be the referee method.
1.4 This test method is applicable for most soil types. For some soils, such as those containing significant amounts of halloysite, mica, montmorillonite, gypsum, or other hydrated materials, highly organic soils or soils that contain dissolved solids, (such as salt in the case of marine deposits), this test method may not yield reliable water content values.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
1.6 Refer to Practice D 6026 for guidance concerning the use of significant figures. This is important if the water content will be used to calculate other relationships such as moist mass to dry mass or vice versa, wet unit weight to dry unit weight or vice versa, and total density to dry density or vice versa. For example, if four significant digits are required in any of the above calculations, then the water content has to be recorded to the nearest 0.1%. This occurs since 1 plus the water content (not in percent) will have four significant digits, While, if three significant digits are acceptable, then the water content can be recorded to the nearest 1%
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D4959 − 07
StandardTest Method for
Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil By Direct
1
Heating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4959; 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* priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the
water (moisture) content of soils by drying with direct heat,
2. Referenced Documents
such as using a hotplate, stove, blowtorch, etc.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This test method can be used as a substitute for Test
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Methods D2216 when more rapid results are desired to
Fluids
expedite other phases of testing and slightly less accurate
D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
results are acceptable.
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
1.3 When questions of accuracy between this test method D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
and Test Methods D2216 arise, Test Methods D2216 shall be
the referee method. Used in Engineering Design and Construction
D4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Bal-
1.4 This test method is applicable for most soil types. For
ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and
some soils, such as those containing significant amounts of
Construction Materials Testing
halloysite, mica, montmorillonite, gypsum, or other hydrated
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
materials, highly organic soils or soils that contain dissolved
Data
solids, (such as salt in the case of marine deposits), this test
method may not yield reliable water content values.
3. Terminology
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Definitions—All definitions are in accordance with Ter-
standard.
minology D653.
1.6 RefertoPracticeD6026forguidanceconcerningtheuse
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ofsignificantfigures.Thisisimportantifthewatercontentwill
3.2.1 direct heating—a process by which the soil is dried by
be used to calculate other relationships such as moist mass to
conductiveheatingfromthedirectapplicationofheatinexcess
dry mass or vice versa, wet unit weight to dry unit weight or
of 110°C to the specimen container, such as provided by a hot
vice versa, and total density to dry density or vice versa. For
plate, gas stove or burner, heatlamps, or other heat sources.
example, if four significant digits are required in any of the
Direct application of heat by flame to the specimen is not
abovecalculations,thenthewatercontenthastoberecordedto
appropriate.
the nearest 0.1%. This occurs since 1 plus the water content
3.2.2 water (moisture) content—the ratio, expressed as a
(not in percent) will have four significant digits,While, if three
percentage, of the mass of water in a given mass of soil to the
significant digits are acceptable, then the water content can be
mass of the solid particles.
recorded to the nearest 1%
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4. Summary of Test Method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 A moist soil specimen is placed in a suitable container
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and its mass is determined. It is then subjected to drying by the
application of direct heat until dry by appearance, removed
from the heat source, and its new mass is determined. This
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
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. 1, 2007. Published March 2007. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D4959 – 00 DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4959-07. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4959 − 07
criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
procedure is repeated until the mass becomes nearly constant
and objective testing/sampling/inspection. Users of this test method are
within specified l
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D 4959–00 Designation:D4959–07
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil By Direct
1
Heating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4959; 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 (ϵ) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the water (moisture) content of soils by drying with direct heat, such
as using a hotplate, stove, blowtorch, etc.
1.2This test method can be used as a substitute for Test Method D 2216D 2216
1.2 This test method can be used as a substitute for Test Methods D2216 when more rapid results are desired to expedite other
phases of testing and slightly less accurate results are acceptable.
1.3When questions of accuracy between this test method and Method D 2216D 2216 arise, Method D 2216D 2216
1.3 When questions of accuracy between this test method and Test Methods D2216 arise, Test Methods D2216 shall be the
referee method.
1.4 Thistestmethodisapplicableformostsoiltypes.Forsomesoils,suchasthosecontainingsignificantamountsofhalloysite,
mica,montmorillonite,gypsum,orotherhydratedmaterials,highlyorganicsoilsorsoilsthatcontaindissolvedsolids,(suchassalt
in the case of marine deposits), this test method may not yield reliable water content values.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
1.6
1.6 Refer to Practice D6026 for guidance concerning the use of significant figures. This is important if the water content will
be used to calculate other relationships such as moist mass to dry mass or vice versa, wet unit weight to dry unit weight or vice
versa, and total density to dry density or vice versa. For example, if four significant digits are required in any of the above
calculations, then the water content has to be recorded to the nearest 0.1%. This occurs since 1 plus the water content (not in
percent) will have four significant digits, While, if three significant digits are acceptable, then the water content can be recorded
to the nearest 1%
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used
in Engineering Design and Construction
D4753 Specification for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Scales for Use in Testing Soil, Rock, and Related
2
Construction Materials Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock,
and Construction Materials Testing
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—AlldefinitionsareinaccordancewithTermsandSymbolsD653D653—Alldefinitionsareinaccordancewith
Terminology D653.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
Construction Control Tests.
Current edition approved March 10, 2000. Published April 2000. Originally published as D 4959–89. Last previous edition D 4959–89 (1994).
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2007. Published March 2007. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D4959 – 00 DOI:
10.1520/D4959-07.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 04.08.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4959–07
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 direct heating—a process by which the soil is dried by conductive heating from the direct application of heat in excess
...
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