Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Faculty of Science and Technology

University of Macau

Soil Laboratory Testing Report

Experiment Title: Soil Compaction

Group No: Group 3

Name:

YANG YU LIN DB527360

CHAO CHI HOU DB425692

HUANG DEXIAN DB525631

CHOI CHONG KIT DB427696

KUOK WA HENG DB425104

 Contents

Objectives…………………..………………………………………..1

Equipment……………………………………………..…………….1

Test Procedures……………………………………………………...1

Data and Calculations…………………………………....………....2

Results……………………………………………………………..…3

Discussions…………………………………………………………...4

Conclusion…………………………………………………………...5
Objective:

To determine the relationships between compacted dry density and soil moisture
content.

Equipment:

Compaction Mold.
Drop hammer.
Sample extruder.
Metal straightedge.
Mixing tools.

Procedure:

1. Record the weight of hammer and hammer drop which will be used in the laboratory.
1. Obtain about 3800g of dry soil. Break all lumps in the soil.
2. Determine the volume of the compaction mold by measuring its height and diameter.
3. Determine the mass of the compaction mold plus base plate (do not include the collar
extension) (M1).
4. Estimate the amount of water to be added to reach the desired water content which is
about 4-5% below the optimum moisture content (OMC). The OMC will be given in
the lab. Mix the water and soil thoroughly.
5. Attach the collar extension to the compaction mold.
6. Place the moist soil into the mold in three equal layers. Each layer should be
compacted uniformly using the Standard Proctor hammer 25 times before the next
layer of loose soil is added. Note: The layers of loose soil that are being placed into
the mold should be such that at the end of the three layer compaction, the soil should
extend slightly above the top of the rim of the compaction mold.
7. Remove the collar from the mold. Be careful not to break off ant of the compacted
soil inside the mold while removing the collar. Note: If the soil breaks off below the
rim, or if the last layer of compacted soil is not above the rim, then redo the
compaction.
8. Using a straight edge, trim the excess soil above the mold. Now the top of the
compacted soil will be even with the top of the mold.
9. Determine the weight of the mold + base plate + compacted moist soil (M2).
10. Remove the base plate from the mold and extrude the soil from the mold.
11. Use the sample cutter to obtain three samples of 38mm in diameter from the moist
soil extruded. These samples should be stored and labelled properly for the
determination of shear strength of the compacted soil in the next lab session.
12. Take two samples from the centre and determine the moisture content. To determine
the moisture content, first weigh a cup (M3), and then determine the mass of the cup
and wet soil (M4), and the mass of the cup and dry soil (M5), to calculate the moisture
 content. Take the average of the two moisture contents.
13. Break the rest of the compacted soil by hand down to its original size in the tray.
Add more water to increase the water content of the soil by 2% based on the original
soil weight.
14. Carefully remix the soil and repeat steps 6 to 13 until the mass of the mold+ base
plate+ moist soil (M2) begins to decrease. Continue the test until at least two
successive down readings have been obtained.

Data and Calculation:

Table1 Compact Dry Density Determination

Volume of mould(V) = 909.2 𝑐m3

Sample water content 14% 20%

Mass of mould + compact specimen (𝑀1 ), 𝑔 7006 7043.2

Mass of mould (𝑀2 ) ,g 5001.5 5001.5

Mass of compact specimen(𝑀1 − 𝑀2 ) , 𝑔 2004.5 2041.7

Bulk unit weight, (𝑘N/𝑚3 ) 21.63 22.03

Dry unit weight, (𝑘N/𝑚3 ) 18.97 18.36

Table 2 Moisture Content Determination

Container number (Desire Water content) 1(14%) 2(20%)

Mass of wet soil + container (𝑀3 ) , 𝑔 132.17 160.83

Mass of Dry soil + container (𝑀4 ) , 𝑔 125.31 146.87

Mass of container (𝑀5 ) , 𝑔 77.2 76.88

Mass of moisture (𝑀3 − 𝑀4 ) ,g 6.86 13.96

Mass of Dry soil (𝑀4 − 𝑀5 ) , 𝑔 48.11 66.99

Moisture Content 14.3% 20.8%

Since,
The height of mould (H) = 10.5 cm
The diameter of mould (D) = 10.5 cm

Therefore,
The Volume of mould (V) = H× 𝜋 × (𝐷/2)2 = 10.5 × 𝜋 × (5.25)2 ≃ 909.2 𝑐𝑚3

Determinate the bulk (moist) unit weight:

𝑀ass of Moist soil x g

𝛾= 𝑉olume of Mold

Where g is 9.81 m/𝑠 2 and 𝛾 is in 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

2004.5 × 9.81
𝛾(14%) = = 21.63 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
909.2

2041.7 × 9.81
𝛾(20%) = = 22.03 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
909.2

Determinate the dry unit weight:

𝛾 21.63
𝛾𝑑 (14%) = 1+𝑤 = 1+14% = 18.97 𝑘N/𝑚3

𝛾 22.03
𝛾𝑑 (20%) = 1+𝑤 = 1+20% = 18.36 𝑘N/𝑚3

Results and Error Analysis:

Table 3 data of different desire water content

desire water content 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

dry unit weight(KN/m3) 17.27 17.9 18.97 17.31 18.196 18.36

dry unit weight（ZAV）

21.78 20.21 19.26 18.1 17.61 16.96
(KN/m3)
 Figure1 Compaction curve and zero air void line

Discussion:

1. What are the optimum water content and the maximum dry unit weight?
The optimum water content and the maximum dry unit weight mean the soil on the
optimum water content will have the maximum dry unit weight. It can cause the best
compaction effect and the best unit weight. From the compaction curve obtained in
the experiment, the maximum dry unit weight is about 18.97kN/m3 and the
corresponding optimum water content is 14%.
2. Explain why no portion of your compaction curve should plot below and to the
right of the ZAV line.
For the ZAV line, Void volume of air is equal to zero. Because Total void volume (Vt)
= void volume of water (Vw) + void volume of air (Va). Vt = Vw could be obtained.
Hence, the ZAV line presents the maximum moisture content for the corresponding
weight of soil. That mean, the moisture contents that were obtained from the
experiment should be less than the ZAV line. So no portion of the compaction curve
should be plot to the right of the ZAV line. Also, ZAV line was calculated under the
idea condition. As long as the moisture content and air volume equal to zero. The
compaction curve could be plot up to the ZAV line. However, in the experimental
condition, there must be some water and air contained in the soil sample. Therefore,
the compaction curve cannot be plot below and to the right of ZAV line at the same
time.
3. What would you expect if the Modified Proctor test instead of the Standard
Proctor test was performed on this soil sample?
The Standard Proctor test uses a 5.5 lb. hammer falling 12" for 25 times in each of
three layers within a standard compaction mold. The Modified Proctor Test uses a 10
lb. hammer falling 18" for 25 times in each of five layers, also in a standard
compaction mold. The heavier hammer weight and longer drop distance involved in
modified Proctor procedures result in more compaction energy. Higher maximum dry
unit weight and lower soil optimum moisture content will be expected in the Modified
Proctor test.
Conclusion:

Compaction is the process of packing soil particles together by the application of mechanical
energy, then reducing the void ratio of soil by driving out the air. Our test is also about soil
compaction. The dense state is achieved through the reduction of the air voids in the soil.
This process must not be confused with consolidation, in which water is squeezed out under
the action of a continuous static load. Our test is to determine the relationships between
compacted dry density and soil moisture content. We can get many different samples of the
same soil, but at different water contents, are compacted according to the compaction test
specifications. The samples should be compacted uniformly with hammer blows applied
according the following pattern. Then we come up with the total or wet unit weight and the
actual water content of each compacted sample are measured. The dry unit weight is then
calculated. After we plot the dry densities versus water content compaction curve can be
obtained.