Standard Proctor Test

Republic of the Philippines
Cagayan State University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Carig Campus
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Tel. No. (078) 304 – 9432
FIELD DENSITY TEST

AND
STANDARD PROCTOR TEST
Submitted by:
Abigail Marie Guerrero
Romel Decenilla
Angelo Mangoba
Jesser Ramses Soller
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Tel. No. (078) 304 – 9432
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. TITLE PAGE 1
II. TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
III. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 3
IV. IMPORTANCE 3
V. OBJECTIVES 4
VI. METHODOLOGY 4
VII. OBSERVATION AND COMPUTATION 7
VIII. DATA, RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 8
IX. CONCLUSION 9
X. DOCUMENTATION 10
XI. REFERENCES 11
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THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
The dry density of the compacted soil or pavement material is a
common measure of the amount of the compaction achieved during the
construction. Knowing the field density test and field moisture content, the
dry is calculated. The Proctor compaction test is a laboratory method of
experimentally determining the optimal moisture content at which a given
soil type will become most dense and achieve its maximum dry density. The
process is then repeated for various moisture contents and the dry densities
are determined for each.
IMPORTANCE
The basic principle of sand replacement method is to measure the in-
situ volume of hole from which the material was excavated from the weight
of sand with known density filling the hole. The in-situ density of material is
given by the weight of the excavated material divided by the in-situ volume.
The Standard Proctor Test establishes the maximum unit weight that a
particular type of soil can be compacted using a controlled compactive
force at an optimum water content.
OBJECTIVES
The Field Density Test determines the field density of soil or the in-situ
density of natural or compacted soils using sand pouring cylinders.
The Standard Proctor Test determine the optimal moisture content of a
particular soil at which a give soil type will become densest and achieve its
maximum dry density.
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METHODOLOGY (for FDT)

Calibration of Sand Density
1. The volume of the calibrating container was determined from the
dimensions of the container.
2. The sand pouring cylinder was filled with sand within 10mm of its
top. The mass of the cylinder has been determined.
3. The sand pouring cylinder was vertically on vertically on the
calibrating container. The shutter opened to allow the sand run out
from the cylinder. The shutter closed when there is no further
movement of the sand in the cylinder.
4. The sand pouring cylinder was lifted from the calibrating container
and have been weighed.
5. Again, the sand pouring cylinder was filled with sand within 10mm
of its top.
6. The sand pouring cylinder was placed over a place surface, such the
big tray. The shutter opened. The sand filled the cone of the
cylinder. The shutter closed when no further movement of sand
takes place.
7. The sand pouring cylinder removed. The sand left on the big tray
collected. The mass of sand that had filled the cone was determined
by weighing the collected sand.
8. The dry density of sand was determined
Measurement of Soil Density
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1. An area of about 450 mm square on the surface of the soil mass was
exposed. The surface down to a level surface using a chisel and
hammer was trimmed.
2. The metal tray with a hole was placed on the level surface.
3. The soil though the central hole of the tray was excavated by using
the hole in the tray. The depth of the excavated hole should be
about 150mm.
4. All the excavated soil in the metal container was collected and the
mass of the soil was determined. The excavated soil was dried using
a denatured alcohol to determine the water content.
5. The metal tray was removed from the excavated hole.
6. The sand pouring cylinder was filled within 10mm of its top. The
mass of the cylinder was determined.
7. The sand pouring cylinder was placed over the excavated hole. The
sand allowed to run out the cylinder by opening the shutter. The
shutter closed when the hole is completely filled and no further
movement of the sand is observed.
8. The sand pouring cylinder was removed from the filled hole. The
mass of the cylinder was determined.
9. A representative sample of the excavated soil was taken. Water
content on dry density were determined.
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Methodology (for SPT)

1. Take sufficient quantity of soil, air dry and pulverize it with a rubber
mallet.
2. Sieve the soil through sieve no.10 and use the soil passing the
sieve.
3. Take about 5 kg of sieved soil, add water to bring its water content
to 10% for the first trial. Then mix it thoroughly.
4. Clean the mold, measure its diameter and height. Weigh it without
the collar.
5. Fit the collar and compact the moist soil in three equal layers by the
rammer with evenly distributed blows to each layer. 25 blows per
layer.
6. Remove the collar, trim the compacted soil even with the top of the
mold with a straight steel edge. Clean outside of the mold and base
plate and weigh it.
7. Remove the soil from the mold, mix it with the remaining soil in the
pan. Add more water to increase the water content by 2% and
repeat the compaction procedure for each increment of water until
the mass of the compacted soil decreases.
8. Plot the compaction curve between water content as abscissa and
dry density as ordinate.
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9. Note the water content against the peak of the curve as optimum
moisture content and the corresponding dry density as maximum
dry density.
Sand Bulk Density

