
All pans must be cleaned and returned dry to staging area after completion of test.
All stations, benches, and tables must be cleaned before group leaves the lab.

DO NOT share data with other groups or compare data.

DO NOT fudge your data to make results “better”. If there are problems with the data or results, discuss what went wrong and why in the report. If you are not sure why, make an educated guess.

Please do not contaminate the sand in the jars.
2.1
2.2
2.2.1
Enter names onto data sheet (attached).
Preparatory work
Carefully clean the counter where you will be working with a wet sponge and
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.3
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
2.3.4
2.3.5
then dry with a clean paper towel to remove as much dirt as possible.
Find the pan, jar, funnel, base plate, Proctor mold with base plate, and spoon on the table.
Weigh the pan and record its empty weight. Later you will put the excavated soil into this pan and will determine the total mass of excavated soil.
Calibrate the sand cone apparatus
Determine the mass of density sand that fills the funnel and base plate hole using the steps below
Weigh the jar filled with sand with the funnel attached and record this mass on the data sheet
Place the base plate on the counter. Screw the funnel onto the jar. Invert the jar and funnel and seat the funnel in the center hole of the base plate.
Open the valve fully and allow the sand to flow into the hole of the base plate and the funnel until both are filled. Be sure not to bump or vibrate the counter, base plate, or jar at any time during this process.
Close the valve quickly without vibrating the apparatus. Look on the inside and outside of the jar and funnel and remove any sand or dirt that is stuck to it.
Weigh the jar plus sand plus funnel and record this mass on the data sheet.
Calculate the mass of sand that filled the hole in the base plate and the funnel as the difference between the initial and final values. Carefully put the sand on the counter back and base plate into the jar without contaminating it.
©2007-2012 Bret N. Lingwall and Evert C. Lawton Page 1 of 4

Sand Cone Test
2.3.6
2.4
2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3
2.4.4
2.4.5
2.5
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
2.5.4
2.5.5
Repeat steps 2.3.2 through 2.3.5 a minimum of two more times. The maximum variation between the value for any one trial and the average of all values should not be more than 1%. Use the average value of all trials as the mass of sand required to fill the hole in the base plate and the funnel.
Calibration of density sand
Determine the unit weight of the density sand using the steps below
Determine the volume of the Proctor mold by measuring the height and diameter at three equally spaced intervals. If available, use calipers to measure the height and diameter of the mold when it is removed from its base plate. If calipers are not available, use a ruler to measure the height and diameter of your mold to the nearest 0.1 mm. Record values for all three trials on your data sheet. The Proctor mold you use should have the same inner diameter as the diameter of the center hole of your base plate. This diameter may be either 4 in. or 6 in. depending on your apparatus. If they are not the same, ask the TA for a Proctor mold with the correct diameter. (Note: The volume of the 4 in. mold should be about 1/30 ft
3
, and the volume of the 6 in. mold should be about 1/13.33 ft
3
.)
Weigh the jar containing sand with funnel attached and record this mass on your data sheet.
Place the base plate on top of the Proctor mold with the hole of the plate centered over the opening in the mold. Open the valve and allow sand to flow until it fills the mold, the hole in the base plate, and the funnel. Be careful not to jar or vibrate the counter, mold, or apparatus during this process. Close the valve, remove the apparatus, weigh the jar plus sand plus funnel, and record this mass on your data sheet. Put all density sand back into the jar.
Repeat steps 2.4.3 through 2.4.4 a minimum of two more times. The maximum variation between the value for any one trial and the average of all values should not be more than 1%. Use the average value of all trials as the mass of sand required to fill the mold, the hole in the base plate, and the funnel.
Perform the field portion of the sand cone test using the procedure below
Weigh the jar containing sand with funnel attached and record this mass on your data sheet.
Follow the TA to the location where the sand cone test is to be performed.
Place the plate with the circular opening on the ground. Choose a place where there are few organics and the ground surface is flat.
Carefully dig a cylindrical hole about 6 to 8 in. deep that has the same diameter as the hole in the base plate. As you remove soil from the hole, carefully place it into your pan without spilling any. Any soil that spills will introduce errors in the calculated value of unit weight for this soil. IT IS
VITAL THAT YOU TAKE ALL THE EXCAVATED SOIL TO BE
WEIGHED! Leave the base plate where it is after excavation.
Make sure that the valve is closed on the funnel of your apparatus. Invert the jar and funnel, and place it into the hole of the base plate.
©2007-2012 Bret N. Lingwall and Evert C. Lawton Page 2 of 4

