Proctor

Compaction Test

Group IV
Group IV
• Dave Nathaniel J. Butal
• Yves Jerome D. Panal
• Jo A. Carticiano
• Gean Ferdi C. Flores
• Buck Sebastien D. Kangleon
• John Rhey L. Tagalog
 Proctor Compaction Test
• Standard Proctor Test
• It’s Procedure
• Apparatus
• Modified Proctor Test
• It’s Procedure
• Apparatus
Compaction?
 Compaction?

• Process of increasing the bulk density of a soil

or aggregates by driving out air.
• For any soil, at a given compactive effort, the
density obtained depends on the moisture
content.
• “Optimum Water Content” exist at which it will
acheve it’s “Maximum Density”
 Why Soil is being Compacted?

Soil is being compacted for the following reasons:

1. To increase strength and stability
2. To decrease permeability
3. Resistance to erosion
4. Decrease compressibility under load
5. Minimize settlement
Standard Proctor
Test
 Standard Proctor Test

• Standard Proctor Test is used to

determine the compaction of
different types of soil and the
properties of soil with a change in
moisture content.
 Standard Proctor Test
AASHTO: T99-86 These methods of test are intended for
determining the relation between the moisture
content and density of soils compacted in a mold
of a given size with a 2.5-kg (5.5-lb) rammer
dropped from a height of 305 mm (12 in.).

BS1377: Part 4; CBR :Remoulded with 2.5kg Rammer and tested at

Clause 3. top and bottom
 Standard Proctor Test
ASTM: D698-91 These test methods cover laboratory compaction
methods used to determine the relationship
between molding water content and dry unit weight
of soils (compaction curve) compacted in a 4 or 6-in.
(101.6 or 152.4-mm) diameter mold with a 5.50-lbf
(24.5-N) rammer dropped from a height of 12.0 in.
(305 mm) producing a compactive effort of 12 400 ft-
lbf/ ft3 (600 kN-m ⁄m3).
Standard Proctor Test Apparatus
 SPT: Apparatus
1. Cylindrical Metal Mold, having internal
diameter 4” (10.16 cm) or 6” (15.24 cm), the
internal effective height of 4.6” (11.7 cm); and
the mold should have detachable base plate &
collar of 2 inches (5.08 cm).

2. Rammer, weighing 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) & having fall of

12 inches (30.5 cm), with a flat circular face of 2”
diameter.
 SPT: Apparatus

3. Sensitive Balance, sensitivity ranging from 0.1

gram to 1 gram.

4. Thermostatically controlled oven (105°C +-

110°C)
 SPT: Apparatus

5. Steel straight edge.

5. Tray and Scoop

6. Moisture Container

6. Graduated Cylinder
7. Sieve No.4.
7. Mixing Tools
(Spoon, Trowel and Spatula)
 Standard Proctor Test Procedure

1. Take sufficient quantity of representative

soil, air dry & pulverize it with a rubber mallet.
- Sieve the soil through No: 4 sieve &
reject the coarser material.
 Standard Proctor Test Procedure

2. Take about, 5 kg of soil, add water to bring its water content to

about 5% below the estimated optimum moisture content.
- (for coarse-grained soil 4-5% initial water content & for fine-
grained soil 8-10% initial water content is preferable).
- Then Mix it thoroughly.

3. Clean the mold, measure its diameter & height & weigh it without
the collar.
Standard Proctor Test Procedure

4. Fit the collar & compact the moist

soil in three equal layers by the
rammer with evenly distributed blows
to each layer.

