Earthworks Chapter 11

11 Soils Field Procedures Using the
Sand Cone Method

Apparatus
Cone Correction and Bulk Density Factors
Procedure
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
SOILS FIELD PROCEDURES USING THE
SAND CONE METHOD
Field density determination of soil compaction is done in accordance with
AASHTO T 191 (Sand Cone) or AASHTO T 310 (Nuclear Gauge). This
chapter discusses the procedures for using AASHTO T 191.
AASHTO T 191 contains three very distinct and important sections.
These are:
1)
Section 3: Apparatus
2)
Section 4: Cone Correction and Bulk Density Factors
3)
Section 5: Procedure
The following references are required to be reviewed for this chapter:

Standard Specifications
1)
Section 203.24(b)
AASHTO
1)
T 191 - Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand-Cone

Method
2)
T 224 - Correction for Coarse Particles in the Soil

Compaction Test
3)
T 255 - Total Evaporable Moisture Content of

Aggregate by Drying
1)
506 - Field Determination of Moisture Content of

Soils
ITM
11-1
APPARATUS
The apparatus (Figure 11-1) required for the Sand Cone Method consists
of a one-gallon jar, a detachable metal appliance, and a base plate. The
metal appliance is attached to the jar to allow the sand to flow from the jar
during calibrations or density testing. The density apparatus and base
plate are detailed in AASHTO T 191 Section 3.
A calibration container is also required for this test. The calibration
container is used to determine the sand density. The requirements for this
container are also detailed in AASHTO T 191 Section 3. The volume of
the container is determined annually at the District Testing lab in
accordance with AASHTO T 19. The volume of the container is marked
on the side of the container to an accuracy of 0.0001 ft3.
Figure 11-1. Base Plate, Apparatus, and Calibration Container
11-2
CONE CORRECTION AND BULK DENSITY FACTORS

Prior to determining the bulk density of the sand and conducting density
tests, the Technician determines the weight of sand required to fill the
large cone of the density apparatus and the accompanying base plate. This
weight is determined to the nearest 0.01 pounds and is referred to as the
Cone Correction. The density apparatus and the base plate are required to
remain together and not be interchanged with other devices without
recalculating the Cone Correction. The Cone Correction is calculated
daily on Form IT 625 (for soil) and on Form TD 320 (granular material).
The procedure for determination of the Cone Correction is detailed in
AASHTO T 191 and is summarized as follows:
1)
Fill the apparatus with the calibration sand and record the
weight to the nearest 0.01 lb
2)
Place the base plate on a clean, level surface
3)
Invert the apparatus onto the base plate and open the valve
to allow the cone and the base plate to fill with sand
4)
When the sand stops flowing into the cone, shut the valve
and weigh the apparatus to the nearest 0.01 lb
5)
The difference between the full weight of the apparatus and

the final weight after filling the cone is referred to as the
Cone Correction.
Determination of the bulk density of the calibration sand is a procedure

done daily by the Technician prior to conducting in-place density tests.
The bulk density of the calibration sand is referred to as the sand
calibration factor. The gradation of the calibration sand required for this
test is required to be in accordance with Section 203.24 (b), which is an
exception to AASHTO T 191. Sand complying with this requirement is
furnished by District Testing and is obtained with the density equipment.
The determination of the calibration sand density is done in accordance
with AASHTO T 191 and recorded on Form IT 625, Daily Summary of
Soil In-Place Density Tests or on Form TD 320, Daily Summary of InPlace Density Tests (+3/4 material). The determination of the bulk
density of the calibration sand is done daily and when a new bag of sand is
used.
11-3
A calibration container with a known volume is required to determine the

