GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING-I SESSIONAL

COURSE NO: CE-3302

EXPERIMENT NAME: LABORATORY COMPACTION TEST

EXPERIMENT NO: 08

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

DR. MD. KAMAL HOSSAIN SHUVA CHANDRA BOSE

STUDENT ID: 161116
PROFESSOR
YEAR: 3/2
MD. ARIFUL ISLAM
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING

CIVIL ENGINEERING

DHAKA UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING &TECHNOLOGY, GAZIPUR

1.0 Introduction

For construction of highways, airports, and other structures, it is often necessary to compact
soil to improve its strength. Proctor (1933) developed a laboratory compaction test procedure
to determine the maximum dry unit weight of compaction of soils, which can be used for
specification of field compaction. This test is referred to as the Standard Proctor Compaction
Test. It is based on compaction of soil fraction passing No. 4 U.S. sieve.This laboratory test
is performed to determine the relationship between the moisture content and the dry density
of a soil for a specified compactive effort. The compactive effort is the amount of mechanical
energy that is applied to the soil mass. Several different methods are used to compact soilin
the field, and some examples include tamping, kneading, vibration, and static load
compaction.This laboratory will employ the tamping or impact compaction method using the
type of equipment and methodology developed by R. R. Proctor in 1933, therefore, the test is
also known as the Proctor test.Two types of compaction tests are routinely performed: (1)
The Standard Proctor Test, and (2) TheModified Proctor Test. Each of these tests can be
performed in three different methods as outlined in the attached Table 1. In the Standard
Proctor Test, the soil is compacted by a 5.5 lb hammer falling a distance of one foot into a
soil filled mold. The mold is filled with three equal layers of soil, and each layer is subjected
to 25 drops of the hammer. The Modified Proctor Test is identical to the Standard Proctor
Test except it employs, a 10 lb hammer falling a distance of 18 inches, and uses five equals
layers of soil instead of three. There are two types of compaction molds used for testing. The
smaller type is 4 inches in diameter and has a volume of about 1/30 ft3(944 cm3), and the
larger type is 6 inches in diameter and has a volume of about 1/13.333 ft3(2123 cm3). If the
larger mold is used each
soil layer must receive 56 blows instead of 25.

1.1 OBJECTIVE

 To the familiarize with the laboratory Compaction test.

 To obtain moisture density relationship for a given compactive effort on a particular
soil.
 To determine the optimum moisture content for specific compactive effort.
2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

2.1 MATERIALS

2.1.1 COMPACTION DEVICE.

(a) Mold 4.6 in high, 4-inch diameter, 1/30 cft volume.

(b) Removable mold collar 2.5inch high, 4-inch diameter.
(c) Hammer 2-inch diameter face, 5.5 or 10 lb weight.

2.1.2 GENERAL

1. Moisture sprayer.
2. No. 4 sieve.
3. Rubber tipped pestle.
4. Scoop.
5. Straight edge knife.
6. Large mixing pan.
7. Balance.
8. Drying.
9. Desecrator.
10. Drying cans.

2.2 METHODOLOGY

1. The empty mould attached to the base plate was weighed but without collar.

2. about 6lb representative specimen of the soil sample was taken which is to be tested all
soil lumps in a motar with a rubber covered pestle and sieve the soil through a No.4 sieve.

3. The quantity of water to be added for the first test depends upon the probable
optimum moisture content for the soil. For coarse grained soils, a start can be made with
an initial 4 (four) percent moisture content and for fine grained soils, with 10
(ten) percent. As a guide the plastic limit of soil may be considered to approximately
represent the optimum moisture content.

4. With the soil passing No. 4 sieve mixed with water, from a 2 to 3-inch layer in the
mould.
5. Attach the collar to the mould fixed on the base plate. Gently press the soil to smooth
its surface and then compact it with 25 evently distributed blows of hammer use 12
inch free drop (standard proctor).

6. Repeat the procedure with a second and third layer, adjusting the hammer above the
compacted soil layer. After compaction of the third layer, the surface of the soil
should be slightly above the top of the rim of the mould.

7. Remove the collar and trim off the soil level with the top of the mould, in removing
the collar, restate it to break the bond between it and the soil before lifting it off the
mould which prevents removing soak of the compacted soil when the collar is taken

off. After soil has been made even with the mould and all loose soil cleaned from
outside, weigh the mould full of compacted soil and base plate attaced.

8. The soil from the mould was removed and kept a representative sample from the center
of
the compacted specimen for moisture content determination.

9. Break up with hand the soil remove from the mould, remix with the remainder eight
the original sample and raise test water content by 2% - 3% (approximately) by
adding water to the sample with the sprayer.Take care to distribute the water evently
and to mix the soil thoroughly. By weighing the sprayer before and after spreading,
you can estimate the amount of the water added.

10. The compaction process was repeated, each time raising the water content
approximately 3%until five or six runs have been made and the soil becomes very wet
and stickly. Dry
density and corresponding water content is plotted on a plain graph paper (dry density
is always the ordinate of this curve). The maximum ordinate value is termed as
maximum dry density and the water content at which this dry density occurs is termed
as Optimum Moisture Content (OMC).
3.0 DATA AND GRAPH

3.1 DATA
 3.2 GRAPH

5
COMPACTION CURVE

4.5

3.5

3
DRY DENSITY (gm/cc)

2.5
Maximum Dry Density

1.5

1 OPC

0.5

0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24

MOISTURE CONTENT(%)
4.0 CALCULATION AND RESULT

4.1 CALCULATION

From graph it can be seen that,

Maximum Dry Density = 1.598 gm /cc

Optimum Moisture Content (%) = 18.549%

4.2 RESULT

Maximum Dry Density = 1.598gm/cc

Optimum Moisture Content (%) = 18.549%

5.0 DISCUSSION

This experiment was carried out to determine the lab dry density, optimum moisture content,
maximum dry density by standard proctor test. This test was conducted by ASTM D 698. A
soil at a selected water content is placed in three layers into a mold of given dimensions, with
each layer was compacted by 25 or 56 blows of a 5.5-lbf (24.4-N) rammer dropped from a
distance of 12-in. (305-mm), subjecting the soil to a total compactive effort of about 12,400
ft-lbf/ft3 (600kN-m/m3). The resulting dry unit weight was determined. procedure is repeated
for a sufficient number of waters contents to establish a relationship between the dry unit
weight and the water content for the soil. This data, when plotted, represents 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. From graph it
can be seen that the optimum moisture content was 18.549% and maximum dry density was
1.598gm/cc. Also, the lab dry density was calculated and it was 1.598gm/cc. These tests are
performed in a lab on bulk soil samples that are being considered to be used as fill material.
The test gives the engineer a baseline of how the optimal moisture content and achievable
density for a specific compaction effort.