scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for rapid on-site determination of water contents. The method is based on refractive index measurement of a sucrose solution after mixed with a soil sample. The output by an instrument is indicated either as refractive indexes or as sugar contents (e.g. Brix degrees). Both data can simply be converted into water contents. This International Standard is applicable to onsite determination of water contents in geological or geotechnical research as well as geotechnical engineering. Additionally, commercial work in a variety of fields, e.g. agriculture and civil engineering, is included in the scope. The working range is from zero to approximately 50 % moisture content. Depending of the refractometer used the moisture can be determined to about 0,5 % to 1 % (absolute). The method basically requires no preparation of samples while it works in a rapid, simple and inexpensive manner and is not significantly influenced by soil matrices.