Experiment No. 6 : To determine Insitu Density of soil by Sand Replacement Method.

Object: The object of the test is to determine the insitu density (i.e., bulk density) and dry density of soil by the sand replacement method. Theory: A hole of specified dimensions is excavated in the ground. The mass of the excavated soil is determined. The volume of the hole is determined by filling it with clean, uniform sand whose dry density is pre-determined by calibration. The volume of the hole is equal to the mass of the sand filled in the hole divided by its dry density. The insitu density and dry density is then calculated as and Where, M = Mass of the excavated soil V = Volume of the hole w = water content Equipment : 1. Sand-pouring cylinder of about 3 litre capacity, mounted over a cone and separated by a shutter, 2. Calibrating container, 100 mm diameter and 150 mm height, 3. Metal tray with a central circular hole of diameter equal to the diameter of the pouring cone, 4. Weighing balance of accuracy 1 g, 5. Tools for excavating hole, 6. Container for water content determination, 7. Clean, closely graded dry sand passing 600 micron IS sieve and retained on 300 micron IS sieve. Procedure: Calibration for dry density of sand 1. Determine the internal volume of the calibrating container from the measured dimensions of the container. 2. Fill the sand-pouring cylinder with sand upto a height 1 cm below the top. Take the mass of cylinder plus sand (M1). 3. Place the sand-pouring cylinder vertically on the calibrating container. Open the shutter to allow the sand run out from the cylinder into the calibrating container till it fills the calibrating container and cone of the cylinder. When there is no further movement of the sand in the cylinder, close the shutter. 4. Lift the pouring cylinder from the calibrating container and weigh it to the nearest gram (M2).

-/ 2 /5. Again fill the cylinder with sand upto a height of 1 cm from the top. 6. Open the shutter and allow the sand of volume equal to volume of the calibrating container to run out of the cylinder. Close the shutter. 7. Place the cylinder over a plane surface, such as a glass plate. Open the shutter. The sand fills the cone of the cylinder. Close the shutter when no movement of sand takes place. 8. Remove the cylinder. Collect sand left on glass plate and determine its mass (M3). Determination of insitu & dry density 1. Expose about 45 cm square area of soil to be tested and trim it down to level surface. 2. Place the metal tray on the levelled surface. Excavate a circular hole in the soil through the central hole of the tray, using hole in the tray as guide. The depth of excavation should be about 150 mm. Collect all the excavated soil in the tray. Find the mass (M) of the excavated soil. 3. Remove the metal tray from the excavated hole. 4. Fill the sand-pouring cylinder with sand upto a height 1 cm below the top. Take the mass of cylinder plus sand (M1). 5. Place the cylinder directly over the excavated hole. Open the shutter and allow the sand to run into the hole. When no further movement of sand is seen, close the shutter. 6. Remove the cylinder and take its mass (M4). 7. Take a representative sample of the excavated soil and determine its water content.

Sand pouring cylinder

-/ 3 /Data and observation sheet Sl. No. (a) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. (b) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. (c) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Results: The insitu density of the soil = _________ g/cm3 The dry density of the soil d = _________ g/cm3 Observations and calculations Determination of dry density of sand Internal diameter of calibrating container Internal height of calibrating container Volume of the calibrating container, Vc Mass of pouring cylinder filled with sand, M1 (mm) (mm) (cm3) (g)

Mass of pouring cylinder with sand after pouring sand in calibrating container and cone, M2 (g) Mass of sand in cone, M3 Mass of sand in calibrating container Mc = M1 M 2 M3 Dry density of sand s = Mc / Vc (g) (g) (g/cm3)

Determination of Insitu or bulk density of soil Mass of excavated soil, M Mass of pouring cylinder filled with sand, M1 (g) (g)

Mass of pouring cylinder with sand after pouring sand into the hole and cone, M4 (g) Mass of sand in the hole, Ms = M1 M4 M3 Volume of sand in the hole, V = Ms / s Insitu density or bulk density M/V (g) (cm3) (g/cm3)

Determination of water content and dry density of soil Container No. Mass of container Mass of container + moist soil Mass of container + dry soil Water content w = [(3)-(4)]/[(4)-(2)] x 100 Average water content, w Dry density d / (1 + w) (g) (g) (g) (%) (%) (g/cm3)

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