EXPERIMENT 5

STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST

OBJECTIVE
This laboratory test is performed to determine the relationship between the moisture
content and the dry density of a soil for a specified compactive effort.

THEORY/BACKGROUND
The general meaning of the verb “compact” is the “to press closely together”. In soil
mechanics, it means to press soil particles tightly together by expelling air from void spaces
between the particles. Compaction is normally done deliberately, often by heavy
compaction rollers, and proceeds rapidly during construction. These three changes in soil
characteristics are beneficial for some types of earth construction, such as highways,
airfields, and earth dams; as general rule, the greater the compaction, the greater the
benefits will be. Compaction is actually a rather cheap and effective way to improve the
properties of a soil.

The amount of compaction is quantified in terms of the dry unit weight of the soil. Usually,
dry soils can be compacted best (and thus a greater unit weight achieved) if for each soil, a
certain amount of water is added. In effect, water acts as a lubricant, allowing soil particles
to be packed together better. However, if too much water is added, a lower unit weight will
result. Thus, for a given compaction effort, there is a particular moisture content at which
dry weight is greater and compaction is best. This moisture content is known as the
optimum moisture content, and the associated dry unit weight is called the maximum dry
unit weight.
APPARATUS
- Cylindrical metal mould(105mm diameter and 115.5mm high)

- Metal rammer with 50mm diameter face, weighting 2.5kg, sliding freely in a tube
which controls the height of drop to 300mm.

- Measuring cylinder, 200ml or 500ml

- BS sieve and receiver

- Large metal tray

- Balance

- Jacking apparatus for extracting

- Small tools: palette knife, steel straight-edge, scoop.
PROCEDURE
1. The procedure that will be described next is applicable for soils passing the no
5.00mm sieve. Prepare a representative batch of the soil to be tested by breaking
down soil clumps into individual particles.

2. Add water (mixing thoroughly) to the soil, until the first moisture content is attained
(again, account for hygroscopic moisture as necessary).

3. Weight the compaction mold and base plate to 1g (0.01lb). Do not include the
extension collar in this weighing.
4. Assemble the extension collar and compaction

5. The soil sample will be compacted in three equal layers. Each layer is compacted
with 27 uniformly distributed blows before the next layer of soil is added. Smooth
the surface of the soil with light tamping and then begin compact the soil with the
2.5kg hammer.

6. After the third layer has been compacted, remove the extension collar from the
compaction mould.
7. Using the steel straight edge, trim off the excess soil until the sample is even with
the top of the mould. In the event that a small quantity of soil is lost from the
compaction mould during removal of the collar or during the trimming process, fill
the trimmings pressed in with moderate finger pressure.
8. Weight the compaction mould, base plate, and compacted soil to 1g.

9. Extrude the sample from the mould and retain approximately 100g for a moisture
content determination. Equal portions of the sample should be obtained from each
of the three layers to ensure representative water content.

10. Break up the extruded sample by hand, and mix with excess soil from the previous
compaction test. Add water, mixing thoroughly, until the water content of the soil
has been raised by 2 to 3 percent.
11. Repeat steps 4 through 10. Note the consistency of the soil and the total weight of
the mould, collar, and moist soil throughout the 3 trials.
12. Once the water content samples have been dried, determine the water content and
dry unit weight of the soil in each trial.
CALCULATION
Plot the moisture-density curve and find optimum moisture content, and maximum dry unit
weight
DISCUSSION
1. State THREE (3) factor affected a process of soil compaction test

1. Moisture content: The purpose of compaction is to minimize air voids from

soil. Dry soil contains more air voids. Adding water to soil helps to compact
soil and increases the dry density of soil. Adding a certain amount of water to
a particular soil increases the dry density at maximum level. Adding more
water to that soil will reduce the dry density of soil. The amount of water
content in soil, at which soil obtains its maximum dry density, is the optimum
moisture content of that soil.

2. Types and Nature of soil: There are various types of soil which are
generally classified by its grain size. As per AASHTO, soil classification can
be categorised into 15 groups. Naturally soil is a combination of soil types.
This combination of soil types determines the best compaction method to use.

3. Compaction effort: If compaction effort is increased, the maximum dry

density of soil increases and the optimum moisture content decreases.
 DATA

Soils Testing Laboratory

Compaction Test

Volume of Mould (V) 𝑐𝑚3 = 1163.6m

Moisture Content Determination Dry

Trial Mass of Mass Mass of Moist
Density
No. Moist of Moist Density
Of
Specimen Mould, Specimen of
Can Mass Mass Mass Mass Mass Moisture Compa
+ Mould, 𝑀𝑚𝑑 (kg) Compacted
No. of of of Of Of Content cted
𝑀𝑡 (kg) Specimen
Wet Dry Water Can Dry (%) Specim
(kg) 𝜌𝑚 (kg/𝑐𝑚3 )
Soil Soil (g) (g) Soil en,
+ + (g) 𝜌𝑑
Can Can
(g) (g)

1 5.595 3.850 1.745 1500 1 70 59.22 0.78 25 34.22 2 1483

2 5.720 3.850 1.870 1610 2 95 38.61 1.39 25 23.61 6 1495

3 5.640 3.850 1.790 1698 3 75 78.01 16.99 25 63.01 27 1337

4 5.585 3.850 1.735 1572 4 65 66.90 23.1 25 51.9 45 1084

CONCLUSION
From the compaction experiment, we have we have record all the reading in the table. The
primary values determined in a compaction test are the optimum moisture content and
maximum dry density. However, graph would normally also include the compaction curve
data form. Type of soil is the primary factor affecting maximum dry density and optimum
water content for a given compactive effort and compaction method. From the graph, we
know that the maximum dry density is 1495 kg/𝑐𝑚3 . The optimum water content is
6% .Higher optimum water contents are generally associated with lower dry density. Higher
dry density are associated with well-graded granular materials. Uniformly graded sand, clays
of high plasticity, and organic silts and clays typically respond poorly to compaction.

We conclude that we’ve succeed and reached the objectives of this experiment and learned
how to get on the compaction experiment correctly and how to plot the graph. We may
apply it in the field of engineering most especially in site.The principal reason for
compacting soil is to reduce subsequent settlement under working loads. We conclude that
soil compaction is important to prevent the build up of large water pressures that cause soil
to liquefy during earthquakes. Compaction also can reduces the voids ratio making it more
difficult for water to flow through soil. This is important if the soil is being used to retain
water such as would be required for an earth dam.

REFERENCE
1. https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/factors-affecting-compaction-of-soils/5311/
2. https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/compaction-test-soil-proctors-test/3152/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_compaction
4. https://www.engineeringcivil.com/soil-compaction-tests.html
5. https://www.certifiedmtp.com/blog/proctor-soil-compaction-test/
CONTENTS
NO TITLE PAGE

1 OBJECTIVE 3

2 THEORY/BACKGROUND 3

3 APPARATUS 4-5

4 PROCEDURE 6-8

5 DATA 9

6 CALCULATION 10

7 DISCUSSION 11

8 CONCLUSION 12

9 REFERENCE 12