NEW ERA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Department of Civil Engineering

SOIL MECHANICS (CE 423L)

LABORATORY MANUAL
BY:

GERMAN B. BARLIS, DT

Laboratory Exercise No. 17

Determination of Density of Soil In-Place

By The Sand Cone Method
Name:

Date Performed:

Milliam, Karen Marjorie P.

Course/Year:

April 01, 2016

Date Submitted:

BS Civil Engineering/4th Year

Schedule:

April 08, 2016

Instructor:

Friday (10:00-1:00)

Bro. German B. Barlis

ABSTRACT
Laboratory exercise no. 17 was the Determination of Density of soil inplace using Sand Cone Method. The use of this test method is generally limited to soil
in an unsaturated condition. This test method is not recommended for soils that are
soft or friable (crumble easily) or in moisture conditions such that water seeps into the
hand excavated hole. The precision of the test may be affected for soils that deform
easily or that may undergo a volume change in the excavated hole from vibration, or
from standing or walking near the hole during the test.
In first part of the exercise it was performed by the whole class with representative in
each group. It was the determination of the bulk density and unit weight of the soil. A
6 inches compaction mold was used. We determined the containers volume by getting
its diameter and the height. We get the mass of the mold using the analytical balance.
Then we fill the sand cone apparatus with the soil we sieved. It was at most full. With
the valve closed, we inverted the sand cone device and placed it on top of the
compaction mold. Then we opened the valve and allowed the soil to fall freely inside
the compaction mold. Then we closed the valve when the container was almost full
and overflowing. We strike off the excess soil in the compaction mold. Then we got
again the mass of the mold with soil.
Part II of this exercise was we determined the mass of sand required to fill the
sand cone and the base plate. We fill the sand cone device again and then got its
mass. We then placed the base plate in a flat and levelled surface. While the valve is
closed, we inverted again the sand cone device and fit its cone to the circular opening
of the base plate. Then we opened the valve and allowed the sand to freely flow until it
stops flowing. We closed again the valve and remove the device in the base plate. We
then again got the mass of the device with the remaining sand in it.
Last part of the exercise was we determined the soil density in place. We went to
the site near the parents hall and found a place where a test hole can be excavated. We
prepared the surface by levelling it and free it from unwanted materials on the field.

We placed the base plate on the prepared surface to be excavated. We dug the test hole
inside the circular opening of the base plate using a spatula and a scoop. The test hole
was estimated to be 10 centimeters. The excavated soil was placed in a container to be
used in getting the moisture content. We weight it and set aside first. We then fill again
the sand cone device with sand and got its combined mass. While the valve was closed
we inverted it and fit its cone in the base plate. We opened the valve and allow the
sand to flow freely into the test hole until we saw the flowing stops. We closed the valve
and detached the device from the base plate and got its mass with the remaining sand
on it. We oven dried the excavated soil and got its moisture content

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 17

DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF SOIL IN-PLACE BY HE SAND CONE METHOD

FINAL DATA SHEET

A. Bulk Density and Unit Weight of Sand
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Volume of the container = 2247.4cm3

Mass of the container = 6055g
Mass of the container + sand = 8622g
Mass of the sand, (3) (2) = 2567g
Bulk density of sand = 1.14g/cm3
Bulk unit weight of sand = 11.18KN/m3

B. Determination of Mass of Sand required to fill Sand Cone and Base Plate
(7) Initial mass of sand cone device + sand = 5354 g
(8) Final mass of sand cone device + sand = 4421 g
(9) Mass of sand that fills the cone and base plate, (8) (7) = 933 g
C. Moisture Content Determination
(10) Moist mass of soil sample= 101.28 g
(11) Oven-dried mass of soil sample = 93.8 g
(12) Moisture content = 7.97 %
D. Determination of the In-Place Soil Density and Unit Weight
(13) Mass of device + sand before outflow = 5236 g
(14) Mass of device + sand after outflow = 2499 g
(15) Mass of Sand Flowed Out = 2737 g

(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)

Mass of Sand that Fills the cone and base plate = 933 g
Mass of sand that fills the test hole = 1804 g
Density of the Sand = 1.14 g/ cm3
Volume of the test hole= 1582.46 cm3
Moist of mass of the entire excavated soil = 3376 g
Moisture Content of the Soil Sample = 7.97%
Dry Mass of the entire excavated soil = 3349.31 g
Dry density of in-place soil = 2.12g/cm3
Dry unit weight of in-place soil = 20.78KN/m3

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 17

DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF SOIL IN-PLACE BY HE SAND CONE METHOD

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

A. Bulk Density and Unit Weight of Sand
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Volume of the container = 2247.4cm3

Mass of the container = 6055g
Mass of the container + sand = 8622g
Mass of the sand, (3) (2) = 2567g
Bulk density of sand = 1.14g/cm3
Bulk unit weight of sand = 11.18KN/m3

B. Determination of Mass of Sand required to fill Sand Cone and Base Plate
(7) Initial mass of sand cone device + sand = 5354 g
(8) Final mass of sand cone device + sand = 4421 g
(9) Mass of sand that fills the cone and base plate, (8) (7) = 933 g
C. Moisture Content Determination
(10) Moist mass of soil sample= 101.28 g
(11) Oven-dried mass of soil sample = 93.8 g
(12) Moisture content = 7.97 %
D. Determination of the In-Place Soil Density and Unit Weight
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)

Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass

of
of
of
of

device + sand before outflow = 5236 g

device + sand after outflow = 2499 g
Sand Flowed Out = 2737 g
Sand that Fills the cone and base plate = 933 g

(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)

Mass of sand that fills the test hole = 1804 g

Density of the Sand = 1.14 g/ cm3
Volume of the test hole= 1582.46 cm3
Moist of mass of the entire excavated soil = 3376 g
Moisture Content of the Soil Sample = 7.97%
Dry Mass of the entire excavated soil = 3349.31 g
Dry density of in-place soil = 2.12g/cm3
Dry unit weight of in-place soil = 20.78KN/m3

CONCLUSION
This test method is used to determine the density and water content of
compacted soils placed during the construction of earth embankments, road fill, and
structural backfill. It often is used as a basis of acceptance for soils compacted to a
specified density or percentage of a maximum density determined by a test method.

PHOTOS OF SET-UP