Standard Method of Test for

Correction for Coarse Particles in the Soil

Compaction
- Test
AASHTO Designation: T 224-01

1. SCOPE

1.1. This method describes a procedure for adjusting the densities of soil and soil aggregate mixtures to
compensate for differing percentages of coarse particles retained on either the 4.75-mm(No. 4)or
19.0-mm (34 in.) sieve. This is necessary to adjust either the field wet density to a dry density of
the material passing these sieves or the reverse, by adjusting the lab density to the field density
when doing compaction control testing. Comparisons are made by comparing the field densities
with the maximum dry density as determined by T 99 or T 180.

1.2. Two methods are available for correction, either, lab to field or field to lab density. The
method specified in Section 4.1 adjusts the compacted lab density to the field density. The method
specified in Section 4.2 adjusts the field wet density to dry density of the fine fraction and
compares its results with the compacted lab density.

1.3. This test method applies to soil mixtures that have 40 percent or less retained on the 4.75-mm
(No. 4) sieve, when Method A or B of T 99 or T 180 is used, or mixtures that have 30 percent or
less retained on the 19.0 mm (% in.) sieve, when Method C or D of T 99 or T 180 is used. The
material retained on these sieves shall be defined as oversize particles (coarse particles).

1.4. This method applies to soils with any percentage of oversize particles as specified in Section 1.3.
However, the correction may not be of practical significance for soils with only a small percentage
of oversize particles. The person or agency specifying this method shall specify a minimum
percentage of oversize particles below which the method need not be applied. If a minimum
percentage is not specified, this method shall be applied to samples with more than five percent by
weight of oversize particles.

1.5. The following applies to all specified limits in this standard: For the purposes of determining
conformance with these specifications, an observed value or a calculated value shall be rounded
off to the nearest 10 kg/m3 (1 pcf), according to R 11.

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

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

2.1. AASHTO Standards:

R 11, Indicating Which Places of Figures Are to Be Considered Significant in Specified
Limiting Values
W T 85, Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
W T 99, Moisture-Density Relations of Soils Using a 2.5-kg (5.5-lb) Rammer and a 305-rnm
(12-in.) Drop

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TS-1 b T 224-1 AASHTO

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 T 180, Moisture-Density Relations of Soils Using a 4.54-kg (10-lb) Rammer and a 457-mm
(18-in.) Drop
T 217, Determination of Moisture in Soils by Means of a Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure
Moisture Tester
T 255, Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying
T 265, Laboratory Determination of Moisture Content of Soils
T 272, Family of Curves-One-Point Method

3. OUTLINE OF METHOD

3.1. When Method A or Method B of T 99 or T 180 is employed, the total field wet density is
compared with the dry density of the soil particles passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve.

3.2. When Method C or Method D of T 99 or T 180 is employed, the total field wet density is
compared with the dry density of the soil particles passing the 19.0-mm (?A in.) sieve.

3.3. Significant figures are as follows:

3.3.1. Adjusted wet density of the fine material passing the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, Methods A and B;or
19.0-mm (% in.) sieve, Methods C and D; (Of) 1 kg/m3 (0.1 pcf).

3.3.2. Bulk specific gravity of the coarse material retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, Methods A and
B; or 19.0-mm (3/4 in.) sieve, Methods C and D; (G,) 0.01.

3.3.3. Percent by mass, of coarse and fine particles, of material retained and passing the 4.75-mm
(No. 4) sieve, Methods A and B; or 19.0-mm (?A in.) sieve, Methods C and D; (P,) and (Pf)
0.1 percent.

3.3.4. In-place (field) wet density of the total sample (O)1 kg/m3 (0.1 pcf).

4. ADJUSTMENT EQUATION

4.1. Compacted Laboratory-Dry Density Corrected to Field-Dry Density

4.1.1. This section corrects the laboratory density obtained by either T 99 or T 180 for the moisture
content and density of the material retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, Methods A and B; or
the material retained on the 19.0-mm (?A in.) sieve, Methods C and D. The maximum lab-dry
density, adjusted for oversized particles and total moisture content are compared with the field-dry
density and field moisture content. This method is limited to field samples containing 40 percent
or less for material retained on the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, Methods A and B; or 30 percent or less
of material retained on the 19.0-mm (?A in.) sieve, Methods C and D.

4.1.2. Determine the moisture content of the fine particles and oversize particles of the material
used during compaction. The moisture contents can be determined by T 265, T 217, or T 255.
The moisture content of the oversize material retained on the sieve can be assumed to be
two percent for most construction applications. If the moisture content of the oversized material is
generally known, substitute that moisture content in the calculations. It is recommended if drying
equipment is available, determine the actual moisture contents. Calculate the moisture contents
according to the calculations specified in T 265.

TS-1b T 224-2 --`,,,`,,,,``,`,`,``,,,`,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

AASHTO
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~~

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 4.1.3. Calculate the dry mass of the coarse and fine particles as follows:
M D =M,/(l+MC)

where:
MD = mass of dry material (fine or oversize particles);
MM = mass of moist material (fine or oversize particles); and
M C = moisture content of respective fine or oversize particles, expressed as a decimal.

