AASHTO does permit a preliminary split of the moist sand through a coarse aggregate splitter with chute widths set wide (1½ in. or greater) to a size of not less than 5,000 g.

• A. Not allowed under any circumstance
• B. Only if moisture is high
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (C)

Moist samples can clump and segregate, making a representative division more difficult. AASHTO allows a preliminary split of a moist sand using a coarse aggregate splitter with wide chute openings (1½ inches or larger) to produce a sub-sample weighing at least 5,000 g. The wider openings help the material flow and reduce bridging or uneven division, so the sub-sample better represents the whole sample. Having a minimum of 5,000 g ensures there’s enough material for subsequent tests with acceptable precision. So this approach is permitted, which is why the statement is true.