Slake Test
Slake Test
Slake Test
Slake Test
The slake test measures the stability of soil when exposed to rapid wetting. This test is qualitative
and should be measured on air-dried soil fragments or aggregates.
Considerations: The soil should be air-dry when performing this test. If the soil is not dry,
collect surface fragments as described in Step 1 and allow them to dry. Be careful not to destroy
the soil fragments while sampling.
• Lower one of the sieves into a box compartment filled with water (Figure 9.2).
20
4 Observe Fragments
• Observe the soil fragment for five minutes. Refer to the stability class table below to
determine classes 1 and 2.
• After five minutes, raise the basket out of the water, then lower it to the bottom. It
should take one second for the basket to clear the surface and one second to return to the
bottom.
• Repeat immersion four times (total of five immersions). Refer to the stability class
table below to determine classes 3 through 6.
5 Record Ratings
• Soil stability is rated according to the time required for the fragment to disintegrate
during the five-minute immersion and the proportion of the soil fragment remaining on
the mesh after the five extraction-immersion cycles. [See table below.]
Record the stability ratings for all 16 soil fragments or aggregates on the Soil Data
worksheet.
Stability class Criteria for assignment to stability class (for “Standard Characterization”)
21