MAPUA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND

GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS AND MATERIALS TESTING
LABORATORY

NAME: SY, MIKE ANDREAN M.

COURSE & SECTION: CE161P – E06 STUDENT NO.: 2017100156

GROUP NO.:

EXPERIMENT NO. 5

SOIL COMPACTION TEST

TITLE

DATE PERFORMED: JULY 4 2020

DATE SUBMITTED: JULY 4 2020 GRADE

Engr. Timothy Daniel Felicia

INSTRUCTOR
OBJECTIVE

This method describes the procedure for determining the relationship between the
moisture content and the resulting dry densities when the soil is compacted in the
laboratory as specified.

PROCEDURES

1. Weigh the empty cylindrical metal mold (with the base but without the collar)
2. Obtain a 2.73 kg representative sample from the thoroughly mixed portion of
the air-dried material passing the No. 4 sieve.
3. Place a portion of a sample in the mold to form a 50.8 to 76.2 mm layer then
compact it with 25 uniformly distributed blows of the rammer, with a 457.2
mm free drop. To insure uniform distributions of blows rotate slightly either
mold or rammer between each drop.
4. Repeat the procedure with a second and third layer, adjusting the free drop
of the rammer to 457.2 mm. The soil surface should be higher than the lid of
the mold after compaction of the last layer.
5. Remove the collar and trim off the soil even with the top of the mold with the
straight edge (Fig.7). Weigh the mold and the compacted soil sample.
6. Remove the soil from the mold and slice vertically through the center. Obtain
a representative sample of approximately 100 grams from one of the cut
faces, for water content determination.
7. Break up the soil, which is removed from the mold, remix with the original
sample. Add sufficient water to raise its water content approximately 3
percent and repeat Steps 3 to 6 for each increment of water added until the
soil becomes very wet and sticky or when there is a substantial decrease in
the weight of the compacted soil, (5 or 6 determinations may be necessary).
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

1. Cylindrical metal mold with an internal diameter of 101.6 mm, height of 116.43
mm, and having a volume of 943.3 cu.m., with a detachable mold collar about
63.5 mm high and 101.6 mm in diameter.
- Use for molding the soil sample while compaction
2. Metal rammer with a diameter face of 50.8 mm and weighs 24.4 N. with a
suitable means of controlling its drop.
- Use to compact the soil sample
3. Balances, one with a capacity of 20 kg and sensitive to 1 gram and another
with 1000 grams capacity and sensitive to 0.01 gram
- Use weigh the soil samples
4. Oven with temperature control
- Use to dry the soil sample
5. Drying cans
- Use as temporary container for soil sample
6. Straight edge
- Use to scrap the soil sample to
7. Large mixing pan
- Use to mix soil sample and water
8. Scoop
- Use to scoop the soil sample
9. No. 4 sieve
- To sieve the soil sample
10. Graduated cylinder
- Use to measure liquid
11. Tools or suitable mechanical device for extruding the compacted sample with
water
- Use to extrude the soil sample
12. Sprayer or any suitable device for thoroughly mixing soil sample with water
- Use to spray water on soil sample

Cylindrical Metal Mold Rammer

Balance Oven with Temperature control

 Drying Cans Straight Edge

Large Mixing Pan Scoop

No. 4 Sieve Graduated Cylinder

 Extruder Sprayer

APPLICATION

The experiment performed a compaction test to the soil sample. Soil

compaction is defined as the method of mechanically increasing the density of soil.
This important in building process, because it determine the compacted
specification of soil and the max dry unit weight which can be used for determining
the relative compaction of soil in the field. Knowing these properties could help
designers in making decision for structures. Another purpose of compaction of soil
in the field is that it reduces subsequent settlement under working loads. Thus
increasing the shear strength of the soil. Lastly, soil compaction can be used to
reduce void ratio to prevent water to flow through soil, this is because in testing for
soil compaction it is related to the moisture content of the sample. Furthermore,
this can prevent the build-up of large water pressures.
TECHNICAL OBSERVATION

In this experiment of performing soil compaction test there different

observations that can be seen in the experiment. To begin with, the experiment
follows the ASTM specification thus making the procedure from the video the same
from the manual. The test is develop to evaluate the level of compaction of field
compacted soils. This is performed with various moisture content to establish a dry
density versus moisture content graph. The maximum value of dry unit weight and
the optimum moisture content can be determine.

The experiment video presented has very technical procedure for some steps.
To acquire accurate data, the video presented that the caliper is use to record the
dimension and average of three equally spaced diameter and height for accurate
volume. Furthermore, in the video the soil sample has already predetermine the
moisture content as initial.

To establish an accurate result, there are particular instruction to be followed

to ensure an accurate test. The part of the procedure of the experiment is mixing
soil and water, in this particular process it is needed that it is mix in uniform
consistency. Another is while compacting the soil, the first compaction must have
soil quantity to fill approximately 1/3 of the mold and for second compaction 2/3 of
the mold. In compacting it need to be done in specifically 25 blows and spread
evenly. These instructions are very particular in the video, because this is to ensure
that the process done could generate an accurate result for testing.
REFERENCE/S

1- https://www.multiquip.com/multiquip/pdfs/Soil_Compaction_Handbook_low_r
es_0212_DataId_59525_Version_1.pdf

2- https://www.intelligentconstruction.com/downloads/IC_RelatedDocs/SoilCmpc
t_Fundamentals%20of%20Soil%20Compaction.pdf