This document discusses a geotechnical engineering laboratory experiment on determining the moisture-unit weight relationship of soil through compaction testing. It describes the standard Proctor compaction test procedure which involves compacting soil in layers in a mold using a hammer. A compaction curve is plotted showing the relationship between dry unit weight and moisture content, with the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content identified. It also describes the modified Proctor compaction test which simulates higher compaction efforts and the use of compaction test specifications in field construction.

1. Civil Engineering - Texas Tech University
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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 Standard Proctor Compaction Test
 Effect of Compaction Energy
 Modified Proctor Compaction Test
 Specification for Field Compaction
Class Outlines

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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
Solids
Air
Water
Solids
Air
Water
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
100.0
101.0
102.0
103.0
104.0
105.0
106.0
107.0
108.0
109.0
110.0
111.0
112.0
DryDensity(pcf)
8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00
Moisture Content (%)
Calculated Curv e Points
Moisture Density Test Results
Moisture Content (%)
DryDensity(pcf)

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Compaction Curve
 Compaction curve plotted
gd vs. w
 The peak of the curve is
the Maximum Compaction
(gd max) at Optimum
Moisture Content (wopt )
e
G
or
w
ws
dd




1
100
(%)
1
g
g
g
g

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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
 1/30 ft3 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. Obtain 10 lbs of soil passing No. 4 sieve
2. Record the weight of the Proctor mold without the base and
the (collar) extension, the volume of which is 1/30 ft3.
3. Assemble the compaction apparatus.
4. Place the soil in the mold in 3 layers and compact using 25
well distributed blows of the Proctor hammer.
5. Detach the collar without disturbing the soil inside the mold
6. Remove the base and determine the weight of the mold and
compacted soil.
7. Remove the compacted soil from the mold and take a sample
(20-30 grams) of soil and find the moisture content
8. 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
3
4
5

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In your Report - Results
 Plot of dry unit
weight vs moisture
content
 Find gd (max) and wopt
 Plot Zero-Air-Void
unit weight
(only S=100%)

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Standard Proctor Test Modified 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
       
moldofVolume
dropsofheighthammerofweightlayersofNolayerperblowsofNo
E


..

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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
 If R > 100 +5% use Modified Proctor Test
   
 
100%
max

labd
fieldd
R
g
g
R ~ (90 – 100%)

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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