1.

0 OBJECTIVE
Determine the in situ density of natural or compacted soils using sand pouring cylinders.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this experiment, students are able to:

 Understand the relationship between compaction effort and the density of soil on site.
 Obtain the in situ density of natural soil and compacted soil.

3.0 THEORY
Sometimes it is important to know the density of in-situ for design purpose. This can be done
by mean of sand replacement method. Determining the in situ density of natural or
compacted soils using sand pouring cylinders requires simple method of analysis. The in situ
density of natural soil is needed for the determination of bearing capacity of soils, for the
purpose of stability analysis of slopes, for the determination of pressures on underlying strata
for the calculation of settlement and the design of underground structures. This along with the
Core Cutter is one of the older, more labor intensive methods of determining density. It is
used on boulder clays and granular fills.

Figure 1:Sand Cone Equipments

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. Sand pouring cylinder of 3 litre/16.5 litre capacity, mounted above a pouring cone and
separated by a shutter cover plate.

2. Tools for excavating holes; suitable tools such as scraper tool to make a level surface.

3. Cylindrical calibrating container with an internal diameter of 100 mm/200 mm and an

internal depth of 150 mm/250 mm fitted with a flange 50 mm/75 mm wide and about 5 mm
thick surrounding the open end.

4. Balance to weigh unto an accuracy of I g.

5. Metal containers to collect excavated soil.

6. Metal tray with 300 mm/450 mm square and 40 mm/50 mm deep with a 100 rnm/200 mm
diameter hole in the centre.

7. Suitable non-corrodible airtight containers.

8. Thermostatically controlled oven with interior on non-corroding material to maintain the

temperature between 105°C to llO°C.

9. Glass plate about 450 mm/600 mm square and 10mm thick.

10. MATERIAL : Clean, uniformly graded natural sand passing through 1.00 mm IS. Sieve
and retained on the 600micron I.S.sieve. It shall be free from organic matter and shall have
been oven dried and exposed to atmospheric humidity.

11. A dessicator with any desiccating agent other than sulphuric acid.
5.0 PROCEDURE
(1) Calibration of the cylinder

1. The internal dimensions of the calibrating container are measured and its volume is
determined.

2. The clean uniformly graded standard sand are filled in the sand pouring cylinder up to a
height of 1 cm below the top with the shutter closed. Initial mass of the sand,( 𝑀0 ) is
founded. The mass should be maintained constant throughout the test for which the
calibration is used.

3. The sand of volume equal to that of the calibrating container is allowed to run out of the
cylinder by opening the shutter. The stutter is closed.

4. The sand cone-pouring cylinder is placed on a paper placed on a horizontal table. The
shutter is opened again and allows the sand to flow and fill the cone.

5. The shutter is closed. The mass of sand in cylinder after pouring, (M,) is determined.

6. The mass of sand on paper, (Mi) is calculated too.

(2) Determination of bulk density of sand

1. The internal dimensions of the calibrating container and volume, Vc is measured and
been converted to unit given.

2. The sand-pouring cylinder concentrically is placed on the top of the calibrating

container with the shutter is closed making sure that constant mass, M2 is maintained.

3. The shutter of cylinder is opened and allows the sand to move into the container. When
no further movement is seen, close the shutter and find the mass of sand left in the
cylinder, M2.

(3) Determination of field density of soil

1. Surface of the soil in the open field is leveled where only soil part is taken to
consideration.

2. The metal tray is placed on the surface haring a circular hole of 10 cm diameter at the
centre. A hole of this diameter up to about 15 cm depth is dogged and all the excavated
soil in a tray is collected to find the mass of excavated soil, M.

3. The tray is removed and placed the sand-pouring cylinder concentrically on the hole.
The shutter is opened to allow the sand to run into hole till no further movement of sand is
noticed. Then, close the shutter and mass of sand which is left in the cylinder, M3.is
determined.
 4. The representative sample is taken from the excavated soil for determination of water
content.

6.0 RESULT AND CALCULATION

Data Analysis

A) Determination of Mass of sand in the cone

Volume of calibrating container (Vc) 176.7 Ml

Mass of sand in cylinder before pouring(Mo) 6.5 g
Mean mass of sand in cone ( M1 ) 0.45 g

B) Determination of bulk density of sand

Mean mass of sand left in cylinder after pouring (M2) 4.55 g

Mass of sand filling calibrating container = Mc=Mo-M1-M2 1.50 g
Bulk density of sand Ps = Mc/Vc 8.48 x 10−3g/𝑐𝑚3

C) Bulk density and unit weight of soil

Mass of wet soil from hole, M 1.55 g

Mass of sand in cylinder after pouring, 𝑀3 4.70 g
Mass of sand in the hole Ms =𝑀0 -𝑀1 -𝑀3 1.35 g
Bulk density of soil,P = M/𝑀𝑠 x 𝑝𝑠 9.74 x 10−3g/𝑐𝑚3
Dry density of soil, Pd = p/ 1+w 1.88 x 10−4g/𝑐𝑚3

D) Moisture content determination:

Mass of can 3.4 g

Mass of can + wet sample 8.9 g
Mass of can + dry sample 6.1 g
Moisture content 50.9 %
Calculation

From the data :

Height of cylinder, H : 20cm

Diameter of cylinder : 15cm

Hence the volume is :

