GENERAL
The laboratory
testing procedures for the most commonly performed laboratory tests are
described in the following subsections.
Details of other test procedures shall be as determined by the Owner and
shall comply with the applicable standard requirements.
LABORATORY
CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS
Laboratory
classification of soils shall be carried out in accordance with ASTM: D2487,
Test Method of Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes.
Laboratory
Visual-Manual classification of soils shall be carried out in accordance with
ASTM : 2488, Practice for Description and Identification of Soils
(Visual-Manual Procedures).
Soil classification
shall be provided for all samples unless otherwise is requested by the Owner.
MOISTURE CONTENT
Moisture content
shall be determined in accordance with ASTM: D 2216, Method for Laboratory
Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate
Mixtures.
Tests on moisture
content samples shall be carried out without delay after these samples arrived
at the laboratory. Moisture content tests on relatively undisturbed samples
required, as part of other specified tests shall be carried out immediately
after the samples are opened for the performance of the required tests.
If approved by the
Owner, moisture content may also be determined in accordance with ASTM: D4643,
Standard Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture) Content for Soil by
the Microwave Oven Method.
UNIT WEIGHT OF
RELATIVELY UNDISTURBED SAMPLE
The wet unit weight
shall be obtained by dividing the weight of the sample by its volume. The
volume of the sample shall be determined by measurement or displacement. The dry unit weight of the sample shall be
obtained using the wet unit weight and the moisture content.
The test report shall
include wet and dry unit weights and the moisture content.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Specific gravity
tests shall be made in accordance with ASTM: D854, Test Method for Specific
Gravity of Soils.
The test report shall
include percentage of soil finer than the No. 4 sieve, and the specific gravity
of the soil solids.
When required, the
specific gravity and absorption of aggregates of size coarser than No. 4 sieve
size shall be determined in accordance with ASTM C 127, Test Method for
Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate. The test report shall
include information on the percentage of aggregates retained on sieve No. 4,
bulk and apparent specific gravities and percentage absorption.
SIEVE ANALYSIS
Sieve analysis of
soils shall be made in accordance with ASTM: D422, Standard Method for
Particle-Size Analysis of Soils. Hydrometer test shall not be conducted.
The test report shall
include for each sample tested the gradation curve presented as curve of
particle size versus percent passing by dry weight.
SIEVE AND HYDROMETER
ANALYSIS
Combined sieve and
hydrometer analyses shall be performed on soils in accordance with ASTM: D422.
The results shall be
presented as a curve of particle size versus percent passing by dry weight.
MATERIAL IN SOILS
FINER THAN NO. 200 SIEVES
Determination of the
total amount of material in soils finer than the No. 200 sieve shall be
performed in accordance with ASTM: D1140, Standard Test Method for Amount of
Material in Soils Finer than the No. 200 sieve.
The test report shall
include percentage of soil finer than the No. 200 sieve.
ATTERBERG LIMITS
Atterberg Limits
(Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit) shall be determined in accordance with ASTM:
D4318, Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity
Index of Soils.
The test results for
each soil sample shall include values of liquid limit determined from the flow
curve, plastic limit and plasticity index.
COMPACTION TESTS
In all required
compaction tests, sufficient number of test points shall be obtained to
accurately define the moisture content-dry density curve on both sides of the
optimum moisture content. The minimum
numbers of test points shall be 5, and at least 3 test points shall be at
moisture content higher than the optimum.
The zero air voids curve corresponds to the specific gravity of the
tested material shall be included on all figures showing the moisture
content-dry density curves.
Standard Proctor Test
shall be performed in accordance with ASTM: D 698, Standard Test Methods for
Moisture-Density Relating of Soil and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures Using 2 kg Rammer
and 30 cm Drop.
Modified Proctor Test
shall be performed in accordance with ASTM: D1557, Standard Test Methods for
Moisture-Density Relations of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures Using (4.6 kg)
Rammer and (45 cm) Drop.
RELATIVE DENSITY
TESTS
Relative density of
soils shall be determined on bulk samples in accordance with ASTM: D4253,
Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index Density of Soils Using a Vibratory
Table, and ASTM: D4254, Standard Test Methods of Minimum Index Density of Soils
and Calculation of Relative Density.
The test report shall
include the maximum index density, maximum index void ratio, minimum index
density, minimum index void ratio, in-situ soil deposit or fill dry density,
in-site soil deposit or fill void ratio, and the calculated relative density.
CBR TEST
California Bearing
Ratio (CBR), test shall be performed in accordance with ASTM: D 1883. Standard Test Method for CBR (California
Bearing Ratio) of Laboratory-Compacted Soils.
Test specimen shall
be compacted to dry density of (95) percent of the maximum dry density
determined in accordance with (ASTM: D1557).
