ASTM D 1557 – 12 (Reapproved 2021)

Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3))
Method A B C
Mold Diameter 4-inch (101.6 mm) 4-inch (101.6 mm) 6-inch (152.4 mm)
Material Passing No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve Passing No. 3/8-inch (9.5-mm) sieve Passing No. ¾-inch (19.0-mm) sieve
Layers 5 5 5
No. of blows per layer 25 25 56
Less than 5%
% retained on the (no oversize correction)
No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve 5 – 25 %
(Oversize correction using ASTM D4718)

Less than 5%
% retained on the (no oversize correction)
No. 3/8-inch (9.5-mm) 5 – 25 %
(Oversize correction using ASTM D4718)

Less than 5%
% retained on the (no oversize correction)
No. ¾-inch (19.0-mm) 5 – 30 %
(Oversize correction using ASTM D4718)

Field Moist Mass Sample 23 kg 45 kg

Minimum Test Specimen 16 kg 29 kg
Rammer Weight 10 ± 0.02 Ib (4.5364 ± 0.009 kg)
Height of Fall 18 ± 0.05 inch (457.2 ± 1.3 mm)
Rammer Diameter 2.000 ± 0.01 inch (50.80 ± 0.25 mm)