ASTM_F_3013_-_13.pdf

Designation:F301313Standard Test Method forDensity of Topsoil and Blended Soils In-place by the CoreDisplacement Method1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3013;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.Scope1.1 This test method may be used to determine the undis-turbed(in-situ)in-place bulk-density,moisture content and unitweight of topsoil and blended soil growing mediums using theCore Displacement Method.1.2 This test method is applicable for soils without appre-ciable amounts of rock or coarse material exceeding 1 inch insize.Further it is only suitable for soils in-which the naturalvoid or pore openings in the soil are small enough to preventthe sand used in the test from entering the voids and impactingthe test results.Unlike Test Method D1556,this test method issuitable for organic and plastic soils due to the use of a coreapparatus,and not hand excavation methods.The material shallhave adequate cohesive material or particle attraction toprovide a stable core(core hole)for the duration of the testwithout deforming or sloughing.Therefore this method is notsuitable for unbound granular soils that cannot maintain stablesides.This test method is applicable for assessing compactionof surface layers of topsoil(or blended soils)using a soil smallcore unlike Test Methods D4914,which uses a large volumesoil pit excavation.1.3 This test method is intended for soil typical of growingmediums suitable for sports fields,golf courses and lawn areasthat may include organic material,silts,clays and sand.1.4 This test method is not applicable for soil conditionsin-which the root mass is excessive or in-which the root massincludes woody roots.1.5 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.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1556 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil inPlace by Sand-Cone MethodD4914 Test Methods for Density and Unit Weight of Soiland Rock in Place by the Sand Replacement Method in aTest PitF1815 Test Methods for Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity,Water Retention,Porosity,and Bulk Density of AthleticField Rootzones3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 bulk density of soil,Dbmass of dry soil per unit bulkvolume,(Mg m3).3.1.2 density,Dmass per unit volume,(Mg m3).3.1.3 density of water,Dwmass per volume of water,(Mgm3).3.1.4 particle density of soil,Dpdensity of the soilparticles,the dry mass of the particles being divided by thesolid(not bulk)volume of the particles,in contrast with bulkdensity,(Mg m3).4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Atest hole is cored using a hole-cutter into the soil to betested and the hole-cutter is retracted to remove all soil andsaved in a container.The depth of the hole is measured at fourpoints around the diameter of the core.Points shall be atapproximately 90 apart.The hole is then filled with a freeflowing sand of know volume to determine the volume of thesoil removed.The volume of the soil removed is adjusted toaccount for the volume of the hole-cutter.The removed soil isweight in the laboratory and the in-place wet density of thesample is calculated by dividing the initial moist sample mass1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on SportsEquipment,Playing Surfaces,and Facilities and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee F08.64 on Natural Playing Surfaces.Current edition approved May 1,2013.Published November 2013.DOI:10.1520/F3013-13.2For 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.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 divided by the volume of hole(adjusted for the volume of thecoring apparatus)from which the sample is removed asdetermined by the volume of free flowing sand.The sample isthen dried and weight to determine the in-place dry bulk-density of the soil.5.Significance and Use5.1 This test method can be used to determine in-placedensity of topsoil and blended soils prior to planting or in thedevelopment of a maintenance programs for natural turf sportsfields,planting areas,lawns and golf courses.5.2 This test method can provide builders and maintenancestaff with a quick assessment of the turf growing mediumdensity without the delays associated with formal lab testingprograms.During construction and prior to seeding or soddinghaving a method to quantify in-place soil density will as