CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

DCC 30112: GEOTECHNICAL & HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

LABORATORY
LABORATORY: GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: COMPACTION TEST
[BS1377: PART 4: 1990 – COMPACTION-RELATED TESTS]

1. THEORY
Compaction of soils is a procedure in which soil sustains mechanical stress and is densified. Soil
consists of solid particles and voids filled with water or/and air. A more detailed explanation of the
three-phase nature of soils is provided in Soil as a three-phase System. When subjected to stress,
soil particles are redistributed within the soil mass and the void volume decreases resulting in
densification. The mechanical stress may be applied by kneading, or via dynamic or static methods.
The degree of compaction is quantified by measuring the change of the soil’s dry unit weight, γd.

Within the framework of engineering applications, compaction is particularly useful as it results

in:
i. An increase in strength of soils
ii. A decrease in compressibility of soils
iii. A decrease in permeability of soils

Those factors are crucial in structures and engineering applications such as earth dams,
embankments, support of pavements, or support of foundations.

The degree of the compaction depends on the soil properties, the type and amount of energy
provided by the compaction process and the soil’s water content. For every soil, there is an optimum
amount of moisture for which it can experience its maximum compression. In other words, for a
given compactive effort, a soil is reaching its maximum dry unit weight (γd max), at an optimum water
content level (wopt).

2. OBJECTIVE
Standard Proctor Compaction and Modified Proctor Compaction are used to determine the
maximum unit weight and the optimum moisture content of a compacted soil. This method consists
of compacting the soil in the laboratory to obtain the maximum dry unit weight, ρd (max) and the
optimum water content, w (%), which are obtained by graphing one vs the other. The graph should
have a curvature shape and peak of the curve will represent the maximum dry density and optimum
water content.
3. EQUIPMENT
1. Compaction mould
2. Standard Proctor rammer – 2.5kg
3. Sieve no #4 (size 4.75mm)
4. Ruler
5. Moisture Content Can
6. Electronic Balance
7. Large flat pan
8. Universal Hydraulic Extruder
9. Drying oven
10. Measuring Cylinder
11. Knife
12. Soil 2.5kg Figure 5.1: Compaction Apparatus

4. PROCEDURE
1. Obtain 2.5kg air-dry soil samples to be sieved on a No. 4 sieve. Break all the lumps to
avoid reducing the size of particles.
2. Determine the combined weight if the proctor mould + the base plate, W1 (kg).
3. Insert 5% water to the soil. Divide the soil into three layers. Each layer is compacted
uniformly with 25 blows from Standard Proctor rammer.
4. Compact third layer slightly above the top of the rim of the compaction mould.
5. Determine combined weight of mould + base plate + compacted soil, W2 (kg).
6. Remove base plate from the mould.
7. Extrude compacted soil cylinder from mould using jack.
8. Determine of weight of empty moisture can, C1.
9. Obtained moist soil from compacted soil cylinder and determine the combined weight
of the moisture soil, C2.
10. Place moisture can with moist soil in the oven to dry to a constant weight.
11. Return the remaining compacted soil to the mixing bowl.
12. Through the use of the mixing spoon and your hands, break the compacted soil cylinder
and remix it with the left over moist soil.
13. Add more water and mix it to raise the moisture content by 2%.
14. Repeat steps 3 – 12. In this process, the value of W2 will first increase with increasing
moisture content, but will then decrease. Continue the test until at least two successive
down readings are obtained.
15. Upon your return to the lab the following day (24hrs after placing the can), determine
moisture content of the soil.

5. DATA

Volume, Vt
Diameter sample of mould (D) :_____________m
Height sample of mould (H) : ____________m
Volume of the mould, Vt = (πD2H)/4 : _________m3
TABLE A :
STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST DETERMINATION OF DRY UNIT WEIGHT (ρd)

Test no 1 2 3 4 5
Mass of mould
(m1) kg
Mass of mould + moist soil
(m2) kg
Mass of moist soil
(m2-m1) kg
Bulk density, kg/m3
𝑚𝑚2 − 𝑚𝑚1
𝜌𝜌𝑏𝑏 =
𝑉𝑉
Dry density, kg/m3
100𝜌𝜌𝑏𝑏
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑 =
100 + 𝑤𝑤

TABLE B :
MOISTURE CONTENT

Test no 1 2 3 4 5
Weight of Moisture can, C1 (g)

Moisture can + Moist Soil, C2 (g)

Moisture can + Dry Soil, C3 (g)

Moisture content, w
𝐶𝐶2 − 𝐶𝐶3
𝑤𝑤 = × 100%
𝐶𝐶3 − 𝐶𝐶1

TABLE C :
ZERO PERCENT AIR VOID Ar = 0% & 5%

Test no 1 2 3 4 5
Moisture content, w (Ar = 0%)
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 (1 − 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑 =
1 + 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
Moisture content, w (Ar = 5%)
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 (1 − 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑 =
1 + 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤

6. ANALYSIS
1. Plot Dry Density (ρd) against moisture content (w) curve in the graph.
2. State max dry density (Pd max) and optimum moisture content (wopt).
3. Plot 0% Air Void and 5% Air Void in the same graph if Gs = 2.7.

7. DISCUSSION
1. Differentiate between Standard Compaction Test and Modified Compaction Test.
2. List the factors that affecting compaction.