Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock In-Place by the Neutron Depth Probe Method

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is useful as a rapid, nondestructive technique for the calculation of the in-place water content of soil and rock at desired depths below the surface.  
This test method is useful for informational and research purposes. It should only be used for quality control and acceptance testing when correlated to actual water contents using procedures and methods described in A1.2.3.
The non-destructive nature of this test method allows repetitive measurements to be made at a single test location for statistical analysis and to monitor changes over time.  
The fundamental assumptions inherent in this test method are that the material under test is homogeneous and hydrogen present is in the form of water as defined by Test Method D 2216.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the calculation of the water content of soil and rock by thermalization or slowing of fast neutrons where the neutron source and the thermal neutron detector are placed at the desired depth in the bored hole lined by an access tube (see Note 1).
1.2 The water content, in mass per unit volume of the material under test, is calculated by comparing the thermal neutron count rate with previously established calibration data (see Annex A1).
1.3 A precision statement has not been developed for this standard at this time. Therefore, this standard should not be used for acceptance or rejection of a material for purchasing purposes unless correlated to other accepted ASTM methods.
1.4 The values expressed in SI units are regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses may be approximate and are provided for information only.
1.5 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. Specific hazards are given in Section 7.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
09-Feb-2002
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM D5220-02 - Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock In-Place by the Neutron Depth Probe Method
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D 5220–02
Standard Test Method for
Water Content of Soil and Rock In-Place by the Neutron
1
Depth Probe Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5220; 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 D 2937 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the
2
Drive-Cylinder Method
1.1 This test method covers the calculation of the water
D 3017 Test Method for Moisture Content of Soil and
content of soil and rock by thermalization or slowing of fast
Soil-Aggregate in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow
neutrons where the neutron source and the thermal neutron
2
Depth)
detector are placed at the desired depth in the bored hole lined
2
D 3550 Practice for Ring-Lined Barrel Sampling of Soils
by an access tube (see Note 1).
D 4428/D 4228M Test Method for Crosshole Seismic Test-
1.2 The water content, in mass per unit volume of the
2
ing
material under test, is calculated by comparing the thermal
D 5195 Test Method for Density of Soil and Rock in Place
neutron count rate with previously established calibration data
3
at Depths Below the Surface by Nuclear Methods
(see Annex A1).
1.3 A precision statement has not been developed for this
3. Summary of Test Method
standard at this time. Therefore, this standard should not be
3.1 This test method uses thermalization of neutron radia-
used for acceptance or rejection of a material for purchasing
tion to calculate the in-place water content of soil and rock at
purposes unless correlated to other accepted ASTM methods.
various depths by placing a probe containing a neutron source
1.4 The values expressed in SI units are regarded as the
andathermalneutrondetectoratdesireddepthsinaboredhole
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses may be
lined by an access tube as opposed to surface measurements in
approximate and are provided for information only.
accordance with Test Method D 3017.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2 Neutronsemittedbythesourcearethermalized(slowed)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
by collisions with materials of low atomic numbers. Hydrog-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
enous materials, such as water and other compounds contain-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ing hydrogen, are most effective in thermalizing neutrons. In
bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.Specifichazardsare
this apparatus the neutrons thermalized by the material under
given in Section 7.
test are detected by the thermal neutron detector.
2. Referenced Documents 3.3 In the absence of interference elements as discussed in
Section 5, the number of thermalized neutrons is a function of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the hydrogen content of the material under test and the water
D 1452 Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by
2 content is proportional to the hydrogen content.
Auger Borings
3.4 By the use of a calibration process the water content is
D 1586 Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel Sam-
2 calculated by correlating the count rate to known water
pling of Soils
2
contents.
D 1587 Practice for Thin Walled Tube Sampling of Soils
D2113 Practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Inves-
4. Significance and Use
2
tigation
4.1 This test method is useful as a rapid, nondestructive
D 2216 Test Method for Laboratory Determination ofWater
technique for the calculation of the in-place water content of
(Moisture) Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate
2
soil and rock at desired depths below the surface.
Mixtures
4.2 Thistestmethodisusefulforinformationalandresearch
purposes. It should only be used for quality control and
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
acceptance testing when correlated to actual water contents
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
using procedures and methods described in A1.2.3.
Construction Control Tests.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2002. Published May 2002. Originally
published as D 5220–92. Last previous edition D 5220–92(1997)
2 3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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D 5220–02
4.3 The non-destructive nature of this test method allows
repetitive measurements to be made at a single test location for
statistical analysis and to monitor changes over time.
4.4 The fundamental assumptions inhere
...

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