Designation: D 4254 – 00 (Reapproved 2006) Standard Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density1 This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4254; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval. 1. Scope* 1.3.2 Method B—Depositing material into a mold by ex- 1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the tracting a soil filled tube. 2 minimum-index dry density/unit weight of cohesionless, free- 1.3.3 Method C —Depositing material by inverting a draining soils. The adjective “dry” before density or unit graduated cylinder. weight is omitted in the title and remaining portions of this 1.4 The method to be used should be specified by the standards to be be consistent with the applicable definitions individual assigning the test. If no method is specified, the given in Section 3 on Terminology. provisions of Method A shall govern. Test Method A is the 1.2 System of units: preferred procedure for determining minimum index density/ 1.2.1 The testing apparatus described in this standard has unit weight as used in conjunction with the procedures of Test been developed and manufactured using values in the gravi- Methods D 4253. Methods B and C are provided for guidance metric or inch-pound system. Therefore, test apparatus dimen- of testing used in conjunction with special studies, especially 3 sions and mass given in inch-pound units are regarded as the where there is not enough material available to use a 0.100 ft 3 3 3 standard. (2 830 cm ) or 0.500 ft (14 200 cm ) mold as required by 1.2.2 It is common practice in the engineering profession to Method A. concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm) 1.5 These test methods are applicable to soils that may and a unit of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two separate contain up to 15 %, by dry mass, of soil particles passing a No. systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the gravita- 200 (75-µm) sieve, provided they still have cohesionless, tional system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the use free-draining characteristics (nominal sieve dimensions are in of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single accordance with Specification E11). standard. This test method has been written using the gravita- 1.5.1 Method A is applicable to soils in which 100 %, by dry tional system of units when dealing with the inch-pound mass, of soil particles pass a 3-in. (75-mm) sieve and which system. In this system, the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force may contain up to 30 %, by dry mass, of soil particles retained (weight). However, balances or scales measure mass; and ona1-1⁄2-inch (37.5-mm) sieve. weight must be calculated. In the inch-pound system, it is 1.5.2 Method B is applicable to soils in which 100 %, by dry common to assume that 1 lbf is equal to 1 lbm. While reporting mass, of soil particles pass a 3⁄4-inch (19.0-mm) sieve. density is not regarded as nonconformance with this standard, 1.5.3 Method C is applicable only to fine and medium sands unit weights should be calculated and reported since the results in which 100 %, by dry mass, of soil particles pass a 3⁄8-in. may be used to determine force or stress. (9.5-mm) sieve and which may contain up to 10 %, by dry 1.2.3 The terms density and unit weight are often used mass, of soil particles retained on a No. 10 (2.00-mm) sieve. interchangeably. Density is mass per unit volume, whereas unit 1.5.4 Soils, for the purposes of these test methods, shall be weight is force per unit volume. In this standard, density is regarded as naturally occurring cohesionless soils, processed given only in SI units. After the density has been determined, particles, or composites or mixtures of natural soils, or mix- the unit weight is calculated in SI or inch-pound units, or both. tures of natural and processed particles, provided they are 1.3 Three alternative methods are provided to determine the free-draining. minimum index density/unit weight, as follows: 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the 1.3.1 Method A—Using a funnel pouring device or a hand safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the scoop to place material in mold. responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1 This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture, Plasticity, and Density Characteristics of Soils. 2 Kolbuszewski, J. J., “An Experimental Study of the Maximum and Minimum Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2006. Published March 2006. Originally Porosities of Sands,” Proceedings, Second International Conference on Soil approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D 4254 – 00. Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Rotterdam Vol I, 1948, pp. 158–165. *A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard. Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States. 1 Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Jan 10 12:49:41 EST 2007 Downloaded/printed by Emilio Fernandez (Cesmec Ltd) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized. D 4254 – 00 (2006) 2. Referenced Documents 3.2.7 relative density, Dd, n—the ratio, expressed as a 2.1 ASTM Standards: percentage, of the difference between the maximum index void ratio and any given void ratio of a cohesionless, free-draining C 127 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific soil to the difference between its maximum and minimum Gravity), and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate index void ratios. The equation is: D 422 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained emax 2 e Dd 5 3 100 (1) Fluids emax 2 emin D 854 Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by or, in terms of corresponding dry densities: Water Pycnometer rdmax~rd 2rdmin! Dd 5 3 100 (2) D 1140 Test Method for Amount of Material in Soils Finer rd ~rdmax 2rdmin! Than the No. 200 (75-µm) Sieve or, in terms of corresponding dry unit weights: D 2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Wa- ter (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass gdmax~gd 2gdmin! Dd 5 (3) D 2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering gd~gdmax 2gdmin! Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System) 3.2.8 density index/unit weight, Id, n—the ratio, expressed D 2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils as a percentage, of the difference between any given dry (Visual-Manual Procedure) density/unit weight and the minimum index density/unit D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies weight of a given cohesionless soil to the difference between its Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock maximum and minimum index densities/unit weights. The as Used in Engineering Design and Construction equation is: D 4253 Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit rd 2rdmin Id 5 3 100 (4) Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table rdmax 2rmin D 4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying or, in terms of corresponding dry unit weights: Balances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and g 2g Construction Materials Testing I d dmin d 5 g 2g 3 100 (5) D 6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechni- dmax dmin cal Data 4. Summary of Test Methods E11 Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes 4.1 The minimum index density/unit weight represents the E 177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in loosest condition of a cohesionless, free-draining soil that can ASTM Test Methods be attained by a standard laboratory procedure, which prevents E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to bulking and minimizes particle segregation. Any particular Determine the Precision of a Test Method procedure selected will consist of determining the density/unit weight of oven-dried soil placed into a container of known 3. Terminology volume in such a manner that prevents bulking and particle segregation, and minimizes compaction of the soil. 3.1 Definitions: For common definitions in this standard refer to Terminology D 653 5. Significance and Use 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: 5.1 The density/unit weight of a cohesionless soil may be 3.2.1 dry density/unit weight r or g , n—the dry density/ d d determined by various in-place methods in the field or by the unit weight of a soil deposit or fill at the given void ratio. measurement of physical dimensions and masses by laboratory 3.2.2 given void ratio, e, n—the in-situ or stated void ratio soil specimens. The dry density/unit weight of a cohesionless of a soil deposit or fill. soil does not necessarily, by itself, reveal whether the soil is 3.2.3 maximum index density/unit weight, rddmax or gdmax, loose or dense.