Given the natural variability of soil, the standard recommends conducting tests at multiple locations to obtain a representative infiltration rate for a given site. Test duration can vary from a few hours to several days, depending on the soil type.
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 .
ASTM D3385-18 outlines the standard field procedure for measuring soil infiltration rates using a double-ring infiltrometer to manage water, design septic systems, and evaluate groundwater recharge. The test requires driving 300 mm and 600 mm diameter rings into the soil, followed by a one-hour presoaking period, before measuring the volume of water required to maintain a constant head. For a complete overview of the procedure, refer to the document at my.civil.utah.edu .
Acts as a buffer zone. It promotes purely vertical water flow beneath the inner ring by saturating the surrounding soil profile. astm d338518 pdf
To quantify the flux of water moving vertically into a soil surface.
Determining irrigation requirements and drainage efficiency. The Double-Ring Infiltrometer Apparatus
Infiltration Rate of Soils in Field Using Double-Ring Infiltrometer1 Given the natural variability of soil, the standard
of soils using a double-ring infiltrometer. This method is most effective for relatively uniform, fine-grained soils and is typically used for applications like irrigation studies, septic field evaluations, and stormwater management. The University of Utah 1. Equipment and Site Preparation
ASTM D3385-18 is the standard test method established by ASTM International for determining the infiltration rate of soils using a double-ring infiltrometer. The "18" denotes the year of its last major revision or reapproval.
It only measures the infiltration rate of the topmost soil layer. If a restrictive, impermeable clay layer exists two feet below the surface, this test will not capture its dampening effect on deeper drainage. ASTM D3385-18 outlines the standard field procedure for
Environmental conditions play a massive role in infiltration. The ASTM D3385-18 standard requires the recording of ambient air temperature and water temperature. Because water viscosity changes with temperature (making water flow faster when warm and slower when cold), this data is crucial for adjusting and standardizing your final infiltration rate calculations. Applications and Value of the Data
The document provides pre-formatted, industry-accepted tables and data layouts. These ensure field teams record all mandatory metadata, including soil temperature, water quality profiles, and precise site geometry.
The test should ideally use water of similar chemical composition to the actual liquid expected in the real-world application (e.g., local groundwater or municipal water). Using pure distilled water on sodium-rich soils can cause clay swelling and artificially reduce measured infiltration rates. Finding and Accessing the Official PDF Document