NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

MEGHALAYA
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Laboratory Soil Compaction

Test
Group-3 members:
Khlainborlang (B14CE013)
Atul Hajong (B14CE014)
Abhishek Kumar (B14CE016)
Shatru Ghan (B14Ce017)
Neeraj Kumar (B14Ce019)
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Overview
• Definition
• Objectives
• How it can apply in field?
• Types ( In detail)
• Apparatus
• Test Procedure
• Significance
• Factors affecting compaction
• Conclusion
 What Is Compaction?
• Compaction is the process of increasing the
bulk density of a soil or aggregate by driving out
air only.

• For any soil, at a given compactive effort, the

density obtained depends on the moisture content.

• For any soil, an “optimum water content” exists at

which it will achieve it’s maximum density.
 What is compaction?
The most commonly used ground improvement technique,
where the soil is densified through external compactive
effort/mechanical means by reducing volume of air.

Compactive
Effort
+ air voids =
 Moisture Content and Compaction
• The degree of compaction of soil is measured
by its unit weight, , and optimum moisture
content, wc.

• By reducing the air voids, more soil can be

added to the block. When moisture is added to
the block ,the soil particles will slip more on
each other causing more reduction in the total
volume, which will result in adding more soil
and hence, the dry density is increases,
accordingly.

• Increasing Wc will increase to certain

limit called Optimum moister Content, (OMC)
• After this limit Increasing Wc will decrease
dry density.
5
Why it is important !!

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 How it relates to field compaction?
Because of the differences between lab and field compaction methods, the
maximum dry density in the field may reach 90% to 95%.

Dry Density

γ d max

95% γd max

Moisture
(OMC)
Content

7
Main Objectives of Compaction

1. To increase strength and stability

2. To decrease permeability.
3. To enhance resistance to erosion.
4. Decrease compressibility under load and
minimize settlement.
Basic Terminology

• The peak dry unit weight is called the

"maximum dry density”.
• The Optimum Water Content, wopt, is the water
content at the soil’s maximum dry density. .
• Zero air voids curve: The curve represents
the fully saturated condition (S = 100 %). (It
cannot be reached by compaction)
• Line of optimum: A line drawn through the
peak points of several compaction curves.
Types of soil compaction test in
laboratory

• Standard Proctor test

• Modified Proctor test
• Gyratory compaction test
Apparatus and its setup
Standard Proctor test
In the Proctor test, the soil is compacted in a mold that has a
volume of 944 cm3.The diameter of the mold is 101.6 mm .
During the laboratory test, the mold is attached to a baseplate at
the bottom and to an extension at the top. The soil is mixed with
varying amounts of water and then compacted in three equal
layers by a hammer that delivers 25 blows to each layer. The
hammer has a mass of 2.5 kg and has a drop of 30.5 mm. Total
compactive energy required for SPT= 600 KN
Standard proctor test

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 Modified proctor test
• Same mold 944 cubic cm, 101.6 mm diameter,hammer mass
4.54 kg and drop height 45.7 cm.
• Mold is connected with Base plate at bottom and extension at
top.
• No. of layers is 5
• No.of blows to each layer is 25.
• Compaction energy=2700 KN-m/m2

Comparison between standard

Proctor hammer (left) and modified
Proctor hammer (right)
Gyratory compaction Test
Gyratory Compactor is designed to
compact asphalt specimens. It also
handles soils, emulsions, and concrete.
It is a customer favourite because it is
user-friendly, reliable, durable, and
well supported. The G2 compacts
material at a constant consolidation
pressure, a constant angle of gyration,
and a fixed speed of gyration using an
electro-mechanical system.
 Proctor Compaction Procedure

• Soil is air dried, pulverized

& passed through 4.75micron sieve.

• The water content of each sample is

adjust by adding water.

• Using the proctor mold, soil is place

1/3 rd in height & compact soil in 3
layers for standard and 5 layers for
modified.
 Proctor Compaction Procedure
• We provide 25 nos blows for each
layer.
• After the last layer, with the help of
straight edge the excess soil is trim to
the top of the mold.
• The weight of the mold with the
compacted moist soil is measured.
• Extrude from mould and collect a
sample for water content determination.
• Repeating for each sample over a range
of moisture contents.
Proctor Compaction Procedure
• After collecting all weights, the dry density is
calculate and graph is plotting between dry density
vs. water content.
 Percent Compaction

• Then, comparing the maximum dry density

to the actual density being achieved we can
calculate % compaction as:

• % Compaction = ρdry field /ρdry max

 Factors affecting compaction.

• Type of soil.
• Compactive Effort / Compactive Energy.
• Layer Thickness / Thickness of Lift.
• Number of Roller Passes.
• Moisture Content.
• Contact Pressure.
• Speed of Rolling
 Significance
 Mechanical compaction is one of the most common
and effective means of stabilizing soils.
 Most engineering properties like strength,
stiffness,resistance to shrinkage,and impervious of
the soil is increase by increasing the soil density.
 Compacting soil at optimum moisture content results
into maximum dry density.
 Compacting soil at water content higher than the
optimum water content results in a relatively disperse
state.
 And flocculated structures at water content lower
than the optimum.
Effect of compaction
The following properties of soil are affected on
compaction—
Soil Structure
Permeability
Pore water pressure
Swelling
Compressibility
 Effect on Soil
structure
The water content at which
the soil is compacted plays an
important role in soil
structure.
Soils compacted at water
content less than optimum
water content have
flocculated structure.
Soils compacted at water
content more than optimum
water content have dispersed
structure. ENCI 579 24
Effect on soil Structure
 Effect on Soil structure
At Point A, the water content is low and
attractive forces are predominant, so results in
flocculated structure.
As the water content is increased beyond
optimum, the repulsive forces increase and
particles get oriented into a dispersed
structure.
Effect on Permeability
Permeability of soil depends
on void size.
As water content increases,
there is an improved
orientation of particles
resulting in reduction of void
size and permeability.
Above optimum water content
,the permeability slightly
increases.
If compactive effort is
increased, the permeability
decreases due to increased dry
density.
Effect on Shrinkage
Soils compacted dry of optimum shrink less
when compared to compacted wet of
optimum.
The soils compacted wet of optimum shrink
more because the soil particles in dispersed
structure can pack more efficiently.
 Compaction
Maximum Dry Density

• If the soil was below optimum water

content it may be necessary to add water by
spraying
• The most important factor required for
successful compaction is having the correct
water content

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CONCLUSION

Ultimately compaction is depending on the void ratio of

soil. Compaction is a factor of practical importance is
the increase of soil strength and stability.Now adays in
urban area land is one of the most common problems.In
such cases if soil’s engineering properties is not up to
the requirement then there is no meaning for that
project. So in that case soil compaction can be applied
as a one of the most economic ground improvement
technique.
THANK YOU

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