Sand Cone Test
2.5.6
2.5.7
Open the valve and allow the density sand to flow into the hole. It may take some gentle taps on the side of the jar to get the sand flowing or to keep it flowing, but try to avoid tapping the jar if possible. Be patient. You want the density sand to fill the hole and the funnel.
Close the valve and remove the jar and funnel. Carefully remove any excess sand or soil from the outside of the jar and/or funnel. Weigh the jar and
2.6
funnel and record the mass on your data sheet. Weigh the pan plus moist excavated soil and record the mass on your data sheet.
2.5.8
Remove most of the density sand from the hole and place it back in the jar so it can be reused. Please do not get any other soil or organics in the jar, only the density sand.
2.5.9
Place the pan with the moist excavated soil in the oven. Dry for at least 24 hours. Remove, cool, and weigh. Record the weight.
2.5.10
Return all equipment neatly to its original location. The TA(s) will not clean up for you. Not cleaning will result in a reduction of grade.
After taking your final moisture reading the next day, place the dry excavated soil in the appropriate container designated by the TA(s).

Calculate the total unit weight of the density sand in units of pcf and kN/m
3

Calculate the moist mass and dry mass of the excavated soil.

Calculate the volume of the hole you excavated

Calculate the total and dry unit weights of the in situ soil
 Calculate the water content of the in situ soil

Calculate the degree of saturation of the in situ soil assuming the specific gravity of the solids, G s
is 2.70.

Discuss potential and actual sources of error in the procedures and calculations.

Assume you did this sand cone test for control of a compacted fill. The specifications require that the soil be compacted at least 20% dry of optimum saturation to a dry density of at least 90% of the maximum value, where S opt
= 80% and
γ dmax
= 125 pcf.
Did this soil meet each of these specifications? If not, what would have to be done to bring this soil within specifications?

Why do we use uniform (poorly graded) density sand for the Sand Cone test? Why not use well graded density sand instead?

What other ways are there to determine in-situ unit weight and water content?

What are the limitations of the Sand Cone Test? It used to be the standard test to determine dry unit weight and water content for compaction control. It now has been largely replaced by the nuclear density gage. Why?

What are some situations where the sand cone or similar test might be used in a geotechnical engineering application? In a structural engineering application? In a transportation engineering application? n an environmental engineering application?
In a water resources engineering application?

Why is compaction control important?
©2007-2012 Bret N. Lingwall and Evert C. Lawton Page 3 of 4

Sand Cone Test
Group Member Names:
Test Date:
In Situ Soil Description :
CALIBRATION OF SAND CONE APPARATUS
Initial Mass of Jar +
Sand + Funnel (g)
Final Mass of Jar +
Sand + Funnel (g)
Mass of Sand Filling
Funnel + Hole in Base
Plate, M
1
(g) Trial No.
1
2
3
M
1-avg
=
CALIBRATION OF DENSITY SAND
Dimension of Mold
Height, h
(in. or mm) Location
1
2
3 h avg
and d avg
→
Mass of Sand Filling Mold
Diameter, d
(in. or mm)
Trial No.
1
2
3
Initial Mass of Jar +
Sand + Funnel (g)
Final Mass of Jar +
Sand + Funnel (g)
Mass of Sand Filling
Funnel + Hole in Base
Plate, M
2
(g)
MOIST AND DRY MASSES OF EXCAVATED SOIL
Mass of Empty Pan (g) =
Mass of Pan + Moist Soil (g) =
Mass of Pan + Dry Soil (g) =
Mass of Moist Soil, M t
(g) =
Mass of Dry Soil, M s
(g) =
M
2-avg
=
MASS OF DENSITY SAND IN EXCAVATED HOLE + APPARATUS
Initial Mass of Jar + Sand + Funnel (g) =
Final Mass of Jar + Sand + Funnel (g) =
Mass of Sand in Exc. Hole + Apparatus, M
3
(g) =
©2007-2012 Bret N. Lingwall and Evert C. Lawton Page 4 of 4