ASTM D7380-15
Standard Test Method for Soil Compaction Determination at Shallow Depths Using 5-lb (2.3 kg) Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

Standard No.

ASTM D7380-15

Release Date

2015

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D7380/D7380M-21

Latest

ASTM D7380/D7380M-21

Scope

5.1 The test method is used to assess the compaction effort of compacted materials. The number of drops required to drive the cone a distance of 3.25 in. (83 mm) is used as a criterion to determine the pass or fail in terms of soil percent compaction.

5.2 The device does not measure soil compaction directly and requires determining the correlation between the number of drops and percent compaction in similar soil of known percent compaction and water content.

5.3 The number of drops is dependent on the soil water content. Calibration of the device should be performed at a water content equal to the water content expected in the field.

5.4 There are other DCPs with different dimensions, hammer weights, cone sizes, and cone geometries. Different test methods exist for these devices (such as D6951) and the correlations of the 5-lb DCP with soil percent compaction are unique to this device.

5.5 The 5-lb DCP is a simple device, capable of being handled and operated by a single operator in field conditions. It is typically used as Quality Control (QC) of layer-by-layer compaction by construction crew in roadway pavement, backfill compaction in confined cuts and trenches, and utility pavement restoration work.

Note 1: The quality of results produced by this test method is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of these factors.

1.1 This test method covers the procedure for the determination of the number of drops required for a dynamic cone penetrometer with a 5-lb (2.3-kg) drop hammer falling 20 in. (508 mm) to penetrate a certain depth in compacted backfill.

1.2 The device is used in the compaction verification of fine- and coarse-grained soils, granular materials, and weak stabilized or modified material used in subgrade, base layers, and backfill compaction in confined cuts and trenches at shallow depth.

1.3 The test method is not applicable to highly stabilized and cemented materials or granular materials containing a large percentage of aggregates greater than 1.5 in. (37 mm).

1.4 The method is dependent upon knowing the field water content and the user having performed calibration tests to determine cone penetration resistance of various compaction levels and water contents.

1.5 The values stat......

ASTM D7380-15 Referenced Document

• ASTM D1556 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method
• 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 D2216 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
• ASTM D3740 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• ASTM D4959 Standard Test Method for Determination of Water Content of Soil By Direct Heating
• ASTM D6026 Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D6938 Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
• ASTM D6951 Standard Test Method for Use of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer in Shallow Pavement Applications
• ASTM D698 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft³ (600 kN-m/m³))
• ASTM E691 Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

ASTM D7380-15 history

• 2021 ASTM D7380/D7380M-21 Standard Test Method for Soil Compaction Determination at Shallow Depths Using 2.3-kg [5-lbm] Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
• 2015 ASTM D7380-15 Standard Test Method for Soil Compaction Determination at Shallow Depths Using 5-lb (2.3 kg) Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
• 2008 ASTM D7380-08 Standard Test Method for Soil Compaction Determination at Shallow Depths Using 5-lb (2.3 kg) Dynamic Cone Penetrometer