SHRINKAGE TEST
The shrinkage limit
of soils shall be determined in accordance with ASTM: D427, Standard Test
Method for Shrinkage Factors of Soils.
The test report shall
include the shrinkage limit, shrinkage ratio, and volumetric and linear
shrinkage of a soil.
STABILOMETER, R-VALUE
TESTS
Resistance (R-Value)
tests of laboratory compacted soils shall be determined with the stabilometer
and expansion pressure devices in accordance with ASTM: D2844, Standard Test
Method for Resistance R-Value and Expansion Pressure of Compacted Soils.
The test report shall
include a graph of R-Value versus exudation pressure.
PINHOLE TEST
Disperse properties
of cohesive materials shall be determined by the "Pinhole Test" in
accordance with ASTM: D4647, Standard Test Method for Identification and
Classification of Disperse Clay Soils by the Pinhole Test.
The test report shall
include the dispersibility and dispersive classification of test specimen in
accordance with Pinhole Test Method (D).
pH TEST
Determination of soil
pH to supplement soil-resistivity measurements shall be determined in
accordance with ASTM: G51, Standard Test Method for pH of Soil for Use in
Corrosion Testing.
The test report shall
include the results of pH measurements and the corrosion potential of the soil
tested.
SULFATE TEST
The sulfate tests on
soil samples shall be performed in accordance with the State of California
Department of Transportation, California Test: 417, Method of Testing Soils and
Waters for Sulfate Content.
The test report shall
include the result of the water soluble sulfate content of the soil specimen
tested in percentage.
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST
The sand equivalent
test provides a measure of the relative proportions of detrimental fine dust or
clay-like material in soil or fine aggregates.
The sand equivalent
test shall be performed in accordance with the State of California Department
of Transportation, California Test: 217, Method of Test for Sand Equivalent.
EXPANSION INDEX TEST
The expansion index
test provides a basic index property of the soil sample comparable to Atterberg
Limits.
The expansion index
test shall be performed in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
UBC Standard No. 29-2, Expansion Index Test.
GENERAL MINERAL
ANALYSIS OF GROUND WATER
General Mineral
Analysis shall include analysis for bicarbonate, carbonate, hydroxide
alkalinity, calcium, chloride, copper, foaming agents (MBAS), iron, magnesium,
manganese, pH, potassium, sodium, sulfate, specific conductance, total
dissolved solids, total hardness, and zinc.
All tests of ground
water shall be performed in accordance with "Standard Methods for the
Analysis of Water and Wastewater", APHA-AWWA-WPCF (American Public Health
Association-American Water Works Association-Water Pollution Control
Federation).
PARTIAL CHEMICAL
ANALYSIS OF GROUND WATER
Partial Chemical
Analysis shall include alkalinity, hardness (Ca, Mg), chloride, nitrate, iron,
manganese, pH, and specific conductance.
UNCONFINED
COMPRESSION TEST
Unconfined
compression tests shall be performed on relatively undisturbed and/or compacted
(remolded) cohesive soil samples in accordance with ASTM: D2166, Standard Test
Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil.
The height to
diameter ratio shall be at least 2.
Tests shall be carried out at in-site moisture content for relatively
undisturbed samples. Compacted
(remolded) specimens shall be tested at the predetermined density and moisture
content prescribed by the Owner. Samples
shall be subjected to compressive stress at a constant rate of (strain). Compression shall continue until (20) percent
(strain) is reached.
The test report shall
include initial moisture content, dry unit weight, a plot of compression stress
versus strain, unconfined compressive strength and shear strength (cohesion).
UNCONFINED
COMPRESSION TEST ON ROCK CORE SPECIMENS
Determination of the
unconfined compressive strength of intact cylindrical rock specimens shall be
in accordance with ASTM: D2938, Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive
Strength of Intact Rock Core Specimens.
The test report shall
include rate of loading and the calculated unconfined compressive strength of
the rock specimen.
TENSILE STRENGTH TEST
ON ROCK CORE SPECIMENS
Determination of the
direct tensile strength of intact cylindrical rock specimens shall be in
accordance with ASTM: D2936, Standard Test Method for Direct Tensile Strength
of Intact Rock Core Specimens.
The test report shall
include rate of loading and the calculated direct tensile strength of the rock
specimen.
CREEP TEST ON ROCK
CORE SPECIMENS
Determination of the
creep behavior of intact cylindrical and soft rock core specimens subjected to
uniaxial compression shall be in accordance with ASTM: D4341, Standard Test
Method for Creep of Cylindrical Hard Rock Core Specimens in Uniaxial
Compression, and ASTM: D4405, Standard Test Method for Creep of Cylindrical Soft
Rock Core Specimens is Uniaxial Compression, respectively.
