CaliforniaTest201

STATEOFCALIFORNIAÑBUSINESS,TRANSPORTATIONANDHOUSINGAGENCY September1998

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING SERVICE CENTER
Office of Materials Engineering and Testing Services
5900 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, California 95819-4612

METHOD OF SOIL AND AGGREGATE SAMPLE PREPARATION

CAUTION: Prior to handling test materials, performing equipment setups, and/or conducting th i s
meth o d, testers are req u i red to read “ S A F E T Y A N D H E A L T H ” in Section J of th i s
method. It is th e responsibility of th e su er of th i s method to consult and s u e
departmental safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitationsbeforeanytestingisperformed.

A. S C O P E manipulate particles through th e

sieve by hand.
This method describes th e rp ocesses for
preparinguntreatedaggregateanddisturbed 3. Crusher: A jaw crusher w h i ch can be
soil samp l es, as received from th e field, for adjusted to produce material passing the
the required tests. Separation by screening, 4.75 mm sieve. A sledgehammer may be
weighing,removingsoilcoatingsfromcoarse used to reduce oversize particles enough
aggregate, breaking p u clods, and sp l itting to p e rmit th e material to b e fed into th e
ou t rep r esentative test samp l es of sp e cified crusher.
size are described.
4. Quartering canvas or sample splitters: If
B. APPARATUS s
u ing sp l itters, a minimum of th r ee
riffle-ty p e sp l itters of different siz e s are
1. Sieves: U.S.Standardsievesconforming required. Sample splitters shall have an
to AASHTO Designation: M-92. Th e even number of equal-width chutes, but
standard sieve series sh a ll include th e not less th a n a total of 8 for coarse
following sizes: 75mm, 63mm, 50mm, aggregate and 12 for fine aggregate,
37.5mm, 25.0mm, 19.0mm, 12.5mm, w h i ch discharge alternately to each
9.5 mm, 4.75 mm. Other U. S. Standard side of the splitter. The minimum width
sievesmaybeaddedforspecialpurposes. of th e individual chutes sh a ll be
approximately 50% larger th a n th e
2. Sieve sh a k e r: Any mechanical sieve largest particles in th e sample to be
sh a k e r w h i ch accomplishes th e sp l it. The sp l itter sh a ll be equiped
thoroughnessofsievingspecifiedbelow: w i th two receptacles to hold th e two
halves of the sample following splitting.
a. Not more th a n 0.5 % of th e sample It sh a ll also b e eq u i p e d w i th a h o p e r
mass shall pass any sieve during one or straight-edged pan w h i ch has a
minuteofhandsieving. w i dth eq u a l to or sligh t ly less th a n th e
overall w i dth of th e assemb l y of ch u t es
b. Hand sieving sh a ll b e b y means of a b y w h i ch th e samp l e may be fed at a
lateral and vertical motion of th e controlled rate to th e chutes. Th e
sieve, accompanied by a jarring splitterandaccessoryequipmentshallbe
action, w h i ch keeps th e sample so designed th a t th e sample w i ll flow
movingcontinuouslyoverthesurface smoothly without restriction or loss of
of th e sieve. Do not turn or material.

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C alif or ni a T e st 2 0 1
S pet e bm er 1 9 9 8

5. R o ck cl e a ni n g a n d cl o d-b r e aki n g d e vi c e: 6. S a mpl e c o nt ai n e r s: V a ri ou s- siz e d m et al

