Thanks to visit codestin.com
Credit goes to www.scribd.com

0% found this document useful (0 votes)
43 views8 pages

Compaction Test

The document outlines the Proctor Compaction Test, a laboratory procedure used to determine the relationship between moisture content and dry density of soil under specified compactive efforts. It details the methods for conducting both Standard and Modified Proctor Tests, including equipment needed, test procedures, and analysis of results. The significance of achieving optimal moisture content for soil compaction is emphasized, as it affects the soil's engineering properties.

Uploaded by

2100154
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
43 views8 pages

Compaction Test

The document outlines the Proctor Compaction Test, a laboratory procedure used to determine the relationship between moisture content and dry density of soil under specified compactive efforts. It details the methods for conducting both Standard and Modified Proctor Tests, including equipment needed, test procedures, and analysis of results. The significance of achieving optimal moisture content for soil compaction is emphasized, as it affects the soil's engineering properties.

Uploaded by

2100154
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Experiment No.

8
COMPACTION TEST

Page | 53
Introduction
This laboratory test is performed to determine the relationship between the moisture content and the
dry density of a soil for a specified compactive effort. The compactive effort is the amount of
mechanical energy that is applied to the soil mass. Several different methods are used to compact soil
in the field, and some examples include tamping, kneading, vibration, and static load compaction.
This laboratory will employ the tamping or impact compaction method using the type of equipment
and methodology developed by R. R. Proctor in 1933, therefore, the test is also known as the Proctor
test.

Two types of compaction tests are routinely performed: (1) The Standard Proctor Test, and (2) The
Modified Proctor Test. Each of these tests can be performed in three different methods as outlined in
the attached Table 1. In the Standard Proctor Test, the soil is compacted by a 5.5 lb hammer falling a
distance of one foot into a soil filled mold. The mold is filled with three equal layers of soil, and each
layer is subjected to 25 drops of the hammer. The Modified Proctor Test is identical to the Standard
Proctor Test except it employs, a 10 lb hammer falling a distance of 18 inches, and uses five equal
layers of soil instead of three. There are two types of compaction molds used for testing. The smaller
type is 4 inches in diameter and has a volume of about 1/30 ft3(944 cm3), and the larger type is 6
inches in diameter and has a volume of about 1/13.333 ft3(2123 cm3). If the larger mold is used each
soil layer must receive 56 blows instead of 25 (See Table).

Table 10.1 Alternative Proctor Test Methods

Note: Volume of 4ʺ diameter mold = 944 cm3, Volume of 6ʺ diameter mold = 2123 cm3(verify these
values prior to testing)

Page | 54
Standard Reference

ASTM D698 - 12- Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using
Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbs/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3))

ASTM D1557 - 12 - Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using
Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbs/ft3(2,700 kN-m/m3))

Significance

Mechanical compaction is one of the most common and cost effective means of stabilizing soils. An
extremely important task of geotechnical engineers is the performance and analysis of field control
tests to assure that compacted fills are meeting the prescribed design specifications. Design
specifications usually state the required density (as a percentage of the ―maximum‖ density measured
in a standard laboratory test), and the water content. In general, most engineering properties, such as
the strength, stiffness, resistance to shrinkage, and imperviousness of the soil, will improve by
increasing the soil density.

The optimum water content is the water content that results in the greatest density for a specified
compactive effort. Compacting at water contents higher than (wet of ) the optimum water content
results in a relatively dispersed soil structure (parallel particle orientations) that is weaker, more
ductile, less pervious, softer, more susceptible to shrinking, and less susceptible to swelling than soil
compacted dry of optimum to the same density. The soil compacted lower than (dry of) the optimum
water content typically results in a flocculated soil structure (random particle orientations) that has the
opposite characteristics of the soil compacted wet of the optimum water content to the same density.

Equipment

Molds, Manual rammer, Extruder, Balance, Drying oven, Mixing pan, Trowel, #4 sieve, Moisture
cans, Graduated cylinder, Straight Edge.

Test Procedure

(1) Depending on the type of mold you are using obtain a sufficient quantity of air-dried soil in large
mixing pan. For the 4-inch mold take approximately 10 lbs, and for the 6-inch mold take roughly 15
lbs. Pulverize the soil and run it through the # 4 sieve.

(2) Determine the weight of the soil sample as well as the weight of the compaction mold with its base
(without the collar) by using the balance and record the weights.

