EXPERIMENT 5 COMPACTION TEST INTRODUCTION

Soil compaction is defined as the method of mechanically increasing the density of soil. In construction, this is a significant part of the building process. If performed improperly, settlement of the soil could occur and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or structure failure. Almost all types of building sites and construction projects utilize mechanical compaction techniques. Soil compaction occurs when the weight of heavy machinery compresses the soil, causing it to lose pore space. Soil compaction may also occur due to a lack of water in the soil. Affected soils become less able to absorb rainfall, thus increasing runoff and erosion. Plants have difficulty in compacted soil because the mineral grains are pressed together, leaving little space for air and water, which are essential for root growth. Burrowing animals also find it a hostile environment, because the denser soil is more difficult to penetrate.

PURPOSE
Compaction in the laboratory tests carried out to obtain the maximum dry density and the content. The value of the maximum dry density obtained is used as a reference for the works on site compaction

THEORY
Land in terms of soil mechanics consists of three components (phases) of the solid, water and air. Compaction is a process where the gap-mechanically compacted air voids, and it will change the engineering properties of soil as follows :- Control of soil moisture content changes - Increase soil shear strength - Add the dry unit weight and density of soil - Reducing the permeability of soil -To reduce soil sediment on which it is encumbered It has two method of compaction test that usually been used:Standard proctor compaction test Modified proctor compaction test The Proctor compaction test and the related modified Proctor compaction test, named for engineer Ralph R. Proctor (1933), are tests to determine the maximum practically-achievable density of soils and aggregates, and are frequently used in geotechnical engineering. The test consists of compacting the soil or aggregate to be tested into a standard mould using a standardized compactive energy at several different levels of moisture content. The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content is determined from the results of the test. Soil in place is tested for in-place dry bulk density, and the result is divided by the maximum dry density to obtain a relative compaction for the soil in place.

OBJECTIVES
Compaction test, the dry density values for each experiment determined a graph of dry density ( ) plotted against moisture content. From the graph, may determine the maximum dry

density and optimum moisture content.

On the same graph, plot lines airways 0% and 5% by using the following formula

Where,

Gs = specific gravity of soil particles m = moisture content Ar = Percentage of air cavity w = density of water

EQUIPMENT
Standard proctor compaction Mold (diameter = 105mm, volume = 1000cm3)

2.5 kg Drop hammer

Sample extruder Metal straightedge

Mixing tools 20 mm BS sieve

Container of moisture content

3kg of soil

PROCEDURE
1. Obtain about 3 kg of dry soil. Break all lumps in the soil. 2. Using the 20mm BS sieve, sieve the soil to 3 kg

3. Determine the volume of the compaction mold by measuring its height and diameter. 4. Determine the mass of the compaction mold plus base plate (do not include the collar extension) ( W1 ).

5. Estimate the amount of water to be added to reach the desired water content which is about 4-5% below the optimum moisture content (OMC). The OMC will be given in the lab. Mix the water and soil thoroughly. 6. Attach the collar extension to the compaction mold. 7. Place the moist soil into the mold in three equal layers. Each layer should be compacted uniformly using the Standard Proctor hammer 25 times before the next layer of loose soil is added. Note: The layers of loose soil that are being placed into the mold should be such that at the end of the three layer compaction, the soil should extend slightly above the top of the rim of the compaction mold. 8. Remove the collar from the mold. Be careful not to break off ant of the compacted soil inside the mold while removing the collar. Note: If the soil breaks off below the rim, or if the last layer of compacted soil is not above the rim, then you must redo the compaction.

9. Using a straight edge, trim the excess soil above the mold. Now the top of the compacted soil will be even with the top of the mold. 10. Determine the weight of the mold + base plate + compacted moist soil ( W2 ).

11. Remove the base plate from the mold and extrude the soil from the mold. 12. From the moist soil extruded, take two samples from the center and determine the moisture content. To determine the moisture content, first weigh a cup ( W3 ), then determine the mass of the cup and wet soil ( W4 ), and the mass of the cup and dry soil ( W5 ), to calculate the moisture content. Take the average of the two moisture contents.

13. Break the rest of the compacted soil by hand down to its original size in the tray. Add more water to increase the water content of the soil by 2% based on the original soil weight. 14. Carefully remix the soil and repeat steps 6 to 13 until the mass of the mold+ base plate+ moist soil ( W2 ) begins to decrease. Continue the test until at least two successive down readings have been obtained.

DISCUSSION
To carry out a laboratory compaction test, a soil at a selected water content is placed in three layers into a mold of given dimensions, with each layer compacted by 27 blows of rammer dropped from a distance of (300mm), subjecting the soil to a total compactive effort. The resulting dry unit weight is determined. The procedure is repeated for a sufficient number of water contents to establish a relationship between the dry unit weight and the water contents to establish a relationship between the dry unit weight and the water content for the soil. These data, when plotted, represent a curvilinear relationship known as the compaction curve. The values of optimum water content and standard maximum dry unit weight are determined from the compaction curve

CONCLUSION
The primary values determined in a compaction test are, of course the optimum moisture content and maximum dry unit weight, however, the written report would normally also include the compaction curve data form. In addition, the origin of the material tested, as well as a description of it, would normally be included, together with an indication of the method used (A, B, or C) and the preparation(moist or dry). Type of soil is the primary factor affecting maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content for a given compactive effort and compaction method. Maximum dry unit weights may included graduated, granular material containing just enough fines to fill small voids. Optimum moisture contents may range from around 5% for granular material to about 35% for elastic silts and clays. Higher optimum moisture contents are generally associated with lower dry unit weights. Higher dry unit weights are associated with well-graded granular materials .Uniformly graded sand, clays of high plasticity, and organic silts and clays typically respond poorly to compaction