A d e vi c e f o r r e m o vi n g fi n e s f r o m c o a r s e c o nt ai n er s ar e r equir e d, s o m e of whi ch
a g g r e g at e p a rti cl e s a n d f o r b r e aki n g pu sh oul d h a v e th e f oll owi n g ap r oxi m at e
cl o d s with ou t ap r e ci ably r e ud ci n g th e c ap a citi e s: 3 0 0 0 0 g, 7 0 0 0 g,3 5 0 0 g,3 0 0 g,
n atu r al i n di vi du al p a rti cl e siz e s. Th e a n d 1 0 0 g.
f oll owi n g d e vi c e s m ay b e u s e d o n m o st
m at e ri al s: 7. A f a cility t o a c c o m m o d at e th e r e m o v al
of m oi stu r e f r o mw et s a mpl e s. Wh e n ai r
a. Stiff fib e rb ru sh. dryi n g i s n ot p r a cti c al, typ i c al
equip m e nt m ay b e f a n s with o r with ou t
b. M ort ar a n d rub er- c o v er e dp e stl e. h e ati n g c oil s or a v e nt e d f or c e dd r aft
oven c ap abl e of m ai nt ai ni n g a
c. S oil-pul v e rizi n g ap a r atu s c o n si st- t e m p er at ur e of 6 0̊ C or l e s s.
i n g of th e f oll owi n g: 1
C. S A M P L E I D E N TI FI C A TI O N
( 1) C o nt ai n er s: St e el dru m s
ap r oxi m at ely 280 m m in E a ch s a mpl e sh all b e gi v e n a n i d e ntifi c ati o n
di a m et e r, 3 9 0 m m i n l e n gth, nu mb e r whi ch sh all b e w ritt e n o n suit abl e
23 L c ap a city, a n d h a vi n g c a r d s o r ti ck et s. O n e of th e s e c a r d s o r ti ck et s
p o siti v e s e al c o v er s with b e ari n g th e s a mpl e i d e ntifi c ati o n un bm er
fl ow e d-i n bur er s e al s a n d sh all a c c o mp a ny e a ch p o rti o n of th e s a mpl e
l e v e r-l o ck f a st e ni n g d e vi c e s. th r ou gh ou t th ep r o c e s si n g a n d t e sti n g of th e
m at e ri al.
( 2) R oll e r s: Rub e r- c o v e r e d m et al
b ar s ap r oxi m at ely 50 m m D. D R YI N G O F S A M P L E S
ou t si d e di a m et e r a n d 2 5 t o
7 5 m m sh o rt e r th a n th e i n si d e 1. D ryw et s a mpl e s su ffi ci e ntly t op e r mit a
l e n gth of th e c o nt ai n e r. C ol d c o mpl et e s ep ar ati o n o n th e 4. 7 5 m m si e v e
r oll e d st e el b ar s, 3 8 m m i n a n d t o d e v el op a f r e e-fl owi n g c o n diti o n
di a m et e r, 3 0 t o 3 6 0 m m l o n g, i n th ep o rti o np a s si n g th e 4. 7 5 m m si e v e.
c o v er e d with fu el oil h o s e D ryi n g m ayb ep e rf o r m e dby a ny m e a n s
( U. S. R oy al P 5 1 9 6 or equi v a- whi ch d o e s n ot h e at th e a g gr e g at e i n
l e nt) ar e s ati sf a ct o ry f or u s e e x c e s s of 6 0̊ C or c a u s e d e gr a d ati o n of t h e
with th e 23 L c o nt ai n e r s. Th e p a rti cl e s. Th e u s e of su nli gh t, o v e n s, o r
ex a ct di m e n si o n s of th e f o r c e d d r aft s of w a r m ai r ar e th e m o st
c o nt ai n er a n d r oll e r s ar e n ot c o m m o n dryi n g m eth o d s.
c riti c al pr o vi d e d a d equ at e
pul v erizi n g c a n b e a c c o m- a. Dryi n g c a nb e exp e dit e dby o c c a si o n-
pli sh e d with ou t r e ud ci n g th e ally sti r ri n g th e m at e ri al du ri n g th e
n atu r al i n di vi du al p a rti cl e dryi n gpr o c e s s.
siz e.
b. Dryi n g m ay b e d o n e at 1 1 0 ± 5̊ C
(3) R ot ati n g d e vi c e: A m ot or- wh e n all bus s uqe e nt t e st s a r e
dri v e n ap a r atu s c ap abl e of r equir e d or p er mit dryi n g at th i s
r ot ati n g o n e or m or e c o nt ai n er s t e mp e r atu r e.
at a r at e of ap r oxi m at ely E. S E P A R A TI N G C O A R S E A N D FI N E
6 5 rp m. P O R TI O N S O N T H E 4. 7 5 m m SI E V E

1. F oll ow th e si e vi n g i n stru cti o n s i n

C alif o r ni a T e st 2 0 2 t o s ep a r at e th e
1 F or d et ail s of hti s s oil-pul v erizi n g m at e ri al o n th e 4. 7 5 m m si e v e.
ap a r atu s s e e uS g g e st e d
M e ch a ni c al M eth o d f or Br e aki n g up S oil A g gr e g ati o n s yb
C. M. J oh n s o n a n d J. R. Bly st o n e, “ Pr o c e du r e s f or T e sti n g S oil s”,
A S T M 1 9 5 8.

