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Designation: D 2922 – 96e1

Standard Test Methods for

Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate in Place by Nuclear
Methods (Shallow Depth)1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2922; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

e1 NOTE—Table 1 was corrected editorially in December 1997.

1. Scope mer and 12-in. (305-mm) Drop2

1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the total D 1557 Test Method for Moisture-Density Relations of Soil
or wet density of soil and soil-rock mixtures by the attenuation and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures Using 10-lb (4.54-kg) Ram-
of gamma radiation where the source and detector(s) remain on mer and 18-in. (457-mm) Drop2
the surface (Backscatter Method) or the source or detector is D 2216 Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water
placed at a known depth up to 300 mm (12 in.) while the (Moisture) Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate
detector(s) or source remains on the surface (Direct Transmis- Mixtures2
sion Method). D 3017 Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock
1.2 The density in mass per unit volume of the material In-Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)2
under test is determined by comparing the detected rate of D 4253 Test Method for Maximum Index Density and Unit
gamma radiation with previously established calibration data. Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table2
1.3 The values tested in SI units are to be regarded as the D 4643 Test Method for Determination of Water Content by
standard. The inch-pound equivalents may be approximate. the Microwave Oven Method2
1.4 It is common practice in the engineering profession to D 4718 Practice for Correction of Unit Weight and Water
concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm) Content for Soils Containing Oversize Particles2
and a unit of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two separate D 4944 Test Method for Field Determination of Water
systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the gravita- (Moisture) Content of Soil by the Calcium Carbide Gas
tional system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the use Pressure Tester Method3
of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single D 4959 Test Method for Determination of Water (Moisture)
standard. This standard has been written using the gravitational Content by Direct Heating Method3
system of units when dealing with the inch-pound system. In 3. Significance and Use
this system the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight).
However, the use of balances or scales recording pounds of 3.1 The test methods described are useful as rapid, nonde-
mass (lbm), or the recording of density in lbm/ft 3 should not be structive techniques for the in-place determination of density of
regarded as nonconformance with this standard. soil and rock.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.2 The test methods are suitable for quality control and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the acceptance testing for construction and for research and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- development applications.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.3 The nondestructive nature of the tests allow repetitive
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific Hazard measurements to be made at a single test location.
statements, see Section 6. 4. Interferences
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 The chemical composition of the sample may affect the
2.1 ASTM Standards: measurement, and adjustments may be necessary.
D 698 Test Method for Moisture-Density Relations of Soil 4.2 The test methods exhibit spatial bias in that the instru-
and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures Using 5.5-lb (2.49-kg) Ram- ment is more sensitive to the density of the material in close
proximity to the surface (Backscatter Method only).
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on NOTE 1—The nuclear gauge density measurements are somewhat
Soil and Rock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.08 on Special
and Construction Control Tests.
2
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1996. Published February 1997. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
3
published as D 2922 – 71. Last previous edition D 2922 – 91. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 2922
biased to the surface layers of the soil being tested. This bias has largely may change the relationship between count rate and material
been corrected out of the direct transmission method and any remaining density. To offset this aging, the gage may be calibrated as the
bias is insignificant. The backscatter method is still more sensitive to the ratio of the measured count rate to a count rate made on a
material within the first several inches from the surface.
reference standard or to an air-gap count (for the backscatter
4.3 Oversize rocks or large voids in the source-detector path air-gap technique, see 9.5.1.3). The reference count rate should
