COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Civil Engineering Department

Experiment No. 7
FIELD DENSITY TEST

COURSE OUTCOMES
CO2 Explain the origin and process of formation of soils and classify soils accordingly
COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME
CILO 4 Determine the weight-volume relationship

I. ASTM DESIGNATION
ASTM D1556 – Standard Test Method for density and Unit weight of Soil-in-place by the
Sand-Cone Method

ASTM D2167 – Standard test Methods for Density and Unit weight of Soil in place by the
Rubber Balloon Method

II. OBJECTIVE
• To determine the in-place density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
• To determine the in-place density and unit weight of compacted or firmly bonded soil using a
rubber balloon apparatus.

III. APPARATUS
• Sand-Cone Method (ASTM D1556)
o Sand-Cone Density Apparatus
1. Metal funnel/Double Cone
2. Base plate
3. Attachable Jar or sand container
4. Sand
o Balances or scales
o Digging tools (shovel, trowel, chisel, etc.)
o Drying apparatus

• Rubber Balloon Method (ASTM D2167)

o Balloon Density Apparatus
1. Vessel
2. Volume indicator
3. Base plate
4. Flexible membrane (rubber balloon)
5. Hand pump
o Balances or scales
o Digging tools
o Drying apparatus

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Civil Engineering Department

Fig. 8.1 Sand Cone Density Apparatus Fig. 8.2 Balloon Density Apparatus

IV. TEST PROCEDURE

1. Sand-Cone Method (ASTM D1556)
Calibration of Sand-Cone Apparatus

a. Fill the container with dry sand and attach the funnel on the container. Determine the
mass of the apparatus filled with sand. Record as M6
b. Place the base plate on a clean, level plane surface. Invert the apparatus and seat the
funnel in the flanged center hole in the base plate. Record as M 7
c. Calculate the mass of sand used to fill the funnel and base plate as the difference
between initial and final mass. M2 = M6 – M7

Calibration of Density Sand

a. Select a container of know volume (V1). The molds specified in Test Methods D698 are
recommended.
b. Fill the apparatus with dry sand. Determine the mass and record as M8.
c. When the calibration container has the same diameter as the flanged center hole in the
base plate, invert and center the sand filled apparatus and base plate on the calibration
container.
d. Fully open the valve and allow the sand to fill the container. When the sand flow stops,
close the valve. Invert the apparatus.
e. Determine the mass of the apparatus and remaining sand. Record as M9.
f. Calculate the net mass of sand in the calibration container by subtracting the mass of
the sand contained in the cone and base plate. M 5 = M8 – M9 – M2
g. Calculate the bulk density of the sand as follows:

𝑴𝟓
𝝆𝟏 = ⁄𝑽
𝟏

Where: ρ1 = bulk density of the sand, g/cc

M5 = mass of the sand to fill the calibration container, g
V1 = volume of the calibration container, cc
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Civil Engineering Department

Sand-Cone Measurement

a. Select a location/elevation that is representative of the area to be tested.

b. Fill the cone container with conditioned sand for which the bulk density has been
determined, and determine the total mass. Record as M 10
c. Prepare the surface of the location so that it is a level plane. Seat the base plate on the
plane surface, making sure there is contact with the ground surface around the edge of
the flanged center hole. Mark the outline of the base plate to check for movement during
the test.
d. Test hole volumes are to be as large as practical to minimize the errors and shall not be
less than the volumes indicated.

Table 8.1 Minimum Test Hole Volumes for Sand Cone Method

Maximum Particle Size Minimum Test Hole Volumes

in (mm) cm3 ft3
½ (12.7) 1415 0.05
1 (25.4) 2125 0.075
1 1/2 (38) 2830 0.1

e. Dig the test hole through the center hole in the base plate. The sides of the hole should
slope slightly inward and the bottom should be reasonably flat or concave. Place all
excavated soil, and any soil loosened during digging, in a moisture tight container.
Protect this material from any loss in moisture until the mass has been determined and
a specimen has been obtained for a water content determination.
f. Clean the flange of the base plate hole, invert the filled sand-cone apparatus and seat the
sand-cone funnel into the flange hole. Open the valve and allow the sand to fill the hole,
funnel, and base plate. When the sand stops flowing, close the valve.
g. Determine the mass of the apparatus with the remaining sand, record, and calculate the
mass of sand used. Record as M11.
h. Determine and record the mass of the moist material that was removed from the test
hole.
i. Mix the material thoroughly, and either obtains a representative specimen for water
content determination, or use the entire sample. Record as M 3.

2. Rubber Balloon Method (ASTM D2167)

a. Prepare the surface at the test location so that it is reasonably plane and level.
b. Assemble the base plate and rubber balloon apparatus on the test location. Using the
same pressure and surcharge determined during the calibration of the apparatus, take
an initial reading on the volume indicator and record. The base plate shall remain in
place through completion of the test.
c. Remove the apparatus from the test hole location. Using a spoon, trowel and other tools
necessary, dig a hole within the base plate. The test hole shall be of minimum volume
shown.

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Civil Engineering Department

Table 8.2 Minimum Test Hole Volume for Balloon Method

Maximum Particle Size Minimum Test Hole Volumes

in (mm) cm3 ft3
½ (12.7) 1420 0.05
1 (25.4) 2120 0.075
1 1/2 (38) 2840 0.1

d. Place all soil removed from the test hole in a moisture tight container for later mass and
water content determination.
e. After the test hole has been dug, place the apparatus over the base plate in the same
position as used for the initial reading. Applying the same pressure and surcharge load
as used in the calibration check, take and record the reading on the volume indicator.
The difference between the initial and final readings is the volume of the test hole, Vh.
f. Determine the mass of all the moist soil removed from the test hole to the nearest 5 g.
Mix all the soil thoroughly and select a representative water content sample and
determine the water content.

