Civil engineering projects require strict adherence to code standards. Citing the official ASTM document protects projects from liabilities and ensures approval from municipal building departments and environmental protection agencies.
The ASTM D3385-18 equipment is designed to minimize lateral water flow, ensuring that the measurement in the inner ring reflects a one-dimensional vertical infiltration rate.
For more details on analyzing field testing results, you might look into how to apply to water viscosity readings during long-duration field tests. Share public link
Executing an ASTM D3385-18 test requires careful site preparation and precise execution. Step 1: Site Selection and Preparation Select a representative, undisturbed area of soil.
: The standard references several other ASTM standards and documents, including those on geotextile sampling and conditioning. astm d338518 pdf
ASTM D3385-18 is the standard test method for the . This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the definitive guide for engineers and scientists needing to assess how quickly water or other liquids penetrate the ground. It provides a standardized procedure for setting up equipment, conducting the field test, and calculating the infiltration rate.
The standard provides a rigorous procedure for measuring the infiltration rate of soils in the field using a double-ring infiltrometer. This method is essential for civil engineers, hydrologists, and environmental scientists to determine how quickly water penetrates a site's soil—a critical factor for designing drainage systems, septic fields, and irrigation networks. Overview of ASTM D3385-18
is the standard test method for measuring the infiltration rate of soils in the field using a double-ring infiltrometer. It is primarily used for fine-grained soils to determine how quickly water or other liquids penetrate the ground surface. Core Test Methodology
Heavy clay soils that exhibit macro-cracking or desiccation cracks allow water to bypass the soil matrix entirely via preferential flow paths, skewing the structural data. Civil engineering projects require strict adherence to code
: The volume of liquid added to maintain a constant level in this ring is used to calculate the infiltration rate. Outer Ring : Serves as a buffer to promote one-dimensional, vertical flow directly beneath the inner ring. Infiltration Rate
To execute this test legally and accurately for commercial engineering projects, you must reference the official, full-text standard document.
This test method cannot be used directly to calculate the true hydraulic conductivity (coefficient of permeability) of the soil. For soils with a hydraulic conductivity lower than 1 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s, the standard suggests referring to ASTM D5093 . The Concept of the Double-Ring Infiltrometer
The outer ring creates a buffer of saturated soil, forcing the water from the inner ring to flow rather than spreading out laterally. This promotes the "one-dimensional, vertical flow" crucial for isolating the infiltration rate of the soil itself. By maintaining a constant water level and measuring the volume of water needed to do so, you get a direct measure of the infiltration rate. For more details on analyzing field testing results,
Serves as the actual measurement zone. Because lateral flow is restricted by the outer ring's buffer, the water drop in the inner ring reflects true, one-dimensional vertical infiltration. Technical Specifications and Apparatus
Are you planning to run a soil infiltration test, or do you need help interpreting existing field data? If you let me know:
Usually 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter. This is where the measurement takes place.
= Volume of water added to the inner ring during the time interval ( cm3cm cubed = Cross-sectional surface area of the inner ring ( cm2cm squared = The time duration of the specific measurement interval ( Plotting the Curve