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Field Services: Soil Testing

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Test Method Title

Standard Test Method for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-
Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

Reference Number
ASTM D6938

Material
Field Soil

Test Property
Dry density and moisture content of in-situ soil

Description of Test
This test method describes the procedures for measuring in-place density
and moisture of soil and soil-aggregate by use of nuclear equipment. The
density of the material may be measured by direct transmission,
backscatter, or backscatter/air-gap ratio methods. Measurements for
water (moisture) content are taken at the surface in backscatter mode
regardless of the mode being used for density. The total or wet density of
soil and soil-aggregate is measured by the attenuation of gamma radiation
where, in direct transmission, the source is placed at a known depth up to
300 mm (12 in.) and the detector (s) remains on the surface (some gauges
may reverse this orientation); or in backscatter or backscatter/air-gap the
source and detector(s) both remain on the surface. The density of the test
sample in mass per unit volume is calculated by comparing the detected
rate of gamma radiation with previously established calibration data. The
dry density of the test sample is obtained by subtracting the water mass
per unit volume from the test sample wet density (Section 11). Most
gauges display this value directly.

Preferred Test Sample Size

Number of Test Specimens
project specific

Test Specimen Size

NA

Keywords
Nuclear, density, compaction, gauge

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