1. Scope

1.1 This designation outlines the procedures for obtaining undisturbed block (cubical and cylindrical) soil samples.

1.2 Undisturbed block samples are obtained for laboratory tests to determine the strength, consolidation, permeability, and other geotechnical engineering or physical properties of the undisturbed soil.

1.3 Two sampling practices are presented. Practice A covers cubical block sampling, while Practice B covers cylindrical block sampling.

1.4 These practices usually involve test pit excavation and are limited to relatively shallow depths. Except in the case of large diameter (that is, >0.75 m) bored shafts of circular cross-section in unsaturated soils, for depths greater than about 1 to 11/2 meters or depths below the water table, the cost and difficulties of excavating, cribbing, and dewatering generally make block sampling impractical and uneconomical. For these conditions, use of a thin-walled push tube soil sampler (Practice D 1587), a piston-type soil sampler (Practice D 6519), or Hollow-Stem Auger (D 6151), Dennison, or Pitcher-type soil core samplers, or freezing the soil and coring may be required. This practice does not address environmental sampling; consult Guides D 6169 and D 6232 for information on sampling for environmental investigations.

1.5 Successful sampling of granular materials requires sufficient cohesion, cementation, or apparent cohesion (due to moisture tension (suction)) of the soil for it to be isolated in a column shape without undergoing excessive deformations. Additionally, care must be exercised in the excavation, preservation and transportation of undisturbed samples (see Practice D 4220, Group D).

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units are included in this standard.

This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word 'Standard' in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.8 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 requirements prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.

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

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

D1785 Specification for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40, 80, and 120

D2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)

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

D4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples

D5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations of Soil and Rock

D6151 Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geotechnical Exploration and Soil Sampling

D6169 Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling Devices Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Investigations

D6232 Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for Waste and Contaminated Media Data Collection Activities

D6519 Practice for Sampling of Soil Using the Hydraulically Operated Stationary Piston Sampler

Keywords

block sample; block sampling; cylindrical sampling; geologic investigations; intact; sampling; soil exploration; soil investigations; subsurface investigations

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.080.05 (Examination of soil in general)

DOI: 10.1520/D7015-04

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