SOIL COMPACTION

Objectives

To determine the optimal water content at which the soil sample can reach its
maximum dry density using standard proctor compaction test. Standard Test
Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort
and to discuss the relevance of the results of the experiment in Civil Engineering
practices and to compare it with other soils that exhibit different compaction
property.

Theory

The specific propose of the proctor compaction test is to determine the maximum
dry density and optimum moisture content of a soil. It is at the maximum dry
density that a soil can achieve maximum soil compaction in the field. This data
can then be used by an engineer to adjust the moisture content to achieve the
maximum dry density of a soil to be used in a construction project. The
motivation for R. R. Proctor to develop this test was to determine a solution for
the in situ behaviors of clay and ground soils that cause them to be unsuitable for
construction. Proctor wanted to find the practical maximum density of soils and
not just a theoretical maximum density, so he created the soil compaction test. It
was found that in a controlled environment (or within a control volume), the soil
could be compacted to the point where the air could be completely removed,
simulating the effects of a soil in situ conditions. This theoretical maximum dry
density, where there are zero air voids, can be calculated by

𝛾𝑑(𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦) = 𝛾𝑤/ ( 𝑤(%)/ 100 + 1 /𝐺𝑠 )

Where:

𝛾𝑤 = 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝐺𝑠 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦

w(%) = water content

𝑤(%) = 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝑊𝑤/ 𝑊𝑠

Where:
𝑊𝑤 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑊s= 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖l

In this experiment, the practical dry densities could be determined by simply

measuring the weight of the soil before and after compaction, calculating the
moisture content, and furthermore, calculating the dry density. This dry
density can be calculated by

𝛾𝑑 = 𝛾 /1 + 𝑤(%) /100

Where:

𝛾 = 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙

w (%) = moisture content

With the improvement of compaction equipment, the original Proctor test had
to be modified to account for higher dry densities. In 1958, the modified
Proctor compaction test was developed as an ASTM standard and used
worldwide. (Davis 2008).