Objectives

Be able to use basic

volume weight
equations
Understand principal
of soil compaction.
Explain how the
compaction test is
used in design and
quality control
Be able to perform
basic compaction test
(LAB EXERCISE)
plot compaction data
and evaluate for
accuracy
Understand procedure
for Atterberg Limit
Tests (LAB
EXERCISE)
Review of Compaction Principles
Compaction Tests are not suitable for
soils with more than 30 % by weight of
the sample being larger than a
sieve.
Compaction tests are not usually
performed on soils with 12 % or fewer
fines
Review of Compaction Principles
Relative Density testing is used for
clean sands and gravels covered later
in class
Standard Procedures for testing are
available for soils with some gravel
(less than the maximum allowable
content)
Principle of compaction
Theory developed by R.R. Proctor in
1930s in California
Three Factors determine the density
that results from soil compaction



Proctor Developed Principle
Three variables determine the
density of a compacted soil
The energy used in compaction
The water content of the soil
The properties of the soil
State Diagram
Water content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

100 %
saturation
curve
State Diagram
Water content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Energy Used in Compaction
Assume you have some clay soil that is
at a water content of 16 percent.
Look at the effect different compaction
energy has on the density of the soil.
Energy expressed as number of passes
of a sheepsfoot roller on a lift of soil
Water content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

1 pass of
equipment
2 passes of
equipment
3 passes of
equipment
4 passes of
equipment
10 passes of
equipment
At this water content, energy has
a large effect on compacted
density
Water content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

10 passes of
equipment
At this point, the sample has had
most of its air driven out by the
compaction
100 %
saturation line
Water content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

1 pass of
equipment
2 passes of
equipment
3 passes of
equipment
4 passes of
equipment
10 passes of
equipment
At a lower water content, energy
has little effect on the compacted
density of a clay soil
Compacting at low water contents
At low water contents, insufficient
water is available to lubricate the
particles and allow them to be
rearranged into a dense structure.
The frictional resistance of dry
particles is high
Water content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

1 pass of
equipment
2 passes of
equipment
3 passes of
equipment
4 passes of
equipment
10 passes of
equipment
At a very high water content,
energy has little effect on the
compacted density of a clay
soil because the water is
incompressible and takes the
applied force without
densifying the soil
This results in a term
called pumping
Compacting Very Wet Soil
At this point, few air
pockets remain
compaction forces
are carried by water
in soil which is
incompressible
Water has Zero Shear Strength

Water has Zero Shear Strength

Effect of Water Content
Now examine the effect of just changing the
water content on a clay soil, using the same
energy each time the soil is compacted.
For example, assume soil is spread and
compacted with 4 passes of a sheepsfoot
roller each time.
Examine using State Diagram
Effect of Water Content
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sample 1 compacted at 12 %
water Dry Density is 99.0 pcf
12 %
99.0
pcf
Effect of Water Content
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sample 2 compacted at
14 % water Dry Density
is 104.5 pcf
14 %
104.5
pcf
Effect of Water Content
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sample 3
compacted at
16 % water
Dry Density
is 105.5 pcf
16 %
105.5
pcf
Effect of Water Content
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sample 4
compacted at
18 % water
Dry Density
is 98.5 pcf
18 %
98.5
pcf
Effect of Water Content @ constant
energy
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Maximum
dry density,
pcf
Optimum water
content, %
Now, perform the same test at a
different (Higher energy) on the soil
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
4 passes of
sheepsfoot
roller
10 passes of
sheepsfoot
roller
Effect of Soil Type on Curves
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Plastic Clay Soils have Low
Values of Maximum Dry
Density
80-95
pcf
Effect of Soil Type on Curves
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
20-40 %
Plastic Clay Soils have high
values for optimum water
content (20-40 %)
Effect of Soil Type on Curves
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Plastic Clay Soils have a Flat
Curve for Lower Energies
Density
Effect of Soil Type on Curves
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sandy Soils with Lower PIs
have High Values of
Maximum Dry Density
115-135
pcf
8-15 %
Effect of Soil Type on Curves
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sandy Soils with Lower PIs have
Low Values of Optimum Water
Content
Effect of Soil Type on Curves
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Sandy Soils have a Steep Curve
Short distance from plastic to
liquid states of consistency
Summary
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Lower PI
Sandier Soils in
this Region
110-135
Intermediate PI
Soils in this
Region
95-120
Higher PI
Clayey Soils in
this Region
75-95
Summary
D
r
y

