ZZj than ouuigtunut o-teen

The device consists of a glass or plastic jar with a metal -attached at its top
(Figure 5.14). The jar is lled with vety ttnirotm dry Ottawa sand. The weight
or the jar. the con, and the h lling the jar is determined (w1). In the eld. a
small hole is excavated in the area where the soil has been compacted. If
the weight of the moist soil excavated from the hole (W3) is determined and
the moisture content of the excavated soil is known. the dry weight of the
soil (Wt) can be found as
w = -W~ (S 25)
w ( 96) '
I+
I00
when: w - moisture content.
After excavation of the hole. the X with the --lled jar attached to it is
invetted
and placed over the hole (Figure 5.|5 . - is allowed to ow out of the jar into
the hole
and the Once the hole and are tilled. the weight of the jar. the -. and the
remaining - in the jut is detennined (W4). so
W5 = W. - W4 (5.26)
whete w, = weight of I to till the hole and I
The volume of the hole excavated can now be determined as
V = (5.27)

COMPARISON OF NUCLEAR AND I-LI}

METHODS OF DENSITY

ML
AND MOISTURE DETERMINATIONS FOR FOUR
NEW YORK STATE SOILS
BY SIDNEY Mr.\rrz1-:tt'
This report summarizes and compares the results of density and moisture
content measurements made on compacted embankments by the nuclear
or radiation and by the -mi The latter has been utilized as a standard for
many years for such measurements by the Bureau of Soil Mechanics, New
York State Department of Public Works. The tests were performed on three
highway projects under construction, and involved four basic soil types. The
tests were performed on Aug. 24 and 25, 1959.
The d/M (density-moisture) gage manufactured by the Nuclear-Chicago
Corp. was utilized for the nuclear portions of the test. The instrument was
operated and the readings interpreted by Jack Templeman of the
aforementioned rm. The density and moisture content determinations
using the Tan 9- were performed by personnel of the Bureau of Soil
Mechanics under the supervision of the author.
The testing described represents the preliminary phases of a program to
investigate the suitability and adaptability of the nuclear if for embankment
compaction control under the various conditions prevailing in New York
State. Since the tests described represent the preliminary phase of this
program, no conclusions are included.

Associate Soil: Engineer, Bureau of Soil Mechanics. New York State

Department of Public Works, Albany, N. Y.
The results obtained from the tests are presented for information purposes
to indicate the trend of the program and as a guide for further investigation.
DESCRIPTION or we Two .\/In-woos
Density - Moisture Gage Moisture and Density Surface Probes:
The density-moisture gage used consisted of a model P-21 surface moisture
probe, a model P-22 surface density probe and a model 2800 scaler. The
approximate time required for a complete moisture or density measurement
was 2 min. The probe was placed on the surface of the layer to be tested,
the timer set to the desired time interval, and the scaler read for the count.
This count was then located on a calibration chart, from which the
moisture content or wet density was obtained, the value being indicated in
pounds per cubic foot.

The P-21 moisture probe measures a semispherical volume of material, the

depth of which varies from approximately 5 to 15 in., while the P-22 density
probe measures to a depth of approximately 3 to 8 in.
The principle of operation of the density-moisture gage is based on the
degree to which radioactivity is scattered when placed in contact with
materials of different moisture content or density. After the equipment has
been calibrated for various moistures and densities, measurement of the
resulting scatter

provides a for determining moisture content or density of the soil layer

being tested.
The P-21 surface moisture probe contains a radioactive radium-beryllium
source of fast neutrons, and the P-22 surface density probe a cesium-137
gamma ray source. Each probe contains a detector system sensitive to
radioactive scatter. The count of impulses received from the probe is
registered on the P-2800 scaler glow-tube registering system; this count is
then located on the calibration chart and the moisture content in pounds per
cubic foot, or wet density, also in pounds per cubic foot, read directly from
the chart. The dry density is obtained by subtracting the moisture
measurements from the density measurements. Per cent of moisture
content by dry weight is obtained by dividing the dry density into the
pounds per
cubic foot of water.
Bureau of Soil Mechanics-V-Field Compaction-Conlrol-Dcnsily Test:
The eld compaction test of the Bureau of Soil Mechanics, New York State
Department of Public Works, utilizes a calibrated apparatus for
determination of density. The test procedure consists of measuring the
actual wet density of the compacted material in the eld by removing a
sample of soil from the layer and determining the actual volume of the hole
from which the soil was removed. All of the soil removed from the hole is
retained and, knowing the weight of the soil and the volumen the soil
occupied in the test hole, the wet density is computed.
The moisture content of the soil is
determined by taking a sample of the
wet soil, drying it to constant weight in
a laboratory oven at 110 C, and then obtaining the ratio of the water in the sample to the dry weight of soil, expressed
as a percentage. The dry density is de-

Nucu-ma Mr:'ruons roa Son. DENSITY AND MOISTURE

termined by correcting the wet density
for the moisture content of the sample.
The Bureau of Soil Mechanics @wan Iretliilu is in conformance with
ASTM Tentative of Test for
Determining Density of Soil in Place by
the li-$9 ihtil.
Tssr Pnocsnuru-:
In-place eld density and moisture
measurements were rst made using the
density-moisture gage on several carefully leveled locations at each site. icone measurements were made at each
identical spot immediately after the
density-moisture gage was moved to the
next location. The soil extracted from
each hole was sealed in airtight jars for moisture determination at
the laboratory.
Tests were performed on the following
proiects:
Projca Soil Ty):
Interstate Route 502-Glens
Falls Bypass. FISH 58-19
(saratoga County) . . . . . . . . brown 1. trace
of silt
Amsterdam North-South ArterialFAC 58-I6 (Montgomery County) . . . . . . . . .. brown silt and
clay
Ballston SpaScotch Church
I-ARC 58-I31 (Schenectady County) . . . . . . . . . . .. brown T and
gravel. some
silt. trace of
clay
Ballston SpaScotch Church
l-ARC 58-13] (Schenectady County . . . . . . . . . . . .. brown glacial till
T1-:s-r RESULTS
Materials representing some predominant soil types utilized in highway
construction in New York State were selected to obtain a general comparison
and evaluation of the two methods. The characteristics of the four soil types

Tentative UK of Test for Density of

Soil in Place by the Ii-D T (D
I556-581'), 1958 Book of ASTM Standards,
Part 4. D. 1171.

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