ASTM_D_4544_-_12.pdf

Designation:D454412Standard Practice forEstimating Peat Deposit Thickness1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4544;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This practice uses a technique of probing to estimate thethickness of surficial peat deposits overlying mineral soil orbedrock.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performingone or more specific operations.This document cannot replaceeducation or experience and should be used in conjunctionwith professional judgment.Not all aspects of this practice maybe applicable in all circumstances.This ASTM standard is notintended to represent or replace the standard of care by whichthe adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,nor should this document be applied without consideration ofa projects many unique aspects.The word“Standard”in thetitle of this document means only that the document has beenapproved through the ASTM consensus process.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and ConstructionD6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in GeotechnicalData3.Terminology3.1 For definitions of common terms used in this standard,refer to Terminology D653.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 peata naturally occurring organic substance derivedprimarily from plant materials.4.Summary of Practice4.1 The resistance to penetration of a pushed or driven rodwill increase sharply at the boundary of a peat layer withunderlying mineral soil or bedrock.When this abrupt change ismeasured in a series of probings with an appropriate spacing,the thickness and areal extent of peat can be defined and thevolume of peat may be calculated.4.2 Sampling of the peat may be required to determine thepeat characteristics.4.3 All measured and calculated values shall conform to theguidelines for significant digits and rounding established inPractice D6026.5.Significance and Use5.1 This practice allows the determination of the depth atwhich the resistance to penetration of a pushed or driven rodincreases sharply.When the overlying material is peat and theunderlying one is mineral soil or bedrock,the depth of changemay be interpreted as the thickness of peat.Successive arealdeterminations of this depth,in combination with surfacemeasurements of the lateral extent of peat will allow calcula-tion of the volume of peat in the deposit.NOTE1The quality of the result produced by this standard isdependent on the competence of the personnel performing it,and thesuitability of the equipment and facilities used.Agencies that meet thecriteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competentand objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc.Users of this standard arecautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assurereliable results.Reliable results depend on many factors;Practice D3740provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.6.Interferences6.1 Sampling of the zone of contact of peat with underlyingmaterial is usually necessary to verify the interpretations ofmaterial change from the rod penetration resistances.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a Mediumfor Plant Growth.Current edition approved July 1,2012.Published September 2012.Originallyapproved in 1986.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4544 86(2008).DOI:10.1520/D4544-12.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.2 Where the peat mineral transition zone is of signifi-cant thickness,or where the peat is underlain by soft clays ormarls,further sampling and testing will be required(see 7.2).6.3 The frequency of sampling is highly dependent upon thephysical details of the deposit.6.4 Penetration of the rod may be prevented by w