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Description / Abstract:
This method covers the procedure for determining total soil
suction force using thermocouple psychrometers. The test results of
this method are to be used in conjunction with T 258.
The thermocouple psychrometer measures the relative humidity in
the soil by a technique called Peltier cooling. By causing a small
direct current of approximately four to eight milliamperes to flow
through the thermocouple junction for approximately 15 s in the
correct direction, this junction will cool and water will condense
on it when the dewpoint temperature is reached. Condensation of
this water inhibits further cooling of the junction and the voltage
difference developed between the thermocouple and the reference
junctions can be measured using a microvoltmeter. With proper
calibration, the thermocouple psychrometer output in microvolts can
be converted directly to soil suction in convenient units of
pressure. Typical thermocouple psychrometer output voltages vary
from less than one microvolt for relative humidities close to 100
percent or total soil suction less than 95.76 kPa (1 tsf) to about
25 microvolts for relative humidities of about 95 percent or total
soil suctions of about 5746 kPa (60 tsf).
The following applies to all specified limits in this standard:
For the purposes of determining conformance with these
specifications, an observed value or a calculated value shall be
rounded off "to the nearest unit" in the last right-hand place of
figures used in expressing the limiting value, in accordance with
ASTM E 29.
The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard.