PROCTOR STANDARD SOIL COMPACTION

1.0

OBJECTIVE

To obtain the maximum value of dry density and the optimum

moisture content.
2.0

LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this experiment, students are able to:

Understand the relationship between dry density and the

moisture content for a given degree of compactive effort.
Understand the moisture content for the most efficient
compaction.
Obtain the maximum dry density can be achieved for particular
type of soil.

3.0

THEORY

Compaction of soil the process by which the solid particles are

packed more closely together by mechanical means, thus increasing
the dry density, Markwick, 1994. It is achieved through the
reduction of the air voids in the soil. At low moisture content, the
soil grain is surrounded by thin film of water, which tends to keep
the grains apart even when compacted. In addition of more water,
up to certain point, more air to be expelled during compaction. At
the point, soil grains become as closely packed together as they
can, that is at the dry density is at its maximum. When amount of
water exceeds the required to achieved this condition, the excess
water begin to push particles apart, so the dry density reduced.
The moisture content at which the greatest value of dry
density achieved for the given compaction effort is the optimum
moisture content, (OMC), and the corresponding dry density is the
maximum dry density.

4.0

TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. Cylindrical metal mould, internal dimensions 105mm diameter

and 115.5mm high. (filled with a detachable and removable
extension collar).
2. Metal rammer with 50mm diameter face weighing 205kg,
sliding freely in a tube which controls the height of drop to
300mm.
3. Measuring cylinder : 200ml or 500ml (pastic)
4. 20mm BS sieve and receiver.
5. Large matel tray
6. Electronic balance.
7. Jacking apparatus for extracting compacted materials from
mould.
8. Small tools: palette knife,steel-straight edge, 300mm long,
steel rule, scoop or garden trowel
9. Drying oven, 105-110C and other equipment for moisture
content determination.

T v H2
t

Figure 2 : Mould base plate and the metal rammer

5.0

PROCEDURES

1. Verify the mould, baseplate, extension, collar and rammer to

be used are those that conform to BS 1377. Weight the mould
body to the nearest 1g (m1). Measure its internal diameter (D)
mm
2. Calculate the internal volume of the mould (V)mm using
D2 L
V=
4000
3. Apply with an oily cloth on the internal surface of mould to
ease the removal of soil later on.
4. Measure the empty metal tray and 5kg of air dried soil
sample that has passing through sieve no4. (4.75mm
5. Place the mould assembly on a solid base, such as concrete
floor. Add loose soil so that after each sequence of compaction
the mould will be one-third filled.
6. Compact the soil by applying 27 blow of rammer dropping
from the controlled height of the 300mm. ensure that the
rammer is properly in place before releasing, Figure 3, Note:
do not attempt to grab the lifting knob before the rammer has
come to rest. The sequence as shown in Figure 4 has to be
followed. Repeat for second and third layer that the final shall
not more than 6mm above mould body, figure 5.

1. Trimming of by removing the extension collar, cut away the

excess soil and level off to the top of mould. Any cavities
resulting from removal of stone at the surface should be filled
with fine materials.
2. Remove the baseplate carefully, trim the soil at the lower end
of mould. Weigh soil and mould to the nearest g.
3. Take up to 1 representative samples in moisture content
containers for measurements of the moisture content. This
must be done immediately before the soil dry out.
4. Break up the material on the tray and mix with the remainder
of the prepared sample. Add an increment of water
approximately as follows.
Sandy and gravelly soils : 1-2% (50-100ml of water to 5 kg of
soil)
Cohesive soils : 2-4% (100-200ml of water to 5 kg of soil)

6.0

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

1.

Calculate the bulk density,

from the equation
=

m2m1
Mg /m3
1000

Where :
mould
=

m1

of each compacted specimens

(if volume = 1000 cm 3 )

: mass of mould, m2

: mass of solid and

m2m1
Mg /m3 (if volume = V cm 3 )
V
2

D L
4

V=

2.
Calculate
specimen
w=

Check all conversion of unit

moisture

content,

wn

for

each

w1w2
100
w1w0

Where : w 2 - weight of moist soil + container,

of dry soil + container
w 0 - weight of empty container

3.

Calculate corresponding dry density,

100
Mg/m
( 100+
w)

d =

4.

compacted

w1

weight

Plot of graph dry density, d against moisture content, w.

Draw a smooth curve through the points.

8.0 CALCULATIONS
A:TEST CRITERIA

Serial no.

Test no :
1

No. of layer :
3

Rammer mass
2.5kg

Blows per layer : 3

No of separate batch

Location
Students car park
FKAAS
Soil Description
Brown sandy with a
little fine aggregates.
Sample preparation :
Air Dried and riffled

B : DENSITY CALCULATION VOLUME OF CYLINDER = 1002cm

Measurements
No.
Cylinder + soil
=Ag

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

6500g

6600g

6650g

6850g

6750g

Cylinder = B g

4900g

4900g

4900g

4900g

4900g

Soil Mass = A
Bg

1600g

1700g

1750g

1950g

1850g

Wet Density =

1.597

1.697

1.747

1.946

1.846

C : MOISTURE CONTENT

(1)

Measurements No.1
Wet soil + container,

w2

(g)

47g

Dry soil + container,

w1

(g)

45g

Empty container,

w0

(g)

Moisture content,

wn

(%)

25g
10

(1)

Measurements No.2
Wet soil + container,

w2

(g)

48g

Dry soil + container,

w1

(g)

45g

Empty container,

w0

(g)

Moisture content,

wn

(%)

