New Era UniversityCollege of Engineering and TechnologyCivil Engineering Department

SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY (CE483L)

Laboratory Exercise No.16

DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF SOIL IN-PLACE BY THE SAND CONE METHOD

NAME:Gayo, Girlie Joy P.DATE PERFORMED:April 7, 2015

SCHEDULE: Tuesday 8:30am-11:30amDATE SUBMITTED:April 11, 2015

_______Bro. German B. Barlis, DT_______ Instructor

AbstractThis laboratory exercise covers the determination of the in-place density of compacted soil or soil-aggregate mixtures. The in-place dry density is expressed as a percentage of the soils maximum dry density and can be compared to specification requirements.

Analysis and Interpretation of Data and ResultIn this laboratory exercise, the density of soil was determined using the sand cone method. To be able to determine the density of soil the sand cone apparatus was calibrated wherein the volume of the sand cone was determined. Primarily, the formula density=mass/volume was used to determine the necessary properties and values needed. The density was determined using the compaction mold using the sand cone apparatus to fill out the compaction mold. It was taken noted that the density of the compacted sand is different from the density of soil because of different packing densities.

In consideration of the computed data, it was determined that the computed density of soil is equal to 2g/cm3. With this laboratory exercise, it was also observed that the primary sources of errors were from the irregularity of the placement of the base plate of the sand cone apparatus, evaporation of moisture from the in-situ soil from the site, the use of soil instead of sand for the sand cone since sand was not available because its not dry good for free flowing, other sources of errors are from the miscalculation of data, misinterpretation of data, and discrepancies of values that were obtained from the field.

ConclusionAt the end of this laboratory exercise, I was able to learn more about the determination of density using the sand cone method. I learned that sand cone method is related to the rubber balloon method wherein the rubber balloon is filled with water to be able to determine the volume of the hole. It is related in a way that in sand cone method, sand is filled rather than water. I was able to learn the importance of the sand cone apparatus to have a uniform packing density while filling up a test hole. Calibration of the sand cone apparatus must also be determined to be able to get the density of the soil. Lastly, the knowledge that were imparted from this laboratory exercise can be used in future civil engineering practices in designing highway pavements and foundations in other infrastructures.

Sketch of Setup of Apparatus

Sketch of Setup of Apparatus

Sketch of Setup of Apparatus