may cause higher or lower density determination. Where lack be of the same order of magnitude as the measured count rate
of uniformity in the soil due to layering, rock or voids is over the useful density range of the instrument.
suspected, the test volume site should be dug up and visually 8.2 Standardization of the gage shall be performed at the
examined to determine if the test material is representative of start of each day’s work, and a permanent record of these data
the full material in general and if rock correction (see 9.6) is shall be retained. Perform the standardization with the gage
required. located at least 8 m (25 ft) away from other sources of
4.4 The sample volume is approximately 0.0028 m 3 (0.10 radioactive material, and clear of large masses or other items
ft ) for the Backscatter Method and 0.0057 m 3 (0.20 ft3) for the
3
which may affect the reference count rate.
Direct Transmission Method when the test depth is 15 cm (6 8.2.1 If recommended by the instrument manufacturer to
in.). The actual sample volume is indeterminate and varies with provide more stable and consistent results: (1) turn on the
the apparatus and the density of the material. In general, the gauge prior to use to allow it to stabilize, (2) leave the power
higher the density the smaller the volume. on during the use of the gage for that day.
5. Apparatus 8.2.2 Using the reference standard, take at least four repeti-
5.1 Nuclear Gage—An electronic counting instrument, ca- tive readings at the normal measurement period and determine
pable of being seated on the surface of the material under test, the mean. If available on the gage, one measurement period of
and which contains: four or more times the normal period is acceptable. This
5.1.1 A sealed source of high energy gamma radiation such constitutes one standardization check.
as cesium or radium. 8.2.3 If the value obtained above is within the limits stated
5.1.2 Gamma Detector—Any type of gamma detector such below, the gage is considered to be in satisfactory condition,
as a Geiger-Mueller tube(s). and the value may be used to determine the count ratios for the
5.2 Reference Standard—A block of material used for day of use. If the value is outside these limits, allow additional
checking instrument operation and to establish conditions for a time for the gage to stabilize, make sure the area is clear of
reproducible reference count rate. sources of interference, and then conduct another standardiza-
5.3 Site Preparation Device—A plate, straightedge, or other tion check. If the second standardization check is within the
suitable leveling tool which may be used for planning the test limits, the gage may be used, but if it also fails the test, the
site to the required smoothness, and in the Direct Transmission gage shall be adjusted or repaired as recommended by the
Method, guiding the drive pin to prepare a perpendicular hole. manufacturer. The limits are as follows:
5.4 Drive Pin—A pin of slightly larger diameter than the | Ns 2 No | |La 2.0 =No/F (1)
rod in the Direct Transmission Instrument, used to prepare a
hole in the material under test for inserting the rod. where:
5.5 Drive Pin Extractor—A tool that may be used to remove Ns = value of current standardization count,
the drive pin in a vertical direction so that the pin will not No = average of the past four values of Ns taken for prior
distort the hole in the extraction process. usage, and
5.5.1 A slide hammer, with a drive pin attached, may also be F = value of prescale. [The prescale value (F) is a divisor
used both to prepare a hole in the material to be tested and to which reduces the actual value for the purpose of
extract the pin without distortion to the hole. display. The manufactor will supply this value if other
than 1.0.] Some instruments may have provisions to
6. Hazards compute and display these values.
6.1 This equipment utilizes radioactive materials that may 8.2.3.1 If the instrument standardization has not been
be hazardous to the health of the users unless proper precau- checked within the previous three months, perform at least four
tions are taken. Users of this equipment must become familiar new standardization checks, and use the mean as the value for
with applicable safety procedures and government regulations. No.
6.2 Effective user instructions together with routine safety 8.3 Use the value of Ns to determine the count ratios for the
procedures, such as source leak tests, recording and evaluation current day’s use of the instrument. If for any reason the
of film badge data, etc., are a recommended part of the measured density becomes suspect during the day’s use,
operation and storage of this instrument. perform another standardization check.
7. Calibration
9. Procedure for Field Use
7.1 Calibration of the instrument will be in accordance with
Annex A1. 9.1 Standardize the gage. (See Section 8.)
9.2 Select a test location. If the gage will be closer than 250
8. Standardization and Reference Check mm (10 in.) to any vertical mass that might influence the result,
8.1 Nuclear gages are subject to long-term aging of the such as in a trench or alongside a pipe, follow the manufac-
radioactive source, detectors, and electronic systems, which turer’s correction procedure.

