LABORATORY PROCTOR (COMPACTION) TEST

Introduction
The laboratory test was performed to determine the relationship between
the moisture content and the dry density of a soil for a specified
compactive effort which refers to the amount of mechanical energy that is
applied to the soil mass.
Several different methods are used to compact soil in the field, and some
examples

include

tamping,

kneading,

vibration,

and

static

load

compaction.
Laboratory compaction is important for highway construction processes
and is used as reference when in field under constrained specifications.
It is used for determination of optimum moisture content as well as
maximum dry density of field material samples
Significance of the compaction
i.

Mechanical compaction is one of the most common and cost

effective

means

of

stabilizing

soils

to

prescribed

design

specifications such as required density (as a percentage of the

maximum density measured in a standard laboratory test), and
the water content as engineering properties of soil such as the
strength,

stiffness,

resistance

to

shrinkage,

will

improve

by

increasing the soil density.

ii.

The optimum water content (OMC) is the water content that results
in the greatest density for a specified compactive effort. Compacting
at water contents higher than the OMC results in a relatively
dispersed soil structure that is weaker, more ductile, less pervious,
softer, more susceptible to shrinking, and less susceptible to
swelling than soil compacted dry of optimum to the same density.
The soil compacted lower than the optimum water content typically
results in a random particle orientations that has the opposite
characteristics of the soil compacted wet of the optimum water
content to the same density.

Objective
i.

To determine the relationship between maximum dry density and

optimum moisture content

Equipments used
The following equipment and tools used in laboratory compaction
i.

Proctor mould (1litre ) with a detachable collar assembly and base

plate.

ii.

Manual rammer weighing 4.5 kg

iii.

A sensitive balance.

iv.

Straight edge/ mechanical extruder

v.

Mixing tools such as mixing pan, spoon,

vi.

Drying Oven

Materials used
i.
ii.

Soil sample
Water

Test Procedure:
i.

A sufficient quantity of air-dried soil in large mixing pan was

pulverized and run through the 20mm sieve.

ii.

Determine the weight of the soil sample as well as the weight of the
compaction mold with its base by using the balance and record the
weights.

iii.

Compute the amount of initial water to add depending on the

natural moisture content obtained during oven drying by the
following method:

(a) Assume water content for the first test to be 2%.

(b) Compute water to add from the following equation:
water to add (in ml/cc) = 2% of the soil mass (in grams)
iv.

Measure out the water, add it to the soil, and then mix it thoroughly
into the soil using the trowe/hands until the soil gets a uniform color

v.

Assemble the compaction mold to the base, place some soil in the
mold and compact the soil. The number of drops of the rammer per
layer is also dependent upon the type of mold used. The drops
should be applied at a uniform rate, and the rammer should provide
uniform coverage of the specimen surface.
The soil should completely fill the cylinder and the last compacted
layer must extend slightly above the collar joint. If the soil is below
the collar joint at the completion of the drops, the test point must
be repeated.

vi.

Carefully remove the collar and trim off the compacted soil so that
itis completely even with the top of the mold using the trowel.
Replace small bits of soil that may fall out during the trimming
process

vii.

Weigh the compacted soil while its in the mold and to the base,
and record the mass. Determine the wet mass of the soil by
subtracting the weight of the mold and base.

viii.

Remove the soil from the mold using a mechanical extruder and
take soil moisture content samples from the specimen. Fill the
moisture cans with soil and determine the water content after being
oven dried for 24 hours at temperature about 105 to 110 0C for
determination of moisture content.

ix.

Place the soil specimen in the large tray and break up the soil until
it appears visually as if it will pass through the 20 mm, add 2
percent more water based on the original sample mass, and re-mix
as in step (iv), Repeat steps through (viii) until, based on wet mass.

