TITTLE: FIELD DENSITY TEST.

SCOPE : TO DETERMINE DENSITY OF SOIL AT THE FIELD ITSELF

APPARATUS:
1 Sampling tools; large spoon, dibber, hammer, chisel, a scraper to make leveled surface.

2 Containers.

3 Balance, readable to 1g.

4 Glass plate, at least 10mm thickness and 500 mm2 areas.

5 Metal tray or container, to take excavated soil. Diameter shall be 300mm and the height
shall be 40mm.
6 A cylindrical steel core cutter 130mm long and 100+/- 2mm internal diameter with 3mm
wall thickness, for fine grained cohesive soils.
7 Sand cone density apparatus

8 A metal tray with 300mm2 area and 40mm depth with 100mm diameter hole in the
centre.

PROCEDURE:

-The site was selected to test at random.

-All loose material was removed and scraped at the location.
-The surface of 450mm square area was exposed and leveled.
-The base plate was pined securely in position with spikes provided.
-Metal tray was laid with the hole over the portion of the soil to be tested & hole
was excavated to have 100mm diameter to maximum depth of 150mm.
-Excavated material was then carefully removed and weigh was taken to the nearest 1g.
After that, the pouring cylinder which is filled to constant mass was placed, concentrically
to cover the hole by the base of the cylinder.
-Subsequently the shutter was opened & allows sand to run out.
-Cylinder was removed & the mass was measured to the nearest 1g.
CALCULATION:

Volume of cone = weight of sand to fill cone/ unit weight of sand

Volume of density hole and cone = weight of sand to fill hole and cone/unit weight of sand

Density of soil = weight material removed/ volume of density hole

Moisture content = weight of moisture /weight of dry sample x100

Degree of Compaction = Field Dry Density / Maximum Dry Density

Refer attached sheet.

Weight of sand +container =8562g

Weight of sand residue + container =4388g
Weight of sand used =8562g-4388g
=4174g
Volume of sand used =4174g/ 1.37 g/ cm3
=3047cm3
Volume of hole =3047 cm3 - 1092 cm3
=1955 cm3
Weight of wet soil =3472g
Wet density of soil =3472g/1955 cm3
=1.78 g/ cm3

Dry density of soil =1.78 g/ cm3/ (1+1.105)

=1.61 g/ cm3
DISCUSSION:
Most of the construction sites normally do the field density test because it helps to continuing
the construction process. When doing the field density test, the site chosen must be flat and
smooth as possible the test.
When place removing materials from the hole, larger stone particles (12.5mm) should be
excepted. These stones can be replaced in the hole during the volume measurement with
density sand.
And also great care must be taken to get the walls of the holes as smooth as possible as this
affects the volume measurement and the test should be done in such a way that sand cone is
free from any vibrations or disturbances during the flowing of the sand as this affects the
volume of the hole.
Replacement sand should be cleaned closely grained silica sand (Bulk density is reasonably
consistent). Grading, 100% passing 600µm sieve and 100% retained in 63µm sieve. Sand
shall be free from flaky particles, silt, clay and organic matter. It shall be oven dried before
use and keep in closed container to reach equilibrium with atmospheric humidity (7 days).
This test method is specified for fine and medium grained soils. The layer thickness shall not
be greater than 150mm. large pouring cylinder can be used for soils with layer thickness from
150 to 250 mm.
If the testing soil is pavement or embankment fill, degree of compaction can be found after
a standard compaction test. In that case OMC and MDD shall be found and the degree
of compaction can be found
There are number of field test methods such as, water replacement method, core cutter
method, nuclear method, etc.
Most of the available methods depend upon the removal of a representative sample of soil
from the pits and determining its mass and the volume is occupied before being removed.
Mass determination is common and volume determination varies depending on the nature of
the soil being tested.
Periodic calibration of sand density should be carried out.
Location preparation and collecting sample
DISCUSSION:
Most of the construction sites normally do the field density test because it helps to continuing
the construction process. When doing the field density test, the site chosen must be flat and
smooth as possible the test.
When place removing materials from the hole, larger stone particles (12.5mm) should be
excepted. These stones can be replaced in the hole during the volume measurement with
density sand.
And also great care must be taken to get the walls of the holes as smooth as possible as this
affects the volume measurement and the test should be done in such a way that sand cone is
free from any vibrations or disturbances during the flowing of the sand as this affects the
volume of the hole.
Replacement sand should be cleaned closely grained silica sand (Bulk density is reasonably
consistent). Grading, 100% passing 600µm sieve and 100% retained in 63µm sieve. Sand
shall be free from flaky particles, silt, clay and organic matter. It shall be oven dried before
use and keep in closed container to reach equilibrium with atmospheric humidity (7 days).
This test method is specified for fine and medium grained soils. The layer thickness shall not
be greater than 150mm. large pouring cylinder can be used for soils with layer thickness from
150 to 250 mm.
If the testing soil is pavement or embankment fill, degree of compaction can be found after
a standard compaction test. In that case OMC and MDD shall be found and the degree
of compaction can be found
There are number of field test methods such as, water replacement method, core cutter
method, nuclear method, etc.
Most of the available methods depend upon the removal of a representative sample of soil
from the pits and determining its mass and the volume is occupied before being removed.
Mass determination is common and volume determination varies depending on the nature of
the soil being tested.
Compaction is the most popular technique of improving soils. Compaction increases the
strength, lowers the compressibility and reduces the permeability of a soil by rearranging its
fabric. The soil fabric is forced into a denser configuration by the mechanical effort used in
compaction.
Knowledge of the optimum water content and the maximum dry unit weight of soils very
important for construction specifications of soil improvement by compaction. Specifications
for earth structures usually call for a minimum of 95% of maximum dry unit weight. This
level of compaction can be attained at two water contents, one before the attainment of the
maximum dry unit weight, the other after attainment of the maximum dry unit weight.
Normal practice is to compact the soil at lower water content value except for swelling soils.
When embankments construct by spreading the material in relatively thin layers and
compacting it at moisture content close to the optimum. This improvement results largely
because a greater dry density is obtained, which in turn results in higher strength in the soil
mass and decreased settlement and rutting. Layered construction also produced greater
uniformity in the material itself and in its density and moisture contents. Uniformity of
compaction is of prime importance in preventing uneven settlement. Some settlements can be
tolerated it is important that they are minimized, especially on the approaches to bridges and
culverts where adequate compaction is essential.
Compaction trials should always be carried out to determine the best way to achieve the
specified density with the available compacting equipment.

REFERENCE:
1. Soil mechanics and foundations, by Muni Budhu, Professor, University of Arizona.