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 D 2922
9.3 Remove all loose and disturbed material. Remove addi- 9.5.2.6 Pull gently on the gage in the direction that will
tional material as necessary to reach the material that repre- bring the side of the probe against the side of the hole that is
sents a valid sample of the zone or stratum to be tested. Surface closest to the detector (or source) location in the gauge
drying and spatial bias should be considered in determining the housing.
depth of material to be removed. 9.5.2.7 Keep all other radioactive sources away from the
9.4 Plane or scrape a smooth horizontal surface so as to gage to avoid affecting the measurement.
obtain maximum contact between the gage and the material 9.5.2.8 Secure and record one or more readings for the
being tested. The placement of the gage on the surface of the normal measurement period.
material to be tested is always important, but is especially 9.5.2.9 Determine the ratio of the reading to the standard
critical to the successful determination of density when using count. From this count ratio and the appropriate calibration and
the backscatter method. The optimum condition in all cases, is adjustment data, determine the in-place wet density.
total contact between the bottom surface of the gauge and the NOTE 3—Some instruments have built-in provisions to compute the
surface of the material being tested. To correct for surface ratio, wet density, and to enter an adjustment bias. Additionally some
irregularities, use of native fines or fine sand as a filler may be instruments may have provisions to measure and compute moisture
necessary. The depth of the filler should not exceed approxi- content, and dry density.
mately 3 mm (1⁄8 in.) and the total area filled should not exceed 9.6 If the volume tested as defined in 4.4 has excess oversize
10 % of the bottom area of the instrument. The maximum material with respect to the limitations in the appropriate Test
depth of any void beneath the gage that can be tolerated Methods D 698, D 1557 or D 4253, then a correction for wet
without filling shall not exceed approximately 3 mm (1⁄8 in.). density (unit weight) and water content must be applied. This
Several trial seatings may be required to achieve these condi- correction will be done in accordance with Practice D 4718.
tions. This test method requires sampling from the actual test
9.5 Proceed with the test in the following manner: volume.
9.5.1 Backscatter Procedure: 9.6.1 If samples of the measure material are to be taken for
9.5.1.1 Seat the gage firmly on the prepared test site. purposes of correlation with other test methods or rock
9.5.1.2 Keep all other radioactive sources away from the correction, the volume measured can be approximated by a 200
gauge to avoid affecting the measurement so as not to affect the mm (8 in.) diameter cylinder located directly under the center
readings. line of the radioactive source and detector(s). The height of the
9.5.1.3 Secure and record one or more readings for the cylinder to be excavated will be the depth setting of the source
normal measurement period in the backscatter position. rod when using the Direct Transmission method or approxi-
NOTE 2—When using the backscatter air-gap procedure, follow the mately 75 mm (3 in.) when using the Backscatter Method.
instrument manufacturers instructions regarding apparatus set up. Take the 9.6.2 An alternative to the correction for oversize particles,
same number of readings for the normal measurement period in the that can be used with mass density methods or minimal
air-gap position as in the standard backscatter position. Determine the oversize situations, involves multiple tests. Tests may be taken
air-gap ratio by dividing counts per minute obtained in the air-gap position at adjacent locations and the results averaged to get a repre-
by counts per minute obtained in standard backscatter position. sentative value. Comparisons need to be made to evaluate
9.5.1.4 Determine the ratio of the reading to the standard whether the presence of a single large rock or void in the soil
count or to the air gap count. From this count ratio and the is producing unrepresentative values of density. Whenever
appropriate calibration and adjustment data, determine the values obtained are questionable, the test volume site should be
in-place wet density. dug up and visually examined.
9.5.2 Direct Transmission Procedure:
9.5.2.1 Make a hole perpendicular to the prepared surface 10. Calculation of Results
using the guide and the hole-forming device (5.4), or by 10.1 The in-place wet density is determined as outlined in
drilling if necessary. The hole shall be of such depth and 9.5. If dry density is required, the in-place water content shall
alignment that insertion of the probe will not cause the gage to be determined using either gravimetric samples and laboratory
tilt from the plane of the prepared area. The depth of the hole determination of water content (Test Methods D 2216, D 4643,
must be deeper than the depth to which the probe will be D 4959, D 4944), or an instrument which determines water
placed. The guide shall be the same size as the base of the content by neutron thermalization (Test Method D 3017).
gauge, with the hole in the same location on the guide as the 10.1.1 If the water content is determined by nuclear meth-
probe on the gauge. The corners of the guide are marked by ods, Test Method D 3017, subtract the kg/m3 (lbf/ft3) of
scoring the surface of the soil. The guide plate is then removed moisture from the kg/m3 (lbf/ft 3) of wet density, and obtain dry
and any necessary repairs are made to the prepared surface. density in kg/m3 (lbf/ft 3).
9.5.2.2 Proceed with testing in the following manner: 10.1.2 If the water content is determined by other methods,
9.5.2.3 Set the gage on the soil surface, carefully aligning it and is in the form of percent, proceed as follows:
with the marks on the soil so that the probe will be directly over 100rm
the pre-formed hole. rd 5 100 1 W (2)
9.5.2.4 Insert the probe in the hole.
9.5.2.5 Seat the gage firmly by rotating it about the probe where:
rd = dry density in kg/m3 (lbf/ft3),
with a back and forth motion.