d
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f

Water content, %
Lower PI
Sandier Soils in
this Region
8-14
Intermediate PI
Soils in this
Region
12-20
Higher PI
Clayey Soils in
this Region
20-40
Family
of
Curves
(Covered
Later)
Family of Curves
water content, %
Line of
Optimums
Zero air voids curve
not parallel to line of
optimums at upper
end
Using a standard energy, if a series
of specimens of a soil are compacted
at increasing water contents, the
resultant dry density of the
specimens will vary. The density
will increase to a peak value, then
decrease.


Proctors principle of compaction
Principle of Compaction
A plot of the dry density versus the
water content from a compaction test
will be parabolic in shape.
The peak of the curve is termed the
maximum dry density, and the water
content at which the peak occurs is the
optimum water content.
Standard Proctor Energies
Several standard energies are used
for laboratory compaction tests
Standard 12,400 ft-lbs/ft
3
Modified 56,000 ft-lbs/ft
3
California 20,300 ft-lbs/ft
3

Standard Proctor Compaction Test
Summary
Uses 5.5 pound
hammer
dropped 12 inches
mold filled in 3 lifts
25 blows of hammer
per lift
Total energy is
~12,400 ft-lbs/ft
3

12drop
3 lifts
5.5 #
hammer
Modified Proctor Compaction Test
Summary
Uses 10 pound
hammer
dropped 12 inches
mold filled in 5 lifts
25 blows of hammer
per lift
Total energy is
~12,400 ft-lbs/ft
3

18drop
10 #
hammer
5 lifts
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
Several Standard molds are used
depending on maximum particle size in
sample
4diameter mold (1/30 ft
3
) used for soils
with low gravel contents
Method A for soils with < 20 % gravel
Method B for soils with > 20 % gravel
and < 20 % larger than 3/8
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
Several Standard molds are used
depending on maximum particle size in
sample
6diameter mold (1/13.33 ft
3
) used for
soils with significant gravel contents
More than 20 % gravel larger than 3/8
Must have less than 30 % larger than 3/4
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
Standardized tests are not available for soils
with more than 30 percent by weight of the
total sample being larger than 3/4in
diameter gravels
ASTM Compaction Test Methods are
D698A D1557A
D698B D1557B
D698C D1557C
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
Prepare 4 to 5
specimens at
increasing water
contents about 2 %
apart. Example -
prepared samples at
14, 16, 18, and 20
percent. Use range of
moistures based on
feel and experience.
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
Then, compact
each sample
into a steel
mold with
standard
procedures
Compaction mold
Cured soil
Hammer
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
Then, strike
off excess
soil so the
mold has a
known
volume of
soil.
Proctor Compaction Test Summary
For each sample, measure the weight and the
water content of the soil in the mold
The mold volume and weight are
pre-measured. Dont assume nominal volume of
1/30 ft
3
or 1/13.33 ft
3

Calculate moist density
Calculate dry density
Plot dry density and water content for each point
Class Problem
Calculate Moist density, dry density
Mold _ Volume
Weight
Moist
moist
=
100
%
1
w
moist
dry
+

=
Point Mold
+Soil
Moist
Soil
Moist
Density
pcf
Water
Content
%
Dry
Density
pcf
1 8.04 3.78 17.5
2 8.30 4.04 19.6
3 8.38 4.12 21.7
4 8.29 4.03 24.4
Class Problem
Mold wt = 4.26 #, Mold Vol. = 0.03314 ft
3
Class Problem
Calculate Moist density, dry density
Plot curve of dry density versus
water content
Determine Maximum dry density
and optimum water content
{
Set Up Plot Form SCS-352
5
pounds
90
110
Set Up Plot Form SCS-352
Make each vertical division equal
to 1 percent water content
Class Problem
Calculate Moist density, dry density
Plot curve of dry density versus water
content
Determine Maximum dry density and
optimum water content
Plot zero air voids ( 100 % saturation
curve assuming specific gravity = 2.68

