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Determination of the Optimum Moisture Content and the Maximum Dry Unit Weight
of Compaction Using Standard Proctor Test
The purpose of this report is to determine the maximum dry unit weight of compaction
and optimum moisture content of a soil sample using Standard Proctor Test. These values
are essential in determining the maximum moisture needed to achieve the highest strength
characteristics of soils in the construction of engineering structures. It has been
determined that the optimum moisture content of the soil sample is 22.7% and the
maximum dry unit weight of compaction is 15.77 kN/m3.
Group Mates:
Renz Gian Cavida
Ephraim Madanguit
Christian Paul Maranan
Roland Mondano Jr.
Marc Neil Rabin
I.
Objectives
Determine the optimum moisture content of the soil sample using Standard
Proctor Test.
Determine the maximum dry unit weight of the soil sample using Standard
Proctor Test.
II.
III.
Materials
Soil Sample
Mold
Rammer
Weighing Scale
Oven
Sieve #4
Mixing Pan
Containers
Methodology
Record the
mass of mold.
Record the
mass of
specimen +
mold.
Yes
Obtain a representative
portion of the compacted
specimen and determine
the moist mass and ovendried mass.
No
Discard the
trial.
IV.
Compaction Curve
Mmd = 4509.5 g
V = 939.537 cm3
Trial
Mt (g)
6020
6132.5
6203
6223.5
6350.5
6334
Mc (g)
8.5
9.18
8.84
10.4
8.2
Mcms (g)
73.5
50.5
75.62
66.52
75.54
82.33
Mcds (g)
68.92
45.86
66.72
58.52
63.81
65.24
w (%)
7.52
12.42
15.47
16.10
21.96
29.96
m (g/cm3)
1.61
1.73
1.80
1.82
1.96
1.94
d (g/cm3)
1.50
1.54
1.56
1.57
1.61
1.49
d (kN/m3)
14.66
15.07
15.31
15.41
15.76
14.65
Table 1: Raw and Calculated Data for required values of compaction curve
Figure 1: Void ratio, moisture content and dry unit weight of typical soils (Das, 2010)
Using the equation,
Gs = 2.78.
Calculating the completely saturated water content,
Trial
gammad
14.66
15.07
15.31
15.41
15.76
14.65
wsat
30.78
28.98
27.97
27.55
26.15
30.83
y = -23.428x + 21.869
15.8
Compaction Curve
15.6
15.4
100% Saturation
Curve
15.2
Poly. (Compaction
Curve)
15
14.8
14.6
Linear (100%
Saturation Curve)
14.4
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
Diffentiating best fit equation of the compaction curve and equating it to zero, the optimum
moisture content of the soil sample is determined to be 22.7%. Substituting this value to the
best fit equation of the compaction curve, the maximum dry unit weight is determined to be
15.77 kN/m3.
V.
It can be observed that as the moisture content is increased and the same compaction
effort is used, i.e. 25 blows per layer, the dry unit weight is increased. This happens
because water acts as a softening agent which makes the soil particles slip and move to a
more dense position (Das, 2010).
However, when certain moisture content is reached, any addition to the moisture content
will decrease the dry unit weight of the soil. This occurs because the water takes the space
that could have been taken by the soil particles (Das, 2010). The moisture content in
which the maximum dry density is achieved is the optimum moisture content. It was
determined that the optimum moisture content of the soil sample is 22.7% and the
maximum dry density is 15.77 kN/m3.
It can be observed there is no point in the compaction curve to the right of the 100%
saturation curve which is expected in accord to theory. Also, the shape of the wet side of
the optimum of the compaction curve follows the shape of the 100% saturation curve.
Compaction also has effect on hydraulic conductivity and strength. As the soil increases
its unit weight by compaction, the hydraulic conductivity decreases because the pore
spaces are taken by soil particles. The minimum hydraulic conductivity occurs at the
optimum moisture content. Beyond the optimum moisture content, the hydraulic
conductivity increases because the pore spaces are taken by water instead of the soil
particles (Das, 2010). Compaction increases the strength of soils if compacted on the dry
side of the optimum because of the increase in dry unit weight, thus, its bearing capacity
and decreases the potential settlement of structures built on the soil. The opposite happens
if the soil is compacted on the wet side of the optimum.
VI.
Conclusion
Through the Standard Proctor Test, it has been determined that the optimum moisture
content of the soil sample obtained from the field is 22.7% and the maximum dry unit
weight is 15.77 kN/m3.
VII.
References