(3) Compute the amount of initial water to add by the following method:
(a) Assume water content for the first test to be 8 percent.
(b) Compute water to add from the following equation:

Where, ―water to add‖ and the ―soil mass‖ are in grams. Remember that a gram of water is equal to
approximately one milliliter of water.

(4) Measure out the water, add it to the soil, and then mix it thoroughly into the soil using the trowel
until the soil gets a uniform color.

(5) Assemble the compaction mold to the base, place some soil in the mold and compact the soil in
the number of equal layers specified by the type of compaction method employed. The number of
drops of the rammer per layer is also dependent upon the type of mold used (See Table). The drops
should be applied at a uniform rate not exceeding around 1.5 seconds per drop, and the rammer should

Page | 55
provide uniform coverage of the specimen surface. Try to avoid rebound of the rammer from the top
of the guide sleeve.

(6) The soil should completely fill the cylinder and the last compacted layer must extend slightly
above the collar joint. If the soil is below the collar joint at the completion of the drops, the test point
must be repeated. (Note: For the last layer, watch carefully, and add more soil after about 10 drops if
it appears that the soil will be compacted below the collar joint.)

(7) Carefully remove the collar and trim off the compacted soil so that it is completely even with the
top of the mold using the trowel. Replace small bits of soil that may fall out during the trimming
process.

(8) Weigh the compacted soil while it’s in the mold and to the base, and record the mass. Determine
the wet mass of the soil by subtracting the weight of the mold and base.

(9) Remove the soil from the mold using a mechanical extruder and take soil moisture content
samples from the top and bottom of the specimen. Fill the moisture cans with soil and determine the
water content.

(10) Place the soil specimen in the large tray and break up the soil until it appears visually as if it will
pass through the # 4 sieve, add 2 percent more water based on the original sample mass, and re-mix as
in step 4. Repeat steps 5 through 9 until, based on wet mass, a peak value is reached followed by two
slightly lesser compacted soil masses.

Analysis

(1) Calculate the moisture content of each compacted soil specimen by using the average of the two
water contents.

(2) Compute the wet density in grams per cm3 of the compacted soil sample by dividing the wet mass
by the volume of the mold used.

(3) Compute the dry density using the wet density and the water content determined in step 1. Use the
following formula:

where: w = moisture content in percent divided by 100, and ρ = wet density in grams per cm3 =
(M/V).

(4) Plot the dry density values on the y-axis and the moisture contents on the x-axis. Draw a smooth
curve connecting the plotted points.

(5) On the same graph draw a curve of complete saturation or ―zero air voids curve‖. The values of
dry density and corresponding moisture contents for plotting the curve can be computed from the
following equation:

Where: ρd = dry density of soil grams per cm3, Gs = specific gravity of the soil being tested, ρw =
density of water in grams per cm3 (approximately 1g/cm3), wsat = moisture content in percent for
complete saturation.

(6) Identify and report the optimum moisture content and the maximum dry density.

Page | 56
Figure 8.1 : Dry density vs moisture content (Das, 2010)

Page | 57
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
Figure 8.2 (a) Take the soil sample in a tray and break them into pieces and mix certain amount of water (b)
Fill the 1/3 of the mold with soil and compact them using compaction hammer (c) remove the collar and the
extra portion of soil (d) Weight the mold with soil and remove the soil.

Page | 58
DATA SHEET
Experiment Name : Proctor Compaction Test
Experiment Date :

Student’s Name :
Student’s ID :
Year/ Semester :
Section/ Group :

Visual Classification :

Test Method :
Diameter of mold :
Height of mold :
Volume of mold, V :
Massof mold, M :

Water Content Determination


Sample no. 1 2 3 4 5
Moisture can no.
Mass of empty clean can
Mass of can + wet soil
Mass of can + dry soil
Mass of soil solid
Mass of pore water
Water content w%

Density Determination
Compacted soil sample no. 1 2 3 4 5
Water content w%
Mass of compacted soil and mold (gm)
Mass of wet soil (gm)
Wet density, P = (M/V)
Dry density, Pd = [P/(1+w)]
Dry density (S =100%)

Result:
Optimum Moisture Content: %
Maximum Dry Density: g/cm3

Course Teacher :
Designation :

Signature

Page | 59
Fig. Dry Density vs Moisture Content Content

Water Content, w%

You might also like