ASTM D6519/D6519M-23

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of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6519 − 15 D6519/D6519M − 23
Standard Practice for
Sampling of Soil Using the Hydraulically Operated
Stationary Piston Sampler
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6519;D6519/D6519M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for sampling of cohesive, organic, or fine-grained soils, or combination thereof, using a
thin-walled metal tube that is inserted into the soil formation by means of a hydraulically operated piston. It is used to collect
relatively intact soil samples suitable for laboratory tests to determine structural and chemical properties for geotechnical and
environmental site characterizations.
1.1.1 Guidance on preservation and transport of samples in accordance with Practice D4220D4220/D4220M may apply. Samples
for classification may be preserved using procedures similar to Class A. In most cases, a thin-walled tube sample can be considered
as Class B, C, or D. Refer to Guide D6169D6169/D6169M for use of the hydraulically operated stationary piston soil sampler for
environmental site characterization. This sampling method is often used in conjunction with rotary drilling methods such as fluid
rotary; Guide D5783; and hollow stem augers, Practice D6151D6151/D6151M. Sampling data shouldshall be reported in the field
log in accordance with Guide D5434.
1.2 The hydraulically operated stationary piston sampler is limited to soils and unconsolidated materials that can be penetrated
with the available hydraulic pressure that can be applied without exceeding the structural strength of the thin-walled tube. This
standard addresses typical hydraulic piston samplers used on land or shallow water in drill holes. The standard does not address
specialized offshore samplers for deep marine applications that may or may not be hydraulically operated. This standard does not
address operation of other types of mechanically advanced piston samplers. For information on other soil samplers, refer to Guide
D6169D6169/D6169M.
1.3 Units—All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
PracticeThe values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard.
The values stated in each D6026, unless superseded by system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used
independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Reporting
of results in units other than shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.3.1 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard. The
values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other.
Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026, unless superseded by this standard.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and Related
Field Testing for Soil Evaluations
Current edition approved July 1, 2015Nov. 1, 2023. Published July 2015November 2023. Originally approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 20082015 as
D6519 – 08.D6519 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/D6519-15.10.1520/D6519_D6519M-23.
*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
D6519/D6519M − 23
1.5 This practice does not purport to address all the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use and may involve use of
hazardous materials, equipment, and operations. It is the responsibility of the user of this practice to establish and adopt
appropriate safety and health practices. appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability
of regulatory limitations prior to use. Also, the user must comply with prevalent regulatory codes, such as OSHA (Occupational
Health and Safety Administration) guidelines, while using this practice. For good safety practice, consult applicable OSHA
regulations and other safety guides on drilling.
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This documentpractice cannot
replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this practice
may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard practice is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care
by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration
of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title means only that the document has been approved through
the ASTM consensus process. This practice does not purport to comprehensively address all of the methods and thepotential issues
associated with sampling of soil. Users should seek qualified professionals for decisions as to the proper equipment and methods
that would be most successful for their site exploration. Other methods may be available for drilling and sampling of soil, and
qualified professionals should have flexibility to exercise judgment as to possible alternatives not covered in this practice. The
practice is current at the time of issue, but new alternative methods may become available prior to revisions, therefore, users
should consult with manufacturers or producers prior to specifying program requirements.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards—Testing and Soil Classification:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
D2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedures)
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in
Engineering Design and Construction
D5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations of Soil and Rock (Withdrawn 2021)
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Records in Geotechnical Data
2.2 ASTM Standards—Drilling Methods:
D5782 Guide for Use of Direct Air-Rotary Drilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface
Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
D5783 Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Drilling with Water-Based Drilling Fluid for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the
Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
D5784D5784/D5784M Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of
Subsurface Water Quality Monitoring Devices
D6151D6151/D6151M Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geotechnical Exploration and Soil Sampling
D6286D6286/D6286M Guide for Selection of Drilling and Direct Push Methods for Geotechnical and Environmental
Subsurface Site Characterization
2.3 ASTM Standards—Soil Sampling:
D1587D1587/D1587M Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Fine-Grained Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
D4220D4220/D4220M Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples (Withdrawn 2023)
D5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment Used at Waste Sites
D5299D5299/D5299M Guide for Decommissioning of Groundwater Wells, Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes, and
Other Devices for Environmental Activities
D6169D6169/D6169M Guide for Selection of Subsurface Soil and Rock Sampling Devices for Environmental and Geotechnical
Investigations
D6282D6282/D6282M Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environmental Site Characterizations (Withdrawn 2023)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
Drilling Safety Guide, National Drilling Assn., 3008 Millwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29205.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
D6519/D6519M − 23
3.1.1 For definitions of technical terms in this standard, refer to Terminology D653.
3.1.2 incremental drilling and sampling—insertion method where rotary drilling and sampling events are alternated for
incremental sampling, incremental drilling is often needed to penetrate harder or deeper formations.