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 CaliforniaTest201
September1998

2. Separation of th e coarse portion into (4) Sep a rate th e material on th e

individual coarse-size fractions may be 4.75mm sieve and add th e
done simultaneously with the separation passing 4.75 mm portion to the
onthe4.75mmsieveifdesired. fine material previously
sep a rated.
3. Remove coatings from coarse aggregate
and break pu clods retained on th e (5) Repeat th i s rp ocedure on a l l
4.75mmsieveasprescribedinSectionF. portions of th e retained
4.75mm material until th e
4. Combineallofthepassing4.75mmsieve clodshavebeenbrokenandthe
material accumulated from th e various coarse particles appear to be
steps of sieving, removing coatings, and freeofcoatings.
clod breaking.
b. Soil pulverizing apparatus.
5. Retain th e passing 4.75mm sieve
material and each sep a rated coarse-siz e (1) Place a minimum of approxi-
fraction in separate containers. mately 2.3 k g of th e retained
4.75 mm sieve material in th e
F . REMOVAL OF COATINGS FROM steeldrum.
COARSE AGGREGATES AND
BREAKING UP OF CLODS (2) Place two or th r ee rollers in
th e drum w i th th e material
1. Hard clods of material w i th a natural andsecurethedust-proofcover
p a rticle siz e smaller th a n th e 4.75mm in p l ace.
sieve must be rb oken pu to pass th e
4.75mm sieve. Coatings on coarse (3) Position the drum horizontally
aggregateparticlesmustalsoberemoved on the rotating device.
and inclu d ed w i th th e passing 4.75mm
sieve material. (4) Start th e device and rotate th e
drum and its contents as
2. Any method which does not appreciably necessary to break pu clay
reduce th e natural individual p a rticle lumpsandloosencoatings.
sizes may be s
u ed. Three approved
methodsaredescribedbelow. NOTE: When large quantities of
fines are generated, th e p u l veriz i ng
a. Mortarandruber-coveredpestle. rp ocess should be interrupted
p e riodically to p e rmit resieving and
(1) Place a p o rtion of th e retained removal of th e portion w h i ch w i ll
4.75 mm sieve material in th e p a ss th e 4.75 mm sieve. Becau s e of
mortar. variations in materials, operator
judgmentisrequiredtodeterminethe
(2) Use a pushing and twisting numeb r of rollers and th e rotation
motion w i th th e pestle to timetobeused.
ap p l y a grinding action to th e
material. c. W a sh meth o d.
(3) Donotpound th e material in (1) Place th e retained 4.75mm
such a way as to cause fractur- sieve portion in a suitable
ing of aggregate particles. container and cover w i th
w a ter.

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C alif or ni a T e st 2 0 1
S pet e bm er 1 9 9 8

( 2) S o ak f or su ffi ci e nt ti m e t o
s oft e n th e lu mp s a n d c o ati n g s. a. Splitti n g s a mpl e with m e ch a ni c al
d e vi c e.
(3) H a n d w a sh th e i n di vi du al
p a rti cl e s a n d di sp er s e th e ( 1) hT or ou ghly mix th e s a mpl e
lu mp s. a n d sp r e a d it e v e nly a cr o s s
th ep a n o rh op e r.
( 4) R e m o v e th e cl e a n e d r et ai n e d
4. 7 5 m m si e v e p a rti cl e s fr o m ( 2) Op e n th eh op e r g at e o rp ou r
th e w a sh w at e r a n d dry t o th e m at e ri al f r o m th e p a n s o
c o n st a nt m a s s at 1 1 0 ± 5̊ C. th at th e m at e ri al fl ow s
e v e nly th r ou gh all of th e
( 5) E v ap o r at e th e w at e r f r o m th e chu t e s. C o ntr ol th e r at e of
r e si du al m at e ri al. D o n ot h e at di s ch a r g e as n e c e s s ary t o
t o a t e mp e r atu r e g r e at e r th a n m ai nt ai n a c o nti nu ou s fl ow of
6 0 ± 5̊ C. m at e ri al th r ou gh th e chu t e s.

