Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index …

1 Designation: D4253 00 (Reapproved 2006) Standard Test Methods forMaximum Index density and Unit Weight of Soils Using aVibratory Table1 This Standard is issued under the fixed designation D4253; 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 Standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Scope* These test Methods cover the determination of themaximum Index dry density /unit weight of cohesionless, free-draining soils using a vertically vibrating table.

2 The adjective dry before density or unit weight is omitted in the title andremaining portions of this Standard to be consistent with theapplicable definition given in Section 3 on of The testing apparatus described in this Standard hasbeen developed and manufactured using values in the gravi-metric or inch-pound system. Therefore, test apparatus dimen-sions and mass given in inch-pound units are regarded as It is common practice in the engineering profession toconcurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm)and a unit of force (lbf).

3 This implicitly combines two separatesystems of units; that is, the absolute system and the gravita-tional system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the useof two separate sets of inch-pound units within a singlestandard. This Standard has been written using the gravitationalsystem of units when dealing with the inch-pound system. Inthis system, the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight).However, balances or scales measure mass; and weight must becalculated. In the inch-pound system, it is common to assumethat 1 lbf is equal to 1 lbm.

4 While reporting density is notregarded as nonconformance with this Standard , unit weightsshould be calculated and reported since the results may be usedto determine force or The terms density and unit weight are often usedinterchangeably. density is mass per unit volume whereas unitweight is force per unit volume. In this Standard density isgiven only in SI units. After the density has been determined,the unit weight is calculated in SI or inch-pound units, or Four alternative Methods are provided to determine themaximum Index density /unit weight, as 1A Using oven-dried soil and anelectromagnetic, vertically vibrating 1B Using wet soil and an electromagnetic,vertically vibrating 2A Using oven-dried soil and an eccentric orcam-driven.

5 Vertically vibrating 2B Using wet soil and an eccentric orcam-driven vertically vibrating The method to be used should be specified by theindividual assigning the The type of table to be used (Method 1 or 2) is likelyto be decided based upon available There is evidence to show that electromagnetic tables yieldslightly higher values of Maximum Index density /unit weight than theeccentric or cam-driven It is recommended that both the dry and wet Methods ( Methods 1A and 1B or 2A and 2B) be performed whenbeginning a new job or encountering a change in soil types, asthe wet method can yield significantly higher values ofmaximum Index density /unit weight for some soils.

6 Such ahigher Maximum Index density , when considered along withthe minimum Index density /unit weight, Test MethodsD4254,will be found to significantly affect the value of the relativedensity ( ) calculated for a soil encountered in the the dry method is often preferred because results canusually be obtained more quickly, as a general rule the wetmethod should be used if it is established that it producesmaximum Index densities/unit weights that would significantlyaffect the use/application of the value of relative These test Methods are applicable to soils that maycontain up to 15 %, by dry mass, of soil particles passing a (75- m)

7 Sieve, provided they still have cohesionless,free-draining characteristics (nominal sieve dimensions are inaccordance with SpecificationE11). Further, these test methodsare applicable to soils in which 100 %, by dry mass, of soilparticles pass a 3-in. (75-mm) Soils, for the purpose of these test Methods , shall beregarded as naturally occurring cohesionless soils, processed1 This Standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM CommitteeD18on Soil andRock and are the direct responsibility of Texture,Plasticity and density Characteristics of edition approved Feb.

8 1, 2006. Published March 2006. Originallyapproved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D4253 00. *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 Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Mar 28 10:07:50 EDT 2014 Downloaded/printed byJerry Sayson (Terra Testing Inc) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions , or composites or mixtures of natural soils, or mix-tures of natural and processed particles, provided they are These test Methods will typically produce a highermaximum dry density /unit weight for cohesionless, free-draining soils than that obtained by impact compaction inwhich a well-defined moisture- density relationship is notapparent.

9 However, for some soils containing between 5 and15 % fines, the use of impact compaction (Test MethodsD698orD1557) may be useful in evaluating what is an appropriatemaximum Index density /unit For many types of free-draining, cohesionless soils,these test Methods cause a moderate amount of degradation(particle breakdown) of the soil. When degradation occurs,typically there is an increase in the Maximum Index density /unit weight obtained, and comparable test results may not beobtained when different size molds are used to test a given Standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use.

10 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 Referenced standards :2C127 Test Method for density , Relative density (SpecificGravity), and Absorption of Coarse AggregateD422 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of SoilsD653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and ContainedFluidsD698 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft3(600kN-m/m3))D854 Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids byWater PycnometerD1140 Test Methods for Amount of Material in Soils Finerthan No.