ASTM D2216-98
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the laboratory determination of the water (moisture) content by mass of soil, rock, and similar materials where the reduction in mass by drying is due to loss of water except as noted in 1.4, 1.5, and 1.7. For simplicity, the word "material" hereinafter also refers to either soil or rock, whichever is most applicable.
1.2 Some disciplines, such as soil science, need to determine water content on the basis of volume. Such determinations are beyond the scope of this test method.
1.3 The water content of a material is defined in 3.2.1.
1.4 The term "solid material" as used in geotechnical engineering is typically assumed to mean naturally occurring mineral particles of soil and rock that are not readily soluble in water. Therefore, the water content of materials containing extraneous matter (such as cement, and the like) may require special treatment or a qualified definition of water content. In addition, some organic materials may be decomposed by oven drying at the standard drying temperature for this method (110°C). Materials containing gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate or other compounds having significant amounts of hydrated water) may present a special problem as this material slowly dehydrates at the standard drying temperature (110°C) and at very low relative humidities, forming a compound (calcium sulfate hemihydrate) which is not normally present in natural materials except in some desert soils. In order to reduce the degree of dehydration of gypsum in those materials containing gypsum, or to reduce decomposition in highly organic soils, it may be desirable to dry these materials at 60°C or in a desiccator at room temperature. Thus, when a drying temperature is used which is different from the standard drying temperature as defined by this test method, the resulting water content may be different from standard water content determined at the standard drying temperature. Note 1-Test Methods D2974 provides an alternate procedure for determining water content of peat materials.
1.5 Materials containing water with substantial amounts of soluble solids (such as salt in the case of marine sediments) when tested by this method will give a mass of solids which includes the previously soluble solids. These materials require special treatment to remove or account for the presence of precipitated solids in the dry mass of the specimen, or a qualified definition of water content must be used.
1.6 This test method requires several hours for proper drying of the water content specimen. Test Method D4643 provides for drying of the test specimen in a microwave oven which is a shorter process.
1.7 This standard requires the drying of material in an oven at high temperatures. If the material being dried is contaminated with certain chemicals, health and safety hazards can exist. Therefore, this standard should not be used in determining the water content of contaminated soils unless adequate health and safety precautions are taken.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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:D2216–98
Standard Test Method for
Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of
1
Soil and Rock by Mass
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2216; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope * 1.5 Materials containing water with substantial amounts of
soluble solids (such as salt in the case of marine sediments)
1.1 This test method covers the laboratory determination of
when tested by this method will give a mass of solids which
the water (moisture) content by mass of soil, rock, and similar
includes the previously soluble solids. These materials require
materials where the reduction in mass by drying is due to loss
special treatment to remove or account for the presence of
ofwaterexceptasnotedin1.4,1.5,and1.7.Forsimplicity,the
precipitated solids in the dry mass of the specimen, or a
word “material” hereinafter also refers to either soil or rock,
qualified definition of water content must be used. For ex-
whichever is most applicable.
2
ample, see Noorany regarding information on marine soils.
1.2 Some disciplines, such as soil science, need to deter-
1.6 This test method requires several hours for proper
mine water content on the basis of volume. Such determina-
drying of the water content specimen. Test Method D4643
tions are beyond the scope of this test method.
provides for drying of the test specimen in a microwave oven
1.3 The water content of a material is defined in 3.2.1.
3
which is a shorter process.Also see Gilbert for details on the
1.4 The term “solid material” as used in geotechnical
background of this test method.
engineering is typically assumed to mean naturally occurring
1.7 This standard requires the drying of material in an oven
mineralparticlesofsoilandrockthatarenotreadilysolublein
at high temperatures. If the material being dried is contami-
water. Therefore, the water content of materials containing
nated with certain chemicals, health and safety hazards can
extraneous matter (such as cement, and the like) may require
exist. Therefore, this standard should not be used in determin-
special treatment or a qualified definition of water content. In
ing the water content of contaminated soils unless adequate
addition, some organic materials may be decomposed by oven
health and safety precautions are taken.
drying at the standard drying temperature for this method
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(110°C). Materials containing gypsum (calcium sulfate dihy-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
drate or other compounds having significant amounts of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
hydrated water) may present a special problem as this material
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
slowly dehydrates at the standard drying temperature (110°C)
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and at very low relative humidities, forming a compound
(calciumsulfatehemihydrate)whichisnotnormallypresentin
2. Referenced Documents
naturalmaterialsexceptinsomedesertsoils.Inordertoreduce
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the degree of dehydration of gypsum in those materials
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
containing gypsum, or to reduce decomposition in highly
4
Fluids
organicsoils,itmaybedesirabletodrythesematerialsat60°C
D2974 Test Methods for Moisture,Ash, and Organic Mat-
or in a desiccator at room temperature. Thus, when a drying
4
ter of Peat and Other Organic Soils
temperatureisusedwhichisdifferentfromthestandarddrying
D 4220 Practice for Preserving and Transporting Soil
temperature as defined by this test method, the resulting water
4
Samples
content may be different from standard water content deter-
D4318 Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and
mined at the standard drying temperature.
4
Plasticity Index of Soils
NOTE 1—Test Methods D2974 provides an alternate procedure for
D4643 Test Method for Determination ofWater (Moisture)
determining water content of peat materials.
2
Noorany, I., “Phase Relations in Marine Soils”, Journal of Geotechnical
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 110, No. 4, April 1984, pp. 539–543.
3
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture, Gilbert, P.A., “Computer Controlled Microwave Oven System for RapidWater
Plasticity and Density Characteristics of Soils. Content Determination”, Tech. Report GL-88–21, Department of theArmy, Water-
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1998. Published January 1999. Originally wa
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