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This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-RD-07-052
Date: September 2007

Long Term Pavement Performance Project Laboratory Materials Testing and Handling Guide

Protocol P71
Test Method for Specific Gravityof Unbound Materials (UG13, SS13)

This LTPP Protocol covers the procedures for determining the Specific Gravity of Unbound Materials. The test shall be carried out in accordance with AASHTO T100-95 and AASHTO T85-91 (1996) as described by the following.

This protocol has been developed utilizing portions of each referenced test method and should be followed as written herein.

1. SCOPE

1.1 This test method covers determination of the specific gravity of unbound materials. When the test sample is composed of particles both larger and smaller than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, the sample shall be separated on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve and the appropriate procedures of this test method shall be used on each portion. The specific gravity value for the soil shall be the weighted average of the two values (See Note 1 of AASHTO T-85). If a test sample only contains material retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, then only those pertinent sections of this protocol apply. If a test sample only contains material passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, then only those pertinent sections of this protocol apply.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

2.1 AASHTO Standards

2.1.1 See section 2.1 of AASHTO T-85.

2.1.2 See section 2.1 of AASHTO T-100.

2.2 ASTM Standards

2.2.1 See section 2.2 of AASHTO T-85.

2.2.2 See section 2.2 of AASHTO T-100.

3. TERMINOLOGY

3.1 See section 3 of AASTHO T-85.

3.2 See section 3 of AASHTO T-100.

4. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

4.1 See section 5 of AASTHO T-85.

4.2 See section 4 of AASHTO T-100.

5. APPARATUS

5.1 See section 6 of AASTHO T-85.

5.2 See section 5 of AASHTO T-100.

6. SAMPLING

6.1 Thoroughly mix the sample of unbound material and reduce it to the approximate quantity needed using the applicable procedures in AASHTO T-248.

6.2 Split the test sample on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve by dry sieving and thoroughly washing to remove dust or other coatings from the surface.

6.3 The test sample passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve will be tested in accordance with section 7 of this protocol. If a sufficient amount of material is not present to perform the test (as per section 8.1 of AASHTO T100) then this part of the test is not conducted.

6.4 The test sample retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve will be tested in accordance with section 8 of this protocol. If a sufficient amount of material is not present to perform the test (as per section 7.3 of AASHTO T85) then this part of the test is not conducted.

7. TEST SAMPLE PASSING 4.75-mm (No. 4) SIEVE

7.1 Calibration of pycnometer - This procedure shall be conducted as per section 7 of AASHTO T100.

7.2 Sample - This procedure shall be conducted as per section 8 of AASHTO T100.

7.3 Procedure - This procedure shall be conducted as per section 9 of AASHTO T100.

8. TEST SAMPLE RETAINED ON 4.75-mm (No. 4) SIEVE

8.1 Procedure - This procedure shall be conducted as per section 8 of AASHTO T85. However, section 8.2 of AASHTO T85 is to be deleted, as it does not apply to LTPP testing.

9. CALCULATIONS

9.1 Calculations for test sample passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve shall be performed as per section 10 of AASHTO T100.

9.2 Calculations for test sample retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve shall be performed as per section 9 of AASHTO T85.

9.3 If a test sample contains particles both larger and smaller than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, an average of specific gravity shall be computed as per note 1 of AASHTO T100.

10. REPORT

10.1 Sample Identification shall include: Laboratory Identification Code, Region, State, State Code, SHRP ID, Layer Number, Field Set Number, Sample Area Number, Sample Location Number, and LTPP Sample Number.

10.2 Test Identification shall include: LTPP Test Designation, LTPP Protocol Number, Laboratory Test Number, and Test Date.

