5. Field Compaction Tests on Earth work, GSB etc,.

5.1 Introduction:
The dry density of pavement material is a common measure of amount of compaction achieved
during construction. Knowing the field density and moisture content, the field density is
calculated. Therefore field density test is important as a field control test for the compaction of
soil or any other pavement layer.
There are several methods for determination of field density of soil such as core cutter method,
sand replacement method, rubber balloon method, heavy oil method etc.,. One of the common
methods for determination of field density of fine-grained soils is core cutter method; but this
method has major limitation in case of soils having coarse-grained particles such as gravel,
stones and aggregates. Under such circumstances field density by sand replacement method is
advantageous, as the presence of coarse grained material will adversely affect the test results.
The basic principle of sand replacement method is to measure the in-situ volume of hole from
which material is excavated from the weight of sand with known density filling in the hole. The
in-situ density of material is determined by dividing the weight of excavated material with in-situ
volume.

5.2 Determination of field density using sand replacement method (IS 2720-
1976 Part 28)
Object:
To determine field density by sand replacement method
Apparatus:
a) Sand pouring cylinder:
Small pouring cylinder: suitable for small and medium grained soils. This consists of a
metal cylinder of 3 liters, 100mm diameter and 380mm length with an inverted funnel or
cone at one end and a shutter to open and close the entry of sand and a cap at other end.
Metal tray to excavate the material with suitable shape and size. Calibration container of
small pouring cylinder (size 100×150mm)
 Large pouring cylinder: Suitable for fine, medium and coarse grained soils. This
consists of a metal cylinder of 16.5 liters, 200mm diameter and 610mm length with all
properties mentioned above. Calibration container size 200×250mm
Medium pouring cylinder: : Suitable for fine, medium and coarse grained soils. This
consists of a metal cylinder of 150mm diameter and 450mm length with all properties
mentioned above. Calibration container size 150×200mm
b) Tools for leveling and excavating: scrapper with handle for leveling the surface; A
dibber or an elongated trowel for digging and excavating the material
c) Containers: any containers of convenient size ( about 150mm diameter and 200mm
length) with removable lid to collect the excavated material
d) Sand: dry and clean test sand of uniform gradation passing 1.00 mm and retained on 600-
micron sieve
e) Balance: a suitable balance of 15 or 30kg capacity, accuracy 1g and necessary set of
weights

Procedure:
The test may be performed in two stages; a) calibration of apparatus and b) determination of field
density
a) Calibration of apparatus:

1) Fill the sand pouring cylinder with clean sand so that the level of the sand in the
cylinder is within about 10 mm from the top. Find out the initial weight of the
cylinder plus sand (W1) and this weight should be maintained constant throughout the
test for which the calibration is used.
2) Allow the sand of volume equal to that of the calibrating container to run out of the
cylinder by opening the shutter, close the shutter and place the cylinder on the glass
sand takes place in the cylinder close the shutter and remove the cylinder carefully.
Weigh the sand collected on the glass plate. Its weight(W2) gives the weight of sand
filling the cone portion of the sand pouring cylinder.
Repeat this step at least three times and take the mean weight (W2) Put the sand back
into the sand pouring cylinder to have the same initial constant weight (W1)
 b) Determination of field density:

1) Determine the volume (V) of the container be filling it with water to the brim. Check
this volume by calculating from the measured internal dimensions of the container.
2) Place the sand poring cylinder centrally on yhe of the calibrating container making
sure that constant weight (W1) is maintained. Open the shutter and permit the sand to
run into the container. When no further movement of sand is seen close the shutter,
remove the pouring cylinder and find its weight (W3).
3) Approximately 60 sqcm of area of soil to be tested should be trimmed down to a level
surface,approximately of the size of the container. Keep the metal tray on the level
surface and excavate a circular hole of volume equal to that of the calibrating
container. Collect all the excavated soil in the tray and find out the weight of the
excavated soil (Ww). Remove the tray, and place the sand pouring cylinder filled to
constant weight so that the base of the cylinder covers the hole concentrically. Open
the shutter and permit the sand to run into the hole. Close the shutter when no further
movement of the sand is seen. Remove the cylinder and determine its weight (W4).
4) Keep a representative sample of the excavated sample of the soil for water content
determination.

