Proctor Compaction Test

Introduction:

Standard Proctor Compaction Test - (ASTM D 698-78 (standard) and D 1557-78 (re-approved
1990))

In 1933, R. R. Proctor proposed a test to determine the maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content of a soil under a given compaction effort. Slightly modified version of that test
is referred to as Proctor compaction test.

Modified Proctor compaction test

With the development of heavy rollers and their use in field compaction, the standard Proctor test
was modified to better represent the compaction effort used in field compaction of soils. For
conducting the modified Proctor compaction test, the same mold is used as in the case of
standard Proctor test. However, the soil is compacted in five layers by a hammer the weighs
4.54kg. The drop of the hammer is 457.2 mm. Similar to the standard Proctor compaction test,
the number of hammer blows per each layer is limited to 25. The rest of the procedure of the
modified Proctor compaction test is similar to that of the standard Proctor compaction test.