SOIL COMPACTION:

Situation No. 1: The maximum dry unit weight of soil is 18.8 KN/m3
and the minimum dry unit weight is 15.5 KN/m3
a. Determine the relative compaction in the field if the relative density is
72%.
b. Determine the dry unit weight in the field
c. Determine the moist unit weight in the field if water content is 15%

Situation No.2: The moist unit weight of sample of soil is 17.43 kN/m3.
It has specific gravity of solid of 2.65 and water content of 16%. The
sample has a void ratio of 0.88 in the loosest condition and 0.36 in the
densest condition.
a. Compute the Density Index.
b. If the dry unit weight at optimum water content was 16.2 kN/m3,
what is the minimum dry unit weight?
c. Determine the dry unit weight at zero air void.

Situation No.3: The field compaction of an earthwork was checked by

an inspection engineer. In the laboratory test, the soil gives a maximum
dry density of 1.523 gram/cc, at optimum moisture content of 23.4%.
Construction specifications requires that the soil compacted dry density
must be at least 95% of the maximum dry density obtained from
laboratory within ±2% of optimum moisture content.
The following data were obtained in the field using the sand cone test:
Volume of soil excavated = 1425 cm3
Weight of soil excavated = 2542 grams
Dry Weight of Soil = 2068 grams
a. What is the field unit weight of the soil?
b. What is the in-situ moisture content of the soil?
c. Determine the relative compaction of the soil.

Situation No. 4: The relative compaction of sand in the field is 94%. The
maximum and minimum dry unit weights of the sand are
16.2 kN/m3 and 14.9 kN/m3 respectively. For the field condition
determine the following:
Dry unit weight (15.23)
Relative density of compaction (27%)
Moist unit weight at moisture content of 8% (16.45)

Situation No. 5: A sand cone test has been performed in a compacted

fill of soil. The test results were as follows:
Initial mass of sand cone apparatus w/ sand = 5.912 kg
Final mass of sand cone apparatus w/ sand = 2.378 kg
Mass of soil recovered from hole = 2.833 kg
Moisture content of soil from hole = 7%
Density of sand =1300 kg/m3
Volume of cone below valve =1.114 x 103 m3
Max. dry unit weight =19 kN/m3
Determine the following:
a. Moist unit weight
b. Dry Unit Weight
c. Relative compaction

Prepared by:

JOHN MICHAEL B. CASIBANG, CE, MST, SO2

Chairman, Civil Engineering Department