TESTING 7306 Manuale utente

TESTING Bluhm & Feuerherdt GmbH

Production and Sales of

Systems for the Testing of Construction Materials

Motzener Str. 26b

DE 12277 Berlin, Germany

Tel. +49(0)30/710 96 45-0

Fax +49(0)30/710 96 45-98

www.testing.de

Operating Manual

Air Pycnometer, 1 Litre

Type 7306

Equipment Number: 253

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

Importance of this Operating Manual:

Do not place this machine into operation before you understand the function and position

of all control features.

Contents: Page

1. Basic instructions.......................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Pertinent standards and regulations .............................................................................................3

1.2 Purposes for which this device is not intended to be used ...........................................................3

1.3 Safety instructions.........................................................................................................................4

1.3.1 Obligations of the user..............................................................................................................4

1.3.2 Safety features..........................................................................................................................4

1.4 Receiving the system from the forwarding agent; transport..........................................................5

1.4.1 Receiving the system from the forwarding agent .....................................................................5

1.4.2 Transport...................................................................................................................................5

1.5 Scope of delivery...........................................................................................................................6

1.6 Description of the equipment.........................................................................................................6

2. Description of the measuring method.......................................................................... 7

3. Conduct of testing ......................................................................................................... 7

4. Evaluation of the results for water content.................................................................. 8

4.1 Calculating the water content w....................................................................................................8

4.2 Determination of the water content w by using nomographic chart no. 1.....................................9

5. Determining the grain density s................................................................................. 10

6. Additional remarks for improvement of the measurement exactness for

determination of the volume....................................................................................... 10

7. Checking the measuring accuracy............................................................................. 11

8. Air Pycnometer measurements made on cylinder samples ..................................... 12

9. Determination of water content for the Proctor test.................................................. 12

10. Care of the Air Pycnometer......................................................................................... 13

11. Adjustment of the pressure-gauge reading ............................................................... 13

12. Description of the analysis procedure (nomographic chart no. 1)........................... 14

12.1 Determination of the water content .............................................................................................14

12.2 Determination of the grain density ..............................................................................................15

12.3 Determination of various soil-mechanics parameters for soil samples taken from sampling

cylinders in accordance with DIN 18125.....................................................................................17

12.3.1 Determination of the wet soil density..................................................................................17

12.3.2 Determination of the water content ....................................................................................17

12.3.3 Determination of the air content .........................................................................................18

12.3.4 Determination of the dry density.........................................................................................18

12.3.5 Determination of the pore volume......................................................................................19

13. Correction of a volume measurement........................................................................ 20

14. Influence of temperature on the measurement results............................................. 22

15. After-sales service and spare parts............................................................................ 23

15.1 Date of issue of this Operational Manual ....................................................................................23

15.2 Copyright.....................................................................................................................................23

15.3 Contact for help and spare parts.................................................................................................23

Attachments:

Declaration of conformity

Spare-parts list

Exploded diagram and functional elements of the 1-litre manual Air Pycnometer

Sequence of operations; testing the device

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

1. Basic instructions

1.1 Pertinent standards and regulations

This Operational Manual contains the information required for operation of the product

described here, for the purpose for which they have been designed. This Operational Man-

ual is intended to be used only by technically qualified staff.

“Technically qualified staff” is defined as those persons who – as a result of their training;

their experience; the instructions which they have received; as well as their knowledge of

the relevant standards, regulations, accident-prevention regulations, and conditions under

which the product will be operated in the company –have been authorized by the person

responsible for the safety of the company facilities and staff to carry out the activities and

actions required for operation of the equipment described below, and who can recognize

and prevent any possible dangers arising from such operation (this definition of technically

qualified staff has been provided in IEC 364).

The User must by all means observe the requirements and limit values, as well as all

safety instructions, given in this Operational Manual. Any use of this device not in con-

formity with these stipulations shall be considered to be in violation of the use for which

this system was intended. If this device must be operated under special conditions, or with

special modes of operation, then this is authorized only after consultation with the manu-

facturer, and after obtaining his prior and express approval.

The Air Pycnometer method is a test procedure which measures the following soil-me-

chanics characteristics in relatively short time:

Water content: w

Grain density



DIN 18125, Sheet 2, “Determination of Water Content by Fast Procedures,” describes how

to measure the water content w.

The technical testing specifications for soils and rocks, TP BF-StB, Part B 3.3, published

by the German Research Association for Roads and Transportation, describes measure-

ment of the grain density s.

