ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ESSAY TO DETERMINE THE DENSITY OF THE

SOILS IN THE FIELD BY THE SAND CONE METHOD

I. INTRODUCTION
The IN SITU density test using the SAND CONE method allows
obtain the density of the soil to which it is applied, and so
verify the results obtained in soil compaction work,
and compare them with the technical specifications regarding humidity, the
density and the degree of soil compaction evaluated, so as to be able to
determine the quality of the soil where it is going or is being executed
engineering projects.
Among the methods used to determine soil density are
find the nuclear densimeter method, sand cone method,
this last one described in the following report is applicable in soils
whose particle sizes are less than 1 1/2" (38mm); and is based on
the relationship made between the weight of wet soil (taken from a small
drilling done on the surface of the land and generally of the
thickness of the compacted layer) with the volume of said hole. For
then proceed to calculate the unit weight
This report will detail the basic foundations for carrying out
of the rehearsal, as well as the execution procedure and data collection
that will be essential to calculate the moisture content,
density of sand and cone calibration.
Consequently, the degree of compaction will also be determined.
subgrade soil layer (in this subgrade soil), to analyze the quality of
work floor.

PAVEMENT LABORATORY VIII SECTION: "D"

 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE ESSAY

Determine the density of the dry soil and the moisture content
from the compacted soil in the field, to then be able to determine the
degree of compaction that the soil presents in the field by the
sand cone method.

Check the degree of compaction of the field from our

essay completed.

III. NORMATIVE REFERENCE

The following references contain available information that, when cited,
in this text they constitute requirements of this Standard:
NTP 339.143 (Standard testing method for density and weight
in situ unitary soil by the sand cone method
MTC E 117 (In situ density – cone method)
ASTM D 1556 (Standard test method for density and unit weight of
soil in place by the sand –cone method).

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 ANDES UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

IV. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The degree of compaction of a soil or fill is measured

quantitatively using the dry density. The dry density that is
obtained through a compaction process depends on energy
used during compaction, known as compaction energy,
it also depends on the moisture content during the execution of the
same (compaction of the soil layer).
The dry density test allows for the determination of soil density and thus
verify the results obtained in the compaction process of
soils, in which there are specifications and a correlation regarding the
humidity and soil density. To obtain densities there are the
following methods in the field:
Sand cone
Rubber ball or Hule ball
Nuclear densitometer
Both the sand cone method and the rubber ball are
applicable to soils whose particle sizes are less than 38 mm.
And they use the same principles.

SAND CONE METHOD

The sand cone method is generally applied starting from the surface.
of the compacted material up to an approximate depth of 15 cm. And
whose extraction hole diameter is approximately 4
inches and relative to the opening of the metal cone's base plate
essay; this method focuses on determining the volume of a
small cylindrical excavation from where everything has been withdrawn
compacted soil (without material losses) as it allows to determine the
wet density. By determining the moisture of that sample we ...
it allows obtaining the dry density.
A standardized uniform sand is used (sand composed of
quartz particles, healthy, not cemented, of grain size
rounded and between mesh N°10 ASTM (2.0 mm) and N°35

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 ANDES UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ASTM (0.5 mm) and rounded grains to fill the gap

excavated on site.
Previously in the laboratory, this sand has been determined to
density that it has for the same falling conditions as this
Material will be on the ground. To do this, a metal cone is used.
The sand cone method uses a standardized uniform sand and of
rounded grains (OTAWA sand with Cu 2) to fill the gap
excavated on site.
This testing method is not suitable for:
Organic soils, saturated or highly plastic that could
deform or compress during the excavation of the pit
essay.
Soils that contain dispersed granular materials that do not
keep the sides stable in the test opening.
Nor for soils that contain a considerable amount of
thick material greater than 1 1/2'' (38 mm) or when the
test hole volumes are greater than 0.1 ft³ (2830
cm3) the ASTM D4914 or ASTM D5030 test method is applied.
This essay provides a means to compare the dry densities in
construction works, with those obtained in the laboratory. For them, it
it is necessary for the dry density obtained in the field to be fixed based on a
laboratory test.
By comparing the values of these densities, a control of the
compaction, known as degree of compaction, which is defined
as the percentage relationship between the dry density obtained by the
equipment in the field and the maximum density corresponding to the test of
laboratory.
The degree of compaction of a soil is determined according to the
next expression:

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 ANDES UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING

Gc=SC/SLx100
Where:
Degree of compaction
SC=Dry density obtained in the field
SL=Maximum dry density contained in the laboratory

[Link] AND MATERIALS

Sand Cone Apparatus.
Ottawa Arena.
Hollow metal plate.
Scale with a calibration to the gram (g).
Capsule.
Chisel.
Filter (3/4).
Spoons.
Hammer.
Oven.
Deposit.

description
SAND CONE APPARATUS
The sand cone device consists of a jar of approximately
a gallon (3.785 liters) and of an adjustable device that consists of a
cylindrical valve with a 12.7mm (1/2) diameter orifice and that
it consists of a small funnel that continues to a jar lid
normal size on one end and with a larger funnel on the other.
Base plate for your use, this can make leveling more difficult but
Allows for drilling larger diameter holes in the essay and can reduce
the loss of soil when transferring it from the test hole to the container, as well as

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 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

also provides a more consistent basis for trials in

soft soils. When the base plate is used, it must
to be considered as a part of the funnel in this procedure
test method.

