: To measure the rate at which a liquid (typically water) enters the soil surface.
acts as a buffer. The water infiltrating from the outer ring creates a saturated "curtain" or boundary around the inner ring.
Clear loose debris, vegetation, and rocks from the surface. Avoid scraping or compacting the target test zone. Step 2: Driving the Rings Center the inner ring inside the outer ring.
Both the inner and outer rings are filled with water. The goal is to maintain a constant head of water in both rings to reach a steady-state infiltration rate.
Comprehensive Guide to ASTM D3385-18: Standard Test Method for Infiltration Rate of Soils Using Double-Ring Infiltrometer astm d338518 pdf
Tamp the soil lightly along the inside and outside edges of the ring walls to prevent water from bypassing along the metal edges (piping channels).
A single-ring infiltrometer often overestimates infiltration rates because water diverges laterally (sideways) once it passes the bottom edge of the ring. The double-ring design solves this issue:
= Infiltration rate (typically expressed in cm/hour or mm/hour).
This is the best place to purchase or download the current ASTM D3385-18 standard. : To measure the rate at which a
: Designing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), retention ponds, and bioswales.
For those interested in downloading the ASTM D3385-18 standard, it can be accessed through the ASTM website or purchased as a PDF document. Additionally, the following references provide further information on the topic:
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.
If you want, I can: provide a one‑page printable cheat sheet for performing a D3385 test in the field, or produce the sample calculation and an example infiltration‑vs‑time plot from realistic measurement data. Which would you prefer? Clear loose debris, vegetation, and rocks from the surface
Generally around 500 mm (20 inches) tall to allow for proper soil insertion and a sufficient water head. 2. Water Supply and Measurement Systems
: It provides definitions relevant to the standard, including terms like "apparent opening size" and "pore size distribution."
If you are performing this test, knowing the (sand, clay, silt) and the purpose of the test (septic, stormwater, irrigation) would help me provide more tailored guidance on how to avoid common pitfalls during the ASTM D3385-18 procedure .