Required Sample Size for Testing
Full Fleet Testing
Full fleet testing includes Moisture Content, Standard Proctor, Atterberg Limits, Full Gradation and Permeability test. If
all of these tests are required make sure you collect at least 20 kg of soil, which is equivalent to a full 5-gallon pail.
Water (Moisture) Content - ASTM D2216
| Maximum Particle Size |
Minimum Test Sample Size, g |
| 4.75 mm (No. 4) or smaller |
150 |
| 9.5 mm (3/8 in.) |
750 |
| 19.0 mm (3/4 in.) |
1500 |
MAXIMUM PARTICLE SIZE: The smallest sieve through which 100 percent of the soil-aggregate sample particles pass.
Standard Proctor - ASTM D698
20 kg (One-5 gallon pail)
Atterberg Limits - ASTM D4318
450g
Full Gradation (Particle-Size Analysis), Greater Than No. 200 Gradation - ASTM D422, C136
| Nominal Maximum Size |
Minimum Test sample Size, kg(lbs) |
| 4.75 mm (No. 4) or smaller |
0.5(1) |
| 9.5 mm (3/8 in.) |
1(2) |
| 12.5 mm (1/2 in.) |
2(4) |
| 19.0 mm (3/4 in.) |
5(11) |
| 25.0 mm (1 in.) |
10(22) |
| 37.5 mm (1.5 in.) |
15(33) |
NOMINAL MAXIMUM SIZE: The largest sieve that retains some of the soil-aggregate particles but generally not more than 10 percent by weight.
Finer Than
No. 200 Sieve - ASTM C117
| Nominal Maximum Size |
Minimum Dry Mass, g |
| 4.75 mm (No. 4) or smaller |
300 |
| 9.5 mm (3/8 in.) |
1000 |
| 19.0 mm (3/4 in.) |
2500 |
| 37.5 mm (1.5 in.) |
5000 |
NOMINAL MAXIMUM SIZE: The largest sieve that retains some of the soil-aggregate particles but generally not more than 10 percent by weight.
Hydraulic Conductivity (Permeability) - ASTM D5084
Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeameter (Flex Wall Perm) - ASTM D5084
If the permeablility of an undisturbed sample is required, use a 3 inch o.d. Shelby tube to collect the sample(s). Shelby tubes can be purchased from Solum or any
drilling rig service provider. Solum also offers Shelby tube extractors for surface samples (ie. clay liners).
If you have a disturbed sample Solum will remould the soil to a density and moisture content as specified by the client.
If the client has the remoulding specs (ie. standard proctor results of the soil) then 2000g of soil is sufficient. If soil has particles
greater than 4.75 mm (No. 4) then 3000g is required. If there is no proctor data for the disturbed sample then the standard
proctor test must be performed.
NOTE: ASTM D5084 is the standard test method to determine the hydraulic conductivity (permeability) of fine grained soils where precise
measurements are required.
Falling Head Permeability - Industry Approved Method
The falling head permeability test is performed in conjunction with the standard proctor; therefore, no additional material is
required. The falling head permeability test should only be used as an indicator of the permeability since it is not ASTM approved.
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