The Field Density Test result of fill soil used at site is 1.890Mg/m 3.

Devise a test to make

sure that the compaction process at site is according to standard.

Typically, when you are doing the field density tests for compaction control, you'll have a
specification such as, "95 percent of the maximum dry density as determined in the laboratory
using ASTM D-1557, Modified Proctor. The lab test is a basis to confirm that the compacted field
density is achieving some percentage of a laboratory standard.

Problem is the laboratory standard can vary by grain size distribution. So, not one lab test can be
used for the entire job. It's always correct to do more "Proctors" in the laboratory as quality
assurance on the field program.

ASTM D6938 is a method to determine the in-place density and moisture content of the soil or a
soil-aggregate mixture such as a pavement base material.

The in-place density is first determined as the wet density, then the moisture content at the same
location is determined. Let say for example that your wet density of the in-place material was
114.2 pounds per cubic foot. Then the moisture content is determined and found to be 11.3
percent. From these two values, the dry density is determined by the equation

((wet density/(1+moisture content))=dry density

So your dry density is 102.6 pcf

Meanwhile, a sample of the material in the field has been taken back to the laboratory to perform
the D1557 test (commonly called a Modified Proctor). This test is the moisture-density
relationship of laboratory compacted soil.

In the laboratory, the technicians divide sample into 4 specimens and allow them to dry. They
then add moisture at different amounts so as to develop a relationship curve between moisture
and dry density. The moistened soil is then compacted in the lab using standardized procedures
so that the same amount of compaction energy is put into each specimen.

After compaction the wet density and the moisture content are determined to find the dry density
of each specimen.

The dry density is then plotted against the moist content of the specimen at the time of
compaction and a curve is developed. The peak of this curve is called the maximum dry density
and the corresponding moisture content is called the optimum moisture content. Let's say that
such a test was done on your soil and it was found that the maximum dry density was 109.6 pcf
and the optimum moisture content was 11.1 percent.
Your in-place density divided by the maximum dry density is the amount of compaction you have
achieved in the field. Usually that is specified to be somewhere between 95 and 100 percent,
depending on the application. For your case...

102.6/109.6 yields 94 percent compaction, or slightly failing the typical specification requirement.
Looking at the results, we see that the in-place moisture content is almost at optimum, so this
tells us that there just needs to be more compactive effort put forth in the field...roll it some more,
then retest it.

f-d hit on the point that can cause lots of job control problems. The lazy way is to do the
minimum amount of lab work, with the assumption that the field tech can relate his field test soil
to an appropriate lab test. That is where the field control can go very wrong.

To play it safe, if in doubt, run another lab test using the same soil that you tested in the
field. Easier said than done, since by the time the lab work is done, the area tested on the job
has been covered up.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you can run sufficient numbers of lab tests ahead of the job to
avoid having to run any while the work is going on. That is a start, but seldom can be assumed as
adequate lab testing.

More grief also can come from making "a gravel correction".
 EXPERIMENT 4

STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST

(PREPARED BY : MUHAMMAD MUNSIF AHMAD)

1.0 OBJECTIVE

To obtain the maximum dry density and the optimum moisture content.

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Compaction of soil is the process by which the solid soil particles are packed more closely
together by mechanical means, thus increasing the dry density, (Markwick, 1994). It is achieved
through the reduction of air voids in the soil. At low moisture content, the soil grain is
surrounded by a thin film of water, which tends to keep the grains apart even when compacted.
In addition of more water, up to certain point, more air to be expelled during compaction. At
that point, soil grains become as closely packed together as they can, that is at the dry density is
at its maximum. When the amount of water exceeds that required to achieve this condition, the
excess water begin to push particles apart, so the dry density reduced.

The optimum water content is the water content that results in the greatest density for a
specified compactive effort. Compacting at water contents higher than (wet of ) the optimum
water content results in a relatively dispersed soil structure (parallel particle orientations) that is
weaker, more ductile, less pervious, softer, more susceptible to shrinking, and less susceptible
to swelling than soil compacted dry of optimum to the same density. The soil compacted lower
than (dry of) the optimum water content typically results in a flocculated soil structure (random
particle orientations) that has the opposite characteristics of the soil compacted wet of the
optimum water content to the same density.
3.0 TEST EQUIPMENT

3.1 Clylindercal metal mould

3.2 Metal rammer with 50mm diameter face weighing 2.5 kg

3.3 20 mm BS sieve and receiver

3.4 Measuring cylinder

3.5 Moisture cans

3.6 mixing pan

3.7 Electronic balance

3.8 Jacking apparatus

3.9 Drying oven

3.10 Straight edge

3.11 Trowel

4.0 PROCEDURES

4.1 Determine the weight of the mould body (not the extension) by using the balance
and record the weights, m1 (g). Measure its internal diameter (D) mm and
length (L) mm in several places and calculate the mean dimensions.

