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Pop Quiz – Nuclear Density Gauges

By April 24, 2020April 29th, 2020Uncategorized

How well do you know nuclear density gauges?

Nuclear density gauges are often the preferred method for testing the moisture and density of compacted soils – particularly those with a high clay content. Like some other field equipment, nuclear density gauges oftentimes are perceived as “plug-and-play” equipment – a misunderstanding that can lead to all sorts of problems in the field and beyond.

There are many variables that can influence a test and knowing these is not only often the difference between passing and failing test results but also whether the results are truly representative of the post-compaction condition of the soil.

How well do you know nuclear density gauges? Let’s find out in the quiz that follows. For question number ten (#10), put yourself in the shoes of the technician – the contractor needs the test result to continue placement and is breathing down your neck (literally), telling you to hurry up.

  • Nuclear Density Gauges Quiz
  • Density Count

    Moisture Count

    Standard

    20085

    16000

    Test Result

    8105

    4800

      You also notice there are calibration tables in the gauge storage container, and they contain the following information:

    Moisture Calibration Table

    Ratio

    PCF Ratio PCF Ratio

    PCF

    0.202

    10.5 0.440 19.0 0.678

    27.5

    0.216

    11.0 0.454 19.5 0.692

    28.0

    0.230

    11.5 0.468 20.0 0.706

    28.5

    0.244

    12.0 0.482 20.5 0.720

    29.0

    0.258

    12.5 0.496 21.0 0.734

    29.5

    0.272

    13.0 0.510 21.5 0.748

    30.0

    0.286

    13.5 0.524 22.0 0.762

    30.5

    0.300

    14.0 0.538 22.5 0.776

    31.0

    0.314

    14.5 0.552 23.0 0.790

    31.5

    0.328

    15.0 0.566 23.5 0.804

    32.0

    0.342

    15.5 0.580 24.0 0.818

    32.5

    0.356

    16.0 0.594 24.5 0.832

    33.0

    0.370

    16.5 0.608 25.0 0.846

    33.5

    0.384

    17.0 0.622 25.5 0.860

    34.0

    0.398

    17.5 0.636 26.0 0.874

    34.5

    0.412

    18.0 0.650 26.5 0.888

    35.0

    0.426 18.5 0.664 27.0 0.902

    35.5

     

    Density Calibration Table

    Ratio

    PCF Ratio PCF Ratio

    PCF

    0.301

    122.0 0.369 130.5 0.437

    139.0

    0.305

    122.5 0.373 131.0 0.441

    139.5

    0.309

    123.0 0.377 131.5 0.445 140.0
    0.313 123.5 0.381 132.0 0.449

    140.5

    0.317

    124.0 0.385 132.5 0.453 141.0

    0.321

    124.5 0.389 133.0 0.457 141.5
    0.325 125.0 0.393 133.5 0.461

    142.0

    0.329 125.5 0.397 134.0 0.465

    142.5

    0.333

    126.0 0.401 134.5 0.469 143.0

    0.337

    126.5 0.405 135.0 0.473 143.5
    0.341 127.0 0.409 135.5 0.477

    144.0

    0.345 127.5 0.413 136.0 0.481

    144.5

    0.349

    128.0 0.417 136.5 0.485 145.0
    0.353 128.5 0.421 137.0 0.489

    145.5

    0.357

    129.0 0.425 137.5 0.493 146.0

    0.361

    129.5 0.429 138.0 0.497

    146.5

    0.365 130.0 0.433 138.5 0.501

    147.0

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.