Standards Development

Scope

This standard contains those geotechnical laboratory soils test methods that were in BS 1377:1990 that are not in the BS EN ISO 17892-1 to 12 (Geotechnical investigation and testing: Laboratory testing of soils). Reference and comment are also given to tests in BS EN ISO 17892-1 to 12 as it is intended that any reference to soils tests covered by these up-to-date standards will be scheduled and used in UK industry. The test methods covered in full are:

• Determination of saturated water (moisture) content of chalk;

• Determination of linear shrinkage:

• Determination of particle density using a large gas jar;

• Determination of dry density/moisture content relationship (2½kg, 4½kg and vibrating hammer methods)

• Determination of maximum and minimum dry densities for coarse soils;

• Determination of moisture condition value for soils;

• Determination of the chalk crushing value;

• Determination of the California Bearing ratio for soils;

• Swelling and collapse characteristics;

• Dispersibility;

• Consolidation using a hydraulic cell;

• Permeability in a hydraulic cell;

• Determination of anisotropic consolidation in a triaxial cell;

• Undrained shear strength by laboratory shear vane.

Calculation of permeability from triaxial consolidation test data is also included.

Methods commented on and referenced

• Determination of water content BS EN ISO 17892-1;

• Determination of liquid limit BS EN ISO 17892-12;

• Determination of plastic limit BS EN ISO 17892-12;

• Determination of density BS EN ISO 17892-2;

• Determination of particle density BS EN ISO 17892-3;

• Determination of particle size distribution BS EN ISO 17892-4;

• Incremental loading oedometer test BS EN ISO 17892-5;

• Unconfined compression test BS EN ISO 17892-7;

• Unconsolidated undrained triaxial test BS EN 17892-8;

• Consolidated triaxial compression tests on water saturated soils BS EN ISO 17892-9;

• Direct shear tests BS EN ISO 17892-10;

• Permeability tests BS EN ISO 17892-11.

Methods removed Determination for volume shrinkage, which was for the measurement of shrinkage limit (formerly in BS 1377-2:1990:6.3 and 6.4) have been withdrawn for safety reasons as it requires the use of mercury. It is suggested that ASTM D4943 (-18) – Standard test method for shrinkage factors of cohesive soils by the water submersion method, can be used instead.

Purpose

The revised standard will rationalise the most commonly carried out geotechnical soils tests, with updates to references and language, of those test methods and calculations currently in BS 1377:1990 parts 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 that are not covered in BS EN 17892 parts 1 to 12. This will allow the withdrawal of all the laboratory method clauses in BS 1377:1990 that are in BS EN ISO 17982 1 to 12. This will, hopefully, ensure common test methods for theses test to be used by UK industry. It will hopefully remove any confusion in relation to these tests.