Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
IS 10379:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for standard penetration test (spt) for soils. This standard provides guidelines for the field control of moisture content and compaction of soils during the construction of earthworks and pavements. It specifies the necessary tests, equipment, frequency of testing, and acceptance criteria to ensure the required soil density is achieved on site.
Lays down the procedure for conducting the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) in soils to assess their density and strength characteristics.
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Geotechnical — Surveying and Geotechnical Investigation
! Selection between light compaction (IS 2720 Part 7) and heavy compaction (IS 2720 Part 8) for determining lab MDD depends on the expected field compaction effort (e.g., heavy rollers for roads vs. light rollers for general fill).
! Ensure the sand used in the Sand Replacement Test is clean, dry, uniformly graded, and properly calibrated to avoid significant errors in density measurement.
! The frequency of testing should be increased at the start of a project, when the soil type changes, or if compaction equipment is changed.
Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
Defines the procedure for performing the SPT and collecting split-barrel samples, serving as a direct US equivalent.
BS EN ISO 22476-3:2005+A1:2011BSI / CEN / ISO, UK / Europe / International
HighCurrent
Geotechnical investigation and testing — Field testing — Part 3: Standard penetration test
The international and European standard for SPT, detailing equipment, procedure, and reporting, referenced by Eurocode 7.
AS 1289.6.3.1-2004 (R2016)Standards Australia, Australia
HighCurrent
Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Method 6.3.1: Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of the penetration resistance of a soil - Standard penetration test (SPT)
The Australian standard for conducting the SPT, with procedures largely harmonized with international practice.
Key Differences
≠IS 10379 does not mandate the measurement and correction of hammer energy to a standard value (like 60%). Modern international standards (e.g., ASTM D1586) consider the correction to N60 (N-value at 60% energy efficiency) as standard practice for reliable design.
≠IS 10379 allows for the use of both safety and donut type hammers without specifying a preference or different correction factors. ASTM D1586 provides different energy efficiency estimates for each and modern practice strongly favors the safety hammer for its higher and more consistent energy transfer.
≠While IS 10379 specifies maintaining the water level in the borehole, international standards like ASTM D1586 and ISO 22476-3 provide more stringent and detailed requirements for maintaining an upward hydraulic gradient, especially in fine sands or silts below the water table, to prevent soil loosening.
≠The Indian standard is less prescriptive regarding the rope and cathead system, simply stating a 2.5-turn rope wrap. ASTM D1586 provides more detail on the cathead system and rope diameter, which significantly influences the actual delivered energy.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental principle is identical: measuring the resistance of soil to the dynamic penetration of a standard split-barrel sampler driven by a hammer of a specified weight and drop height.
≈The nominal hammer mass (63.5 kg or 140 lbs) and drop height (750 mm or 30 inches) are consistent across all standards, forming the basis of the test.
≈The procedure for calculating the N-value is the same: the sum of the number of blows required for the second and third 150 mm (6-inch) penetrations, after an initial seating drive of 150 mm.
≈The basic external and internal dimensions of the split-spoon sampler are very similar across IS 10379, ASTM D1586, and ISO 22476-3, ensuring a comparable area ratio and sample disturbance level.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Hammer Mass
63.5 kg
140 ± 2 lb (63.5 ± 0.9 kg)
ASTM D1586-18
Drop Height
750 mm
30.0 ± 1.0 in (762 ± 25 mm)
ASTM D1586-18
Energy Correction to N60
Not specified/not mandatory.
Standard practice; required for most correlations.
ASTM D1586-18
Sampler Outer Diameter
50.8 mm
2.00 ± 0.02 in (50.8 ± 0.5 mm)
ASTM D1586-18
Sampler Inner Diameter (Cutting Shoe)
35 mm
1.375 ± 0.005 in (34.93 ± 0.13 mm)
ASTM D1586-18
Drive Increments
Three 150 mm increments
Three 6-inch (152 mm) increments
ASTM D1586-18
Blow Rate
15 to 30 blows per minute
Not to exceed 30 blows per minute
ISO 22476-3
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values4
Quick Reference Values
Minimum compaction for subgrade/embankments95% to 97% of MDD
Permissible moisture content variation from OMC±1% to ±2%
Frequency of field density tests for fill/embankment1 test per 1000 m³
Frequency of field density tests for subgrade1 test per 500 m²
Key Formulas
ρd = ρb / (1 + w) — Calculation of Dry Density from Bulk Density (ρb) and Water Content (w)
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Frequency of Tests for Compaction Control
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Tests for Control
Clause 5 - Equipment for Testing
Clause 6 - Control Criteria and Frequency of Testing
Appendix A - Proforma for Recording Field Density Test
Frequently Asked Questions3
What is the typical compaction requirement for road embankments?+
Generally 95-97% of the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) as determined by the relevant lab test, usually IS 2720 (Part 8).
How often should I perform field density tests?+
As a guide, one test per 1000 m³ for earth fill/embankments or one test per 500 m² for subgrade layers. Project specifications may vary.
What are the common methods for checking field compaction?+
The Sand Replacement Method (IS 2720 Part 28) for all soil types and the Core Cutter Method (IS 2720 Part 29) for fine-grained cohesive soils.