25g
15

(1)

Measurements No.3
Wet soil + container,

w2

(g)

53g

Dry soil + container,

w1

(g)

49g

Empty container,

w0

(g)

Moisture content,

wn

(%)

25g
16.67

(1)

Measurements No.4
Wet soil + container,

w2

(g)

58g

Dry soil + container,

w1

(g)

53g

Empty container,

w0

(g)

Moisture content,

wn

(%)

25g
17.86

(1)

Measurements No.5
Wet soil + container,

w2

(g)

43g

Dry soil + container,

w1

(g)

40g

Empty container,

w0

(g)

Moisture content,

wn

(%)

CALCULATION

25g
20

B : DENSITY CALCULATION VOLUME OF CYLINDER = 1002cm

Measurements No. (1)
=

m2m1
Mg /m3
V

65004900
3
Mg / m
1002

1.597

C : MOISTURE CONTENT
Measurements No. (1)

w=

w1w2
100
w1w0
4745

100
4525

10
D : DRY DENSITY CALCULATION (USE ACTUAL VOLUNE OF
CYLINDER)
Measurements No. (1)

100
Mg/m
( 100+
w)

d =

100
( 100+10
) 1.597 Mg /m

1.452

D : DRY DENSITY CALCULATION (USE ACTUAL VOLUNE OF

CYLINDER)
Measurement
No

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Moisture, w%

10

15

16.67

17.86

20

Dry Density,
d

1.452

1.476

1.500

1.651

1.538

E : PLOTTING OF DRY DENSITY AGAINST MOISTURE CONTENT

WITH AIR VIODS LINE AT 0%, 5% AND 10%. USE PROPER
GRAPH PAPER
Va
100
d =1
Mg /m 3
1 w
+
s 100
1

0
100
d =1
Mg /m3
1
10
+
2.65 100
3
2.095 Mg /m
1

w (%)
Dry
Density,
d

10
2.095

AIR VIODS LINE = 0%

15
16.67
1.896
1.838

M (%)
Dry
Density,
d

10
1.990

AIR VIODS LINE = 5%

15
16.67
1.801
1.80

17.86
1.746

20
1.645

M (%)
Dry
Density,

10
1.885

AIR VIODS LINE = 10%

15
16.67
1.707
1.654

17.86
1.619

20
1.559

17.86
1.798

20
1.732

8.0

QUESTIONS

1.

Define and explain what is meant by optimum moisture

content, and how it is determined in the laboratory.
The Optimum Water Content of soil is the water content
at which a maximum dry unit weight can be achieved after a
given compaction effort. A max dry unit weight would be when
zero voids are in the soil. If we were trying to compact a hard
dry soil to make it denser, we might want to get it wet. The
OPT is the water content of the soil in which we could compact
it the most. If there is too much water we would have too
much pore water pressure during compression to compact any
further. If there is too little water the soil would naturally resist
compaction via shear strength, friction, and effective stress
On the laboratory, the optimum water content can be
determined by doing the Proctor Standard Soil Compaction
test graph. The graph is moisture content against Dry
densities.

The

dry

densities,

obtained

in

series

of

determinations should be plotted against the corresponding

moisture contents, w. A smooth curve should be drawn
through the resulting points and the position of the maximum
on the curve should be determined. The percentage moisture
content corresponding to the maximum dry density on the
moisture content/dry density curve should be reported as the
optimum moisture content.

2.0

Explain fully the principles and methods involved in soil

compaction. How do you used the Proctor test apparatus in
the field for checking the soil compaction?
There are several method of achieving compaction of a
material. It also depends on the type of soil. Besides that,
some are more appropriate for soil compaction than others,
while some techniques are only suitable for particular soils or
soils in particular conditions. The available method can be
classified as:
Static
A large stress is slowly applied to the soil and then released.
Impact
The stress is applied by dropping a large mass onto the
surface of the soil.
Vibrating
A stress is applied repeatedly and rapidly via a mechanically
driven plate or hammer. Often combined with rolling
compaction.
Gyrating
A static stress is applied and maintained in one direction while
the soil is a subjected to a gyratory motion about the axis of
static loading. Limited to laboratory applications.
Rolling
A heavy cylinder is rolled over the surface of the soil.
Commonly used on sports pitches. Roller-compactors are often
fitted with vibratory devices to enhance their effectiveness.
Kneading
Shear is applied by alternating movement in adjacent
positions. An example, combined with rolling compaction, is
the 'sheep foot' roller used in waste compaction at landfills.

Soil specimens in the field are compacted into Soil

Moulds

at

varying

moisture

contents

using

Manual

or

automated Mechanical Compaction Hammers. Densities at the

different moistures are plotted and compared to in-place
density measurements in the field. Relative Density and
Relative Compaction equipment are used in ASTM D4253 and
Caltrans Method 216 for obtaining laboratory soil density
information for use with field compaction testing. Soil Cement
Apparatus is required when holding specimens of soil and
cement mixtures for unconfined compression testing methods
in ASTM D1632. Pocket or Proctor Penetrometers are often
used as a quick comparison of shear strengths found in the
field compared to those observed in the field.

9.0 CONCLUSION
From this experiment, the primary values determined in
a compaction test are the optimum moisture content and
maximum dry unit weight. The value of the optimum moisture
content and maximum dry unit weight are from the curve
graph that been plotted. So that, based on this experiment,
the aim been achieved. Base on the type of soil that we
collected as sample, we can see that the maximum dry
density is 1.64g/cm and the optimum water content is 17.8%.