The Air Pycnometer, owing to its engineering design and simple operation, is especially

well suited for use on construction sites.

This Operating Manual provides a detailed description of the conduct of testing and an

evaluation of test results, as well as a description of the monitoring possibilities to assure

the functionability of the device. The following instructions pertain to the testing of soil

samples. They apply to the Air Pycnometer with a testing volume of 1,000 ml.

1.2 Purposes for which this device is not intended to be used

This Air Pycnometer is not intended to be used for construction materials that are different

from those stated in Section 1.1 above.

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

1.3 Safety instructions

1.3.1 Obligations of the user

This Air Pycnometer has been designed and built in accordance with the state of the en-

gineering art and with the accepted rules of good engineering practice. The use of this Air

Pycnometer, however, can cause danger to the health and safety of the User and third

parties. It can also cause damage to mechanical parts or to other objects of value.

The Operator of the Air Pycnometer is responsible to ensure that he or she does not en-

danger himself/herself or any other persons in the operation of this equipment. Only those

persons who have received instruction in the operation of this Air Pycnometer are author-

ized to operate this device alone and under their own responsibility.

If there are any malfunctions or other trouble that could cause dangerous situations to

arise in work with the Air Pycnometer, these difficulties must be corrected in all cases

before working with the machine.

The Air Pycnometer may be used only:

For the purposes for which it was intended

If it is in completely satisfactory technical condition with regard to safety in operation.

If there are any malfunctions or other trouble that could cause dangerous situations to

arise in work with the Air Pycnometer, these difficulties must be corrected in all cases

before working with the machine.

1.3.2 Safety features

Protection of the hand ump during transport

To prevent damage to the hand pump during transport, screw down the pump rod. Use

the round head with the thread to screw the pump rod into the upper part of the Air Pyc-

nometer.

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

1.4 Receiving the system from the forwarding agent; transport

1.4.1 Receiving the system from the forwarding agent

When the system arrives from the forwarding agent, make an external inspection. If there

are no visible damages or other shortcomings, accept the consignment from the freight

forwarder (the package service or a haulage agent).

If there are no transport damages or other shortcomings, use the bill of delivery to check

to make sure that the delivery is complete.

If you believe that transport damage may have taken place when you receive the equip-

ment, or if you discover after you have accepted the delivery that damage has occurred,

immediately make a report of this damage, with an exact description of the nature and the

extent of the damage. Send this report to us immediately by fax. Important: Be sure not to

make any changes or other alterations to the system as it has been delivered.

When we receive this report, we shall decide whether we can solve the difficulty by one

of the following steps:

Delivery to you of spare parts

Sending a specialist fitter or mechanic to your company

Asking for return of the system to us for replacement or repair.

1.4.2 Transport

The Air Pycnometer is delivered in suitable carton packing. Filling material is placed in the

remaining empty spaces to prevent transport damages.

After being unpacked, use the handles to move the Air Pycnometer by hand to its place of

use.

Store the Air Pycnometer in an upright position. Do not allow the Air Pycnometer to be

subject to impacts or vibration that could harm the sensitive pressure gauge. Before

transport, be sure to screw in the pump rod as described above.

The weight is approx. 5.9 kg.

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

1.5 Scope of delivery

Air Pycnometer

As options, at additional price:

Attachment ring for filling the meter

Transport container

Tamper and straightedge for striking off

If you request, we can deliver, as an option at extra cost, a calibration record for use as

proof of monitoring of testing equipment. This can be important as part of your quality

management system.

1.6 Description of the equipment

1 Test pot

2 Star handle

3 Correction valve for the air chamber

4 Air pump

5 Precision pressure gauge (accuracy class as per DIN 18 070)

6 Pressure equalization valve

7 Air chamber

8 Air-vent valve

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the Air Pycnometer

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

2. Description of the measuring method

Fill the soil sample into the pressure-tight test pot (1). Operate the air pump (4) to build up

an air pressure of approx. 2.35 bar in the air chamber (7). Now use the correction valve

for the air chamber (3) to exactly regulate the air pressure to precisely 2.30 bar. Now op-

erate the pressure equalization valve (6) to allow the excess pressure to pass through this

valve into the test pot. A pressure between the test pot (1) and the air chamber (7) will

now develop that represents an average between these vessels. Measure this pressure

with the precision pressure gauge (5). Now use this pressure together with the nomo-

graphic charts provided with every Air Pycnometer to determine the volumes of the solid

and liquid constituents of the soil sample. Use these volume results, the mass of the wet

sample, and the known grain density to calculate the water content w.