Zero Air Voids Curve
After you plot a compaction test,
plotting a zero air voids curve is very
important. This curve is also called the
100 % saturation curve
This curve shows for a range of dry
density values what the saturated water
content is for any given value
Compaction Problem
100
1
(%) x
G
w
s dry
water
sat
(
(

Zero air void equation

Assume 3 values of
d
and calculate w
sat
%
85
95
105
115
125
135
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
Water Content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
100
G
1
(%) w
s d
w
sat

(

=
100 % Saturation
Curve
75 % Saturation
Curve
95 % Saturation
Curve
assumed Gs = 2.70
Unit wt. water = 62.4
Assumed dry density = 105
pcf
wsat(%) = 22.1(%)
Zero Air Voids Curve
Dry Unit Weight
pcf
Saturated
Water %
95
100
105
Plotted Class Problem
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
w %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
Maximum dry
density = 102.5 pcf
optimum w % = 21.0
%
zero air
voids
curve
Zero Air Voids Curve
The 100 % saturation curve is used to
judge the reliability of the compaction
curve and of field measurements of
compacted soil density and water
content
Compacted soils for NRCS
specifications are usually at a degree of
saturation of about 75 to 95 percent
85.0
95.0
105.0
115.0
125.0
135.0
5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
Water Content, %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
75 %
Saturation
Curve
100 % Saturation
Curve
95 %
Saturation
Curve
Evaluating Compaction Tests
Standard requirements - spread in
water content about 2 % and at least
two points above and below optimum
Typical shape - soil type ?
Review of Compaction
Compaction Problem
Other given information:
LL = 47, PI = 30,
classified as CL soil
Gs = 2.68
Evaluating compaction test
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
w %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
zero air
voids
curve
2.1 %
Are points about two percent apart ?
2.1 %
2.7 %
2.7 %
Evaluating compaction test
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
w %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
zero air
voids
curve
2.1 %
2.1 %
2.1 %
2.7 %
Are two points below and 2 above
optimum ?
Optimum water content
about 80 % saturated
water content ? -
Acceptable range is
75-95

Review of Compaction
100
1
x
G
w
s dry
water
sat
(
(

= (%)
Optimum w% = 21.0
(%) 6 . 23 100
68 . 2
1
5 . 102
4 . 62
(%) =
(

= x w
sat
% sat = 21.023.6=89%
102.5 pcf
Plotted Class Problem
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
w %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
Maximum dry
density = 102.5 pcf
optimum w % = 21.0
%
zero air
voids
curve
w
sat
@ 102.5 pcf =
(62.4/102.5 - 1/2.68) * 100 = 23.6 %
wopt/wsat =
21.0/23.6 = 89 %
Wet side parallel to
saturation curve at ~
90 % saturation ?

d
,

p
c
f

w, %
Review of Compaction
100
1
(%) x
G
w
s dry
water
sat
(
(

% Sat = 24.3 26.4 =

92.0 %
Check a point on wet side at
98 pcf, w % on curve is
24.3%
(%) 4 . 26 100
68 . 2
1
0 . 98
4 . 62
(%) =
(

= x w
sat
Plotted Class Problem
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
w %
D
r
y

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
,

p
c
f
Maximum dry
density = 102.5 pcf
optimum w % = 21.0
%
zero air
voids
curve
wopt/wsat =
24.3/26.6 = 91 %
w
sat
@ 98.0 pcf =
(62.4/98.0 - 1/2.70) * 100 = 26.6 %
Evaluating Compaction Tests
Typical value for fine-grained soils
compared to Navdocks equations

dmax
= 130.3 - 0.82 *LL + 0.3*PI

w
opt
= 6.77 + 0.43 * LL - 0.21 * PI

Review of Compaction
Evaluating Compaction Tests
Typical value for fine-grained soils
compared to Navdocks equations

dmax
= 130.3 - 0.82 *47 + 0.3*30
= 100.8 pcf
OK - test value was 102.5 pcf
w
opt
= 6.77 + 0.43 * 47 - 0.21 * 30
= 19.6 %
OK Test value was 21.0 %
Review of Compaction
Soils are compacted to improve the
engineering properties over those of
loosely placed soils.
The engineering properties are affected
both by the density to which the soil is
compacted and the water content at
which it is compacted


