FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Geotechnical Engineering

LABORATORY REPORT

Name: Shaningwa Karlus

Student No: 216099196
Signature:

Lab practical:
Hand in Date:
Contents
1 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... 3
2 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Objective ................................................................................................................................................... 3
3 APPARATUS ................................................................................................................................................ 3
4 Procedures ................................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Results and Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 4
6 Discussion................................................................................................................................................... 7
7 Conclusion and Recommendations............................................................................................................ 7
8 References ................................................................................................................................................. 8

Figure 1: Moisture content graph ................................................................................................................. 6

Table 1:shows the recorded masses of the cylindrical mold used for the computation of its volume: ....... 4
Table 2:Measurements on the mold (MD7) ................................................................................................. 5
Table 3:Measurements on the mold (MD8) ................................................................................................. 5

pg. 2
1 ABSTRACT
Soil compaction is the process in which stress is applied to a specific soil that results in the densification,
as voids are filled with solid particles. Compaction of soils is very important when it comes to constructions
of large structures, as soils are mainly utilized as the support for many infrastructures. Soil compaction
tests mainly affected by the type of soil, moisture content, and the compaction effort. Compaction is
usually tested using AASHTO standards. In conclusion of this report, that the soil sample tested was able
to reach its highest compact state when the maximum dry density is 2.179 kg/m³ and 7.62% moisture
content, calculations where done using the formulas bellow.

γbulk = (solid weight of soil inside the mould + moisture weight)/ volume of the mould
(mass of the air within the voids of soil is neglected)

γdry = (solid weight of the sample inside the mould)/ volume of the mould
Moisture content = (water content)/(dry mass of soil) %

2 INTRODUCTIONS
For construction purposes, soil strength and bearing capacity is usually increased by compaction. This test
allows the engineer to determine the maximum dry unit weight of the specific compacted soil, which is
used for the field compaction specifications.

Objective
 To determine the water content at which the maximum dry density is reached by the soil.
 To point out the uses and importance of compunction in regards to construction and the civil
industry at large.

3 APPARATUS
1) Soil sample, wheelbarrow
2) A mold
3) water
4) oven
5) Tamper
6) Sheath
7) Steel straight edge
8) A balance

pg. 3
 9) Sieve
10) Cans and Pan
11) Iron mortar and pestle
12) Garden towel
13) Spatula
14) Measuring cylinder
15) Lubricating grease

4 Procedures
1) 35 Kg of soil sample was sieved through a 19 mm sieve into a wheelbarrow.
2) Then 10 kg of the sample was removed and replaced with about 10 kg of quartz.
3) 25 kg of this clay sample was mixed with 10 kg of quartz thoroughly in a mixing bucket.
4) Using a riffle and 2 pans for catching the clay sample, the 35 kg of the sample was therefore
quartered into 5 basins of approximately equal weight of about 6 kg each making the sample +
bucket weigh 7 kg.
5) The 5 basins were than reweighed to confirm that they contain 7kg, those who weight hand
sample removed and redistributed to those weighing less.
6) 5%, 7%, 10%, 11% and 6% of water was added and mixed to these 5 basins of the samples
respectively and kept closed to minimize moisture loss.
7) For all the samples (5), the moist material was then weighed again, and about 1000g of material
was transferred to the mold and temped at exactly 457.2 mm and the blows were distributed over
the whole layer in 5 cycles of 55 blows each.
8) The samples were than reweighed again after the compaction was one.

5 Results and Analysis

Mold No. MD7 MD7 MD7 MD7 MD8
Mass of Mold + Material (g) 9980 10130 9850 9760 10160
Mass of Mold (g) 4640 4640 4640 4640 4904
Mass Material (g) 5340 5490 5210 5120 5256
Mold factor (BP.No.) 42.71 42.71 42.71 42.71 42.98
Wet Density/kg m³ 2281 2345 2225 2187 2259
Preliminary dry density /kg m³ 2172 2191 2023 1970 2131
Dry Density/ kg m³ 2161 2179 2014 1960 2115
Table 1:shows the recorded masses of the cylindrical mold used for the computation of its volume:

𝟏
Volume of mold = Vmold = 𝟒 πd2 h

pg. 4
Different tables showing molds that where used with reference to table 1 they were recorded as MD7 and
MD8

mass 4.640kg
Diameter 0.1016 m
Height 0.1164 m
volume 0.0009436 m³
Table 2:Measurements on the mold (MD7)

mass 4.904 kg
Diameter 0.1016 m
Height 0.1164 m
volume 0.009051 m³
Table 3:Measurements on the mold (MD8)

Dry density, Preliminary dry density, and wet density were calculate as shown in table 1 using the
following formulas:

Preliminary dry density = (mass of material X mold factor)/ (100+water added)

Dry density = wet density/ (1 + %moisture)

Wet density = (mold factor *mass of mold) / 100

The mass of mold + sample were recorded during the experiment.

calculation of mass of material where obtained using the formula bellow:

Mass of materials = (mass of mold + material) – (mass of mold).

