Experiment No.

​09
Moisture Density Relationship
[Referenced Standard: ASTM D 698]

A Laboratory Report
Presented to Engr. Miller Cutora
Department of Civil Engineering
Gokongwei College of Engineering
De La Salle University

In Partial Fulfillment of
The Requirements for the Subject
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory 1
(LBYCVG1)

Submitted by:
Dale Adrian C. Longno
LBYCVG1 – ​EX9
November 17, 2019

RATING
CRITERIA TOTAL
Mobilization and Laboratory
Data
Time Procedure and Quality of Written
Computation and
Management. Documentation. Report. (40%)
Analysis. (40%)
(5%) (15%)
Longno​, Dale
11515481
I. OBJECTIVES

● To perform the standard proctor test on a given soil sample

● To determine the optimum moisture content of a soil by determining the maximum dry
unit weight of the soil
● To use the values taken from the optimum moisture content and unit weights to properly
assess the physical properties of soils

II. DATA PRESENTATION

Figure 2.1

number of blows of per layer 25

Mold of Diameter, cm 101.6

Mold height, cm 116

Volume of mold, cm^3 940449.08

Figure 2.2

trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 trial 4

number of layers per trial 3 3 3 3

Figure 2.3

Moisture can label G2T2-31.2 G2T2-31.3 G2T2-31.2 G2T2-31.2

Mass of moisture can 31.2 31.3 31.2 31.2

Mass of can + wet soil 59.9 68.6 74 71

Mass of can + dry soil 52 59 62 59

Mass of water 7.9 9.6 12 12

Mass of dry soil 20.8 27.7 30.8 27.8

Water content 37.98076923 34.65703971 38.96103896 43.16546763

Ave water content 38.69107888

Figure 2.4

Wt. of mold 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.11

Wt. of soil + mold 5.69 5.76 5.74 5.73

Wtf of soil in mold 1.58 1.65 1.63 1.62

Wet unit weight 16.48127509 17.21145817 17.00283443 16.89852257

Dry unit weight 11.94461749 12.7816995 12.23568459 11.80349064

Figure 2.5 ​Moisture Content vs Dry Unit Weight Graph

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The experiment aims to determine the maximum unit weight of the given soil sample because the
unit weight of the soil can tell about the soil’s shear strength and void ratio. The aforementioned
parameters are important values if one desires to know more about the soil’s compaction which is
typically performed to reduce settlement under working loads. Thus, the maximum unit weight of the soil
is essential since the maximum value should yield the ideal shear strength and void ratio of the soil
sample.

Gγw γm
(1)​ γd = 1+e ​(2) γd = 1+w
Given that the specific gravity of the soil and the unit weight of water are constant as the dry unit
weight and void ratio changes in value, one inference that can be made from the equation 1 derived from
the weight-volume relationship is that the dry unit weight, γ d , is inversely proportional with the void
ratio, ​e​, which means that there will be lesser voids as the dry unit weight increases . However, this is
only true if the moisture content of the soil is low which can aid the ease of compaction between the soil
particles. As the soil becomes more saturated, however, the voids become filled and this can prevent the
soil from compacting.

During the experiment, a given soil sample was used where the moisture content was manipulated
such that it increases for every succeeding trial. It was determined that the moisture content was initially
about 37.98% and it increased to a value of roughly 43.17% on the last trial. For every trial, water was
added to the sample which should increase the moisture content of the soil. The moisture content, , was
determined by finding the ratio between the mass of water and the mass of the dry soil. Meanwhile, the
volume of the mold can be calculated by using the formula of a cylinder by determining the diameter of
the mold and the height. Using all the data gathered previously, the wet unit weight may be determined
by dividing the weight of the soil with the volume of the mold while the dry unit weight was solved by
using equation 2.

From the soil compaction curve given in figure 2.5, the maximum dry unit weight yielded a value
of 12.87398614 which corresponds to a 33.69175627% moisture content. Therefore, the Optimum
Kg
Moisture Content is observed to be 33.69175627% with a maximum dry density of 12.87398614 m3 .
IV. CONCLUSION

From the set of data gathered by the researchers, the maximum dry unit weight of the given soil
3
sample was determined to be 12.7816995 kN/m once the moisture content reached 34.6570397%.
These pieces of information will be essential if the maximum compaction is desired to support a given
load.

The Standard Proctor Test is essential with respect to engineering as this gives the engineer key
information regarding a sample of soil and its optimum water content. This is important since soil is
typically used as a support to structures being built. Additionally, it is important as an engineer to be able
to make effective decisions with regards to the properties of the soil that would be most suitable for the
project. Furthermore, the soil type and moisture content influence the overall compaction of the soil.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

For this experiment, possible errors in the values gathered with respect to the theoretical values
were not determined. Having more trials or something that can help in collecting more accurate data may
allow future researchers to perform the proctor test more effectively.

VI. REFERENCE/S

Intelligentcompaction.com(n.d.). ​Fundamentals of Compaction​. retrieved November 16, 2019.

www.intelligentcompaction.com/downloads/IC_RelatedDocs/SoilCmpct_Fundamentals%20of%2
0Soil%20Compaction.pdf​.

TheConstructor.Org. (2018, September 6). ​Maximum Dry Density of Soil and Optimum Moisture Content
Test.​ Retrieved November 16, 2019, from
https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/soil-maximum-dry-density-optimum-moisture-content/184
26/.