STANDARD PROCTOR TEST

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to determine the relationship between water
content and dry density of soil using SPT and then to determine the optimum water
content correponding to maximum dry density of soil.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

cylindrical mould of capacity 1000cc

rammer weighing 2.6 kg
base plate-detachable
60 mm high collar
mixing equipments
weighing balance
measuring jar of 100 ml

METHODOLOGY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Take about 3 kg of oven dried soil

calculate the hygroscopic moisture content of the soil
add the water to the soil so as to bring the moisture content to about 14%
take the empty weight of the mould
compact the soil sample in the mould into three layers by giving 25 blows to
each layer
6. remove the collar, trim the compacted soil and take the weight and find the
density
7. remove the soil froom the mould
8. repeat the above steps by adding 3 % more water in each step.

CALCULATIONS

r value=7.4%
Hygroscopic moisture content=100*r/(100-r)=8%
weight of mould =2142g
volume of mould=1000cc
specific gravity=2.7
RESULT
optimum moisture content=24%
Maximum dry density=1.6g/cm3

CONCLUSION
from the graph it is clear that the dry density increases with the water content upto
certain limit and that limit is optimum moisture content. And above OMC dry
density again decreases.

srno

1
2
3
4
5
6

Wt of
mould
+soil
gm
3820.5
3913.0
3957.5
4071.0
4095.0
4071.0

Wt of
g/cc
soil gm bulk
density
1678.5
1771.0
1815.5
1929.0
1953.0
1929.0

1.69
1.78
1.83
1.95
1.97
1.949

Water
Hygroscopi Total
added% c moisture% water
conttent
%
6
8
14
9
8
17
12
8
20
15
8
23
18
8
26
21
8
29

Dry
density
g/cc
1.48
1.52
1.53
1.57
1.56
1.51