STANDARD METHOD OF TEST FOR MOISTURE DENSITY RELATIONS OF SOILS USING A 2.5kg. (5.5 lbs.

)
RAMMER AND A 305 mm (12in.) DROP (COMPACTION)

AASHTO T-99

SAMPLE: If received from the field

 Dry the sample until it become friable under trowel (air dry or oven dry @ 60⁰C)
 Break thoroughly the sample in such a manner as to avoid reducing the natural size of individual
particle
 Sieve using 19.00 mm (3/4 in)
 Select a representative sample. Approximately 5 kg

PROCEDRE (3 layers)

1. Thoroughly mix the selected representative sample with sufficient water to dampen it to
approximately four percentage points below optimum moisture content.
2. For the first layer, form a specimen by compacting the prepared soil in the (0.002125m 3) mold
3. Lightly tamp the soil prior to compaction until it is not in a loose (56 blows) . (During the
compaction the mold shall rest firmly on dense, uniform, rigid and stable foundation)
4. Soil that has not compacted shall be trimmed using knife (excess soil, outside the mold) it must
be distributed on the top of the layer. Repeat the procedure 2&4 for the 2 nd and 3rd layer.
5. After the soil being compacted, remove the extension collar, carefully trim the compacted soil
even with the top of the mold by means of the straightedge. Holes developed in the surface by
removal of coarse material shall be patched with smaller sized material.
6. Remove the material from the mold and slice vertically through the center. Take a
representative sample of the material from one of the cut faces, determine the mass
immediately and dry in accordance with T265, to determine the moisture content, and record
the result.
7. Break the remainder material until it will pass ¾” sieve and 90 percent of the soil aggregations
will pass a 4.75 mm sieve as judged by the eye, and add to the remaining portion of the sample
being tested.
8. Add water in sufficient amounts to increase the moisture content of the soil sample by one or
two percentage points, and repeat the above procedure for each increment of water added.
9. Continue until there is no decrease in the wet mass of the compacted soil.