π𝑑 2
V=
4
2
π( 15)
= 4

= 176.7𝑐𝑚3

1. Mass of sand filling calibrating container, Mc

Mc = Mo – Mi – 𝑀2

= 6.5 g – 0.45 g – 4.55 g

= 1.5 g

2. Bulk density of sand, Ps

𝑀𝑐
Ps =
𝑉𝑐

1.5
=
176.7

= 8.48 x 10−3 g/𝑐𝑚3

3. Mass of sand in the hole, Ms

Ms = Mo – Mi – 𝑀3

= 6.5 g – 0.45 g – 4.7 g

= 1.35 g
4. Bulk density of soil, P

𝑀
P= x Ps
𝑀𝑠

1.55
= g x ( 8.48 x 10−3)
1.35

= 9.78 x 10−3 g/𝑐𝑚3

5. Dry density of soil, Pd

𝑝
𝑃𝑑 =
1+𝑤

9.78 𝑥 10−3
=
1+50.9

= 1.88 x 10−4
7.0 QUESTIONS
1.Field engineers are often found talking of optimum moisture content (OMC)
conditions while constructing of road sub-grade. Define and explain this term, bringing
out clearly the importance it posses and the methods by which it is controlled.

Field engineers are often found talking of optimum moisture content (OMC) conditions while
constructing of sub- grade. When the values of the dry density and moisture content are
plotted the resulting curve has a peak value of dry density. The corresponding moisture
content is known as the optimum moisture content (OMC). The reason for this is that at low
w values the soil is stiff and difficult to compact, resulting in a low dry density with a high
void ratio; as w is increased the water lubricates the soil, increasing the workability and
producing high dry density and low void ratio, but beyond OMC pore water pressures begin
to develop and the water tends to keep the soil particles apart resulting in low dry densities
and high void ratios. With all soils an increase in the compactive effort results in an increase
in the maximum dry density and a decrease in the optimum moisture content.

Once the ideal moisture content and bulk density are determined in the lab this information
can then be used during field compaction of the fill material. Then, field moisture and density
is determined. The engineer on site can use this information to determine when field density
is 90% of the lab derived value. At this point field compaction may be considered sufficient.

Controlling the moisture content of road sub-grade during construction will reduce the risk of
damage to the sub-grade. The stability of unbound pavement materials generally decreases
with increasing moisture content or the Degree of Saturation (DOS). The DOS is a measure
of the ratio of the volume of water to the combined volume of air voids and water within a
material. A material with a DOS of 100% is fully saturated and has a very high pore pressure
and high instability under load. As the DOS reduces, the reduction in pore water pressure also
reduces with a corresponding increase in stability.

2.Discuss the method of compaction of (a) cohesion less soil (b) cohesive soils.

Soil compaction is defined as the method of mechanically increasing the density of soil. In
construction, this is a significant part of the building process. If performed improperly,
settlement of the soil could occur and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or structure
failure. Almost all types of building sites and construction projects utilize mechanical
compaction techniques.

 There are five principle reasons to compact soil:

 Increases load-bearing capacity
 Prevents soil settlement and frost damage
 Provides stability
 Reduces water seepage, swelling and contraction
 Reduces settling of soil
There are four types of compaction effort on soil or asphalt:

 Vibration
 Impact
 Kneading
 Pressure

Type Appearance/feel Water When moist... When dry...

movement

Granular soils, Coarse grains When water and Very little or no Little or no
fine can be seen. soil are shaken plasticity cohesive
sands and silts. Feels gritty when in palm of hand, strength when
rubbed between they mix. When dry. Soil sample
fingers shaking is will
stopped, they crumble easily
separate
Cohesive soils, Grains cannot be When water and Plastic and Has high
mixes and clays seen by eye. soil are shaken sticky. strength
Feels smooth in palm of hand, Can be rolled. when dry.
and greasy they will not Crumbles with
when rubbed mix difficulty. Slow
between fingers. saturation in
water.

The desired level of compaction is best achieved by matching the soil type with its proper
compaction method. Other factors must be considered as well, such as compaction specs and
job site conditions.
 Cohesive soils Granular soils

Clay is cohesive, its particles stick together.
Therefore, a machine with a high impact
force is required to ram the soil and force the
air out, arranging the particles. A rammer is
the best choice or a pad-foot vibratory roller
if higher production is needed.
Since granular soils are not cohesive and the
particles require a shaking or vibratory action
to move them. Vibratory plates (forward
travel) are the best choice.

8.0 CONCLUSION
What we can conclude from the test is sand replacement is determine the in situ density of
natural or compacted soils using sand pouring cylinders.

The relationship that can be established between the dry density with known moisture content
is as follows

Sand replacement method ( standard method, but does not apply to fill a big stone
embankment and other porous materials, holes or large degree of compaction test) is the use
of the basic principle of particle size 0.3 – 0.6mm or 0.25 – 0.50mm uniform clean sand, from
the whereabouts of a certain high degree of freedom to the test inside the cave, according to
their unit weight the same principle to measure the volume of the test hole and in accordance
with the moisture content of aggregate to calculate the sample the measure dry density

After conducting experiments sand fiber method, the data obtained is to determine the density
of dry soil. The purpose of this experiment determine the density of natural soil or compacted
with sand pouring cylinder. In the course of this experiment, the possibility of experimental
error there is in progress. Of them is in terms of the amount of sand taken is less, the land
taken as a sample is not enough, a hole dug with a slightly different depth and soil also
contain impurities which may cause different densities.00