The Proctor test can be understood easily.

A soil sample gets taken in the field and dried in the lab. The dry
soil then gets divided into different piles, with each pile getting a different amount of water added. So at this
point, the lab technician has several soil samples at different moisture levels (say, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18%,
20%).

Each of these soil samples (for a standard Proctor test) is then pounded with a 5.5 pound weight dropping
on it  20 times from a height of 12 inches. Of course, the dropping of the weight compacts the soil. To
compact soil means to make it more dense. Density is defined as the weight divided by the volume. So each
of these compacted soil samples is tested for density. The results are graphed on a Proctor test density
chart. The figure below shows a typical set of data.

he results seen on the graph tend to correspond with common sense field observations. With too little
moisture, soil doesn’t compact too well. By adding some moisture to the compaction process, the soil
certainly gets much more firm (i.e. doesn’t deflect or pump under a heavy weight like a truck tire). If too
much moisture gets into the soil, as in the case after heavy rains, the soil will simply not compact well.

These common sense observations lead to the conclusion that there is an optimal amount of moisture in soil
for good compaction to take place. The example graph shows that optimal amount to be 14%. Reading
down the graph, the highest density obtained in this test is 118 pounds per cubic foot.  So Figure 1 shows
the data from a standard Proctor test. But how does that data get used to determine allowable soil densities
and moisture contents?

Simple arithmetic. The highest point on that graph becomes the 100% density and the optimal moisture
level. The 95% density and the upper and lower moisture limits are calculated in the figure. The 95%
allowable density is 112 pounds per cubic foot and the upper and lower moisture levels are read off the
chart..

Just knowing that information about the test, the Construction Supervisor has some useful knowledge. Is it
possible to have compaction above 100%? Of course it is. Compacting a soil sample in the lab certainly
doesn’t lead to the conclusion that the density achieved is the highest possible density.

An astute Construction Supervisor realizes that several factors could be in play here:

1. The amount of force put on the soil in the field, under a heavy roller compacting machine, might be
more than was used in the laboratory.
2. The soil tested in the laboratory is probably not identical to the soil being tested in the field (since
soil by its nature is not completely uniform).
3. There could be a mistake in the lab testing or in the field testing.

These conclusions flow from a simple understanding of the nature of soils and the Proctor testing. The
Construction Supervisor who understands these issues does his job better.

A bit more understanding of the Proctor test yields some additional information. Many specification books
require the soil to be compacted to 95% of modified Proctor testing (ASTM D 1557). This standard uses a 10
pound hammer and an 18” drop. The modified Proctor soil testing is best suited for a heavily compacted
base course or the sub-grade for an airfield pavement.
Therefore the modified Proctor soil testing is generally too stringent a standard for earthwork associated
with low rise commercial, residential and industrial buildings. The use of this standard with 95% density
specified typically penalizes the project with delays since this density is difficult to achieve when soils are
wet.