5.1 The test method is used to assess the compaction effort of compacted materials. The number of drops required to drive the cone a distance of 83 mm [3.25 in.] is used as a criterion to determine the pass or fail in terms of soil percent compaction.

5.2 The device does not measure soil compaction directly and requires determining the correlation between the number of drops and percent compaction in similar soil of known percent compaction and water content.

5.3 The number of drops is dependent on the soil water content. Calibration of the device should be performed at a water content equal to the water content expected in the field.

5.4 There are other DCPs with different dimensions, hammer weights, cone sizes, and cone geometries. Different test methods exist for these devices (such as D6951) and the correlations of the 5-lbm DCP with soil percent compaction are unique to this device.

5.5 The 5-lbm DCP is a simple device, capable of being handled and operated by a single operator in field conditions. It is typically used as Quality Control (QC) of layer-by-layer compaction by construction crew in roadway pavement, backfill compaction in confined cuts and trenches, and utility pavement restoration work.

Note 1: The quality of results produced by this test method is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of these factors.

1.1 This test method covers the procedure for the determination of the number of drops required for a dynamic cone penetrometer with a 2.3-kg [5-lbm] drop hammer falling 508 mm [20 in.] to penetrate a certain depth in compacted backfill.

1.2 The device is used in the compaction verification of fine- and coarse-grained soils, granular materials, and weak stabilized or modified material used in subgrade, base layers, and backfill compaction in confined cuts and trenches at shallow depth.

1.3 The test method is not applicable to highly stabilized and cemented materials or granular materials containing a large percentage of aggregates greater than 37 mm [1.5 in.].

1.4 The method is dependent upon knowing the field water content and the user having performed calibration tests to determine cone penetration resistance of various compaction levels and water contents.

1.5 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined. Within the text of this standard, SI units appear first followed by the inch-pound [or other non-SI] units in brackets. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.

1.6 It is common practice in the engineering profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass [lbm] and a force [lbf]. This implicitly combines two separate systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the gravitational system. This standard has been written using the absolute system of units when dealing with the inch-pound system. In this system, the pound [lbf] represents a unit of force (weight). However, the use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass [lbm] or the reading of density in lbm/ft³ shall not be regarded as a nonconformance with this standard.

1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.