Department of Civil Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology

Lahore

Job: 10

FILED DENSITY
10.1 Objectives
The basic objectives of this job are
 To determine the density of soil in field
 To determine the field compaction by using the density
10.2Related Theory
10.2.1 Density of Soil:
It is the ration of weight of soil to the volume of soil.
W
γ=
V
In field, the ratio of weight to volume of soil is called the bulk density or the
bulk unit weight of the soil.
W
γb=
V
While the other type of density is dry density which is the ratio of the weight
of soil solids to the volume of soil sample.
Ws
γd =
V
The relation between these two-unit weights is
γb
γd =
1+ w
Where w is the moisture content of the soil sample in filed.
10.2.2 Filed Density Test Methods:
There are two methods for the determination of field density according to
ASTM D1556
1. Core Cutter Method
2. Sand Replacement Method
10.2.3 Core Cutter Method:
In this method, a cylindrical core is used to find out the density. A core is
being drived into the soil sample with known dimensions. The volume of the

Geo-Tech 1 Lab Shahzaib Ali

Dr. Muhammad Zubair
CE-221 L 2022-CIV-12
 Department of Civil Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore

soil is known with by the dimensions of the core cutter. Weight of the soil
sample is measure accurately which is being dug out. Hence the bulk density
is determined. Then a sample is placed in oven and moisture content is
determined to find out the dry density of the soil sample.
This test is valid only for clayey soils and for wet fine sand.
The method is not applicable to the gravely soil as the volume of soil is not
equal to the volume of core cutter. Similarly for sands, these soils do not stay
in the core and slips which limits the application of the test to these soils.
10.2.4 Sand Replacement Method
This is the method in which a sand with whose loose density is determined in
the lab, is used in field to find out the density of soil. Firstly, the density(loose)
of sand is determined in the lab by using appropriate method. Then sand is
taken to the field. A hole of soil is created and the soil is collected. The
volume of sand used to fil the hole is determined which is the actual volume of
soil removed from the hole. Then weight of the soil removed is determined,
which gives us the bulk density. Similarly, a sample is placed in oven and
moisture content is determined to find out the dry density.
10.2.3 ASTM Standard
The relevant ASTM Standard for the sieve analysis is D1556

Core Cutter Method

10.3Apparatus:
Following apparatus is required to perform the test:
 Cylindrical Steel Core Cutter with wall thickness of 3mm and beveled at one end.
 Steel Dolly, 2.5 cm high
 Steel Rammer
 Knife
 Steel Ruler
 Spade or grafting tool
 Weigh Balance
 Containers for moisture content determination
 Oven

10.4 Procedure
 First of all, we weigh the empty cylindrical core and noted its weight.
 Then we measured its internal dimensions to find out the volume of the core
cutter.
 Then we took it to the field and cleared the strata from surface.

Geo-Tech 1 Lab Shahzaib Ali

Dr. Muhammad Zubair
CE-221 L 2022-CIV-12
 Department of Civil Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore

 We put the core cutter on soil horizontally and placed the steel trolly on it and
dig the soil by penetrating the core cutter into the soil with the help of steel
rammer.
 Then we make the walls clear by removing the soil from the sides of the cutter.
 Then we make the sides clear and trim it to make the volume exactly equal to
the core cutter.
 Then we weigh it and noted the weight.
 Then we place a small sample in oven to determine its moisture content.

10.5 Observations and Calculations

Sand Replacement Method

10.6 Apparatus:
Following apparatus is required to perform the test:
 Density Apparatus, consisting of a capacity cylinder with attached cone
separated by a shutter, and a base plate.
 Cylindrical Calibrating container
 Clean, dry free flowing sand graded between #30 and #50 U.S Sieves
 Glass Plate
 Tools for excavating hole
 Weigh Balance
 Containers for moisture content determination
 Oven

10.7 Procedure
Determination of sand filling the cone
 First of all, we put the sand in the apparatus and determined its weight as W1.
 Then we placed the apparatus on a base plate.
 We opened the valve until the pouring of sand has been stopped.
 Then removed the apparatus with the remaining sand and weight it a sW2.
 The difference of these two weights is the weight of sand filled by cone. We noted it
as W3.

Geo-Tech 1 Lab Shahzaib Ali

Dr. Muhammad Zubair
CE-221 L 2022-CIV-12
 Department of Civil Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore

Weight of apparatus + sand W1= 5300 g

Weight of apparatus + sand after filling cone W2= 4823 g

Weight of the sand filling Cone W3= 477 g

Determination of loose density of sand

 We measured the internal dimensions of the calibrating cylinder to find out its
volume.
 We weigh the empty cylinder as Wc
 Then we placed the apparatus filled with sand on it concentrically.
 We opened the valve and allowed sand to pour into it.
 When the pouring is stopped, we removed the apparatus and weigh the
cylinder again and noted as W4.
 Then we noted the weight of sand filling the cylinder as W5
 By using weight and volume of cylinder, we determined the density (loose) of
sand.

Volume of Calibrating Container Vc= 977.065 cc

Weight of Empty Container Wc= 744 g

Weight of Cylinder + sand W4= 2604 g

Weight of sand filling the cylinder W4-WcW3=W5= 1384 g

Density of Sand(loose) γb = W5/Vc 1.416 g/cc

Geo-Tech 1 Lab Shahzaib Ali

Dr. Muhammad Zubair
CE-221 L 2022-CIV-12
 Department of Civil Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore

Determination of Density of Soil In-Situ

 We placed the sand in apparatus and noted its weight as W5.
 Then we make the soil strata clear surface.
 We placed the plat on the strata and started to form a hole in it.
 The soil being removed was collected on plate.
 We make the hole almost 4” in depth.
 Then we noted the weight of soil removed as Ws.
 We placed the apparatus on the hole and opened the valve.
 When the sand poring is stopped, we remove it and noted the weight as W6.
 We calculated the weight of sand filling the sand as W7
 We calculated the weight of sand filling the hole.
 By using the weight of sand filling the hole and its density, we determined the
volume of hole as Vs.
 Then we place a sample in oven to find the moisture content of the soil.
 We determined the density of soil by using its weight and volume.

Weight of sand + apparatus W5= 5297 g

Weight of sand + apparatus (after poring) W6= 3991 g

Weight of the soil removed Ws= 2116

Weight of sand filling the hole W7=W5-W6-W3 829 g

Volume of hole Vs= γb ×W7 1174 cc

Density of soil γb(soil) =Ws/Vs 1.80 g/cc

Moisture Content of soil w 10.1 %

Dry Density of Soil γd 1.634 g/cc

Geo-Tech 1 Lab Shahzaib Ali

Dr. Muhammad Zubair
CE-221 L 2022-CIV-12