Calculation and results:

W1= weight of sand pouringcylinder and sand filled up to 10mm from top edge, g
W2= weight of sand in the cone, mean value, g
W3= weight of cylinder and sand after pouring into calibration container and cone
W4= weight of cylinder and sand after pouring into excavated hole and cone, g
Va=volume of excavating container, cm2
W= weight of soil from excavated hole, g
Wd= oven dry weight of excavated soil from hole, g
w= moisture content of soil, %

The weight of sand filling calibration container only= Wa- (W1 –W3 –W2), g
 𝑊𝑎
(a) Bulk density of sand, s= , g/cm2
𝑉𝑎

Weight of sand filling excavated hole alone= Wb= (w1 –W4 –W2), g
𝑊𝑏
Volume of sand filling excavated hole alone= V= , cm3
𝑠
𝑊
(b) In-situ bulk density of wet excavated soil, b= , g/cm3
𝑉
100( 𝑊−𝑊𝑑)
(c) Moisture content of soil, w%= ,%
𝑊𝑑
𝑏
(d) In-situ dry bulk density of excavated soil, d= 1+𝑤 , g/cm3

The results are reported as average value of at least three sets of tests
Calculate percent relative compaction by dividing the dry density of the material from the test
site by that material’s moisture density relation curve’s maximum dry density, and multiply by
100%.

5.4 Drilled core density for BC/DBM

Objective:
To obtain core sample of compacted BC/DBM and determine density

Apparatus:
Coring Machine –A motor driven core machine shall be used to obtain the sample. The device
shall be capable of obtaining a core to the full depth of the bituminous material.
Core Bit – The cutting edge of the core drill bit shall be of hardened steel or other suitable
material with diamond chips embedded in the metal cutting edge. The core barrel inside diameter
shall be as specified.
Separation Equipment –A saw or other method(s) that provides a clean smooth plane
representing the layer to be tested.
Retrieval Device – A device for removing core samples that will preserve the integrity of the
core

Procedure:
 For freshly compacted bituminous materials, the core shall be taken when the material
has had sufficient amount of time to cool to prevent damage to the core.
  To accelerate the coring process, a cooling agent may be used.
 Place the coring machine such that the core bit is over the selected location.
 Provide a means such as water or air to aid in the removal of cuttings and to minimize the
generation of heat caused by friction.
 Keep the core bit perpendicular to the bituminous surface during the coring process.
 Apply constant downward pressure on the core bit. Failure to apply constant pressure, or
too much pressure, may cause the bit to bind or distort the core.
 Continue the coring operation until the desired depth is achieved.
 Use a retrieval device to obtain the core.
 Clearly label the core.
 Field density is determined by dividing weight of sample collected with volume
of standard core.

5.3 Field compaction tests on various layers

Nos. Name of Test Testing Test Specification

Method Frequency Requirements

1a). OGL's (MCW/SR)

1 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/3000 m² 95%
of pits) Part 28
1b). Existing soil
2 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/3000 m² 95%
of pits) Part 28
1c).Test on Borrow Area(Emb/S.G/R.E Fill/Earthren Shoulders/Median Filling)
1 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/3000 m² 95%
of pits) For Part 28
embankment
2 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/2000 m² 97%
of pits) For Part 28
Subgrade
3 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/3000 m² 97%
of pits) For R.E Part 28
Fill
4 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/2000 m² 97%
of pits) For Part 28
Shoulders
5 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 1 set/2000 m² 97%
of pits) For Median Part 28
Filling
2). GSB Materials
1 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 3 set/1000 m² 98%
of pits) Part 28
3). WMM Materials
1 Field Density (no IS: 2720, 3 set/1000 m² 98%
of pits) Part 28
4). Dense Bituminous Macadam Materials (DBM)

1 Drilled core ASTM D- 1 test per 700 As per apvd. Job Mix
density 1559 m² Formula

5). Bituminous Concrete Materials (BC)

1 Drilled core ASTM D- 1 test per 700 As per apvd. Job Mix
density 1559 m² Formula