4.1.4. Calculate the percentage of the fine particles and oversized particles by dry weight of the total
sample as follows:
Pf = 100 M D F I ( M D F +M D C ) (2)

where:
Pf = percent of fine particles of sieve used, by weight;
P, = percent of oversize particles of sieve used, by weight;
MDF = mass of dry particles; and
MDc = mass of oversize particles.

4.1.5. Calculate the corrected moisture content and corrected dry density of the total sample (combined
fine and oversized particles) as follows:
MC, = ( M C & +MC,P,)/100 (4)
where:
Pf = percent of fine particles of sieve used, by weight;
P , = percent of oversize particles of sieve used, by weight;
MCT = corrected moisture content of the combined fine and oversize particles, expressed as a
decimal;
MC, = moisture content of the fine particles, expressed as a decimal; and
MCc = moisture content of the oversize particles, expressed as decimal
and
Dd = 100 Dfk/ (D& + k P f ) (5)
where:
Dd = corrected total dry density (combined fine and oversize particles), kg/m3 (pcf);
Df = dry density of the fine particles, kg/m3 (pcf);
PC = percent of oversize particles of sieve used, by weight;
Pf = percent of fine particles of sieve used, by weight;
k = 1000 * Bulk Specific Gravity (G,) (oven-dry basis) of coarse particles, kg/m3,
or 62.4 * Bulk Specific Gravity (G,) (oven-dry basis) of coarse particles, pcf.
Note 1- If the specific gravity has been determined, this value may be used in the calculations.
Determine the Bulk Specific Gravity according to T 85. For most construction activities the
specific gravity can be assumed to be 2.60.
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TS-1b T 224-3 AASHTO

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 4.2. Field- Wet Density Corrected to Compacted-Laboratory Densis,

4.2.1. The in-place total (field) wet density is corrected to a dry density of the sample passing the
4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve or the sample passing the 19.0-mm (% in.).sieve. This adjusted dry density
is compared with the maximum dry density obtained by methods T 99 or T 180.

4.2.2. Determine the moisture content of the total sample and for the material retained on the sieve used
during compaction. Moisture content can be determined by T 265, T 217, or T 255. If using the
nuclear moisture/density gauge, read the moisture content directly from the gauge for the total
moisture content. The moisture content of the oversize material retained on the sieve can be
assumed to be two percent for most construction applications. If the moisture content of the
oversize material is generally known, substitute that moisture content in the calculations. It is
recommended if drying equipment is available, determine the actual moisture contents. Calculate
the moisture contents according to the calculations specified in T 265.

4.2.3. Calculate the moisture content of the fine particles of the field sample as follows:
MCj = ( 1O0 MCT - MCC Pc ) / Pf (6)
where:
MCf = moisture content of the fine particles, expressed as a decimal;
MCT = moisture content of total field sample, expressed as a decimal;
MC, = moisture content of the oversize particles, expressed as a decimal;
P, = percent of oversize particles of sieve used, by weight; and
Pf = percent of fine particles of sieve used, by weight.

4.2.4. Calculate the dry field density of the sample as follows:

Dd = D/( 1+ MCT)
where:
Dd = dry field density of total sample, kg/m3 (pcf);
D = total field wet density, kg/m3 (pcf); and

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MCT = moisture content of total field sample, expressed as a decimal.

4.2.5. Calculate the dry field density of the fine particles of the field sample as follows:
D f = D,Pf4 100- ((D,pc YW))) (8)
where:
Df = adjusted dry density of the fine particles, kg/m3 (pcf);
Dd = total field dry density, kg/m3 (pcf);
Pf = percent of fine particles of sieve used, by weight;
Pc = percent of oversize particles of sieve used, by weight;
k = 1000 * Bulk Specific Gravity (G,) (oven-dry basis) of coarse particles, (kg/m3);or 62.4 *
Bulk Specific Gravity (G,) (oven-dry basis) of coarse particles, pcf, (Note i).

5.1. Since this correction for coarse particles involves no testing but instead utilizes the results of
other tests and mathematically combines the results, determination of the precision and accuracy is
not applicable.

TS-1b T 224-4 AASHTO

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 APPENDIX

Al. NOTES

Al .l. These methods, described for coarse particle correction, are applicable to one type of soil and soil
aggregate material only. If the characteristic of the material changes, then a moisture density
relationship (T 99 or T 180) test is performed to determine a new maximum density.

A l .2. T 272 describes the methods for determining different maximum densities of soil and soil-
aggregate materials, which reveal certain similarities and trends characteristic of the material type
and source.

A l .2.1. Utilization of a Family of Curves-When using the One Point Method (T 272), Note 3 does not
apply. The percentage of oversized particles, when performing the density of soil and soil
aggregate in-place, must be determined to adjust the T 99 or T 180 maximum density to
compensate for this percentage.
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TS-1b T 224-5 AASHTO

Copyright American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Document provided by IHS Licensee=Army Savannah Dist./7838506143, 06/25/2004
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