G. A D J U S TI N G G R A DI N G O F S A M P L E S (3) C o nti un e t o split or c o bmi n e

us c c e s si v e p orti o n s u ntil th e
1. Wh e n it i s n e c e s s ary t o a dju st th e d e sir e d s a mpl e siz e is
g r a di n g of a s a mpl e pri or t o t e sti n g i n a ch i e v e d.
or d er t o bri n g th e m at e ri al withi n a
sp e cifi e d gr a di n g, th e a ujd st m e nt s of b. H a n d qu art eri n g a s a mpl e mass
s c alpi n g,w a sti n g, or c o mbi ni n g m at eri al s ex c e e di n g 4 5k g.
sh oul d b e su ch th at it c a n b e dupli c at e d
u n d er fi el d c o n diti o n s. S e e C alif o r ni a ( 1) Mix a n d pil e th e s a mpl e o n a
T e st 1 0 5 f o r i nf or m ati o n a n d i n stru cti o n qu a rt e ri n g c a n v a s. Sh o v el th e
o n a g gr e g at e gr a di n g a dju st m e nt s. m at e ri al i nt o th e c e nt e r t o f o r m
a c o n e. Pl a c e e a ch sh o v elful s o
2. Wh e n th e s a mpl e sub mitt e d f or th a t th e m at e ri al spill s o v er
p r eli mi n a ry t e st s r ep r e s e nt s a g g r e g at e th e c o n e equ ally i n all di r e c-
whi ch will r equi r e c ru shi n g o n th e j ob, ti o n s t o mix th e s a mpl e.
cru sh th e o v er siz e a g gr e g at e t o us hc a D a mp e n s a mpl e s, whi ch tend
d e gr e e th at a bl e n d m a d e with th e t o s e g r e g at eb ef or e pr o c e e di n g
cru sh e d a n d u n cru hs e d p orti o n s will with th e f oll owi n g st ep s.
c o nf or m t o th e pr po o s e d gr a di n g
sp e cifi c ati o n s. P erf or m a c o ar s e si e v e ( 2) Fl att e n th e c o n e with a sh o v el,
s ep a r ati o n ( C alif o r ni a T e st 2 0 2) o n th e sp r e a di n g th e m at e ri al t o a
cru sh e dp orti o n a n d r e c or d th e m a s s o n cir cul ar l ay e r of u nif or m
th e ap r op ri at ew o rk c a r d. thi ck n e s s.

H. S E C U RI N G R E P R E S E N T A TI V E (3) I n s e rt a sti ck o r pip e b e n e ath

P O R TI O N S F O R S P E CI FI E D T E S T S th e c a n v a s a n du n d er th e c e nt er
of th e pil e, th e n lift b oth e n d s
1. R ef e r t o th e r e sp e cti v e t e st m eth o d s f o r of th e sti ck, di vi di n g th e
gr a di n g r uqeir e m e nt s a n d qu a ntity of s a mpl e i nt o tw o equ al p a rt s.
m at e ri al s n e e d e d. R e m o v e th e sti ck l e a vi n g a
f ol d of c a n v a s b etw e e n th e
2. Split o r qu a rt e r th e s a mpl e i nt o r ep r e- di vi d e dp o rti o n s.
s e nt ati v e p o rti o n s f o r th e v a ri ou s t e st s.
Th e u s e of a s a mpl e splitti n g d e vi c e i s ( 4) I n s ert th e sti cku n d er th e c e nt er
p r ef e r r e d. H ow e v e r, h a n d qu a rt e ri n g i s o f th e pil e a t ri gh t a n gl e s t o
a c c ep t abl e if c a r efullyp e rf o r m e d. th e fi r st di vi si o n a n d a g ai n

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 CaliforniaTest201
September1998

lift both ends of th e stick , remove diagonally opposite

dividing th e samp l e into four quarters.
parts.Inlieuofdividingbyuse
ofastick,ashovelmaybeused (4) Repeat the above process until
to divide th e samp l e into fou r th e sample is reduced to th e
equal parts. desired size.

