When to use ASTM D4253 & D4254

[Eapnat]

When and why would one use ASTM D4253 or D4254 for determining density? The specification I’m looking at lists these along with the ASTM D698 and I’m unfamiliar with 4253&4254. The required percent compaction is significantly reduced when testing based on 4253&4254 (i.e. 95 down to 70% for Type A material and 90 to 50% on Type B).

Thank you.

 

[Ron]

Maximum/Minimum density are not usually used to determine compaction for construction purposes. They determine relative density, which can be good for SPT correlation.

For construction QA/QC, use ASTM D698 or ASTM D1557, depending on the type of soil. D698 is often used for fine grained soils (clayey sands, silts, etc.) whereas D1557 is usually used for granular materials.