ASTM International

Standard Test Methods for Determination of the Impact Value (IV) of a Soil
 N D5874

Annotation

These test methods cover the determination of the Impact Value (IV) of a soil either in the field or a test mold, as follows:

Field Procedure A—Determination of IV alone, in the field.

Field Procedure B—Determination of IV and water content, in the field.

Field Procedure C—Determination of IV, water content, and dry density, in the field.

Mold Procedure—Determination of IV of soil compacted in a mold, in the lab.

The standard test method, using a 4.5 kg (10 lbm) hammer, is suitable for, but not limited to, evaluating the strength of an unsaturated compacted fill, in particular pavement materials, soils, and soil-aggregates having maximum particle sizes less than 37.5 mm (1.5 in.).

By using a lighter 0.5 kg (1.1 lbm) or 2.25 kg (5 lbm) hammer, this test method is applicable for evaluating lower strength soils such as fine grained cohesionless, highly organic, saturated, or highly plastic soils having a maximum particle size less than 9.5 mm (0.375 in.), or natural turfgrass.

By using a heavier 10 kg (22 lbm) or 20 kg (44 lbm) hammer, this test method is applicable for evaluating for harder materials at the top end the scales or beyond the ranges of the standard and lighter impact soil testers.

By performing laboratory test correlations for a particular soil using the 4.5 kg (10 lbm) hammer, IV may be correlated with an unsoaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) or may be used to infer percentage compaction.