Pan No. VERO1 VERO2 VERO3 VERO4 VERO5

Water added/ % (ml) 5% 7% 10% 11% 6%
Mass of pan and wet 2340 2450 2120 3120 2170
material (g)
Mass of pan and Dry material 2240 2300 1960 2840 2060
(g)
Mass of pan (g) 440 430 430 420 440
Mass of material (g) 100 150 160 280 110
Mass of Dry Material (g) 1800 1870 1530 2420 1620
% Moisture 5.56 8.02 10.5 11.6 6.8
hygro 0.56 1.02 0.5 0.6 0.8 Average=0.62

pg. 5
 Corrected hygro 7.62

5%, 7%, 10%, 11%, and 6% of water were respectively added to the sample. Pan mass plus wet sample as
well as the mass of pan plus dry soil and the mass of different pans that were used were obtained from
the experiment. This helped to calculate the mass of the material as shown below:

Mass of material = mass of pan plus wet material – mass of pan plus dry material

This also helped to obtain the mass of the dry material using the following formula:

Mass of dry material = mass of pan plus dry material – mass of pan

The % moisture contents, the hygro and the average hygro was also calculated using the following
formulas:

%moisture = (mass of material/mass of dry material)* 100

Hygro = %moisture - %water added

Average hygro = sum the correct ranging hygro /total number of items

Which is (0.56+0.5+0.6+0.8)/4 =0.62

Corrected hygro = %water added + average hygro

2.2

2.15
DRY DENSITY KG/M³

2.1

2.05

1.95

1.9
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
%MOISTURE

Figure 1: Moisture content graph

pg. 6
The curve was analyzed to optimum water content and maximum dry density of the soil sample, and
locating the coordinate values of the maximum point which are:

Optimum moisture content: 7.62%

Maximum dry density: 2.179 kg/m³

6 Discussion
Compaction increases the shear strength of the soil, reduces the air void ratio making it more hard or
impossible for the water to flow through the soil. Soils are compacted is to reduce subsequent settlement
under working loads. Compaction reduces or prevent the buildup of large water pressures that causes the
soil to liquefy during earthquakes. In order to maximize the utilization of compacted soils, it is very vital
to identify the maximum density of the soil.

7 Conclusion and Recommendations

It has been concluded that the maximum dry density of 2.179 kg /m³ can be attained using 7.62% moisture
content using AASHTO standards.

The accuracy of the experiment results were confirmed by perform the experiment more than once and
also the use of the same equipment and tools.

pg. 7
8 References
 https://www.academia.edu/28124223/Lab_Report_3_Standard_Proctor_Test_for_Soils?auto=d
ownload
 http://int.search.myway.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?n=7857fa96&p2=%5ECSK%5Exdm207%5ET
TAB02%5Ena&ptb=CA6FD4A5-F8D3-42BB-95F2-
3F6A778119F9&qs=&si=s2&ss=sub&st=tab&trs=wtt&ts=1559176063477&tpr=sc&searchfor=int
elligentcompaction.com&ots=1559176074579&ots=1559176077483
 https://www.ggu-software.com/en/geotechnical-software/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkta-
8P_B4gIVSxbTCh3DZwTEEAAYASAAEgLD_fD_BwE
 https://int.search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?searchfor=ameriacan+society+of+testing+
materials&enableSearch=true&rdrct=no&st=sb&tpr=omni&p2=%5EBXM%5Exdm004%5ETTAB0
2%5Ena&ptb=D20ABE2B-406B-407C-AD29-6013443A6869&n=78489080&si=
 https://www.ctlgroup.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw27jnBRBuEiwAdjQXDDP-gN7HxRkmtBsgl5CF0fXB-
ayDGZjYfS5qzjxAUXHPCLLaa9lwLRoCUFsQAvD_BwE

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