(5) Remove two diagonally e. Samples of coarse aggregates, which

oppositequarters,beingcareful h a ve b e en sep a rated into b a sic siz e s
to clean th e fines from th e su ing th e standard coarse sieve
canvas. series, may be obtained by scooping
the required amount from each size
(6) Remix th e remaining material fraction. Do not scoop or o p ru out
b y tak i ng alternate sh o velfu l s samples of passing 4.75mm sieve
from each remaining quarter material or samples of coarse
and p l acing it in th e center so aggregate w h i ch has not been
that a cone is formed as before. sep a rated into b a sic siz e s s
u ing th e
Repeat th e quartering rp ocess standard coarse sieve series.
u n til th e samp l e is redu c ed to
the desired size. 3. After th e required test samples h a ve
been prepared, save the remainder of the
c. Hand quartering a sample mass submitted sample for possible future
between11and45kg. check tests.

(1) Pile th e samp l e on th e canvas I. PRECAUTIONS

and mix b y alternately lifting
each corner of th e canvas and 1. If th e Test for Evaluating Cleanness of
pulling it over th e sample Coarse Aggregate, California Test 227, is
toward th e diagonally tobeperformedonthesubmittedsample,
opposite corner, causing th e prepare th i s test sample from th e
material to b e rolled. Damp e n material in an “as received” condition.
material w h i ch tends to Samples w h i ch h a ve e b en sue
jb cted to
segregate. any form of cleaning or any sieving
action, other th a n th a t specified in
(2) Flatten and quarter as California Test 227, may not b e u s ed for
specified above. determining th e cleanness of th e
aggregate.
d. Hand quartering a sample mass less
than 11 kg. 2. When possible, attempt to duplicate
field conditions when preparing test
(1) Placethesampleonacanvasor samples. For example, do not remove
a clean sh e et of h e avy p a p e r. coatings from AC bin samples when the
Mix th o rou g h l y w i th a trow e l material is to be s u ed in fabricating
andform th e material into a asphaltconcretetestspecimens.
conical pile. Dampen material
which tends to segregate. 3. Check sieves frequently for rb oken or
distorted wires. Rep a ir or rep l ace
(2) Flatten th e cone b y p r essing it defective sieves.
down with a trowel.
4. Periodically ch e ck sp l itters for accu r acy
(3) Divide th e material into by taking a dry sample of material,
quarters w i th th e trowel and which tends to segregate, and dividing it
into eigh t or more eq u a l p a rts b y u s e of

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CaliforniaTest201
September1998

th e sp l itter. Then weigh and grade eq u i p m ent can eliminate mu c h of th e noise.

several of the parts and compare. The use of sound deadening material should
be utilized when appropriate.
5. Review the test procedures for which the
samplesarebeingpreparedfrequentlyto Guards or shields must be provided around
make sure the samples are processed in dangerously exo
p sed moving parts of
accordancewiththeseprocedures. machinery. Also, e
p rsonnel w i ll be
instructed in th e proper operation of each
J. SAFETY AND HEALTH machine and in proper lifting methods. The
u s e of b a ck su p o rt b r aces and tab l e-h e igh t
Soils and aggregates may contain b a cteria carts to move materials can eliminate mu c h
and/or organisms, which can be harmful to of th e lifting.
one's health. The wearing of dust masks and
protective gloves when handling materials Prior to handling, testing or disposing of any
is advised. materials, testers are required to read th e
following portions of Caltrans Laboratory
Use of h e at resistant gloves/mitts or Safety Manual: Part A, Section 5.0, Hazards
potholders is required for removing samples andEmployeeExposure;PartB,Sections:5.0,
fromtheovensasdescribedinSectionD-1,b. Safe Laboratory Practices; 6.0, Ch e mical
Procurement Distribution and Storage; and
Dust, noise, lifting and th e operation of 10.0, Personal Protective Apparel and
eqiu m
p ent are encountered in th i s testing Eqiu m
p ent; and Part C, Section 1.0, Safe
procedure. It is not possible to completely Lab o ratory Practices. Users of th i s meth o d
eliminate these risks, tu b steps should be dosoattheirownrisk.
takentominimizethemasmuchaspossible.

The s u e of dust collection units and th e REFERENCES:

spraying of ow rkroom floors w i th dust AASHTODesignationM-92
p a lliatives are very effective methods of CaliforniaTests105,202,and227
reducingdustconditions.
EndofText(CaliforniaTest201contains6pages)
The s
u e of earplugs or earmuffs is
recommended when operating noisy
eqiu m
p ent. Enclosures built around noisy

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