The test report shall
include stress level and temperature at which test were performed, and plot of
strain versus time curve.
ABORATORY VANE SHEAR
TEST
When required by the
Owner, determination of shear strength (cohesion) of saturated fine-grained
relatively undisturbed and/or remolded cohesive soils shall be in accordance
with ASTM: D4648, Standard Test Method for Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test
for Saturated Fine Grained Clayey-Soil.
The test report shall
include maximum torque reading, type of torque units and the undrained shear
strength (cohesion) of the soil sample.
CONSOLIDATION TEST
USING CONTROLLED STRAIN LOADING
The
constant-rate-of-strain consolidation test provides a means for studying strain
rate effects. This method is not applicable to soils of high permeability or to
partially saturate soils.
Determination of the
rate and magnitude of consolidation of relatively undisturbed and/or remolded
soil samples when they are restrained laterally and drained axially and
subjected to controlled-strain loading shall be in accordance with ASTM: D4186,
Standard Test Method for one-dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils
Using Controlled Strain Loading.
The test report shall
include plot of void ratio versus log of average effective vertical stress or
axial strain versus log of average effective vertical stress, plot of
coefficient of consolidation versus log of average effective vertical stress,
and for tests in which secondary compression date were provided, a plot of
deformation versus log of time.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL
CONSOLIDATION TEST
Determining the rate
and magnitude of consolidation of relatively undisturbed and/or remolded soil
samples when they are restrained laterally and loaded and drained axially shall
be in accordance with ASTM: D2435, Standard Test Method for One-Dimensional
Consolidation Properties of Soils, with modifications as described below.
For relatively
undisturbed samples, the specimen shall be prepared at natural (in-site)
moisture content. The Owner may require
some of the specimens to be tested at the natural moisture, and other specimens
to be inundated prior to loading. The required
test conditions will be indicated by the Owner for each test. The specimens shall be loaded in increments
doubling the previous stress commencing at 1.2 t/m2 up to a stress to be
specified by the Owner. Some of the
tests will require a maximum stress of at least 300 t/m2 and preferably 400
t/m2.
Unless approved
otherwise by the Owner, every increment of loading and unloading shall be
maintained for a minimum of 24 hours or until movements have ceased, whichever
period is shorter.
When required by the
Owner, relatively undisturbed samples prepared for consolidation test at
natural moisture content and/or remolded samples prepared at predetermined
moisture contents and dry densities shall be inundated prior to application of
any load increment. Compression or swell
caused by inundation shall be monitored for 24 hours or until movements have
ceased, whichever period is shorter, before the load increment is applied.
For some tests on
relatively undisturbed and/or compacted (remolded) specimens, the Owner may
require determination of the amount of heave (swell) pressure or settlement
(collapse) by inundating the specimen at a stress of 1.2 t/m2, or at in-site
stress where the samples were obtained, or at may other stress specified by
the Owner. Observations of any additional settlement (collapse) or heave
(swell) caused by inundation shall be made for 24 hours or until movements have
ceased, whichever period is shorter. Should swelling occurs, the heave pressure
shall be determined by adding small load increments until the original
deformation reading just prior or inundation is restored. Testing will then continue under additional
load increments, up to the maximum stress specified by the Owner and then
unloaded. In all tests, after completion
of consolidation at the maximum stress, the specimen shall be unloaded in
decrements at stresses equal to one-fourth of the previous stress, with
observations of swelling movements.
The time-compression
(settlement) curves shall be plotted for each stress increment in two different
ways:
Deformation
(settlement) reading versus square root of the time to reach 90 percent
consolidation (Taylor Method).
Deformation
(settlement) reading versus logarithm of elapsed time (Casagrande Method).
The test report shall
also include for each specimen a plot of void ratio versus logarithm of applied
stress during loading and unloading.
From these plots, compression index, swell index, where possible the
preconsolidation pressure, coefficient of consolidation for each load
increment, and estimates of average permeability coefficient and coefficient of
secondary compression shall be provided for each sample tested.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL SWELL
OR SETTLEMENT TEST
When required by the
Owner, determining the magnitude of swell or settlement of relatively
undisturbed and/or compacted (remolded) soil samples shall be performed in
accordance with ASTM: D4546, Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or
Settlement Potential of Cohesive Soils.
This method will be
used to determine either the magnitude of swell or settlement under known axial
stress, or the magnitude of vertical stress needed to maintain no volume change
of laterally constrained, axially loaded specimens.
The test report shall
include the information required in ASTM: D2435, the percent heave or
settlement for the given vertical pressure and swell pressure. Compression and swell index shall also be
reported.