Data and Observation:

Table 1: Density
Determination No.
Mass of mould
Mass of mould +

kg
kg

1
5.835
7.735

2
5.835
7.875

3
5.840
7.840

4
5.845
7.840

5
5.855
7.845

6
5.860
7.835

compacted soil
Mass of compacted

kg

1.9

2.04

2.0

1.995

1.99

1.975

soil
Volume of mould
Bulk density
Dry density

m3
kg/m3
kg/m3

0.001
1900
1775.70

0.001
2040
1805.31

0.001
2000
1677.85

0.001
1995
1603.70

0.001
1990
1575.61

0.001
1975
1585.07

3
18.7
53.5
47.9
34.8
29.2
19.2

4
19.3
54.5
47.6
35.2
28.3
24.4

Table 2: Water Content

Determination No.
Mass of container
Mass of container + wet soil
Mass of container + dry soil
Mass of wet soil
Mass of dry soil
Water content

g
g
g
g
g
%

1
18.8
44.8
43.1
26.0
24.3
7.0

2
18.9
47.6
44.3
28.7
25.4
13.0

5
18.3
55.3
47.6
37.0
29.3
26.3

6
17.8
60.3
51.9
42.5
34.1
24.6

Calculations:
The dry density of the compacted soil is calculated as follows:

d = / ( 1 + w )
where,

d = dry density (kg/m)

= bulk density (kg/m)
w = water content (%)
Sample of Calculation for Determination No. 1 for Table 1
Mass of compacted soil, M = (mass of mould + compacted soil) (mass of mould)
= 7.735 5.835
= 1.9kg
Volume of mould, V = volume of compacted soil
= cross sectional area x height of mould
= x d / 4 x h
= x 0.105 / 4 x 0.1155
= 0.001 m
Bulk density, = Mass of compacted soil
Volume of mould
= 1.9/0.001
= 1900 kg/m3
Dry density, d = bulk density,
(1 + w)
= 1900/(1+0.07)
= 1775.70 kg/m3

Note that w is the water content, whereby the value of w is obtained from Table 2:
Water Content.

Sample of Calculation for Determination No. 1 for Table 2

Data obtained:
Determination No.
Mass of container
Mass of container + wet soil
Mass of container + dry soil

g
g
g

1
18.8
44.8
43.1

Mass of wet soil Mass of container wet soil Mass of container

44.8 g 18.8 g
26.0 g
Mass of dry soil Mass of container dry soil Mass of container
43.1g 18.8 g
24.3 g
Water content W

Mw
Ms
Mass of wet soil Mass of dry soil
Mass of dry soil

26.0 g 24.3 g
24.3 g
0.07
7 .0 %

Table 3: Density & Air Voids

For na = 0%
w (%)

10

15

20

25

d (kg/m)

2125.98

1921.71

1753.25

1611.94

w (%)

10

15

20

25

d (kg/m)

2019.69

1825.62

1665.58

1531.34

w (%)

10

15

20

25

d (kg/m)

1913.39

1729.54

1577.92

1450.75

For na = 5%

For na = 10%

Sample of Calculation for Table 3

For na = 0%:
Water content = 10%:
Dry density, d = 1000 x { (1- 0) / (1/2.70 + 0.10) }
= 2125.98 kg/m
For na = 5%:
Water content = 15%:
Dry density, d = 1000 x { (1- 0.05) / (1/2.70 + 0.15) }
= 1825.62 kg/m
For na =10%:
Water content = 20%:
Dry density, d = 1000 x { (1- 0.10) / (1/2.70 + 0.20) }
= 1577.92 kg/m

Discussion / Analysis:
Based on our data, results that we obtained are fairly accurate and consistent,
therefore, it is acceptable to continue to analyses and calculate the properties of the soil
sample. From the plotted graph above, it is clearly shows that the maximum dry density of
the soil sample is 1810kg/m3 at 12% of optimum moisture content and contains 11% of air
void inside the soil sample. The graph also show that the soil sample at 20% of moist content
remain 5% of air void and no air void at 25% of moist content, this also proof that our result
is fairly accurate and reliable.
However, it shows that there are some minor displacements along the curvature line.
This is because errors occur during the experiment is held. Majority of these errors are caused
by human errors. One of errors which caused by human is the volume of compacted layers.
Each layers of compacted soil should be 1/3 of the volume of the mould. But, each layers of
the compaction are different. Some layers might be higher or lower than 1/3 of the volume of
the mould. While performing the experiment, volume are assumed to be 1/3 of the volume
rather than measuring every layers of compaction. Thus, mass of the soil samples are
affected. To improve the accuracy of the experiment, soil should be compacted 1/3 of the
volume of the mould at all layers of compactions. In addition to that, increasing the layers of
compactions of the soil will improve the result. By doing this method, it will decrease the
void in the soil samples and will allow more mass of the soil to be compacted into the mould.
Secondly, the compaction process to the soil samples is another error which causes by
human. Forces to compact the soil are depending on the height of the hammer drop. The
drop height of the hammer should be high at all times during the compactions in order to
have enough force to compact the soil neatly into the mould. In order to increase the
efficiency of the soil compact into the mould, Standard Proctor hammer which is longer and
heavier or higher forces to compact the soil sample should be use during the compaction
process. However, after the soil reach its maximum dry density, soil sample should be
compact it by using a vibrator due to its plasticity or muddy condition which having
difficulties to compact it by hammering into the mould. Thus, these two methods will
improve the soil sample compact into the mould neatly.

Next, the mixing process with soil sample and water is also another error. Mixing
process of the water is not uniform distributed throughout the soil. Parts of the soil might be
wet and others parts are dry and put into the mould to weight. This will causes the soil having
different density and affect our result. Therefore, to improve the experiment, soil should be
mixes extensively to make sure the water are distributed throughout the soil samples.
Cleanliness of the apparatus is also another factor which affects the experiment to
have error. While weighting the mould, mould is not clean and surrounding it contains water
and soil or mud. This error will have addition mass of the mould into it and greatly affect the
experiment. Therefore, mould should be clean with dry cloth before it is weight with the
intention to have a better accuracy of the experiment.
Other method to improve the result is adding the water with the range of 100ml per
samples. This way, we will have more data to plot it into the graph and produce a better
curvature line to determine the maximum dry density of the soil more accurately.