Introduction:

In this experiment we can determination the density of the soil

direction in the place by using typical details of sand-cone and
balloon density apparatus and we can known the volume of soil
by knowing the volume of sand .

Objective :
determine the density of soil in situ using sand
pouringcylinders .

Equipment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Sand-cone apparatus .
Balloon-density apparatus.
Digging tools .
Friction-top cans [4000 ml (1 gal)].
Sack per group to salvage density sand.

Theory:
1. Determine the moisture content of the soil in the field
W% =W8-W9/W9-W7 *100%
2. Determine the moist unit weight of the soil in the field as
follow
= weight of moist soil from the hole
Volume of the hole(v2)
weight of moist soil from the hole = W8-W7
v2= (W5-W6-Wc)/ d (sand)
I

3. Determine the dry unit weight of the soil in the field as:
d(feild) = / 1+(w%/100)

The procedure:

In this experiment we use the sand cone apparatus and we

work as the following :

Lab work :
1. Determine the dry unit weight of the 20-30 ottawa sand as
will be used in the field
a. Weight of protector mold W1.
b. Pouring the sand into the compaction mold
c. Making the surface level
d. Compaction mold filled out with sand
II

e. Weight of protector mold +sand W2

Dry unit weight d(sand) =(w2-w1)/volume of proctor mold = 1/30
2. Calibrate the cone
a. Fill one gallon bottle with Ottawa sand
b. Weight of plastic gallon +cone+sand before use W3
c. Close the valve of the cone
d. Turn the cone and gallon upside down and place it on the
center of the hole of the base plate
e. Open the valve sand flow frome the gallon to the cone
,after the flow stop close the valve .
f. Weight of plastic gallon + cone + sand before use
Wc = W3-W4
3. Before proceeding to the field , fill the one gallon bottle with
sand. Weight of plastic gallon+ cone +sand before use W5

Field work
4. Go to the field where the soils unit weight is to be measured
and place the metal tray and fasten the 4 screws
5. Under the center hole base plate , dig up ahole about 10 to 15
cm deep, the volume of the hole should be smaller than the
sand volume in the bottle minus the volume of the cone
6. As we are digging the hole but the reticved soil into the
blastic bag in order that the soil doesn't lose moisture
7. Having the valve closed turn the gallon +cone upside down
and place the cone in the center of the hole of tray and open
the valve and pick the assembly up, the sand in the cone will
be poured into the tray
8. The sand in the hole and the over flow sand will be left in the
field , grab all parts and get back to the lap

III

9. Weight of plastic gallon +cone+sand after use W6

10. Weight the 87 evaporating dish W7
11. Weight the evaporating dish +wet soil from the field W8
12. Put the evaporating dish +wet soil in the oven and after
24hrs weight it again W9

Data table:
No.

Sample

Value

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

W1
W2
V1(1/30 ft3)
d (sand)=(w2-w1)/v1
W3
W4
Wc=w3-w4
W5
W6
V2 =(W5-W6-Wc)/ d (sand)
W7
W8
W9
W(%) = (W8-W9)/(W9-W7)*100%
wet(in-situ soil)= (W8-W7)/v2
d(in-situ soil)= wet(row 15) /(1+Wc)

3391.4
4816.9
0.033
43196.97
5511.1
3706.5
1840.6
5507
1716
0.045
524.7
2949.2
2850
4.27
53877.78
29.26

IV

Discussion:
1. we can use other material to find the volume of the hole as
cement and gypsum and others.
2. If we used the balloon density apparatus in loose or lowplasticity soil we will find the problem because the balloon
is not full the hole exactly.

Conclusion:
1. we can find the density of soil in the direct place in two
ways :
the first way that is good by typical details of sand-cone that
can find the density nearly exactly.
Second way that is not good by balloon density apparatus that
too can find the density nearly .
2. we can used some of materials as sand and other to find
the volume of soil .