1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the calculation of the density of soil and rock by the attenuation of gamma radiation, where the gamma source and the gamma detector are placed at the desired depth in a bored hole lined by an access tube.

1.2 The density, in mass per unit volume of the material under test, is calculated by comparing the detected rate of gamma radiation with previously established calibration data (see Annex A1).

1.3 A precision statement has not been developed for this standard at this time. Therefore, this standard should not be used for acceptance or rejection of a material for purchasign purposes unless correlated to other accepted ASTM standards.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only and may be approximate.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 6, 'Hazards.'

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids

D1452 Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings

D1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes

D2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Investigation

D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass

D2937 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the Drive-Cylinder Method

D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction

D4428/D4428M Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing

D5220 Test Method for Water Mass per Unit Volume of Soil and Rock In-Place by the Neutron Depth Probe Method

D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data

D6938 Test Method for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

Keywords

depth probe; in-place density; in situ density; nuclear methods; Attenuation (of gamma radiation); Calibration--soil/rock analysis instrumentation; Density--soil/rock/related materials; Depth profiling; Gamma radiation--soil/rock; In-place density (of soil); In-situ soil/rock testing/analysis; Nondestructive evaluation (NDE)--soil/rock/related materials; Nuclear methods; Probe methods; Subsurface investigation--soil/rock;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 93.020 (Earth works. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works)

DOI: 10.1520/D5195-02

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