10.3 General sample information

10.3.1 Percent of soil particles retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, R1, in percent.

10.3.2 Percent of soil particles passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, P1, in percent.

10.4 Test sample passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve

10.4.1 Mass of oven-dried soil, W0, in grams.

10.4.2 Mass of pycnometer filled with water at temperature Tx, Wa, in grams.

10.4.3 Mass of pycnometer filled with water and soil at temperature Tx, Wb, in grams.

10.4.4 Temperature of the contents of the pycnometer when mass Wb was determined, Tx, in degrees Celsius.

10.4.5 Specific gravity of test sample passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, G2.

10.5 Test sample retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve

10.5.1 Mass of oven dry test sample in air, A, in grams.

10.5.2 Mass of saturated surface-dry (SSD) test sample in air, B, in grams.

10.5.3 Mass of saturated test sample in water, C, in grams.

10.5.4 Bulk specific gravity of test sample retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve.

10.5.5 Bulk specific gravity of test sample (saturated-surface-dry) retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve.

10.5.6 Apparent specific gravity of test sample retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, G1.

10.5.7 Percentage of absorption.

10.6 Average specific gravity

10.6.1 Weighted average specific gravity of test samples composed of particles larger and smaller than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, Gavg. (Use the results from 10.4.5, G2, and 10.5.7, G1, for this calculation)

10.7 Comments shall include LTPP standard comment code (s) as shown in Section 4.3 of this Guide, and any other note as needed.

LTPP LABORATORY MATERIAL HANDLING AND TESTING
LABORATORY MATERIAL TEST DATA
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF UNBOUND MATERIALS
TEST DATA SHEET T71

BASE/SUBBASE/SUBGRADE
LTPP TEST DESIGNATION UG13, SS13/LTPP PROTOCOL P71

LABORATORY PERFORMING TEST:______________________________________________________________

LABORATORY IDENTIFICATION CODE: __ __ __ __

REGION _________________ STATE ___________________ STATE CODE __ __

EXPERIMENT NO _____ SHRP ID __ __ __ __

SAMPLED BY: ______________________________________________ FIELD SET NO. __

DATE SAMPLED: __ __-__ __-__ __ __ __ SAMPLING AREA NO: SA- _____

1. LAYER NUMBER (FROM LAB SHEET L04 AND FORM T01B) __

2. SAMPLE LOCATION NUMBER __ __ __

3. LABORATORY TEST NUMBER __

4. LTPP SAMPLE NUMBER __ __ __ __

5. PERCENT OF SOILS RETAINED ON THE 4.75-mm SIEVE (R1), percent __ __ __.__

6. PERCENT OF SOILS PASSING THE 4.75-mm SIEVE (P1), percent __ __ __.__

7. Mass of oven-dried soil ( W0), g __ __ __.__ __ __

8. Mass of pycnometer filled with water at temperature Tx (Wa), g __ __ __.__ __ __

9. Mass of pycnometer filled with water and soil at Tx (Wb), g __ __ __.__ __ __

10. Temperature ( Tx), °C __ __.__

11. SPECIFIC GRAVITY, G2 __ __.__ __ __

12. Mass of oven dry test sample in air ( A), g __ __ __ __ __ __.__

13. Mass of saturated surface-dry test sample in air (B), g __ __ __ __ __ __.__

14. Mass of saturated test sample in water ( C), g __ __ __ __ __ __.__

15. Bulk specific gravity __ __.__ __ __

16. Bulk specific gravity (ssd condition) __ __.__ __ __

17. Apparent specific gravity (G1) __ __.__ __ __

18. PERCENT ABSORPTION __ __.__

19. WEIGHTED AVERAGE SPECIFIC GRAVITY (Gavg) __ __.__ __ __

20. COMMENTS

      (a) CODE ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

      (b) NOTE ____________________________________________________

21. TEST DATE __ __-__ __-__ __ __ __

GENERAL REMARKS:___________________________________________________________________________
SUBMITTED BY, DATECHECKED AND APPROVED, DATE
____________________________________________________________
LABORATORY CHIEF
Affiliation______________________
Affiliation______________________

 

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