INSITU DENSITY TEST

INSTRUCTED BY: NAME : EKANAYAKE S.D.

INDEX NO. : 030098
FIELD : CIVIL ENGINEERING
DATE OF PER.: 04/05/2005
DATE OF SUB.:
AIM

To measure the density of soil in the site itself doing

• Insitu density test by Sand Cone method and
• Insitu density test by Core Cutter method

APPARATUS

For Sand Cone method

1. Sand Cone apparatus
Valve
2. Plate with a circular hole at the centre, which does not exceed the
maximum radius of the cone
3. A pan
4. A can
Sand Cone Apparatus
5. A spoon
6. An electric scale

For Core Cutter method

1. Core cutter
2. Mallet
3. Trowel
Core Cutter
4. Can

THEORY
Air
M S + MW
Bulk density - γ = (1) Volume (V)
V Mw Water
MS
Dry density - γdry = (2)
V Ms Soil
MW
Moisture content - w = ×100 %
MS
From (1) and (2),
γ M S + MW MW
γ dry
= = 1+ = 1+w
MS MS
Therefore,

1
γdry = γ (3)
(1 + w)

PROCEDURE

 For the Sand Cone method,

1. The sand cone apparatus, a pan and a can were weighed.

2. The sand cone apparatus was fully filled with sand, up to the valve level, keeping a constant sand
head in the cone & then the weight of the system was measured.
3. Then, the apparatus was inverted on a flat surface, opened the valve & allowed the cone to be
completely filled with sand.
4. The valve was closed and the sand cone apparatus & the rest of the sand were weighed.
5. The plate with a hole was kept on the ground & a hole was dig in the ground which the diameter is
less than that of plate.
6. The soil removed from the ground was collected to the pan using the spoon.
7. Valve was opened and the cone + hole were allowed to fill with sand.
8. After the cone + hole were fully filled with sand, the sand cone apparatus was weighed.
9. The pan + soil were weighed, then a sample of soil was placed on the can and the can + wet soil
were measured.
10. Can + wet soil were kept inside the oven for two days and the weight of dry soil + can was
measured.

 For Core Cutter method,

1. The cutter and the can were weighed.

2. Then the cutter was placed on the ground and was sunk by blowing on it using mallet.
3. After it reached fully underground, soil around the cutter was removed using trowel.
4. The mass of cutter + wet soil was measured.
5. A sample of soil was placed on the can and the can + wet soil were measured.
6. Can + wet soil were kept inside the oven for two days and the weight of dry soil + can was
measured.

CALCULATION
1. For Sand Cone method

Mass of bottle = m1
Mass of bottle filled with sand = m2
Mass of bottle and sand after inverting on a flat surface = m3
Mass of bottle and sand after filling the hole = m4
Volume of the bottle =V

Mass of wet soil and pan = m5

Mass of pan = m6

Mass of wet soil and can = m7

Mass of dry soil and can = m8
Mass of can = m9

• Density of sand

Bulk density of sand = ( m2 – m1 ) / V

= ( 9.745 – 1.93 ) kg / 5.45 x 10-3 m3
= 1433.94 kg/m3
• Bulk density of soil

Mass of wet soil = m5 – m6

= 1.188 kg + 0.429 kg
= 0.759 kg

Volume of hole = mass of sand inside hole / bulk density of sand

Mass of sand inside the hole = ( m3 – m4 ) – ( m2- m3 )

= {(8.210 – 5.810)–(9.745 - 8.210)} kg
= 0.865 kg
Therefore,
Volume of hole = 0.865 kg / 1433.94 kg/m3
= 6.032 x 10-4 m3

Bulk density of soil = Mass of wet soil / Volume of hole

= 0.759 kg / 6.032 x 10-4 m3
= 1258.22 kg/m3

• Moisture content

Mass of dry soil = m8 – m9 = 54.89g - 6.98g = 47.91g

Mass of water = m7 – m8 = 59.55g - 54.89g = 4.66g
Moisture content = ( m7 – m8 ) / ( m8 – m9 ) x 100%
= 4.66 / 47.91 x 100%
= 9.73%

Form equation (3)

 1
γdry = γ
(1 + w)
1 3
=
(1 + 0.0973 ) x 1258.22 kg/m

= 1146.75 kg/m3

2. For Core Cutter method

Mass of wet soil + cutter = M1

Mass of cutter = M2
Volume of Core Cutter =V

Mass of wet soil + can = M4

Mass of dry soil + can = M5
Mass of can = M6

• Density of sand
Bulk density of sand = (M1 – M2) / V
= (2.694 – 0.908) kg / 1 x 10-3 m3
= 1786 kg/m3

• Moisture content
Moisture content of sand = ( M4 – M5 ) / ( M5 – M6 )
= (87.0 – 70.16) g / (70.16 – 10.31) g x 100%
= 28.14%

Form equation (3)

1
γdry = γ
(1 + w)
1 3
=
(1 + 0.2814 ) x 1786 kg/m

= 1393.79 kg/m3

DISCUSSION