ASTM D1556/D1556M-15e1

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.
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Designation: D1556/D1556M − 15
Standard Test Method for
Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone
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Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1556/D1556M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
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ε NOTE—Editorially corrected 6.1.5 in January 2016.
1. Scope* equivalents; therefore each system shall be used independently
of the other. Combining values from the two systems may
1.1 This test method may be used to determine the in-place
result in non-conformance with the standard.
density and unit weight of soils using a sand cone apparatus.
1.6.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used
1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appre-
when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound
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ciable amounts of rock or coarse materials in excess of 1 ⁄2 in.
(lbf) represents a unit of force (weight).
[38 mm] in diameter.
1.6.2 It is common practice in the engineering profession to
concurrently use units representing both mass and force unless
1.3 This test method may also be used for the determination
of the in-place density and unit weight of intact or in situ soils, dynamic calculations (F = Ma) are involved. This implicitly
combines two separate systems within a single standard. These
provided the natural void or pore openings in the soil are small
enough to prevent the sand used in the test from entering the test methods have been written using inch-pound units (gravi-
tational system); however, conversions are given in the SI
voids. The soil or other material being tested should have
sufficientcohesionorparticleattractiontomaintainstablesides system.Theuseofbalancesorscalesrecordingpoundsofmass
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(lbm), or the recording of density in lbm/ft should not be
on a small hole or excavation, and be firm enough to withstand
the minor pressures exerted in digging the hole and placing the regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.6.3 The sieve designations are identified using the “stan-
apparatus over it, without deforming or sloughing.
dard” system in accordance with Specification E11, such as 25
1.4 This test method is not suitable for organic, saturated, or
mm and 75 µm, followed by the “alternative” system of 1 in.
highly plastic soils that would deform or compress during the
and No. 200, respectively.
excavation of the test hole. This test method may not be
suitable for soils consisting of unbound granular materials that 1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
will not maintain stable sides in the test hole, soils containing
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appreciable amounts of coarse material larger than 1 ⁄2 in. [38 Practice D6026.
1.7.1 For purposes of comparing, a measured or calculated
mm], and granular soils having high void ratios.
value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated
1.5 When materials to be tested contain appreciable
value(s) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal or significant
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amounts of particles larger than 1 ⁄2 in. [38 mm], or when test
3 3 digits in the specified limits.
hole volumes larger than 0.1 ft [2830 cm ] are required, Test
1.7.2 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
Method D4914 or D5030/D5030M is applicable.
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
1.6 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
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ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and
increase or reduce significant digits or reported data to be
Construction Control Tests.
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2015. Published March 2015. Originally
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analytical
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D1556 – 07. DOI:
10.1520/D1556_D1556M-15E01. met
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