Sand Cone Method (ASTM Designation D-1556)
-The sand cone device consists of a glass or plastic jar with a metal cone attached at its top (Figure 6.23). The jar is filled with uniform
dry Ottawa sand. The combined weight of the jar, the cone, and the sand filling the jar is determined (W1). In the field, a small hole is
Figure 6.24 Field unit weight determined by sand
Figure 6.23 Glass jar filled with Ottawa sand with cone method (Most economical compaction
sand cone attached (Courtesy of Braja M. Das, condition)
Henderson, Nevada)
excavated in the area where the soil has been compacted. If the weight of the moist soil excavated from the hole (W2) is determined
and the moisture content of the excavated soil is known, the dry weight of the soil can be obtained as
𝑤2 (6.24)
𝑤3 =
𝜔(%)
1+
100
where w moisture content.
After excavation of the hole, the cone with the sand-filled jar attached to it is inverted and placed over the hole (Figure 6.24). Sand is
allowed to flow out of the jar to fill the hole and the cone. After that, the combined weight of the jar, the cone, and the remaining sand in
the jar is determined (W4), so
𝑤5 = 𝑤1 − 𝑤4 (6.25)
where W5 weight of sand to fill the hole and cone
The volume of the excavated hole can then be determined as
𝑤5 − 𝑤𝑐
𝑉= (6.26)
𝛾𝑑 (𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑)
where Wc = weight of sand to fill the cone only
𝛾𝑑 (𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑) = dry unit weight of Ottawa sand used
The values of Wc and 𝛾𝑑 (𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑 ) are determined from the calibration done in the laboratory. The dry unit weight of compaction made in
the field then can be determined as follows:
𝐷𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑤3 (6.27)
𝛾𝑑 = =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑉
