Designation: D7830/D7830M − 13

Standard Test Method for

In-Place Density (Unit Weight) and Water Content of Soil
Using an Electromagnetic Soil Density Gauge1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7830/D7830M; 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 (s) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-

1. This test method covers the procedures for determining in- ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
place properties of non-frozen, unbound soil and soil aggre- increase or decrease the number of significant digits of reported
gate mixtures such as total density, gravimetric water content data commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the
and relative compaction by measuring the electromagnetic scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in the
impedance of the compacted soil. analysis methods for engineering design.
1. The method and device described in this test method 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
are intended for in-process quality control of earthwork proj- safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ects. Site or material characterization is not an intended result. responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2. Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch- priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
pound units [given in brackets] are to be regarded separately as bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact NOTE 1—ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity
equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned in this
of the other. Combining values from the two systems may standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination
of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk of infringement of
result in non-conformance with the standard. such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
1. The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used
when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound 2. Referenced Documents
(lbf) represents a unit of force (weight) while the unit for mass 1. ASTM Standards:2
is slugs. The rationalized slug unit is not given in this standard. D422 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils
2. In the engineering profession, it is customary practice D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
to use, interchangeably, units representing both mass and force, Fluids
unless dynamic calculations are involved. This implicitly D698 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
combines two separate systems of units, that is, the absolute istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600
system and the gravimetric system. It is undesirable to combine kN-m/m3))
the use of two separate systems within a single standard. The D1556 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm), or Place by Sand-Cone Method
the recording of density in lbm/ft3 should not be regarded as D1557 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
nonconformance with this standard. istics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3
3. All observed and calculated values shall conform to the (2,700 kN-m/m3))
Guide for Significant Digits and Rounding established in D2167 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
Practice D6026. Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
1. The procedures used to specify how data is collected, D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
recorded, and calculated in this standard are regarded as (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the D2937 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the
Drive-Cylinder Method
significant digits that should generally be retained. The proce-
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
1 This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special and 2 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or