bulk density of the calibration sand. By knowing the volume of the
calibration container and the weight of calibration sand required to fill the
container, the bulk density of the calibration sand in pounds per cubic foot
may be calculated.
The process of determining the bulk density of the sand is detailed in
AASHTO T191 Section 4 and is summarized as follows:
1)
Fill the apparatus with the calibration sand and record the
weight to the nearest 0.01 lb
2)
Place the base plate on the calibration container
3)
Invert the apparatus on the base plate and open the valve to
allow the calibration container and the large cone to fill
with sand
4)
Shut the valve on the apparatus and weigh the apparatus to

the nearest 0.01 lb
The initial weight of the apparatus minus the final weight and minus the
Cone Correction is the weight of the calibration sand required to fill the
container. Divide the weight of the sand in the container by the volume of
the container to determine the bulk density of the sand. The bulk density
of the sand is calculated to the nearest 0.1 lb/ft3.
Sections 203.18 through 203.23 detail the methods of embankment
construction with density control and without density control. The
Frequency Manual lists the frequency of tests on embankment
construction. Embankment layers so granular that density testing is
impractical may be controlled visually and documented as such on Form
IT 625 or Form TD 320. Documentation of visually accepted lifts of
embankment maintains a record of the method of acceptance of the lift for
coordination with the frequency manual requirements.
PROCEDURE
With the calculations of the Bulk Density of the calibration sand and the
Cone Correction Factor completed, the Technician has all of the
information necessary to begin in-place density tests. Using Form IT 625,
the procedure for an in-place sand cone density tests on soil is as follows:
11-4
1)
Fill the apparatus with calibration sand and record the

weight on Line 5 of form IT 625
2)
Weigh and record the weight of an empty pan on Line 2

and Line C of form IT 625
3)
Locate a representative area to conduct the density test
4)
Remove any loose and uncompacted soil from the test site
and level the area for the base plate to be seated
5)
Dig a hole into the soil through the hole in the base plate
for the full depth of the layer being tested
6)
Place the soil in a pan, weigh immediately, and record the

weight on Form IT 625 Line 1 (Wet Wt. of Material from
Hole & Pan) and Line A (Weight of Pan & Wet Material)
7)
Reset the base plate over the test hole and invert the
apparatus onto the base plate and open the valve to allow
sand to flow into the test hole. When the sand flow stops,
shut off the valve and remove and weigh the apparatus. Do
not tap or vibrate the apparatus during this process. The
weight obtained is entered on Form IT 625 Line 6 (Final
Wt. Apparatus and Sand).
Form IT 625 may now be completed for Lines 7 through 9.

Determination of moisture for Line MCT is obtained in accordance with
AASHTO T 217, ITM 506, or AASHTO T 255 depending upon the type
of soil. If the soil is cohesive, AASHTO T 217 or ITM 506 may be used;
however, ITM 506 is the preferred method for obtaining the moisture for
cohesive soil. If the soil is a sand then AASHTO T 255 is required. Form
IT 625 is used for calculation of the percent moisture of the soil using
ITM 506 or AASHTO T 255. This calculation is required before line 4
of the IT 625 may be calculated. The moisture sample for ITM 506 or
AASHTO T 255 is the entire amount of the material removed from the
test hole. The last step after the soil is dried is to sieve the moisture
sample over the No. 4 sieve. Any particles retained on that sieve are
weighed and the result recorded on Line 16 of the IT 625.
Lines 1-9 of the IT 625 should now be complete.
11-5
Line 12 of the IT 625 is the dry density of the material tested. The dry
density is determined by dividing the dry weight of the soil removed from
the hole (Line 4 of the IT 625) by the calculated volume of the hole (Line
9 of the IT 625) unless plus No. 4 sieve particles exist in the soil. When
the soil contains plus No 4 particles, the density is adjusted to account for
the material as required by Section 203.24(b)2. This density correction is
made in accordance with AASHTO T 224, Correction for Coarse
Particles in the Soil Compaction Test. The required calculations are
detailed on Form IT 625 Lines 16-23. Lines 16-23 are only done when
Line 16 contains a number other than zero, i.e. the soil contained plus No.
4 sieve particles. The dry density value is determined to the nearest 0.1
pounds per cubic foot and is the actual in-place density of the soil.
The Specifications indicate whether the dry density requirement is 95 % or
100 % of the proctor value. On Form IT 625 line 13, the target density is
listed from the laboratory test or from the one-point proctor test for the
specific soil being tested. On line 11, the optimum moisture content is
listed from the same report. The Specifications require passing results for
both the density and moisture content of the soil.
Care should always be taken when selecting a target density and optimum
moisture content from laboratory results from samples submitted to the
District. Typically, representative samples of the soil are retained at the
job-site in small jars and compared to field test site soil. This comparison
is made by color, texture, and plasticity to determine which soil samples
more closely represent the layer being tested and thus which target density
should be used. The one-point proctor is the preferred method to
determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content.
Form IT 625 may now be completed.
The density of coarse, granular material is also required to be determined.
Density for embankment layers constructed with coarse granular material
requires the use of Form TD 320. Some granular fill material, coarse
aggregate size No.53, coarse aggregate size No.73, and some structural
backfill (1 in. and larger B-Borrow) require the use of this form.
The density process for coarse, granular material is the same as described
previously for sand except with the following:
1)
The percent moisture is required to be obtained using