3. Conduct of testing

First determine the mass mKof the test pot. Then fill the sample into the test pot, one layer

at a time. Use the tamper to thoroughly tamp down each layer by hand. The sample should

fill the test pot, but only up to the top edge. Next, weigh the test pot with its sample (mK+

m). Now, carefully clean and slightly moisten the top edge of the test pot and the sealing

ring. Make sure that the air-vent valve (8) is open. Place the upper part down onto the test

pot. Now turn the upper part horizontally by 90 °, and use the two star handles (2) to screw

the upper part down. The tension should be the same in the star handles. The star-shaped

heads of these threaded fastenings have markings. When they are screwed down tight,

the markings will be in the same position, pointing toward the front (i.e., toward the person

who is making the adjustments). This is necessary to prevent fluctuation of the volume of

the pot that could result from different tension in the threaded fastenings. Close valves (3)

and (8). Use the air pump (4) to create a pressure of approx. 2.35 bar in the air chamber.

Important: do NOT screw in the pump piston!

Carefully open the correction valve for the air chamber (3) and vertically knock against the

pressure-gauge lens with the Plexiglas view-direction tube. Use the correction valve to

precisely set a pressure of p0 = 2.30 bar in the air chamber. Always be sure to make this

precision correction when the pressure is falling. When you read off from the pointer of

the pressure gauge, be sure to look through the Plexiglas view-direction tube that is per-

manently attached to the gauge lens. The enclosed nomographic chart no. 1 has been

prepared for the necessary evaluation in connection with this pressure of p0 = 2.30 bar.

Next, close the correction valve for the air chamber (3). Carefully open the pressure equal-

ization valve (6) to allow the air pressure to equalize between the air chamber and the test

pot. You can tell that the pressure has been completely equalized when you knock with

the Plexiglas view-direction tube onto the pressure gauge while valve (6) is open, and the

pressure reading remains constant. While leaving the pressure equalization valve (6)

open, then enter the final, resulting air pressure p1, as shown by the precision pressure

gauge, into the record of testing.

If pressure equalization does not take place within 5 to 10 seconds, and if the pressure

continues to decrease, then the measuring device has a leak. If this is the case, open the

air-vent valve (8) of the test pot. Then take off the cover to the pot and clean the top edge

of the test pot. Also clean the rubber ring and the screw valves. Perform a new test. If

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

pressure equalization again does not take place within 5 to 10 seconds, and if the pressure

continues to decrease as before, then check the entire Air Pycnometer for leaks. See the

instructions in Section 10 of this Operating Manual.

After the first measurement, open the air-vent valve (8) of the test pot to vent the soil

sample. To perform the second measurement, now use the air pump (4) to pump up the

pressure in the air chamber (7) to exactly 2.35 bar. Close the air-vent valve (8). Follow the

instructions given above for the first measurement to regulate the pressure to 2.30 bar by

using the correction valve for the air chamber (3). Continue the second measurement by

following the instructions given above. It is necessary to perform three measurement pro-

cedures as described above. Record the readings as p1, p2, and p3. Now determine the

mean (average) value p for purposes of total evaluation. Now determine the volume by

using nomographic chart no. 1.

After completing the measurements, open the air-vent valve (8) of the test pot. Unscrew

the threaded connection, and lift off the upper part. Finally, thoroughly clean the test pot

and the underside of the cover.

Important note:

Before testing, make sure that the temperature of the soil sample and the temperature of

the Air Pycnometer are the same as the ambient air temperature. If these temperatures

are different even by 1 °C, this can lead to pressure deviations in the two chambers, and

to faulty results. See Section 14 of this Operating Manual.

4. Evaluation of the results for water content

4.1 Calculating the water content w

Calculation of the water content is based on the fact that a two-component mixture (soil

and water) is located in the test pot. The measurement procedure determines the mass m

and the volume V of this mixture. The components of the two-component mixture have

their own specific weight . The Air Pycnometer determines the total specific weight of

both components, the so-called water-saturated grain density m. This water-saturated

grain density results from the ratio of mixture of the soil and the water. The following equa-

tion gives the water-saturated grain density m:

m=

[g/cm³] (1)

Since the pressure has been equalized in the Air Pycnometer, it is not necessary to con-

sider the content of air in the soil sample.