Construction Control Tests. contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2013. Published April 2013. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D7830-13. the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 D7830/D7830M − 13
Used in Engineering Design and Construction density. The measurement spectrum is made up of frequencies
D4253 Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit ranging from 30 kHz to 50 MHz.
Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
D4254 Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit 5. Significance and Use
Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density 1. The method described determines wet density and water
D4318 Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and content by correlating complex impedance measurement data
Plasticity Index of Soils
to an empirically developed model. The empirical model is
D4643 Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture) generated by comparing the electrical properties of typical soils
Content of Soil by Microwave Oven Heating encountered in civil construction projects to their wet densities
D4718 Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water
and water contents determined by other accepted methods.
Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
D7382 Test Methods for Determination of Maximum Dry 2. The test method described is useful as a rapid, non-
Unit Weight and Water Content Range for Effective destructive technique for determining the in-place total density
Compaction of Granular Soils Using a Vibrating Hammer and water content of soil and soil-aggregate mixtures and the
D4944 Test Method for Field Determination of Water (Mois- determination of dry density.
ture) Content of Soil by the Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure 3. This method may be used for quality control and
Tester acceptance of compacted soil and soil-aggregate mixtures as
D4959 Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture) used in construction and also for research and development.
Content of Soil By Direct Heating The non-destructive nature allows for repetitive measurements
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical at a single test location and statistical analysis of the results.
Data NOTE 2—The quality of the result produced by this standard test method
D6938 Test Method for In-Place Density and Water Content is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the
of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
requirements of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of
Depth)
competent and objective sampling/testing/inspection, and the like. Users
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does
Determine the Precision of a Test Method not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many
2.2 Other Referenced Documents: factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluation some of those
factors.
“Development of a Non-Nuclear Soil Density Gauge to 6. Interferences
Eliminate the Need for Nuclear Density Gauges”3
1. Anomalies in the test material with electrical impedance
3. Terminology
properties significantly different from construction soils and
1. Definitions—See Terminology D653 for general defini- aggregate evaluated during soil model development, such as
tions. metal objects or organic material, may affect the accuracy of
2. Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: the test method.
1. impedance, n—a measure of opposition to alternating 2. Chemical and mineralogical composition may affect the
current (AC). results of a test. Examples of materials that may impact the
2. impedance spectroscopy, n—a method that measures the results include but are not limited to, quarried materials
electromagnetic properties of a medium as a function of containing higher concentrations of iron, volcanic rock, and
frequency. materials that have significant fractions of cemented particles,
organic soils, recycled materials or materials containing
4. Summary of Test Method asphalt, portland cement, lime, fly ash, or other stabilizing
1. The total or wet density and water content of soil and soil- modifiers. In most cases the effect may be satisfactorily
aggregate are correlated to empirical data using an elec- addressed by following the Calibration Procedure in Section 7.
tromagnetic impedance spectroscopy device. Electromagnetic 3. A significant increase in the conductivity of the pore
properties of the soil are determined at specific frequencies by water such as from ground water that may contain significant
measuring the changes in the electromagnetic field. A function salt deposits or contaminants. In most cases the effect may be
is generated that describes the relationship between electrical satisfactorily addressed by following the Calibration Procedure
properties over a range of frequencies. That function is in Section 7.
compared to an empirical model and other calibration checks to
determine water content and density. 4. This test method applies only to non-frozen soil. The
electrical properties of soil change with temperature.
2. This method employs electromagnetic impedance spec- Generally, testing should be limited to soil temperatures above
troscopy to determine the volumetric water content and wet 10°C [50°F] and below 40°C [104°F]. Effects of temperature
on electrical properties of soils also depend on soil type.
3 Prepared for The Department of Homeland Security under contract No. Clayey soils are more temperature sensitive than sandy soils.
HSHQDC-07-C-00080. Dated October 31, 2008. Available from the U.S. Depart- Accuracy of measurements improves when the temperature of
ment of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C. 20528, http://www.dhs.gov. soil is close to the temperature used in the model calibration.
Calibration for temperature effects should be done when soil
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 D7830/D7830M − 13
temperatures differ by more than 10°C [18°F] from model display functions. The circuitry shall be designed to perform a
calibration temperatures. Calibration Procedures are given in calibration of the unit over a range of conditions and materials
Section 7. expected in the field.
2. Internal circuitry suitable for displaying individual
5. The accuracy of the results obtained by this test method may
measurements to allow operators to record the results.
be influenced by poor or incorrect placement of the device on
3. A rugged housing designed for taking in-situ density and
the soil being tested. Non-homogeneous soils, non-uniform
water content measurements of soil and soil-aggregate
surface texture, large air voids that may be present may
mixtures during routine earthwork operations.
decrease the precision of the results. Correct placement of the
4. Infrared Temperature Measuring Device, shall be
soil gauge is important to the quality of the electrical measure-
capable of measuring the surface temperature of the material
ments collected by the device.
being tested to 6 0.5°C [ 6 1°F] throughout a range of 0° to
6. Oversized particles in the measurement volume may 50°C [30° to 120°F].
cause an error in water content and/or density results. Where
7.2 Soil Calibration Container—Containers for calibration
lack of uniformity in the soil is suspected due to layering,
of the gauge as described in section 8.5.1, Container Calibra-
aggregates, or voids, the test site should be excavated and
tion.
visually examined to determine if the material is representative
of the in-situ material in general and if an oversize correction 8. Calibration
is required in accordance with Practice D4718.
1. For Factory Calibration information and requirements
7. Variation from actual values may increase for soil please refer to Annex A1.
material that is significantly drier or wetter than optimum water
content as determined using Test Methods D698 or D1557. 2. The soil density gauge has been designed to determine the
Variation from actual values may increase for soil material that moisture and density in a compacted soil sample without the
is compacted to less than 80 % of the maximum dry density as need for special field generated soil models. The ability to
determined using Test Methods D698 or D1557. measure moisture and density is based on multiple soil models
that were developed by studying various soil types. As the soil
8. Attempts to measure unknown in-place soils with a soil density gauge’s measurement performance is based on these
model that was generated from a limited range of wet density models, there will be occasions where the soil being measured
or water content values, or both, may result in density and is so different from one that has been studied previously that an
water content errors. adjustment may be required to enable the soil density gauge to
9. Strong electromagnetic fields such as those generated by produce acceptable results.6
high tension power lines may interfere with the device opera- 3. Determine the test parameters that will be used to
tion. calibrate the device. For example, selection of a pre-existing
10.For a circular sensor 280 mm [11 in.] in diameter, the soil model or manual entry of soil model parameters for
typical maximum measured volume is approximately 0.0034 calibration.
m3 [0.12 ft3]. The actual measured volume is indeterminate and 1. Obtain a representative sample of soil from the site
varies with the plate diameter, sensor configuration, and where in-place testing is conducted or from the borrow source.
material being tested. Results are typically influenced more by 2. Determine the laboratory compaction characteristics of the
the density and water content of the material near the surface. material to be tested. Test Methods D698 or D1557 for fine
grained soils and soil rock mixtures that exhibit a clear
7. Apparatus4,5
maximum dry density or Test Methods D4253 or Test Methods
1. Electromagnetic Soil Density Gauge—A device capable of D7382 for predominately granular material.
generating an electromagnetic field and measuring the 3. Information required by the device to associate the soil
differential voltage change between two electrodes. An ex- to the correct predetermined soil model may include but not be
ample of the device is shown in Fig. 1 and a sensor schematic limited to: maximum dry density; optimum water content as
section and approximate electrical fields that sense the soil is determined by Test Methods D698 or D1557; percent of
shown in Fig. 2. While the exact details of construction of the sample larger than 75 mm [3 in.]; percentage of sample
apparatus may vary, the system shall consist of: between 75 mm [3 in.] and 19 mm [0.75 in.]; percent gravel;
1. Electronic circuitry to provide power and signal con- percent sand; percent fines; coefficient of uniformity; and
ditioning tosource
4 The sole the sensor andoftotheprovide
of supply theSoil
TransTech dataDensity
acquisition and
Gauge (SDG) coefficient of curvature in accordance with Test Method D422,
apparatus known to the committee at this time is TransTech Systems, Inc. 1594 State Plastic Limit, and Test Methods D4318, Liquid Limit.
Street, Schenectady, NY. If you are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide
this information to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive 4. Prior to using the gauge derived water content on any new
careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee, which
you may attend.
material, the value for water content should be verified by
5 The Electromagnetic Soil Density Gauge is covered by a patent (patent no.: US comparison to another accepted test method such as Test
7,219,024 B2). Interested parties are invited to submit information regarding the Methods D2216, D4643, D4944, or D4959. Prior to using the
identification of an alternative(s) to this patented item to the ASTM International
Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
gauge derived density
6 A comparison on any new material, the value should be
to other accepted test methods is recommended on a regular
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. frequency to verify the validity and appropriateness of the calibration.