CE 3121: Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Class 4

Determining Moisture-Unit Weight Relations of Soil

(Compaction Test)

Sources:
Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual, B. M. DAS (Chapters 6, 7)
Matthew A. Dettman, P.E: http://www.wku.edu/~matthew.dettman/

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Class Outlines
Standard Proctor Compaction Test
Effect of Compaction Energy

Modified Proctor Compaction Test

Specification for Field Compaction

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Compaction
In construction of highway embankments,

earth dams and many other engineering

structures, loose soils must be compacted to
improve their strength by increasing their unit
weight
Compaction - Densification of soil by removing
air voids using mechanical equipment
The degree of compaction is measured in
terms of its dry unit weight
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Compaction Effect

Air

Air

Water

Water

Solids

Solids

Loose soil

Compacted soil

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Compaction Advantages
As compaction increases, the following

occurs:

Increase soil strength

Increase bearing capacity
Decrease potential for settlement
Control undesirable volume changes
Reduction in hydraulic conductivity

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Effect of Water on Compaction

In soils, compaction is a function of water content
Water added to the soil during compaction acts as a

softening agent on the soil particles

Consider 0% moisture - only compacts so little

Add a little water - compacts better
A little more water - a little better compaction
Even more water soil begins to flow

What is better compaction?

The dry unit weight (gd) increases as the moisture

content increases TO A POINT
Beyond a certain moisture content, any increase in
moisture content tends to reduce the dry unit weight
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Relationship between Moisture Content

and Dry Density
Moisture Density Test Results
112.0
111.0
110.0

Dry Density (pcf)

109.0
108.0
Dry Density (pcf)

107.0
106.0
105.0
104.0
103.0
102.0
101.0
100.0
8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

Mois ture Content (%)

Moisture Content (%)

Calc ulated Curv e Points

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18.00

20.00

Compaction Curve
Compaction curve plotted

gd vs. w
The peak of the curve is
the Maximum Compaction
(gd max) at Optimum
Moisture Content (wopt )
gd

g
1

w (%)
100

or g d

Gs g w
1 e

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Standard Proctor Compaction Test

The standard was originally developed to simulate

field compaction in the lab

Purpose: Find the optimum moisture content at which
the maximum dry unit weight is attained
ASTM D 698
Equipments;

Standard Proctor
3
1/30 ft mold
5.5 lb hammer
12 drop
3 layers of soil
25 blows / layer
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Compaction - Lab Equipment

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Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.

Obtain 10 lbs of soil passing No. 4 sieve

Record the weight of the Proctor mold without the base and
the (collar) extension, the volume of which is 1/30 ft3.
Assemble the compaction apparatus.
Place the soil in the mold in 3 layers and compact using 25
well distributed blows of the Proctor hammer.
Detach the collar without disturbing the soil inside the mold
Remove the base and determine the weight of the mold and
compacted soil.
Remove the compacted soil from the mold and take a sample
(20-30 grams) of soil and find the moisture content
Place the remainder of the molded soil into the pan, break it
down, and thoroughly remix it with the other soil, plus 100
additional grams of water.
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Compaction - Procedure
1

2
4
5
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In your Report - Results

Plot of dry unit

weight vs moisture
content
Find gd

and wopt
Plot Zero-Air-Void
unit weight
(max)

(only S=100%)

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Modified Proctor Test

Standard Proctor Test

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Effect of Compaction Energy

With the development of heavy rollers and their uses

in field compaction, the Standard Proctor Test was

modified to better represent field compaction
As the compaction effort increases,

the maximum dry unit weight of compaction increase

The optimum moisture content decreases to some
extend

Compaction energy per unit volume

E

No. of

blows per layer No. of layers weight of hammer height of drops

Volume of mold

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Effect of Compaction Energy (Cont.)

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Modified Proctor Test

The modified was developed to simulate

larger compaction effort for more serious

loads and bigger equipment
ASTM D 698
Modified Proctor

1/30 ft3 mold

10 lb hammer
18 drop
5 layers of soil
25 blows / layer
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Specification for Field Compaction

Specifications will refer to % Relative Compaction
Relative to what?
Proctor Test standard or modified
% Relative Compaction

g d field
R%
100
g d max lab

R ~ (90 100%)

If R > 100 +5% use Modified Proctor Test

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Specification for Field Compaction

Soil will be compacted to 98% relative compaction as

compared to a standard proctor test, ASTM D-698

The soil moisture content will be 2% of optimum.

98% means the soil in the field should be 98% of the

lab result
For example, if the peak of the curve is at 100 pcf and
22% moisture
The field compaction must be at least 98 pcf and within
the stated moisture range (20 ~24%)

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Measurement of Field Compaction

Most common methods

are

Nuclear Method
Sand Cone method
Rubber Balloon method

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