Determining the Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method - Soil Properties: Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation - page 198

(2) Determine the volume of the container by the water-filling
method, as described in ASTM D 4253. Completely fill the mold
with water. Slide a glass plate carefully over the top surface (rim)
of the container to ensure that the mold is completely filled with
water. A thin film of grease or silicone lubricant on the rim of the
container will make a watertight joint between the glass plate and
the rim of the container. Determine the mass and temperature of
the water required to fill the container.
(3) Fill the assembled sand-cone apparatus with sand. Invert and
support the apparatus over the calibrated container so that the
sand falls approximately the same distance and location as in a
field test, and fully open the valve.
(4) Fill the container until it just overflows and close the valve.
Using a minimum number of strokes and taking care not to jar or
densify the sand, carefully strike off excess sand to a smooth, level
surface.
(5) Clean any sand from outside the calibrated container. Deter-
mine the mass of the container and sand. Determine the net mass
of the sand by subtracting the mass of the empty container.
(6) Perform at least three bulk-density determinations and calcu-
late the average. The maximum variation between any one deter-
mination and the average will not exceed 1%.
[B] Determination of Mass of Sand Required to Fill
Sand Cone and Base Plate
(1) Fill the assembled apparatus with sand and determine the
mass of apparatus and sand.
(2) Place the base plate on a clean, level, plane surface. Invert the
apparatus and seat the large funnel into the flanged center hole in
the base plate, and mark and identify the funnel and plate so that
the same funnel and plate can always be matched and reseated
in the same position during testing.
(3) Open the valve fully and keep open until the sand stops run-
ning, making sure the apparatus, base plate, or plane surface are
not jarred or vibrated before the valve is closed.
(4) Close the valve sharply, remove the apparatus, determine the
mass of the apparatus with remaining sand, and calculate the loss
of sand. This loss represents the mass of sand required to fill the
funnel and base plate.
(5) Repeat the procedures in (1) to (4) at least three times. The
mass of sand used in the calculations shall be the average of three
determinations. The maximum variation between any one deter-
mination and the average shall not exceed 1%.