- Use 25 blows for 4 inches

diameter & 56 blows for 6 inches
diameter mold to the total height of
mold with collar.
 Standard Proctor Test Procedure
5. Remove the collar trim the compacted soil even with
the top of the mold with a straight steel edge.
Clean outside of the mold & base plate & weigh it.
6. Remove the soil from the mold, split it & take
about 100 grams sample for water content
determination.
 Standard Proctor Test Procedure

7. Break the soil lamps, mix it with remaining soil in

the tray.
-Add more water to increase the water
content by 2 to 3% & repeat the compaction
procedure for each increment of water until the
mass of the compacted soil decreases.
 Standard Proctor Test Procedure

8. Calculate Water content for each trail &

corresponding dry density.
9. Plot the compaction curve between water-
content as abscissa & dry density as ordinate.
10. Note the water content against the peak of the
curve as optimum moisture content & the
corresponding dry density as maximum dry density.
For Better Understanding
Modified Proctor
Test
 Modified Proctor Test

• Modified Proctor Test is used to determine

the compaction of different types of soil and
the properties of soil with a change
in moisture content;
• and the relationship between Dry Density
and Moisture Content.
 Modified Proctor Test

• Its process is almost same as Standard

Proctor Test with little differences
which you will know here in details.
 Modified Proctor Test Standards:

1. AASHTO T180-90

This method of test is intended for determining the

relationship between the moisture content and density of
soils when compacted in a given mold of a given size with
a 4.54-kg (10-lb) rammer dropped from a height of 457
mm (18 in.).
 Modified Proctor Test Standards:

2. ASTM D1557-91
These test methods cover laboratory compaction
methods used to determine the relationship between
molding water content and dry unit weight of soils
(compaction curve) compacted in a 4- or 6-in. (101.6- or
152.4-mm) diameter mold with a 10.00-lbf. (44.48-N)
rammer dropped from a height of 18.00 in. (457.2 mm)
producing a compactive effort of 56 000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2700
kN-m/m3).
 Modified Proctor Test Standards:

3. BS1377 part 4; clause 4.

CBR :Remoulded with 2.5kg Rammer and tested at top

and bottom
Modified Proctor Test Apparatus
 SPT: Apparatus
1. Cylindrical Metal Mold, having internal
diameter 4” (10.16 cm) or 6” (15.24 cm), the
internal effective height of 4.6” (11.7 cm); and
the mold should have detachable base plate &
collar of 2 inches (5.08 cm).

2. Rammer, weighing 10 lbs (4.5 kg) & having fall of

18 inches (45.7 cm.
 SPT: Apparatus

3. Sensitive Balance, sensitivity ranging from 0.1

gram to 1 gram.

4. Thermostatically controlled oven (105°C +-

110°C)
 SPT: Apparatus

5. Steel straight edge.

5. Tray and Scoop

6. Moisture Container

6. Graduated Cylinder
7. Sieve No.4.
7. Mixing Tools
(Spoon, Trowel and Spatula)
 Modified Proctor Test Procedure

1. Take about 4 kg of air-dried soil passing

No. 4 sieve and mix it with an optimum
quantity of water.
2. Weigh the empty mold without a collar,
with base plate attached.
 Modified Proctor Test Procedure

3. Place the mold With the collar attached on a solid base and
compact the soil mass into the mold using standard compaction
in five layers with 25 blows per layer;
- and with a 4.5 kg rammer dropping from a height of 45 cm.
- Take care to distribute the blows uniformly over the surface of
each layer, and to let the rammer fall freely.
 Modified Proctor Test Procedure

4. Remove the collar carefully strike off the

projected part of the compacted soil by steel
straight edge.
- Then weigh the mold + soil.
 Modified Proctor Test Procedure

5. Extrude the compacted soil specimen from

the mold and split it on a large tray.
• Take a sample for moisture content
determination.
 Modified Proctor Test Procedure
6. Break-up the specimen to No.4 sieve size,
and mix it with the remainder of the original
sample.
• Add suitable increments of water, and mix
thoroughly for at least six trials.
• Then repeat 3 to 5 steps for each trial.
 Modified Proctor Test Procedure
6. Break-up the specimen to No.4 sieve size,
and mix it with the remainder of the original
sample.
• Add suitable increments of water, and mix
thoroughly for at least six trials.
• Then repeat 3 to 5 steps for each trial.
For Better Understanding