V. CALCULATION
1. SAND-CONE METHOD
Calculate the volume of the test hole as follows:

(𝑴𝟏 − 𝑴𝟐 )
𝑽=
𝝆𝟏

Where: V1 = volume of the test hole, cc

M1 = mass of the sand used to fill the test hole, funnel, and base plate, g
M2 = mass of the sand used to fill the funnel and base plate
ρ1 = bulk density of the sand, g/cc

Calculate the dry mass of material removed from the test hole as follows:

𝑴𝟑
𝑴𝟒 =
(𝟏 + 𝒘)

Where: w = water content of the material removed from the test hole,
M3 = moist mass of the material from the test hole, g
M4 = dry mass of material from test hole, g
ρ1 = bulk density of the sand, g/cc

Calculate the in-place wet and dry density of the material tested as follows:

𝑴𝟑
𝝆𝒎 =
𝑽𝟏

𝑴𝟒
𝝆𝒅 =
𝑽𝟏

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Civil Engineering Department

Where: V1 = volume of the test hole, cc

M3 = moist mass of the material from the test hole, g
M4 = dry mass of material from test hole, g
ρm = wet density of tested material, g/cc
ρd = dry density of the tested material, g/cc

2. BALLOON DENSITY APPARATUS METHOD

Calculate the in-place wet density as follows:

𝑴𝒘𝒆𝒕
𝝆𝒘𝒆𝒕 =
𝑽𝒉 (𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 )

Where: ρwet = in-place wet density, mg/m3

Mwet = mass of moist soil removed from the test hole, g
Vh = volume of the test hole, m3

Calculate the in-place dry density as follows:

𝝆𝒘𝒆𝒕
𝝆𝒅 = 𝒘
(𝟏 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎)

Where: ρd = in-place dry density, mg/m3

ρwet = in-place wet density, mg/m3
w = water content of the soil removed from the test hole, %

VI. DATA, RESULTS, AND COMPUTATION

A. SAND CONE TEST

Table 8.3 TEST DETAILS of Sand Cone Test
Project location:
Soil description:
Field compaction method: Date material compacted:

Description of sand used in sand cone:

Description of calibration chamber:

Calibration chamber volume: Max particle size of compacted material:

Notes, observations, and deviations:

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Civil Engineering Department

Table 8.4 MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATIONS of Sand Cone Test

Calibration Measurement
Mass of filled container Mass of filled container
(M6): (M10):
Mass of container after Mass of container after
filling the funnel (M7): filling the test hole,
plate ad funnel (M11):
Mass of sand in the Mass of sand in the test
funnel (M2): hole, plate and funnel
(M1):
Mass of refilled Volume of test hole (V1):
container (M8):
Mass of container after Mass of moist material
filling the calibration excavated from the test
chamber and funnel hole (M3):
(M9):
Mass of sand in the Dry mass of material
calibration chamber excavated from the test
(M5): hole (M4):
Bulk density of the In-place moist density
sand (ρ1): (ρm):

Moisture content (w): Dry Density (ρd):

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Civil Engineering Department

B. RUBBER BALLOON TEST

Table 8.5 MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATIONS of Balloon Test

Water level in cylinder without test hole (V 0)

Water level in cylinder with test hole (V)
Volume of test hole (Vh)
Mass of moist material excavated from the test hole (M wet)
Dry mass of material excavated from the test hole (Md)
Moisture content (w)
Dry density (ρd)

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Civil Engineering Department

X. RUBRICS

SO (k) Ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Demonstrate skills in the use of modern engineering tools and techniques necessary for engineering
PI (1)
practice.
CO Demonstrate the use of different soil laboratory apparatus/equipment.
Exemplary Capable Developing Beginning
Criteria Rating
(4) (3) (2) (1)
Observes good
Observes best Practices unsafe,
Lab Safety laboratory Unsafe lab procedures
laboratory safety risky behaviors
safety observed infrequently.
procedures. in lab.
procedures.
Experimental
procedures most often
Develops and followed, but
Experimental Implements
implements occasional Does not follow
Procedures logical
logical oversight leads to loss experimental
experimental
experimental of experimental procedure.
procedures
procedures efficiency and/or loss
of
data
Does not operate
instrumentation
Is able to select
Is able to and
and operate
Tool operate Is tentative in process
appropriate
Operation instrumentatio operation equipment,
instrumentation
n and of instruments and does so
and
process process equipment. incorrectly or
process
equipment. requires
equipment.
frequent
supervision.
Analyzes and
Analyzes data
interprets
carefully using Applies appropriate
data carefully
appropriate theory to data when
using
Analysis and theory; if prompted to do so, but
appropriate Makes no
Theory required, misinterprets physical
theory; if attempt to
Application translates significance of theory
required, relate data to
theory into or
translates theory
practice or variable involved;
theory into
applies to makes errors in unit
practice or
process conversions.
applies to process
model(s).
model(s).
Provides
recommendation Is aware of Is aware of
Measurement on measurement measurement error but
Is unaware of
Error measurement of error and does not account for it
measurement
error and is able to statistically or does so
error
is able to account account for it at
for it statistically. a minimal level
statistically.

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