Use the following equation to calculate the water content wof the soil sample:

)1( 



x 100 [%] (2)



s= grain density of the mineral share of the sample

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

4.2 Determination of the water content w by using nomographic

chart no. 1

The enclosed nomographic chart no. 1 enables determination of the water content of

soils with a grain density sof 2.65 g/cm³ (for example, sands and gravelly sand). This is

the basic reference grain density. For different densities, an adjustment factor will be nec-

essary (see example below).

Determine the water content of the soil sample as follows:

Find the intersection of the mean value of the three pressure-gauge readings on the xaxis,

and find the mass m on the y axis. Draw a horizontal line from this point of intersection to

the water-content plot. This new point of intersection will give the water content of the soil

w, in per cent.

For every deviation of the grain density sby 0.01 g/cm³ from the reference value of

2.65 g/cm³, the water content must be adjusted by applying the adjustment factor of

0.25 %. See the example below.

Example:

If the grain density sis 2.69 g/cm³, then there will be an increase in water content wby

approximately 4 x 0.25 % = approx. 1.0 %.

It is possible to use nomographic chart no. 1 to determine the dry density d, the pore

volume, and the air content in soils samples that have been collected with a standardized

sampling cylinder in accordance with DIN 18125-2, with diameter = 100 mm, height = 120

mm, and volume V = approx. ca. 850 cm³.

This makes it possible with a compacted sand subgrade (to take one example) to use only

one measurement to continuously monitor the proctor density Pr and, as a result, the

required degree of compression DPr. You can use nomographic chart no. 2 to determine

the water content wof soils and soil mixtures with grain densities



sfrom 2.50 to 3.20

g/cm³. If it is necessary to determine the water content in aggregate, you can use chart

no. 2 to read off the water content wfor the associated wet mass, along the line for the

corresponding grain density



s= 2.50 g/cm³. It is also possible to determine the water-

cement ratio.

If you determine the water content win the above-described manner, and if you find a

water content of 6 % (for example) on the lower scale, this would mean that 60 litres of

water are contained in 1,000 kg of wet aggregate. Note: Please remember that you read

off the water content at the upper graduations between the



slines 2.80 g/cm³ and

2.70 g/cm³.

The graduation lines, as main graduations, pass through all



slines. Nomographic chart

no. 2 provides the key for determination of the water content.

Air Pycnometer

Model 3.7306

5. Determining the grain density s

The soil sample must be completely dry (oven temperature = 105 °C). Perform the test in

accordance with the instructions under Section 3 above. The grain density sof the soil

sample is calculated as follows:

s=

[g/cm³] (3)

Where:

mt= the dry mass

V= volume of the sample

Chart no. 1 leads the user via the mean value of the pressure-gauge readings: i.e., verti-

cally to the volume and then farther to the intersection with the dry mass of the material,

then horizontally to the scale on the left margin with the scale divisions for grain density.

Chart no. 2 has the scale for grain density a the right margin. The key for this data analysis

is given in the upper section of chart no. 2.

Note:

This conduct of testing requires a high degree of measurement exactness and simultane-

ous checking of the measurement procedures with a reference volume. If the soil sample

to be tested is delivered in earth-moist condition, then the test for grain density should take

place on the earth-moist soil sample –with the water content determined only afterward

by oven drying.

6. Additional remarks for improvement of the measurement

exactness for determination of the volume

The greater the filling volume of the soil sample in the test pot of the Air Pycnometer, the

greater the measuring exactness. When determining the grain density, the volume of the

soil sample should not be under 800 cm³. Since a dried soil sample has a large pore

volume, this pore volume must be filled by adding water (= 1.0 g/cm³).

Procedure:

1. As an example, fill 300 g of water into the empty test pot. The water should have the

same temperature as the soil sample. The fill in the dry material, while stirring, until

the material reaches to approx. 3 mm below the top edge of the test pot. Now deter-

mine the mass mtof the dry material. There are some powdery dry soils that cause a

temperature rise when they dissolve in water. In such cases, check the temperature.

Then perform the three individual measurements, and calculate the mean value for

evaluation.

As the evaluation example shows, the added 300 g of water must be subtracted from

the volume and from the mass of the soil sample in the test pot.

2. When determining the grain density of construction materials, use only the following-

described procedure, which includes the insertion of volume plates. This is because

cements, for example chemically change upon addition of water and correspondingly

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