Sand Cone Set
STANDART: ASTM D1556; AASHTO T181, T191
LT-S0009 Sand Cone Set | Ø4,52mm
LT-S0009/1 Sand Cone Assembly with Valve | Ø4,52mm İçin
LT-S0009/2 Flanged Metal Base Plate with Centre Hole | Ø4,52mm İçin
LT-S0011 Plastic Sand Jar | 5 Liter
LT-S0011 Sand Cone Set| 12 İnç
LT-S0011 Density Cylinder | 12 İnç
The Sand Cone Set is used to determine the in-place density and degree of compaction of compacted soils under field conditions. The method determines the volume of a test hole using calibrated dry sand. The mass of excavated soil and measured hole volume are then used to calculate the in-place density.
- In-place density testing: Determines the field density of compacted soil.
- Compaction control: Allows field density to be compared with laboratory maximum dry density.
- Sand displacement method: Calibrated dry sand is used to determine the volume of the excavated test hole.
- Two model sizes: 6.5" and 12" Sand Cone Sets are available.
- 6.5" model: LT-S0009.
- 12" model: LT-S0010.
- Valve-operated cone: LT-S0009/1 controls the flow of calibration sand.
- Flanged base plate: LT-S0009/2 provides a stable reference opening over the test hole.
- Sand jar: LT-S0011 provides 5 L capacity.
- Density cylinder: LT-S0012 is available for the 12" system.
- 6.5" set dimensions: 300 × 300 × 550 mm.
- 6.5" set weight: Approximately 4 kg.
- 12" set dimensions: 600 × 600 × 650 mm.
- 12" set weight: Approximately 15 kg.
- Density cylinder dimensions: 470 × 320 × 260 mm.
- Density cylinder weight: Approximately 10 kg.
- Field applications: Suitable for road subgrades, sub-bases, embankments and compacted earthworks.
| Product Code | Product Name | External Dimensions (mm) | Weight (kg) |
| LT-S0009 | Sand Cone Set, 6.5" | 300 × 300 × 550 | 4 |
| LT-S0010 | Sand Cone Set, 12" | 600 × 600 × 650 | 15 |
| LT-S0012 | Density Cylinder, 12" | 470 × 320 × 260 | 10 |
What Is a Sand Cone Set?
The Sand Cone Set is a field testing system used to determine the in-place density and unit weight of compacted soils. It is commonly used for quality control during road construction, embankment works, structural backfilling and other earthwork applications.
During construction, laboratory compaction tests can determine the maximum dry density of a soil. However, the actual density achieved in the field must also be checked. The sand cone method provides a practical way to measure the volume and density of material directly at the construction site.
The current ASTM D1556/D1556M-24 covers determination of in-place density and unit weight using a sand cone apparatus. ASTM also identifies the method as suitable for checking compacted soils used in earth embankments, road fills and structural backfills.
How Does the Sand Cone Test Work?
The operator first prepares and levels the test surface. A metal base plate is positioned over the selected test location.
A small hole is then excavated through the centre opening of the plate. All material removed from the hole is collected so that its mass and moisture content can be determined.
Next, a container filled with calibrated dry sand is positioned over the opening. When the valve is opened, the sand flows through the cone and fills the excavated hole.
Because the bulk density of the calibration sand is already known, the quantity of sand required to fill the hole can be used to calculate the volume of the excavation.
The mass of the removed soil is then related to this volume to determine its in-place wet density. After correcting for moisture content, the dry density can also be calculated.
Determining the Degree of Compaction
One of the main applications of the Sand Cone Set is field compaction control.
The dry density measured in the field can be compared with the maximum dry density determined from a laboratory compaction test such as ASTM D698 or ASTM D1557.
This comparison allows the laboratory or site team to calculate the percentage of compaction and determine whether the soil layer has reached the specified construction requirement.
For this reason, sand cone testing is widely used for subgrade, sub-base, road fill, embankment and structural backfill control.
6.5″ Sand Cone Set
The LT-S0009 Sand Cone Set is the compact 6.5″ configuration.
The set measures 300 × 300 × 550 mm and weighs approximately 4 kg.
Related components include the LT-S0009/1 Sand Cone Assembly with Valve, the LT-S0009/2 Flanged Metal Base Plate with Centre Hole, and the LT-S0011 5 L Plastic Sand Jar.
Its relatively compact dimensions make the system easy to transport between field test locations.
12″ Sand Cone Set
For larger field-density applications, LİYA offers the LT-S0010 12″ Sand Cone Set.
This model measures 600 × 600 × 650 mm and weighs approximately 15 kg. The larger configuration allows a larger test-hole arrangement to be used where required by the material or project procedure.
The product group also includes the LT-S0012 12″ Density Cylinder, measuring 470 × 320 × 260 mm and weighing approximately 10 kg.
ASTM D1556/D1556M-24
The current ASTM D1556/D1556M-24 is titled Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place by Sand-Cone Method and is listed by ASTM as active.
ASTM states that the method is generally applicable to soils without appreciable quantities of particles larger than 38 mm. The test hole must also remain stable during excavation and filling because deformation of the hole can affect the calculated volume and density.
AASHTO T 191-14 (2022)
The current AASHTO reference is T 191-14 (2022), Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand-Cone Method. AASHTO’s 2025 Materials Book continues to list this edition.
The AASHTO method is intended for determining the in-place density of soils using a sand cone apparatus and specifies an application range for materials with particles not larger than 50 mm.
Overall, the Sand Cone Set provides a simple and reliable field method for measuring soil density and evaluating compaction quality without requiring electronic measuring equipment.
