Density of the soil in place by the Core Cutter Method

Introduction:
This test method sets out the procedure for the determination for the in-situ dry density of
compacted soils in earth works and pavement layers.
The core cutter method consists of driving a core cutter of known volume (1000 cm3) into the soil
after placing it on a cleaned soil surface. The core cutter is usually provided with 25 mm high
dolly. The driving of the core cutter is usually done by hitting the dolly mounted on top of the
cure cutter with a suitable hammer. Then the cutter filled with soil is removed and the excess soil
trimmed off. The cutter with the is weighed. The volume of the cutter is calculated from the
dimensions of the cutter and the in-situ unit weight is determined by dividing the weight of the
soil in the cutter by the volume of the cutter. If the water content of the soil in the cutter is
determined in the laboratory, the dry unit weight of the soil can also be computed.
For construction control, this test method is often used as the base for acceptance of material
compacted to a specified density or to a percentage of a maximum unit weight determined by a
standard laboratory test method.
Objectives:

Objective of this test is to determine the field density by core cutter method.

Apparatus:
The following apparatus are required (Figure 1).
1) The standard density apparatus consisting of steel cylinder and detachable collar.

Figure 1 - Apparatus for Core Cutter Method.

2) A balance of 10 kg, capacity readable and accurate to at least 0.01 g.
3) Miscellaneous equipment such as rammer, straight edge, chisels for digging surrounding
soil.

4) Small containers for moisture content determination.

5) Drying Oven A thermostatically controlled oven capable of continuously maintaining a
temperature of 105 110 C0, throughout the drying chamber.
Procedure:
1) The core cutter was weighted (W1) and calculated the internal volume from its
dimensions (V).
2) The surface of the location to be tested was prepared.
3) The core cutter with the collar on top was placed on the prepared surface and it was
driven into the soil with a help of a hammer.
4) The surrounding soil was dug to take out the core cutter.
5) The both ends of core cutter were leveled off with a straight edge and then it was
weighted (W2).
6) The soil sample was removed from the core cutter and the material was mixed thoroughly
secured and weighed with a representative, sample for moisture determination.
7) Sample was kept in the oven for water content determination and after 24 hours it was
weighed.
Observation:

Observations are given in Annex 1.

Calculations and result:

1.

Volume of the density apparatus in millimeters.

2.

In-situ density of the soil (at least for two trails)

Bulk Density of the soil

3.

bulk = (W2 W1 )
V

The Water Content of the Soil and then the Dry Density of the Soil
Water Content w = MW
MS
Dry Density dry = bulk
(1 + w)

Specimen Calculation:

in kg/m3

Volume of the density apparatus

a) Trail No: 01

In-situ density of the soil

Mass of wet soil

=
=

Bulk Density of the soil

=
=

The Moisture Content of the Soil

Can No:4
Moisture content

=
=

Can No:18
Moisture content

=
=

Average moisture content

=
=

The Dry Density of the Soil

The Max Dry Density
Dry Density

=
=

The Max Dry Density

Relative Compaction

=
=

a) Trail No: 02

In-situ density of the soil

Mass of wet soil

=
=

Bulk Density of the soil

=
=

The Moisture Content of the Soil

Can No:5
Moisture content

=
=

Can No:24
Moisture content

=
=

Average moisture content

=
=

The Dry Density of the Soil

Dry Density

=
=

The Max Dry Density

Relative Compaction

=
=

Discussion:
1) The Limitations of this Test.

One of the common methods of determining field density of fine-grained soils is core
cutter method. But this method has a major limitation in the case of soils containing
coarse-grained particles such as gravel, stones and aggregates, as the presence of coarsegrained particles will adversely affect the test results.

2) Compare the Core Cutter with other Methods of Field Density Determinations.

3) Why is it important to measure the field density? Give examples.

The dry density of the compacted soil or pavement material is a common measure of the

amount of the compaction achieved during the construction. Knowing the field density and
field moisture content, the dry density is calculated. Therefore field density test is importance
as a field control test for the compaction of soil or any other pavement layer.