Continuation …

Chapter 4
SOIL TEST AND SURVEY
 Chapter 4-4
LABORATORY TEST FOR SOIL DENSITY

What is “Density” ?
• is the weight per unit volume of a substance . It is expressed in gram per cubic
𝑀𝑔
centimeter or pound per cubic foot or mega gram per cubic meter ( 3 ). Two
𝑚
density measurements : Particle and Bulk Density are common for soils.
𝑚
D= (gm/cc , lb/ft , or Mg/𝑚3)
𝑉
 Test for density may be divided into two:

• Laboratory test to set standard for density.

• Field test to measure the density of soil in-placed

on the roadway.
Laboratory test may be subdivided into three, according to the basis of
compaction procedures:

• Static test

• Dynamic or impact test

• Tamping foot or kneading compaction test.

STATIC TEST

• Is determining the maximum density of soil sample in the

laboratory.

 A soil sample with 5000 g w/ specified percentage of water

 Placed in 6-inø and 8-in high cylinder
 Compressed under a load of 2000 lb/sq.in @ speed of 0.05 in/min
 Held for 1 min when it reached the max. load

 Gradually released from the known dry weight of the soil.

The mold diameter and the height dry density of the sample are computed. Several samples are compressed to delineate the
peak of the moisture density. This peak value represents the standards.
DYNAMIC or IMPACT TEST

Samples of soils each containing a designated percentage

of water are compacted in layers into molds of specified
size. the sample is compacted by applying a number of
blows from free falling hammer of prescribed dimension
and weight with fat circular face.

The peak of moisture density value represents the standard density. The AASHTO tests may be
3
applied of that portion of the soil which will pass No. 4 sieve or all that passes " sieve.
4
DYNAMIC or IMPACT TEST
TAMPING FOOT or KNEADING COMPACT TEST

The material is fed into a rotating mold and

compacted by several repetitive loads applied
through tamping shoe shaped like a sector of the
circle. About 25% of the specimen is covered in
each

application. Compaction is through kneading action in contrast with the

static pressure or impact test.
 Chapter 4-5
Field density test of soil in place

Field density test is the means of comparing the density with laboratory results. The comparison is
performed on the basis of relative compaction defined as follows:

𝐷𝑟𝑦. 𝑤𝑡. 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡. 𝑜𝑓𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒

Relative Compaction =
𝐷𝑟𝑦.𝑤𝑡.𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑢.𝑓𝑡𝑜𝑓𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚
𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟.

Relative compaction is the only measure by which the acceptability of a completed roadway structure is measured.
Chapter 4-5
Field density test of soil in place
Field Density and Moisture content by Sampling

The manners of determining relative compaction by sampling are as follows:

1. Obtain samples of the compacted materials to be tested at full depth.
2. Find the wet and dry weight of the sample, then, determine its moisture content.
3. Determine the volume of sample in the fill by finding the weight of materials required to fill the space.
4. From the dry weight of the sample and the volume that it occupies in the fill, find the dry weight per cubic foot.
5. Find the relative comparison of the soil in fill by dividing its dry weight per cubic foot by the laboratory standard
density.
Four factors affecting accuracy of measuring relative density:

1. Change in the soil itself.

2. The sampling methods.
3. The accuracy of laboratory testing for standard density.
4. The accuracy of testing field density.
Sample problems

1. Calculate the bulk density of a 400 cu.m soil sample that weighs 575g (oven dry weight).
ρ= M/V
= 575/400
= 1.44 g/cu.m

2. Calculate the volume of a soil samples that is 12% moisture, weighs 650g and has a bulk density of 1.3 g/cc.

Oven drt wt. =

650
=1+12%
= 580.4 g
580.4
1.3 g/cc = 𝑉
V = 446.4 cc
 Sample problems

3.The lab compaction test has a max dry unit weight of 19 kN/cu.m with an optimum moisture content of 11% following are
the results of a field unit weight, determination test performed on the same soil by means of sand cone method.
Given:
volume of soil excavated fr. the hole = 0.00144 cu.m
weight of soil fr. the hole when wet = 3.007 kg
Weight of soil when dried = 2.640kg
i. Det. the field water content
ii. Det. the compacted dry unit wt
iii. Det. the relative compaction
 Solutions

i. Field water content =

20.49
1+0.139
(3.007−2.640)(100)
ω=
2.640
= 17.99kN/cu.m
= 13.9%
𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑡.
iii. Relative compaction =
max 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑡.
ii. Compacted dry unit wt x100
Moist density= 2088.19 kg/cu.m 17.99
= 𝑥100 Given: 19 kN/cu.m
Moist unit weight= 20.49 kN/cu.m 19
𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑡 Relative compaction = 94.68%
Compacted dry unit weight=
1+ ω

λ
Dry λ=
1+ω
Thank you 