4.2 Apply with an oily cloth on the internal surface of mould to ease the removal of soil
later on.

4.3 Measure the empty pan mixing and 5 kg of dried soil sample that has passing
through sieve (20 mm).

4.4 Place the mould assembly on a solid base, such as concrete floor.

4.5 Pour the moist soil into the mold in three equal layers. Each layer should be
compacted uniformly by the standard Proctor hammer 25 times before the next
layer of loose soil is poured into the mold.

Note: do not attempt to grab the lifting knob before the rammer has come to
rest. The sequence as shown in Figure 4.0 has to be followed. Repeat for the
second and third layer that the final layer shall not more than 6 mm above the
mould body.
 29 of blows using hand rammer
Figure 4.0: sequence
4.6 Remove the top attachment from the mold. Be careful not to break off any of the
compacted soil inside the mold while removing the top attachment.

4.7 Using a straight edge, trim the excess soil above the mold (Fig. 4.1). Now the top of
the compacted soil will be even with the top of the mold.

Figure 4.1: Excess soil being trimmed

4.8 Determine the weight of the mould + base plate + compacted moist soil in the
mould, m2 (g).

4.9 Remove the base plate from the mould. Using a jack, extrude the compacted soil
cylinder from the mould.
 4.10 Take a moisture container and determine its mass, w0 (g).

4.11 From the moist soil extruded in (Step 4.9), collect a moisture sample in the
moisture can (Step 4.10) (preferable one each layer). This must do immediately
before the soil dry out and determine the mass of the container + moist soil, w1
(g).

4.12 Place the moisture container with the moist soil in the oven to dry to a constant
weight.

4.13 Break the rest of the compacted soil by hand and mix it with the left- over moist
soil in the pan. Repeat Steps 4.5 through 4.11. Add more water and mix it to
raise the moisture content, approximately as follows : Sandy and gravelly soils:
1-2% (50-100 ml of water to 5 kg of soil)

Cohesive soils: 2-4% (100-200 ml of water to 5 kg of soil)

4.14 After 24 hrs recover the sample in the oven and determine the weight w2

(g).

5.0 SAMPLE CALCULATION

5.1 Calculate the bulk density, of each compacted specimen from the equation

m m2 1
Mg m/ 3
if volume = 1000 cm3

1000
Where: m1 mass of mould; m2- mass of soil and mould

m m2 1
Mg m/ 3
if volume = V cm3

V
 D L2
V (check all conversion of unit)

5.2 Calculate moisture content, w n% for each compacted specimen.

w
ww w12 01 100 wn

Where: w0 weight of empty container, w1 weight of dry soil + container, w2

weight of moist soil + container

5.3 Calculate the average value of moisture content, w% for each compacted
specimen.

w w w1 2

3 w

5.4 Calculate corresponding dry density, d

100

d 100 w Mg/m3
5.5 Plot of graph dry density, d against moisture content, w. draw a smooth curve
through the points.

5.6 Plotting Of Air Voids Line, Va Va = 0%, 5% and

10% (use Gs = s = 2.65) wa assumed water
contain.
Use the equation below using w = 1Mg/m3

V
1 a

d 1 100wa Mg m/ 3

s 100
6.0 RESULTS 6.1 Test Criteria

Test Method: _____________________________________________________

Date Tested: _____________________________________________________

Tested By: _______________________________________________________

Project Name: ____________________________________________________

Sample Number: __________________________________________________

Visual Classification of Soil: __________________________________________

6.2 Density Calculation Volume Of Cylinder Mould =

Measurement No. 1 2 3 4 5

Mould + soil (g)

Mould (g)

Soil mass (g)

Wet density,

6.3 Moisture Content

Measurement No. 1 2 3 4 5

Assumed water contain wa(%)

Wet soil + container (g)

Dry soil + container (g)

Empty container (g)

Moisture content, wn (%)

Average Moisture, w%

6.4 Dry Density Calculation (Use Actual Volume Of Cylinder)

Measurement No. 1 2 3 4 5

Actual Avg Moisture, w%

Dry Density, d

7.0 DISCUSSION/ EVALUATION/ EXERCISES

a) Calculate the wet density in gram per cm3 of the compacted soil sample by
dividing the wet mass by the volume of the mold used.
b) Calculate the moisture content of each compacted soil specimen by using the
average of three water contents.
c) Compute the dry density using the wet density and water content determined in
step 7.2.
d) Using the tabulated data table, plot the graph of Dry Density against Moisture
content. Attach the graph to your answer sheet.
e) On the same graph, plot the Air Voids Line, Va = 0%, 5% and 10%. Show the
calculation.
f) Identify and report the optimum moisture content of compaction used on data
sheet.
g) Define and explain what is meant by optimum moisture content?
h) State the problem factors that affect the accuracy of experiment?
8.0 CONCLUSION

Comment on the objective and the results obtained from the experiment