Purposes of compaction
Role of compaction tests
in earth fill projects
Samples are obtained in site investigation
and sent to laboratory for testing
Soils are tested to determine reference
density - as well as other index properties
Engineering properties are measured by
testing at a percentage of the reference test
density. For example, a shear test might be
performed at 95 percent of the Standard
Proctor maximum dry density of the soil.


The engineering properties are used in analyses
to determine a suitable design
For example, the shear strength is used in a slope
stability analyses
If the engineering properties allow a satisfactory
design, then the degree of compaction is used in
a contract specification.

Role of compaction tests
in earth fill projects
If an unsatisfactory design results, the soil is re-
tested at a different degree of compaction to
obtain better engineering properties
The design is re-analyzed and the process
repeated until a final satisfactory degree of
compaction is decided
Then the degree of compaction is used in a
contract specification.

Role of compaction tests
in earth fill projects
Quality control processes are used to ensure that
the earth fill is compacted to the degree of
compaction specified, within a range of specified
water contents
Field compaction tests are performed to assure
that the proper reference density is being used

Role of compaction tests
in earth fill projects
Compaction
Tests as
Used in
Design of an
Earth Fill
Engineering Properties are used
in an analyses - e.g.,
slope stability analysis
Engineering Property
Tests are performed at
the preliminary design density
e.g., shear tests
A Preliminary degree of
compaction is assumed
e.g., 95 % STandard Proctor
Samples are obtained and submitted
to a laboratory for
compaction tests
index tests
Quality Control Tests
are performed during
construction to ensure that
the required density and water content are met
If the Design is Satisfactory,
Contract specs are written
requiring the degree of compaction
needed for the properties
Quality Control Tests
are performed during
construction to ensure that
the required density and water content are met
When a satisfactory design is achieved
for the tested degree of
compaction, specifications are written
If the Design is not Satisfactory,
a different degree of compaction
is assumed, and more engineering
property tests are performed
Example of Process
Sample obtained to determine suitability as
clay liner
Sample Sent to Laboratory
Laboratory performs Standard Proctor Test
A Permeability Test is performed at 95 % of
maximum Standard Proctor Dry Density
Example of Process
The sample is remolded at 2 percent wet of
optimum (for this sample, 85 % saturated)
The permeability test measures an
acceptably low permeability
A recommendation is given to the field
office that compaction to this combination
of density and water content results in
acceptably low permeability
Example of Process
During construction, measurements of dry
density and water content are made during
construction.
If the degree of compaction and percent
saturation are equal to or better than
specified, the liner is judged to have a low
permeability and is considered acceptable.
A compaction test measures a maximum
dry density of 104.0 pcf and an optimum
water content of 18.0 %. The soil has an
estimated G
s
value of 2.68
A contract requires compaction to 95 % of
maximum dry density at a water content
of optimum or greater
Class Problem 2
A field test measures a moist density of 126.3
pcf and a water content of 23.4 %
Does the compacted fill meet the contract
requirement ?
Use the values given for measured moist
density and water content, calculate the dry
density
Assume a Gs value of 2.68 and compute a wsat
value
Class Problem 2
Class Problem
Compare the reported compaction water
content to theoretical saturated water content
Compacted soils are commonly in the range of
75-95 percent saturated
What do the results tell you about the
reliability of the field data?
What would you look for to explain any
problems?
Conclusions of Class Problem
The measured data appears to have
problems.
Possible errors are in the measurement of
the dry density, the water content, or the
specific gravity value used in computations
Recommend investigating most probable
causes