Compaction Test

Standard Proctor and Modified Proctor

1. Objective
The main purpose of this experiment is to expose with laboratory compaction
test and to obtain the moisture-unit weight relationship for a given compactive effort
on a particular soil. In this experiment the optimum moisture content and maximum
dry density are to be determined.

After the experiment is done, the optimum moisture content can be observed
from the graph that we had plotted and the dry density can be determined by using the
given formula.
γd = γt
1+w/100

where, γd : Dry Density (g/cm3 )

γt : Wet Density (g/cm3 )
w: Water Content (%)

As an engineer, this experiment is important to us. It helps us to determine the

optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of a soil sample. The maximum
dry density found in a laboratory compaction test for each soil type encounters on the
project enable an engineer to determine the compactibility of the soils and fulfill the
project specification.

10
2. Sample Description

The soil sample was collected outside AIT campus and do not know the location..
The soil sample is reddish sandy soil. This soil can be disturbed from collecting and
keeping. The sample used in this experiment was pounded by rubber hammer to
separate to small size and sieve it.

3. Apparatus

1) Standard proctor and Modified proctor compaction device

2) No.4 Sieve for Standard proctor and No.40 Sieve for Modified proctor
3) Balance, sensitive up to 0.1 g
4) Rubber Hammer
5) Scoop
6) Large Mixing Pan
7) Drying Oven

4. Procedure
1. Weight the empty mold and measure the size of the mold and weight the
container.
2. Prepare dry soil sample about 3 kg
3. Break soil lumps with rubber hammer., in case it was lumps, otherwise rub it by
hands
4. Sieve soil through #4
5. Mix soil sample by plus water content about 2 %
6. Using both the standard and modified compaction method as specified by the
instructor, compact a cylinder of soil.
Type Mold Size Weight of No.Of Height of No.of blow Energy/Vol
Hammer(lbs
　 　 Layer Drop(inch) per layer (ft.lb/ft3)
)
Standard
Φ 4.0"x4.6" 5.5 3 12 25 12375
Proctor
Modified
Φ 6.0"x4.6" 10 5 18 56 55986
Proctor

10
7. Move compaction-collar out and make the surface flat.
8. Weight the compacted soil sample and mold.
9. Extrude the cylinder of soil from the mold, split it and take water content sample
at the middle mold about 100 g.
10. Repeat 5-9 to obtain about 5 points of different water content.
11. Return to the laboratory in the following day weight the oven dry water content
samples to fine the actual average water of each test.
12. Compute the dry unit weight and plot graph between dry density and moisture
content.

γd = γt
1+w/100

where, γd : Dry Density (g/cm3 )

γt : Wet Density (g/cm3 )
w: Water Content (%)

For the saturation Line γd = Gsγw

1+wGs/S

where, Gs : Specific Gravity of Soil (assume to be 2.65 )

γw : Density of water (g/cm3 )
w: Water Content (%)
S: Degree of Saturation (%)

10
6. Conclusion and Discussion

Compaction is one kind of densification that is realized by rearrangement of soil

particles without outflow of water. It is realized by application of mechanic energy. It
does not involve fluid flow, but with moisture changing altering.

This experiment we distributed in two method standard proctor compaction and

modified proctor compaction. The standard was originally developed to simulate field
compaction in the lab to find the optimum moisture content at which the maximum
dry unit weight is attained. The modified was developed to simulate larger
compaction effort for more serious loads and bigger equipment.

There are 4 control factors affecting the extent of compaction:

1. Compaction effort.
2. Soil type and gradation.
3. Moisture content.
4. Dry unit weight (dry density).

We can find optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of soil sample
from the result after performing the experiment. The modified proctor compaction in
compactive effort should be lower optimum water content or higher maximum dry
density than standard proctor compaction. For increasing effort, the maximum dry
density increases and the optimum moisture content decreases

From the result, we had plotted the graph between dry density and moisture
content. From the graph, in standard proctor compaction we got the optimum moisture
content is 22.20 % and the maximum dry density is 1.640 g/cm3. In modified proctor
compaction we got the optimum moisture content is 14.57 % and the maximum dry
density is 1.779 g/cm3. The curve do not touch the zero air dry curve (S=100%).

In earthworks it is common to specify a dry density within a certain

percentage of the maximum determined from a specified compaction test. For this test
to be sensible procedure it is important that the compactive effort used in the

10
laboratory is comparable to that supplied by the field equipment. The engineer on site
can use this information to determine optimum moisture content and maximum dry
density of soil.

The experiment should be careful because might be some errors occur.

The possible ways to improve the accuracy of the results are:
 Greased the inner surface of the mould properly to avoid the soil stuck in the
mould after we had compacted.
 Cleaned the mould and the container properly before the experiments start.
 Trying to raise the hammer to a height of 12inches when doing compaction.
 Make sure that the soil was given exactly 25 blows after each layer was filled
up. This is to make sure that the soil sample is compacted evenly.
 Mix the water and the soil slowly, properly and evenly.

10
7. Appendix

Example of Calculation from standard test No.1

Weight of Wet Soil

Wet Density, γT =
Volume of Mould

= 1719.3
942.7

= 1.82 g/cm3

Weight of Water
Water content, w = Weight of Dry Soil

2.45
= x 100%
67.75

= 3.62%

100 x Wet Density, T

Dry Density =
(100  water content,  (%))

100 x 1.82
=
(100  3.62)

= 1.612 g/cm3

10
8. References

- Bergado, Dennes T.(2007), Soil Mechanics with Application, School of civil

Engineering- AIT

- Laboratory Hand Out (2007), “Compaction Test”, School of civil

Engineering- AIT

- Bowles, J.E. (1975): Engineering Properties of Soils and their Measurements,

Mc Graw – Hill Co.

- Lambe. T.W. and Whitman, R.V, Soil Mechanics(1979), John Wily,

New York

10