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 D 2922

rm = wet density in kg/m3 (lbf/ft3), and TABLE 1 Results of Statistical Analysis

W = water as a percent of the dry mass. Standard
Acceptable
Precision and Soil Average Range of Two
Deviation,
11. Report Type kg/m3 (lb/ft3) Results
kg/m3 (lb/ft3)
kg/m3 (lb/ft3)
11.1 Report the following information: Single Operator Precision:
11.1.1 Standardization and adjustment data for the date of Direct Transmission:
the tests. CL 1837 (114.7) 5.4 (0.34) 15.1 (0.94)
SP 1937 (120.9) 4.3 (0.27) 11.9 (0.74)
11.1.2 Make, model and serial number of the test instru- ML 2084 (130.1) 7.4 (0.46) 20.5 (1.28)
ment. Backscatter:
11.1.3 Name of the operator(s). ML 1996 (124.6) 19.4 (1.21) 54.3 (3.39)
Multilaboratory Precision:
11.1.4 Test site identification. Direct Transmission:
11.1.5 Visual description of material tested. CL 1837 (114.7) 10.6 (0.66) 29.8 (1.86)
11.1.6 Test mode (backscatter or direct transmission) and SP 1937 (120.9) 10.9 (0.68) 30.6 (1.91)
ML 2084 (130.1) 12.3 (0.77) 34.4 (2.15)
test depth (if applicable). Backscatter:
11.1.7 Wet and dry densities in kg/m3 or unit weights in ML 1996 (124.6) 38.1 (2.38) 107 (6.67)
lb/ft3.
11.1.8 Water content in percent of dry mass or dry unit
weight. 12.1.2.1 Instrument count precision is defined as the change
12. Precision and Bias in density that occurs corresponding to a one standard devia-
tion change in the count due to the random decay of the
12.1 Precision:
radioactive source. The density of the material and the time
12.1.1 Precision—Criteria for judging the acceptability of
period of the count must be stated. It may be determined from
wet density test results obtained by this test method are given
a series of 20 or more counts taken without moving the
in Table 1. The figure in column three represents the standard
instrument, or alternately from the calibration data using the
deviations that have been found to be appropriate for the
assumption that s is equal to the − count at that density. The
materials tested in column one. The figures given in column
count must be the true instrument count corrected for any
four are the limits that should not be exceeded by the difference
pre-scaling (see 8.2.3).
between the results of two properly conducted tests. The
figures given are based upon an interlaboratory study in which s
P5 S (3)
five test sites containing soils, with wet densities as shown in
column two were tested by eight different devices and opera- where:
tors. The wet density of each test site was determined three P = instrument precision in density (kg/m3 or lbf/ft3)
times by each device.4 s = one standard deviation of the count
12.1.2 An instrument count precision of 8 kg/m3 (0.5 lbf/ft3) S = the slope of the calibration curve at the defined density
for the Backscatter Method and 4 kg/m 3 (0.25 lbf/ft3) Direct value.
Transmission Method are typical on a material of approxi- 12.2 Bias:
mately 2000 kg/m3 (125 lbf/ft3) density, with a measurement 12.2.1 There is no accepted reference value for this test
time of one minute. method, therefore, bias cannot be determined.

4
13. Keywords
The data used to establish this precision statement is contained in a Research
Report available from ASTM Headquarters. Request RR:D18-1004. 13.1 density; field density; nuclear methods

ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. CALIBRATION

A1.1 Verify or re-establish calibration curves, tables, or is influenced by the chemical composition of measured mate-
equation coefficients at least once every 12 to 18 months and rial. This response must be taken into account in establishing
after all major repairs which may affect the instrument geom- the assigned standard block density. The densities of materials
etry. used to establish or verify the calibration should extend
through a range representative of the density of the materials to
A1.2 The instrument shall be calibrated in such a way as to
be tested. The density of these material standards shall be
produce a calibration response within6 16 kg/m3 (6 1.0
determined to an accuracy of 6 0.2 %.
lbf/ft3) on blocks of materials (standards) of established den-
sities. (This calibration may be done by the manufacturer, the A1.3 Sufficient data shall be taken on each density standard
user, or an independent vendor.) Nuclear instrument response to ensure an instrument count precision of at least one-half the

4
 D 2922
instrument count precision required for field use. The data may the Direct Transmission Method the depth shall be at least 50
be presented in the form of a graph, table, equation coefficients, mm (2 in.) deeper than the deepest rod depth. A larger surface
or stored in the gauge, to allow covering the count rate data to area may be required for the Backscatter Air-Gap technique.
material density. Minimum surface dimensions may be reduced slightly if the
standards are adjacent to a dense material.
A1.4 The method and test procedures used in establishing
the calibration count rate data shall be the same as those used
A1.7 The most successful standards that have been estab-
for obtaining the field count rate data.
lished for accurate calibration have been made of aluminum,
A1.5 The material type, actual density and assigned stan- magnesium, aluminum/magnesium, granite and limestone.
dard block density of each calibration standard used to estab- These standards have been used in combination with each other
lish or verify the instrument calibration shall be stated as part and with historical curve information to produce accurate and
of the calibration data. reliable calibration.
A1.6 The standards shall be of sufficient size to not change A1.7.1 Standards of soil, rock, and concrete that have the
the count rate if enlarged in any dimension. Minimum surface characteristics of reproducible uniformity are difficult to pre-
dimensions of approximately 610 mm long by 430 mm wide pare. These standards may be of use for some special calibra-
(24 by 17 in.) have proven satisfactory. For the Backscatter tion or field calibration where local site material chemistry or
Method a minimum depth of 230 mm (9 in.) is adequate; for background situation require special adaptation.

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