AASHTO T255. As before, the entire sample removed
from the test hole is dried.
11-6
2)
The sample removed from the test hole is required to be

weighed, dried, and then sieved through a 3/4 in. sieve.
The weight of the dry plus 3/4 in. material is also obtained
and recorded as dry weight of + 3/4 in. material on Form
TD 320, Line 16. This dry weight of + 3/4 in. material is
used to correct the field density of the material being tested
based on an assumed moisture content of 2 percent and an
assumed specific gravity of 2.60 for the + 3/4 material.
The laboratory proctor for aggregate material is obtained on
the minus 3/4 in. material only, and using the above
procedure corrects the field in-place density so the field test
results also represent only the minus 3/4 in. material.
3)
The target density and optimum moisture content are

required to be obtained from the District Soils laboratory.
Form TD 320 contains the procedures for cone correction, bulk density of
the sand, percent moisture, and plus 3/4 in. correction required to complete
the calculations for the in-place density of the granular material
Section 203.23 allows for the moisture content of granular materials to be
several percentage points below the optimum moisture content. This
means that dry density is required to be obtained; however, the moisture
content obtained in accordance with AASHTO T 255 is not required to be
within +1 and -2 percent of optimum for the lift to pass the specified dry
density. Several percentage points below optimum has been interpreted to
be no less than 50 % of the optimum moisture content as indicated on the
laboratory tested sample.
The sand from the test hole is not salvaged and reused. The salvaged sand
may contain soil from the hole and the mixture of salvaged calibration
sand and soil from the test site may change the sand bulk density and
affect the volume calculations and the Cone Correction.
11-7

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11 Soils Field Procedures Using the

Sand Cone Method

Section 4: Cone Correction and Bulk Density Factors

The following references are required to be reviewed for this chapter:

T 191 - Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand-Cone

T 224 - Correction for Coarse Particles in the Soil

T 255 - Total Evaporable Moisture Content of

506 - Field Determination of Moisture Content of

Figure 11-1. Base Plate, Apparatus, and Calibration Container

CONE CORRECTION AND BULK DENSITY FACTORS

Place the base plate on a clean, level surface

The difference between the full weight of the apparatus and

Determination of the bulk density of the calibration sand is a procedure

A calibration container with a known volume is required to determine the

Place the base plate on the calibration container

Shut the valve on the apparatus and weigh the apparatus to

Fill the apparatus with calibration sand and record the

Weigh and record the weight of an empty pan on Line 2

Locate a representative area to conduct the density test

Place the soil in a pan, weigh immediately, and record the

Form IT 625 may now be completed for Lines 7 through 9.

The percent moisture is required to be obtained using

The sample removed from the test hole is required to be

The target density and optimum moisture content are

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