3.1.3 sample recovery—the length of material recovered divided by the length of sampler advancement and stated as a percentage.
3.1.4 sample interval—defined zone within a subsurface strata from which a sample is gathered.
3.1.5 soil core—cylindrically shaped soil specimen recovered from a sampler.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms in this standard, refer to Terminology D653.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 friction clutch—clutch, n—a device to lock the thin-walled tube head to the outer barrel of the stationary piston sampler to
prevent uncontrolled thin-walled tube rotation.
3.2.2 hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston sampler—sampler, n—a stationary piston sampler in which the thin-walled
tube is forcedadvanced over a fixed piston into the soil strata by hydraulic fluid pressure or pneumatic pressure. It is also known
as an “Osterberg” piston sampler, which was developed by Professor Jori Osterberg of Northwestern University.
3.2.3 incremental drilling and sampling, n—insertion method where rotary drilling and sampling events are alternated for
incremental sampling, incremental drilling is often needed to penetrate stiffer or deeper formations.
3.2.4 sample interval, n—defined zone within a subsurface strata from which a sample is gathered.
3.2.5 sample recovery, n—the length of material recovered divided by the length of sampler advancement and stated as a
percentage.
3.2.6 soil core, n—cylindrically shaped soil specimen recovered from a sampler.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 Hydraulic Hydraulically operated stationary piston sampling of soils consists of advancing a thin-walled sampling devicetube
into subsurface soils generally through a predrilled bore hole to the desired sampling depth. See Fig. 1 for a schematic drawing
of the sampling process. The sampler is sealed by the stationary piston to prevent any intrusion of formation material. At the desired
depth, fluid or air is forced into the sampling barrel, above the inner sampler head, forcing the thin-walled tube sampler over the
piston into the soil formation. The hydraulically operated stationary piston sampler has a prescribed length of travel. At the
termination of the sampler travel length the fluid flow is terminated. The sample is allowed to stabilize in the thin-walled tube. The
sample is then sheared by rotating the sampler. The sampler is retrieved from the borehole, and the thin-walled tube with the sample
is removed from the sampler. The sample tube is then sealed properly or field-extruded as desired. The stationary piston sampler
is cleaned and a clean thin-walled tube installed. The procedure is repeated for the next desired sampling interval. Sampling can
be continuous for full-depth borehole logging or incremental for specific interval sampling.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston samplers are used to gather soil samples for laboratory or field testing and
analysis for geologic investigations, soil chemical composition studies, and water quality investigations. The sampler is sometimes
used when attempts to recover unstable soils with thin-walled tubes, Practice D1587D1587/D1587M, are unsuccessful. Examples
of a few types of investigations in which hydraulic stationary piston samplers may be used include building site foundation studies
containing soft sediments, highway and dam foundation investigations where softer soil formation need evaluation, wetland
crossings utilizing floating structures, and hazardous waste site investigations. Hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston
D6519/D6519M − 23
FIG. 1 Sampler in Operation
samplers provide specimens necessary to determine the physical and chemical composition of soils and, in certain circumstances,
contained pore fluids (see Guide D6169D6169/D6169M).
5.2 Hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston samplers can provide relatively intact soil samples of soft or loose formation
materials for testing to determine accurate information on the physical characteristics of that soil. Samples of soft formation
materials can be tested to determine numerous soil characteristics such as; soil stratigraphy, particle size, moisturewater content,
permeability, shear strength, compressibility, and so forth. The chemical composition of soft formation soils can also be determined
from the sample if provisions are made to ensure that clean, decontaminated tools are used in the sample gathering procedure.
Field-extruded samples can be field-screened or laboratory-analyzed to determine the chemical composition of soil and contained
pore fluids. Using sealed or protected sampling tools, cased boreholes, and proper advancement techniques can help in the
acquisition of good representative samples. A general knowledge of subsurface conditions at the site is beneficial.
