STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the maximum dry unit weight of compacted soils which can be used
for specification of field compaction and by this we will obtain the optimum moisture
content of the sample also.
THEORY:
In geotechnical engineering, soil compaction is the process in which a stress applied to a
soil causes densification as air is displaced from the pores between the soil grains. It is an
instantaneous process and always takes place in partially saturated soil (three phase
system). For construction of highways, airports, and other structures, it is often necessary
to compact soil to improve its strength. Proctor (1933) developed a laboratory
compaction test procedure to determine the maximum dry unit weight of compaction of
soils, which can be used for specification of field compaction. This test is referred to as
the Standard Proctor Compaction Test. The Proctor compaction test is a laboratory
method of experimentally determining the optimal moisture content at which a given soil
type will become most dense and achieve its maximum dry density.
APPARATUS:
1. Proctor mould having a capacity of 944 cc with an internal diameter of 10.2 cm and
a height of 11.6 cm. The mould shall have a detachable collar assembly and a
detachable base plate.
2. Rammer: A mechanical operated metal rammer having a 5.08 cm diameter face and
a weight of 2.5 kg. The rammer shall be equipped with a suitable arrangement to
control the height of drop to a free fall of 30 cm.
3. Sample extruder, mixing tools such as mixing pan, spoon, towel, and spatula.
4. A balance of 15 kg capacity, Sensitive balance, Straight edge, Graduated cylinder,
Moisture container.
PROCEDURE:
1. Take a representative oven-dried sample, approximately 3 kg in the given pan.
Thoroughly mix the sample with sufficient water to dampen it with approximate
water content of 4-6 %.
2. Weigh the proctor mould without base plate and collar. Fix the collar and base
plate. Place the soil in the Proctor mould and compact it in 3 layers giving 25
blows per layer with the 2.5 kg rammer falling through. The blows shall be
distributed uniformly over the surface of each layer.
3. Remove the collar; trim the compacted soil even with the top of mould using
a straight edge and weigh.
4. Divide the weight of the compacted specimen by 944 cc and record the result as
the bulk density bulk.
5. Remove the sample from mould and slice vertically through and obtain a small
sample for water content.
6. Thoroughly break up the remainder of the material until it will pass a no.4 sieve
as judged by the eye. Add water in sufficient amounts to increase the moisture
content of the soil sample by one or two percentage points and repeat the above
procedure for each increment of water added. Continue this series of determination
until there is either a decrease or no change in the wet unit weight of the compacted
soil
OBSERVATION
Mould Diameter 10.2 cm
Height 11.6 cm
Volume 944 cc
Weight of mould 1.770 Kg
Fig: Plot of dry density vs water content
RESULT AND CONCLUSION:
By plotting the graph between dry unit weight and water content for the soil, we
determine the maximum dry density 1.660 gm/cc and corresponding to the maximum dry
density is a water content known as the optimum water content (also known as the
optimum moisture content, OMC) of 22% . Type of soil is the primary factor affecting
maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content for a given compactive effort
and compaction method. Note that the maximum dry density is only a maximum for a
specific compactive effort and method of compaction. This does not necessarily reflect
the maximum dry density that can be obtained in the field. Higher optimum moisture
contents are generally associated with lower dry unit weights. Higher dry unit weights are
associated with well-graded granular materials. Uniformly graded sand, clays of high
plasticity, and organic silts and clays typically respond poorly to compaction.
