STANDARD PROCTOR TEST

OBJECT :To find the change of dry density with water content .Then maximum dry density
corresponding to optimum water content is determined.
EQUIPMENT USED
i. cylindrical mould (dia=10cm, height=12.6cm ,wt=2142g)
ii. base plate(detachable)
iii. collar
iv. rammer(2.5kg , falling height=30.4cm)
v. hygrometer( to measure hygroscopic water content)
PROCEDURE1) we have taken 3kg of soil sample. Hygroscopic water content of sample is measured by
hygrometer.
2) Dimension and weight of mould is measured, then volume of that is calculated.
3) Initial water content added is 6% of weight of soil.
4) Then we mix with the soil thoroughly. Then we fill it in mould in 3 layers compacting
each layers by 25 blows of rammer.
5) Opening the screw of collar and trim the excess portion of specimen. Level the upper
portion of soil properly so it occupy whole volume of mould.
6) Now weighing the mould with compacted soil. Remove the soil from mould with
help of a machine.
7) Again adding 3% extra water of its weight and follow similar process until maximum
weight is obtained and then decrease.
8) Then we determine Bulk density and from it dry density .We plot dry density vs
water content and obtain maximum dry density corresponding to optimum water content.
100%,90%,80% saturation line also obtained. Change of void ratio with change In dry density was
also found.
Results:We obtain maximum dry density = 1.59 g/cc, optimum moisture content=24%

Discussion:Initially with addition of water dry density increases as water acts as a lubricant , with
compaction soil particle come closer. So volume decrease,it achieve maximum value(=1.59g/cc
@24% moisture content) when air volume becomes minimum. After addition dry density
decreases as water occupy soil particles.
By compaction be can improve shear strength, compressibility , permeability of the soil.
Conclusion :The test is simple ,cheap and duration is little, so it can be easily performed in field before
construction of highway embankment, earth dam etc.
References :a) Soil Mechanics & Foundation-Dr. B.C. Punmia , Ashok Kumar Jain, Arun Kumar Jain

RESULT-Maximum dry density is 1.59kN/m3 @24.06% water content

DISCUSSIONCompaction is the process by which the bulk density of an aggregate of matter is increased by driving
out air. For any soil, for a given amount of compactive effort, the density obtained depends on the
moisture content. At very high moisture contents, the maximum dry density is achieved when the soil is
compacted to nearly saturation, where (almost) all the air is driven out. At low moisture contents, the soil
particles interfere with each other; addition of some moisture will allow greater bulk densities, with a peak
density where this effect begins to be counteracted by the saturation of the soil.