Earthworks, excavations, foundation construction & underground works

This document deals with the equipment requirements, execution of and reporting of the determination of the bulk density of soils.

NOTE 1    This document fulfils the requirements of the determination of the bulk density of soils for geotechnical investigation and testing in accordance with EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2.

NOTE 2    If required, the dry density of a specimen may be calculated from the bulk density and the water content, if known.

The bulk density of a soil is useful in the determination of the in-situ overburden stresses at various depth (geostatic stresses). Furthermore, bulk and dry density can qualitatively describe the mechanical characteristics of a soil via empirical relationships which are to be found in the technical literature. Such relationships should be used only as guidelines and should be supplemented by direct measurements of the mechanical characteristics.

This document describes three methods:

a)     linear measurement method;

b)    immersion in fluid method;

c)     fluid displacement method.

The linear measurement method is suitable for the determination of the bulk density of a specimen of soil of regular shape, including specimens prepared for other tests. The specimens used are either rectangular or cylindrical prisms.

The immersion in fluid method covers the determination of the bulk density of a specimen of natural or compacted soil by measuring its mass in air and its apparent mass when suspended in fluid. The method may be used when lumps of material of suitable size can be obtained.

The fluid displacement method covers the determination of the bulk density of a specimen of soil by measuring its mass in air and the mass of fluid displaced by immersion. The method may be used when lumps of material of suitable size can be obtained.

NOTE Ideally, test specimens should be at least 50 cm³ in volume, and preferably significantly larger, otherwise the uncertainty of the reported result may not be in accordance with the reporting requirements of this document. 

This document deals with the equipment requirements, execution of and reporting of the determination of water content in soils.

NOTE This document fulfils the requirements of the determination of water content of soils for geotechnical investigation and testing in accordance with EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2.

This document specifies the laboratory determination of the water (also known as moisture) content of a soil test specimen by oven-drying within the scope of geotechnical investigations. The water content is required as a guide to the classification of natural soils and as a control criterion in re-compacted soils, and is measured on samples used for most field and laboratory tests. The oven-drying method is the definitive procedure used in usual laboratory practice.

The practical procedure for determining the water content of a soil is to determine the mass loss on drying the test specimen to a constant mass in a drying oven controlled at a given temperature. The mass loss is assumed to be due to free water and is referenced to the remaining dry mass of solid particles.