D6519/D6519M − 23
5.3 The use of this practice may not be the correct method for investigations of softer formations in all cases. As with all sampling
methods, subsurface conditions affect the performance of the sample gathering equipment and methods used. For example,
research indicates that clean sands may undergo volume changes in the sampling process, due to drainage. The hydraulically
activatedoperated stationary piston sampler is generally not effective for cohesive formations with unconfined, undrained shear
strength in excess of 2.0 tons per square foot, coarse sands, compact gravelly tills containing boulders and cobbles, compacted
gravel, cemented soil, or solid rock. These formations may damage the sample or cause refusal to penetration. A small percentage
of gravel or gravel cuttings in the base of the borehole can cause the tube to bend and deform, resulting in sample disturbance.
Certain cohesive soils, depending on their water content, can create friction on the thin-walled tube which can exceed the hydraulic
delivery force. Some rock formations can weather into soft or loose deposits where the hydraulically activatedoperated stationary
piston sampler may be functional. The absence of groundwater can affect the performance of this sampling tool. tool, and since
this sampling method can introduce water to the borehole, it may not be suitable for sampling above the groundwater table when
water is utilized as the activation fluid. As with all sampling and borehole advancement methods, precautions must be taken to
prevent cross-contamination of aquifers through migration of contaminates up or down the borehole. Refer to Guide
D6286D6286/D6286M on selecting drilling methods for environmental site characterization for additional information about work
at hazardous waste sites.
NOTE 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the
equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective
sampling.testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this practice are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself ensureassure reliable
results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
Practice D3740 was developed for agencies engaged in the laboratory testing and/or inspection of soil and rock. As such, it is not totally applicable
to agencies performing this practice. However, user of this practice shouldmust recognize that the framework of Practice D3740 is appropriate for
evaluating the quality of an agency performing this practice. Currently, there is no known qualifying national authority that inspects agencies that perform
this practice.
6. Criteria for Selection
6.1 Important criteria to consider when selecting the hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston sampler include the
following:
6.1.1 Size of sample.
6.1.2 Sample quality (Class A, B, C, or D) for physical testing. Refer to Practices D4220D4220/D4220M.
6.1.3 Sample handling requirements such as containers and preservation requirements.
6.1.4 Soil conditions anticipated (cohesiveness).(cohesiveness and particle size).
6.1.5 Groundwater depth anticipated.
6.1.6 Boring depth required.
6.1.7 Chemical composition of soil and contained pore fluids.
6.1.8 Available funds.
6.1.9 Estimated cost.
6.1.10 Time constraints.
6.1.11 History of tool performance under anticipated conditions (consult experienced users and manufacturers).
6.1.12 Site accessibility.
6.1.13 Decontamination requirements.
Marcosion and Bieganovsky, “Liquefaction Potential of Dams & Foundations, Report 4, Determination of In situ Density of Sands,” Research Report S-76-2, U.S. Army
Engineer Water Way Experimental Station, Vicksburg, MS, 1977.
D6519/D6519M − 23
7. Apparatus
7.1 The hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston sampler consists of an outer barrel, an outer barrel head with threaded
connection for drill rod with a fluid-injection port leading into the inner barrel, a fluid-exit port fitted with a check valve, a friction
clutch assembly to control rotation, a piston rod that attaches to the sampler head and serves as a conduit from the base of the piston
for the discharge of fluid, an inner sampler head which slides over the piston rod to which the thin-walled tube is attached, a piston
that attaches to the lower end of the piston rod, a thin-walled tube, and in some cases a removable outer barrel shoe. Necessary
expendable supplies are thin-walled tubes, tube sealing material, sample containers for use in field extrusion, and O-ring seals.
7.1.1 Thin-walled Tube—The hydraulically activatedoperated stationary piston sampler is designed to accommodate standard
sized 3.0-in. [75-mm] diameter thin-walled tubes. Samplers are also available to utilize 5.0-in. [125.0-mm] diameter thin-walled
tubes as well (Fig. 2). The thin-walled tubes are generally manufactured in accordance with Practice D1587D1587/D1587M.
Thin-walled tube retaining fastener patterns may vary (Fig. 2). The most desirable pattern
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