Calculations

Weight of wet soil =weight of wet soil + container weight of container

weight of wet soil
Wet density = volume of compacted sample

Moisture

content

weight of wet soil+ containerweigght of dry soil +container

weight of dry soil+ containerweight of container

x100%
bulk ( wet ) density
Dry density= 1+ moisture content

Results discussion
From the graph of dry density against moisture content the maximum dry
density (MDD) obtained was 1875 kg/m3 and optimum moisture content
was 10.1%.
At 10.1 % (OMC) closest packing of soil is obtained but due to errors a
tolerance of -/+5% is allowed to the MDD.
The minimum value of the dry density during compaction is 95% of MDD
i.e 1781 kg/m3 with the corresponding moisture contents 7.4% and 12.2%
Compacting to a moisture contents higher than 12.2% results in a
relatively dispersed soil structure that is weaker, more ductile, less
pervious, softer, more susceptible to shrinking, and less susceptible to

swelling while soil compacted lower than 7.4% results in a random particle
orientations that has the opposite characteristics of the soil compacted
wet of the optimum water content to the same density.

FIELD DENSITY BY SAND REPLACEMENT METHOD

Field density determination is important as it is used to depict the
specifications set out from laboratory compaction test. Due to field
inefficient personnel and means of compaction of subgrades field density
becomes lower than maximum dry density determined in laboratory.
Objective
i.

To determine field density by sand replacement method

Equipments used
i.
ii.
iii.

Balance
Plastic air tight bags
Hard brush

iv.

Sand cone apparatus which consists of a one-gallon plastic bottle

v.

with a metal cone attached to it

Tools for excavating a hole in the ground

Test procedures
i.

In the field, place the metal tray on the ground surface and fixed by
metal rods at the edges to fix the plate limiting the digging space by

ii.
iii.

avoiding displacement.
A hole was dug of up a 10 to 15 cm deep hole.
The retrieved soil was kept into the plastic bag in order to prevent

iv.

loss of moisture..
Having the valve closed turn the gallon + cone upside down and
place the cone in the center hole of tray and open the valve so that

v.
vi.

sand flows down to the holes.

After the sand stopped to flow the cork was closed.
The weight of plastic Gallon + Cone +Sand, the weight; of container
with no sand, weight of container with wet soils from field were

vii.

determined
Moisture container with wet soil was kept in oven for 24 hours

Calculations analysis
Bulk density of loose sand
Mass of sample =mass of sample +container (M s1) mass of container
(Ms2)
= Ms1 + Ms2
Mass of sand in a hole, Mh = (mass of sand +cylinder before pouring), M 1
(mass of sand +cylinder after pouring), M2 mass of sand in a cone, M3
= M1-M2-M3

mass of sample
Bulk density of sample= mass of sand hole

x density of sand

;
Moisture content
Mass of water, Mw= Mwet - Mdry
Mass of dry sample =mass of dry sample + container-mass of container
bulk density
Dry density of sand = (1+moisture content)

Moisture content=

1.672 g/cc
= (1+0.08)

=1.545g/cm3

weight of water
100
weight of dry sample

dry density of sand

Degree of compaction = maximum dry density

*100%

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
The degree of compaction seemed to be low 76.9% compared to 95% to
98% this might be due to insufficient compaction of the given subgrade of
pavement. Since the determined ;moisture content is lower than the
optimum (8.2% < 12.4%) the contractor has to add water a little bit and
continue compacting to attain the sound degree of compaction. From
results the contractor did not meet specifications set for stability and
durability of pavement.

SOURCES OF ERRORS
Errors in excavating the soil sample hole
Errors in taking measurements of weights

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Field density and laboratory compaction are important since they give
feedback and measure of achieved specification of site work by contractor
in work.

UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING

PRACTICAL NO 1: COMPACTION (PROCTOR) AND FIELD DENSITY

NAME: ELIYA, EMMANUEL N.
REGISTRATION No: 2013-04-02191
TR 331: HIGHWAY MATERIALS
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Dr. P. BUJULU
LAB. INSTRUCTOR: