COMPACTION TEST

Compaction test on soils is normally carried out in the laboratory to determine the
maximum dry density (MDD) of a soil type, which may be used for specification of field
compaction of fills. It is also carried out to determine optimum the moisture content
(OPM) and its relationship to the density of soils.
Having knowledge of the maximum dry density and the moisture relations of the soils
enables an engineer to predict and improve the in situ ground conditions which otherwise
may be unsuitable for construction.
Apparatus
Proctor mould of weight 4715g and volume 2305 cm
3
with a detachable collar
assembly and a base plate
Rammer weighing 4.5 kg and equipped to provide a height of drop to a free fall of
450mm
20 mm diameter sieve
Weighing scale
Straight edge
Measuring cylinder
Moisture tins
Drying oven
Procedure for compaction test
Sample is prepared in which about 18190g is quartered from a bulk sample that
has been air-dried.
This sample is passed through a 20 mm diameter sieve.
This sample is divided into 3 portions each weighing 6000g and put on 3 trays.
The internal surfaces of the mould are oiled then attached to its base plate. The
weight of this mould is measured from the scale and its weight 4715g (M
1
)
recorded. The collar is attached.
One of the portions of the prepared soil sample is mixed with 40ml of water to
increase its moisture content.
The mixed sample is compacted in the mould using a 4.5 kg rammer in five layers
giving 56 blows per layer. While compacting the fifth layer, ensure that its level is
slightly above the level where the collar and the mould join.
The collar is removed and the compacted soil trimmed flat to the level of the
mould using a straight edge.
The mould with compacted soil is weighed obtaining 10270g (M
2
).
The compacted soil sample is removed from the mould.
The weight of the tin/container is measured obtaining 67.0g (M
3
), part of the
sample is removed from the mould and placed in the tin to fill it to approximately
three quarters. The new weight of the tin and its contents is measured obtaining
495.0g (M
4
).
The procedure is repeated while mixing 6000g soil samples with 140ml and
240ml volumes of water.
The moisture content tins with wet soil samples are transferred to the oven set at
105C for 24 hours.
The next day the tins with the dry sample are removed, allowed to cool and
weighed obtaining 470.6g (M
5
)
Treatment of results obtained from compaction
The volume V of the mould is calculated from;
Volume, V=

The wet/bulk density of the soil sample, is calculated where;
Bulk density, =

Moisture contents w, of the samples were also calculated from;
Moisture content, w=

Consultant:
Sample reference : SB/RD/1597 Sampling Dat e : 10/6/2014
Locat ion : Km: 9+350- 9+650 Test ing Dat e : 11/6/2014
Dept h : (0.00-0.150)m Technician : CHRIS
Sample Descript ion :Modified Sub-Base Material
Test No
Weight of Sample (g)
Wat er Added (g)
Weight of soil + mould (g)
Weight of mould (g)
Weight of soil (g)
Volume of mould (cm3)
Wet densit y (Mg/m3)
Dry densit y (Mg/m3)
Cont ainer No 40 HP B5 75 14 F3
Weight wet soil + cont ainer (g) 495.0 470.7 605.9 569.2 460.7 490.7
Weight dry soil + cont ainer (g) 470.6 447.9 567.8 532.1 425.2 453.7
Weight of cont ainer (g) 67.0 67.2 67.5 67.3 67.4 67.4
weight of wat er (g) 24.4 22.8 38.1 37.1 35.5 37
weight of dry soil (g) 403.6 380.7 500.3 464.8 357.8 386.3
Moist ure cont ent (%) 6.0 6.0 7.6 8.0 9.9 9.6
Average Moist ure cont ent (%)
Contractor's Representative: Checked by:
Approved by:
For the Contractor For the Consultant
Dott Services Limited
PERIODIC MAINTENANCEWORKS OF JINJA - KAMULI ROAD - CONTRACT No.UNRA/PM/10/11/04
MOISTURE - DENSITY RELATIONS OF SOILS
2
REF TESTMETHOD:(AASHTOT180-97)
4715
Client: Contractor:
10385
1 3
40 140 240
6000 6000
4715
6000
5670
7.8 9.7
10270 10535
5555 5820
4715
2.410 2.525 2.460
2305 2305 2305
Optimum Moisture Content: 7.7 %
Maximum Dry Density: 2.342 (Mg/m
3
)
2.273 2.342 2.241
6.0
Professional Engineering
Consultants (PEC) Ltd
2.230
2.240
2.250
2.260
2.270
2.280
2.290
2.300
2.310
2.320
2.330
2.340
2.350
5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0
D
e
n
s
i
t
y

(
M
g
/
m
3
)
Moisture Content (%)
Compaction Test Curve
The dry densities of the soil sample were also calculated from;
Dry density,
d
=

The results obtained for compaction are tabulated. Finally a graph of Dry density against
Moisture content is plotted from which the maximum dry density (MDD = 2342 kg/m
3
)
and optimum moisture content (OMC = 7.7%) were read off.