ASTM D5030-04
Standard Test Method for Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit

Standard No.

ASTM D5030-04

Release Date

2004

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D5030/D5030M-13

Latest

ASTM D5030/D5030M-21

Scope

This test method is used to determine the in-place unit weight of compacted materials in construction of earth embankments, road fills, and structure backfill. For construction control, it can be used as the basis for acceptance of material compacted to a specified unit weight or to a percentage of a maximum unit weight determined by a standard laboratory test method such as determined from Test Methods D 698 or D 1557, subject to the limitations discussed in 1.4.

This test method can be used to determine in-place unit weight of natural soil deposits, aggregates, soil mixtures, or other similar material.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the in-place density and unit weight of soil and rock using water to fill a lined test pit to determine the volume of the test pit. The use of the word "rock" in this test method is used to imply that the material being tested will typically contain particles larger than 3 in. (75 mm).

1.2 This test method is best suited for test pits with a volume between approximately 3 and 100 ft³ (0.08 and 2.83 m ³). In general, the materials tested would have maximum particle sizes over 5 in. (125 mm). This test method may be used for larger sized excavations if desirable.

1.2.1 This procedure is usually performed using circular metal templates with inside diameters of 3 ft (0.9 m) or more. Other shapes or materials may be used providing they meet the requirements of this test method and the guidelines given in for the minimum volume of the test pit.

1.2.2 Test Method D 4914 may be used as an alternative method. Its use, however, is usually only practical for volume determination of test pits between approximately 1 and 6 ft ³ (0.03 and 0.17 m³).

1.2.3 Test Method D 1556 or Test Method D 2167 is usually used to determine the volume of test holes smaller than 1 ft³ (0.03 m³).

1.3 The two procedures are described as follows:

1.3.1 Procedure AIn-Place Density and Unit Weight of Total Material (Section ).

1.3.2 Procedure BIn-Place Density and Unit Weight of Control Fraction (Section 10).

1.4 Selection of Procedure

1.4.1 Procedure A is used when the in-place unit weight of total material is to be determined. Procedure A can also be used to determine percent compaction or percent relative density when the maximum particle size present in the in-place material being tested does not exceed the maximum particle size allowed in the laboratory compaction test (Test Methods D 698, D 1557, D 4253, D 4254, D 4564). For Test Methods D 698 and D 1557 only, the unit weight determined in the laboratory compaction test may be corrected for larger particle sizes in accordance with, and subject to the limitations of, Practice D 4718.

1.4.2 Procedure B is used when percent compaction or percent relative density is to be determined and the in-place material contains particles larger than the maximum particle size allowed in the laboratory compaction test or when Practice D 4718 is not applicable for the laboratory compaction test. Then the material is considered to consist of two fractions, or portions. The material from the in-place unit weight test is physically divided into a control fraction and an oversize fraction based on a designated sieve size. The unit weight of the control fraction is calculated and compared with the unit weight(s) established by the laboratory compaction test(s).

Because of possible lower densities created when there is particle interference (see Practice D 4718), the percent compaction of the control fraction should not be assumed to represent the percent compaction of the total material in the field.

1.4.3 Normally, the control fraction is the minus No. 4 sieve size material for cohesive or nonfree-draining materials and the minus 3-i......

ASTM D5030-04 Referenced Document

• ASTM C127 Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
• ASTM C138/C138M Standard Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
• ASTM C566 Standard Test Method for Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying
• ASTM D1556 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method*， 2024-04-19 Update
• ASTM D1557 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft³ (2,700 kN-m/m³))
• ASTM D2167 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
• ASTM D2216 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
• ASTM D4253 Standard test method for maximum index density and unit weight of soil using a shaking table*， 2024-04-19 Update
• ASTM D4254 Standard Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density*， 2024-04-19 Update
• ASTM D4564 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the Sleeve Method
• ASTM D4718 Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
• ASTM D4753 Standard Specification for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Scales for Use in Soil, Rock, and Construction Materials Testing
• ASTM D4914 Standard Test Methods for Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Sand Replacement Method in a Test Pit
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D698 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft³ (600 kN-m/m³))*， 2024-04-19 Update
• ASTM E1 Standard Specification for ASTM Thermometers
• ASTM E11 Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes

ASTM D5030-04 history

• 2021 ASTM D5030/D5030M-21 Standard Test Methods for Density of In-Place Soil and Rock Materials by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit
• 2013 ASTM D5030/D5030M-13a Standard Test Methods for Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit
• 2013 ASTM D5030/D5030M-13 Standard Test Methods for Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit
• 2004 ASTM D5030-04 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit
• 2017 ASTM D5030-89(1994)e1 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil and Rock in Place by the Water Replacement Method in a Test Pit (Withdrawn 2003)