ARENA OTTAWA
Which must be clean, washed, dry, uniform, uncemented, durable,
washed. It is generally made using Ottawa sand, which corresponds to a
material that passes through the mesh N°10 ASTM (2.00 mm) and is retained in
mesh No. 20 ASTM (0.85 mm).
Before using sand, it should be dried and then allowed to rest until
that it obtains the dry condition of the air, in the area where it will be used.

In our essay, we have used sand sourced from the quarry.

wonders with such characteristics.

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 ANDINAN UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

HOLLOW METAL PLATE OR BASE PLATE

It is a plate with a central hole of equal diameter of 6 inches in diameter.
from the funnel of the sand cone device and can reduce the loss of
I soil when passing it from the test hole to the container, as well as
also provide a more stable base for testing in soft soils.
When using the motherboard, it should be considered as a part of
funnel in the procedure of this testing method.

SCALE
With a capacity greater than 10kg, with precision of 1g.

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 ANDES UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CAPSULES
To collect part of the soil sample and put it in the oven, and thus
determine its moisture content.

CHISEL
For the drilling in the studied soil (tip and/or plane).

SIEVE
To pass the sample.

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 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING

SPOONS
Together with the gloves, they help us collect the sample.

BRUSH
For the cleaning of grains in equipment and holes.

HAMMER
Together with the chisel, help to pierce the studied ground.

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 ANDES UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

OVEN OR STOVE
Stove, oven or other suitable equipment for drying samples (average temperature
at 110° for 24 hours) in order to determine its content of
humidity.

VI. RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE

The location for conducting the trial is selected, in our case we
it was carried out in the university city of a simulated soil layer
subgrade.
Before starting the test, the density equipment must be calibrated.
field, in order to obtain the volumetric weight of the sand in this way
calibrated and the weight of calibrated sand that remains in the cone
after running the trial; data that is useful to us in the
determination of field density.
Next, the compacted soil in the field was leveled and retracted.
the loose material.

PAVEMENT LABORATORY VIII SECTION: "D"

 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Next, the plate is placed and the process begins.

a drilling (digging with a chisel), having as
Guide the inner hole of the plate to a depth of 15 cm.
All the material taken out of the hole is placed in a bag.
plastic or in a container and is weighed.
To determine the volume of the hole, we use the equipment of
field density in the following way:
The initial weight of the jar with the calibrated sand is determined. Then
it is inverted and placed on the plate, which is positioned on the
top of the hole; the cone key is opened, allowing the
step of the sand.
When the hole and the cone are filled with sand, the valve is closed and
the final weight of the jar and the sand contained is determined
in it. Due to the difference in the weights of the jar and the initial sand and of
jar plus the final sand, the weight of the sand contained in the hole
and the cone. We subtract the weight of the sand that fits in
the cone, containing in this way the weight of the sand contained
in the hole.
The weight of the sand divided by its density, obtained in the
The laboratory, through calibration, gives us the volume of the hole.
Finally, the dry density must be determined in the laboratory.
maximum and the moisture content of the recovered sample from the
hole, in this way, determine the Degree of Compaction.

VII. DATA PRESENTATION AND CALCULATION MEMO

ESSAY N° 1 2 3 4
WEIGHT FLOOR + MOLD(1) gr 5900 6090 6110 6121
MOLD WEIGHT(2) gr 4175 4175 4175 4175
WEIGHT MOIST COMPACTED SOIL
(3)
gr 1725 1915 1935 1946
MOLD VOLUME (4) cm3 943.3 943.3 943.3 943.3
WET VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT(3)/(4) = (5) gr 1.829 2.030 2.051 2.063
RECIPIENT No. 1 2 3 4
WEIGHT OF MOIST SOIL + TARE(6) gr 84.2 131 114.5 138

Pavement Laboratory VIII SECTION: 'D'

 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
Professional School of Civil Engineering

RELMOISTURE ACTION - DENSITY

1.85

1.80

1.75

1.70

1.65

1.60
8.50 10.00 11.50 13.00 14.50 16.00 17.50 19.00 20.50
Moisture content

VIII. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

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 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING

IX. CONCLUSIONS
This practice turned out to be very interesting since through it
we can determine the degree of compaction of a layer of a
ground; moreover, it is simple as it does not require much time
exception of the process of calculating moisture content
which takes a period of 24 hours.

[Link]
At all times, order and discipline were necessary.
all the knowledge acquired in class, being essential the
guidelines and advice from the teacher and the technician in charge of the group.
The sample must be dry in order to conduct the test.
The scales must be well calibrated before starting the practice, to
do not cause alterations in weights.
Perform a compaction test under a single force, that is, at a single
hammer manipulator as it would not vary in the results
Use the respective PPEs for conducting the test.
More tests must be conducted in order to have less error in the
result.

XI. BIBLIOGRAPHY
ASTM D 1556 (standard test method for density and unit weight)
of soil in place by sand-cone method
Field density: Ing Luis Chang Chang
htp://[Link]/astm-d-1556-82-in-spanish/.

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 NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ ANDES UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

XII.-ANNEXES

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 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PAVEMENT LABORATORY VIII SECTION: 'D'

 ANDINA UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PAVEMENT LABORATORY VIII SECTION: “D”

 ANDES UNIVERSITY NESTOR CASERES VELAZQUEZ
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PURE SCIENCES
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PAVEMENT LABORATORY VIII SECTION: “D”