ASTM D4718/D4718M-15
Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles

Standard No.

ASTM D4718/D4718M-15

Release Date

2015

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D4718/D4718M-15(2023)

Latest

ASTM D4718/D4718M-15(2023)

Scope

4.1 Compaction tests on soils performed in accordance with Test Methods D698, D1557, D4253, and D7382 place limitations on the maximum size of particles that may be used in the test. If a soil contains cobbles or gravel, or both, test options may be selected which result in particles retained on a specific sieve being discarded (for example the 4.75-mm [No. 4], the 19-mm [³/₄-in.] or other appropriate size) and the test performed on the finer fraction. The unit weight-water content relations determined by the tests reflect the characteristics of the actual material tested, and not the characteristics of the total soil material from which the test specimen was obtained.

4.2 It is common engineering practice to use laboratory compaction tests for the design, specification, and construction control of soils used in earth construction. If a soil used in construction contains large particles, and only the finer fraction is used for laboratory tests, some method of correcting the laboratory test results to reflect the characteristics of the total soil is needed. This practice provides a mathematical equation for correcting the unit weight and water content of the finer fraction of a soil, tested to determine the unit weight and water content of the total soil.

4.3 Similarly, as utilized in Test Methods D1556, D2167, D6938, D7698, and D7830, this practice provides a means for correcting the unit weight and water content of field compacted samples of the total soil, so that values can be compared with those for a laboratory compacted finer fraction.

Note 3: When this practice is used for construction control, the using agency should specify whether the maximum unit weight value used for reference is the unit weight including oversize fraction or the unit weight of the finer fraction. Calculated values of percent compaction based on this correction practice will vary depending on which unit weight value is used for reference.

1.1 This practice presents a procedure for calculating the unit weights and water contents of soils containing oversize particles when the data are known for the soil fraction with the oversize particles removed.

1.2 This practice also can be used to calculate the unit weights and water contents of soil fractions when the data are known for the total soil sample containing oversize particles.

1.3 This practice is based on tests performed on soils and soil-rock mixtures in which the portion considered oversize is that fraction of the material retained on the 4.75-mm [No. 4] sieve. Based on these tests, this practice is applicable to soils and soil-rock mixtures in which up to 408201;% of the material is retained on the 4.75-mm [No. 4] sieve. The practice also is considered valid when the oversize fraction is that portion retained on some other sieve, but the limiting percentage of oversize partic......

ASTM D4718/D4718M-15 Referenced Document

• ASTM C127 Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
• ASTM D1556 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method
• ASTM D1557 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft³ (2,700 kN-m/m³))
• ASTM D2167 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
• ASTM D2216 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
• ASTM D3740 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• ASTM D4253 Standard test method for maximum index density and unit weight of soil using a shaking table*， 2024-04-20 Update
• ASTM D6026 Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D6938 Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
• ASTM D698 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft³ (600 kN-m/m³))
• ASTM D7382 Standard Test Methods for Determination of Maximum Dry Unit Weight of Granular Soils Using a Vibrating Hammer
• ASTM D7698 Standard Test Method for In-Place Estimation of Density and Water Content of Soil and Aggregate by Correlation with Complex Impedance Method
• ASTM D7830/D7830M Standard Test Method for In-Place Density (Unit Weight) and Water Content of Soil Using an Electromagnetic Soil Density Gauge
• ASTM E11 Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes

ASTM D4718/D4718M-15 history

• 2023 ASTM D4718/D4718M-15(2023) Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
• 2015 ASTM D4718/D4718M-15 Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
• 1987 ASTM D4718-87(2007) Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
• 1987 ASTM D4718-87(2001) Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles
• 1987 ASTM D4718-87(1994)e2 Standard Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles