#Jameel_Academy_Soil_Tests

1. University of Duhok
College of Engineering
Civil Department
Soil Mechanics – Practical
Soil Laboratory
A Report About :
Determination of Field Density using
Sand Cone Method
Submitted By : Jameel Masoud
Lab. No. : 2
Group Name : ----
Testing Date : 11 / 2 / 2019
Submitting Date : 26 / 2 / 2019
Supervised By : Hussein
2018 – 2019

2. Introduction
Sand cone method is used for the determination for the in-situ dry density of
compacted soils, gravels and crushed rock materials in earth works and
pavement layers by the sand replacement method using a sand pouring cone. Its
basic principle is to measure the in-sit volume of hole from which the material
was excavated from the weight of sand with known density filling in the hole
Purpose:
The purpose of this test is to determine the field unit weight to compare it with
lab unit weight (to determine relative density).
Supplies and materials:
1) Sand cone apparatus.
2) Balance sensitive to 1g.
3) Base plate.
4) Tools for excavating a hole in the ground.
5) Clean and uniform graded sand ranged from sieve no.20 to no.30 such as
Ottawa sand.
6) Standard compaction mold.
7) Plastic air-tight bag for carrying wet excavated soil from field.
8) Metal tray with hole in the center.
9) Oven with temperature kept at 105-110o
C.

3. Sketch:
Sand cone apparatus. Metal tray Sensitive Balance
Oven Dry Plastic air-tight bag
Ottawa sand. Standard compaction mold.

4. Test Procedure
Laboratory Work :
1) Measure the weight of proctor mold + base, W1
2) Pour the sand into the compacted mold, then, level the
surface “don’t compact the sand during leveling it”
3) Measure the weight of proctor mold + base + sand, W2
4) Mewasure the weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand, W3
5) Close the valve attached to the cone, then, turn the cone and
gallon upside down on the tray, then open valve after sand
flows from gallon to the cone stop the valve, then, measure
the weight of plastic gallon +cone +sand, W4 (after use)
6) Measure the weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand , W5
(Before use)
Field Work :
1) Place the metal tray and fasten the 4 screw.
2) Dig up a 10 to 15 cm deep hole.
3) As you are digging the hole put the excavated soil into
plastic bag to don’t lose the soil moisture.
4) Having the valve closed turn the gallon + cone upside down
and place the cone in the center of hole and open the valve
so that sand flows down to the hole.
5) After flow of sand stop close the valve and pick the
assembly up, the sand in the cone will be poured into the
tray. The sand will be left there in the field.
6) Measure the weight of gallon + cone + sand, W6

5. Calculations and Results :
Table of calculation :
Test Steps Quantity
Determination of sand unit weight
Weight of mold + base, W1 4350 g
Weight of mold + base + sand, W2 5600 g
Volume, V1 948 cm3
Dry density of sand, 𝛾 sand 1.318565
g
cm3⁄
Determination of weight of sand to fill jar, cone and base
Weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand (before use), W3 6211 g
Weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand (after use) , W4 4748 g
sand to fill cone, Ws 1463 g
Result from Field Test
Weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand (before use), W5 6190 g
Weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand (after use), W6 2623 g
Weight of soil Sample (comes from hole) , Wh 2602.5257 g
Volume hole, V2 1595.674 cm3
Weight of evaporation dish, W7 870.1 g
Weight of evaporation dish +wet soil in field, W8 1037.88 g
Weight of evaporation dish + dry soil, W9 1015.66 g
Total Soil unit weight 1.630989
g
cm3⁄
Field water content 𝜔 15.26518 %
Field Dry unit weight 1.414988
g
cm3⁄
Laboratory max. Dry unit weight 1.94699
g
cm3⁄
Relative density 72.67557 %

6. In details:
Dry density of sand =
W2−W1
V1
=
5600−4350
948
=1.318565
g
cm3⁄
Sand to fill the cone = W3 − W4 = 6211 − 4748 = 1463 g
Volume of hole =
W5−W6−Ws
γ sand
=
6190−2623−1463
1.318565
= 1595.674 cm3
Total soil unit weight =
Wh
V2
=
2602.53
1595.674
= 1.630989
g
cm3⁄
Field water content =
W8−W9
W9−W7
=
1037.88−1015.66
1016.66−870.1
= 15.27 %
Field Dry unit weight =
Total Soil unit weight
1+
ω
100
=
1.630989
1+0.1527
= 1.415
g
cm3⁄
Relative density =
1.415
1.947
× 100 = 72.68 %

7. Discussion and Conclusion :
In this test we determine the Field Dry unit weight and field moisture
content of a given Place, finally we get a result after doing all procedure
accurate which is ( γof dry soil = 1.4149
𝑔
𝑐𝑚3
, R.D = 72.676 % ),
according to standard and the laboratory compaction test we can
compare our sample’s max. density with Field density to know is the
field compaction reach the acceptable level of compaction or not. From
Relative density it shows that soil is not compacted properly (it depend
on the importance of project). this result shows us with increase Water
content to a limit, the dry density will be increased but if passed from
limited (OMC) it will decrease the density because the solid soil volume
will replace with water volume (density of water less than density of soil)
therefore it decreases the density (we made the soil moist to a degree to
get approximately max. unit weight). The errors that occur during the
test is the comparing of two different soil sample, because the soil that
we tested in laboratory is not same as of soil that we used on field
compaction and another one is the weight of soil sample because we
doesn’t weight the soil sample that excavated from hole. we know that
if we do the test on many sample and then get the average, the result will
be very accurately.
In conclusion the purpose of this test is to determine the Field unit weight
and compare it with the Laboratory max. unit weight, now we can
compare the field compaction with lab max. density which is 72%.
finally, we know how to determine the lab compaction and how to check
the field compaction by using the relative density.

8. Q) State the objective and principle of the sand cone?
A) The Objective of this test is to determine the field unit
weight to compare it with lab unit weight (to determine
relative density).
The principle of sand replacement method is to measure
the in-situ volume of hole from which the material was
excavated from the weight of sand with known density
filling in the hole.
Q)Why is it important not to lose any soil from the excavated hole
during the sand cone method?
A) It’s important because it affect the moist unit weight of
soil and will change the relative density.