Designation:D4452/D4452M−22StandardPracticeforX-RayRadiographyofSoilSamples1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD4452/D4452M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope*1.1ThispracticecoversthedeterminationofthequalityofsoilsamplesinthinwalltubesorofextrudedsoilcoresbyX-rayradiography.1.2ThispracticeenablestheusertodeterminetheeffectsofsamplingandnaturalvariationswithinsamplesasidentifiedbytheextentoftherelativepenetrationofX-raysthroughsoilsamples.1.3ThispracticecanbeusedtoX-raysoilcores(orobservetheirfeaturesonafluoroscope)inthinwalltubesorlinersrangingfromapproximately50to150mm[2to6in.]indiameter.X-raysofsamplesinthelargerdiametertubesprovidearadiographofmajorfeaturesofsoilsanddisturbances,suchaslargescalebendingofedgesofvarvedclays,shearplanes,thepresenceoflargeconcretions,siltandsandseamsthickerthan6mm[1⁄4in.],largelumpsoforganicmatter,andvoidsorothertypesofintrusions.X-raysofthesmallerdiametercoresprovidehigherresolutionofsoilfea-turesanddisturbances,suchassmallconcretions(3mm[1⁄8in.]diameterorlarger),solutionchannels,slightbendingofedgesofvarvedclays,thinsiltorsandseams,narrowsolutionchannels,plantrootstructures,andorganicmatter.TheX-rayingofsamplesinthinwalltubesorlinersrequiresminimalpreparation.1.4GreaterdetailandresolutionofvariousfeaturesofthesoilcanbeobtainedbyX-rayingextrudedsoilcores,ascomparedtosamplesinmetaltubes.ThemethodusedforX-rayingsoilcoresisthesameasthatfortubesandliners,exceptthatextrudedcoreshavetobehandledwithextremecareandhavetobeplacedinsampletroughs(similartoFig.2)beforeX-raying.Thispracticeshouldbeusedonlywhennaturalwatercontentorotherintactsoilcharacteristicsareirrelevanttotheenduseofthesample.1.4.1Oftenitisnecessarytoobtaingreaterresolutionoffeaturestodeterminetheproprietyofsamplingmethods,therepresenta...
