MODIFIED 

PROCTOR TEST
CE151 – B06
Presented by Patrick Buan, Colleen Gomez, Johan Illiscupidez, and
Mary Angelus Refugio
Objectives
■ To learn what is the Modified Proctor Test
■ To learn how the Modified Proctor Test is done
■ To learn why is the Modified Proctor Test is needed in the field
Terms used in the Slides
Modified Proctor Test - is of great importance and is widely
used in the construction of roads, highways, earth fill dams,
earth filling, and Airports.

Shear Strength of soil - is the resistance to deformation by

continuous shear displacement of soil particles or upon the
action of a tangential (shear) stress.

Compressibility of soil – is the property of the soil due to

which a decrease in volume occurs under compressive force

Permeability of soil - is the property of the soil to transmit

water and air
- The more permeable the soil, the greater the
seepage.
Modified Proctor Test

■ The Modified Proctor Compaction Test is used to determine the

compaction of each types of soil and its properties with a specific
change in the moisture content, the relationship between Dry Density
and Moisture Content.
■ The process done in this procedure is the same with the Standard
Proctor Test with only a few tweaks in the procedure.
■ The test is of the utmost importance and is widely used before the
construction of any structures in the future.
 Theory behind the Modified
Proctor Test
■ In theory, compaction is the densification of the unsaturated soil by
the reduction of volume voids present in the soil while the volume of
the soil and water are unchanged with this information the goal of the
compaction of the soil is to gradually increase the shear strength,
decrease the compressibility, reduce permeability, and to control
swelling and shrinking of the soil.

■ The degree of compaction of the soil is measured in terms of its dry

density, The maximum dry density of the soil occurs at the optimum
moisture content (OMC).
Modified Proctor Test Standards

■ AASHTO T180-90

■ ASTM D1557-91

■ BS1377 part 4; clause 4

 Apparatus needed for the
test
■ Cylindrical Metal Mold, internal diameter 4” (10.16 cm) or 6”
(15.24cm), internal effective height of 4.6” (11.7), and the mold
should have a detachable base plate and color of 2” (5.08cm)
■ Compaction Rammer
■ Sensitive Balance
■ Thermostatically Controlled Oven
■ Steel Straightedge
■ Moisture Containers
■ Sieve no. 4
■ Tray and Scoop
■ Graduated Cylinder
■ Mixing Tools
 MODIFIED PROCTOR TEST
■ MATERIALS TO BE USED FOR THE EXPERIMENT
■ ASTM D1557-91 STANDARD
– SPOON
– SPATULA
– TROWEL
– SET OF PANS
– 3 MOISTURE CONTAINERS
– SIEVE NO.4
– GRADUATED CYLINDER

– STRAIGHT EDGE
– OIL SPRAY
– CMOPACTION MOULD WITH COLLAR
– PROCTOR HAMMER
– WEIGHING SCALE
– LABORATORY OVEN
MODIFIED PROCTOR TEST
PROCEDURES IN MODIFIED PROCTOR TEST
■ STEP 1:
WEIGH THE COMPACTION MOULD WITHOUT THE COLLA
WEIGH THE 3 MOISTURE CONTAINERS
WEIGH THE SIOL SAMPLE THAT PASSED THROUGH SIEVE NO. 4
■ STEP 2:
POUR THE COMPUTED AMOUNT OF WATER TO THE SOIL SAMPLE AND MIX TO ENSURE
UNIFORM COLOR AND TEXTURE
■ STEP 3:
APPLY OIL TO THE INSIDE OF THE COMPACTION MOULD
■ STEP 4:
PLACE SOIL SAMPLE 1/5TH IN THE COMPACTION MOULD AND
USING THE PROCTO HAMMER, COMPACT THE SOIL. REPEAT UNTIL THE COMPACT
SOIL SAMPLE REACHES THE TOP OF THE COMPACTION MOULD
MODIFIED PROCTOR
TEST
■ STEP 5:
REMOVE THE COLLAR CAREFULLY AS TO NOT DISTURB THE COMPACTED SOIL
■ STEP 6:
LEVEL THE COMPACTED SOIL USING THE STRAIGHT EDGE. FILL THE VOIDS
WITH COMAPCTED SOIL AND WIEGH WITHOUT THE COLLAR
■ STEP 7:
REMOVE THE COMPACT MOULD CAREFULLY AND TAKE SAMPLES FROM THE
TOP, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM LAYERS OF THE COMPACTED SOIL AND PLACE ON THE
3 MOISTURE CANS
■ STEP 8:
PLACE THE MOISTURE CANS IN THE LAB OVEN AND LET THE SAMPLES DRY OF
24 HOURS.
■ STEP 9:
REMOVE THE SOIL SAMPLES AND WEIGH
MODIFIED PROCTOR TEST
■ FROM THE EXPSSERIMENT WE CAN GATHER THE FOLLOWING DATA
WEIGHT OF SAMPLES
WEIGHT OF APPARATUS USED
DRY UNIT WEIGHT
MOISTURE CONTENT
For a sample experiment flow, see the video below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO5qkzRGek0&t=34s
IMPORTANCE OF MODIFIED
PROCTOR TEST
■ In the construction of high load structures such as dams,
paved roadways and construction projects that rely on the
stability embankments; soil compaction is used to
increase soil strength.
■ It is very important for it provides the necessary flat base
as support for the buildings, various construction
foundations, roads and pavements etc.
■ Increased shear strength, Low compressibility and
reduction in permeability
References

■ Taken from https://civilseek.com/modified-proctor-test/

■ Images taken from
https://www.scribd.com/document/201896059/AASHTO-T-180-Modified-
Proctor
■ https://www.scribd.com/document/341400918/ASTM-D-1557-09-pdf