Volume of Container, m3 4.27x10-3
Sand Mass to fill Container, kg 6.7468
3
Bulk Density of Sand, kg/m 1580.0468
Sand Mass to fill Cone
Mass Jar, Cone & Sand, kg 8.530
Mass Jar, Cone and Sand after filling Cone, kg 7.1661
Mass Sand to fill Cone, kg 1.3639
Density of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method (T 191)
Original Mass Jar, Cone & Sand, kg 8.530
Final Mass Jar, Cone & Sand, kg 4.175
Mass of Sand Used, kg 4.355
Moist Mass, Container & Total Material from 4.040
hole, kg
Mass Container, kg 7.5x10-3
Moist Mass, Total Material from hole, kg 4.0325
Wet Mass, Moisture Sample & tin, g 621.4
Mass of tin, g 370.2
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Wet Mass Moisture Sample, g 251.2
Dry Mass Moisture Sample % e, g 591.8
Dry Mass Moisture Sample, g 221.6
Moisture Content, % 13.36
Dry Mass of Materials from test hole, kg 3.5573
Volume of hole, m3 1.893x10-3
Dry Density of Tested Material, kg/m 3 1879.1865
Lab Dry Density, kg/m3
% Compaction
OBSERVATION AND COMPUTATION
DATA RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The objective of sand replacement test is to determine the field
density of natural using sand pouring cylinders. The relationship between
the dry density with known moisture content is.
ρ
ρd =
1+ ω
ρd = Dry density
ρ = Density of the excavated soil
ω= Moisture content
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Dry density ( ρd ) of the soil, density ( ρ ) of the excavated soil is a bulk density
of the soil that we get from the measurement of the soil density and
moisture content (ω), is the percentage of water content of the soil sample
that we heated in the oven for 24 hours. If the amount of moisture content
is low, the amount of dry density is high.
There are several errors in the experiment that we must correct. In

Measurement of Soil Density, we make sure that the excavated hole must
be equal to the volume of the calibrating container. While calibrating the
bulk density of sand, we make sure that great care has to be taken.
The apparatus that we need in this test are sand pouring cylinder, tools for
excavating holes, cylindrical calibrating container, metal tray and weighing
balance. The different method for the determination of field density of soils
instead of sand replacement method for the determination of field density
of soils instead of sand replacement method such as core cutter method
which is suitable for cohesive soil, rubber balloon method which is like as
sand replacement method but it uses water in this experiment and nuclear
gauge method which is the easier way to measure both bulk and water
content of in situ soil.
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FOR STANDARD PROCTOR TEST:
Table 1 shows the recorded mass and dimensions of the cylindrical
mold that was used for the computation for its volume:
Measurement of the mold

Mass 3.135 kg
Diameter 4 inches (0.1016
m)
Height 4.125 inches
(0.1048 m)
Volume 8.494x10-4 m3
The initial mass of the air dried soil
sample that was used in the experiment was 4.829 kg in which 10%
moisture was added and was used in the first trial. For each of the
succeeding trials, 2% (or 0.09658 kg) moisture was added. Note that the
mass of the empty mold is 3.135 kg.
Trial Mmold + Moist Moist ω Dry Dry Unit

Moist soil Soil (kg) Density Denisty Weight
(kg) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kN/m3)
1 4.9 1.765 2077.93 10% 1889.03 18.531
7 4
2 4.945 1.81 2130.91 12% 1902.60 18.665
6 4
3 4.96 1.825 2148.57 14% 1884.71 18.489
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5 5
4 4.92 1.785 2101.48 16% 1811.62 17.772
3 3
Next is to present the moist (total) and dry density, and dry unit weight of
the compacted soil in each trial. First to calculate the total density we use
the equation:
Where ρm is the moist density of the compacted specimen in kg/m3, M S is

the mass of the moist compacted soil in kg, and V is the volume of the mold
which is equal to 8.494x10-4 m3.
The dry density of the compacted soil sample can be computed using the
equation below:
In which ρd is the dry density of the compacted soils in in

kg/m3, ρm is the moist density of the compacted soil in kg/m3 shown in
Table 4, and ω is the moisture content of the soil in percent as shown in the
table above.
Finally, the dry unit weight of the compacted soil sample can now be
acquired using this equation:
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9.81
γ d =( dry density of sample 1)
1000
…………………. TABLE…………..
The optimum water content and the maximum dry unit weight of the soil
sample are acquired through analyzing the curve and getting the coordinate
values of the maximum point, which is: Optimum Moisture Content: 12%
Maximum Dry Unit Weight: 18.665 kN/m3
The main purpose of compacting soils is to reduce subsequent settlement

under working loads. Compaction also increases the shear strength of the
soil, reduces voids ratio making it more difficult for water to flow through
soil and prevent the buildup of large water pressures that cause soil to
liquefy during earthquakes. Thus, it is essential to identify the maximum
unit weight of the soil in order to maximize the usages mentioned above
through identifying the quantities or qualities of the factors that affect
compaction such as water content, the type of soil being compacted, and
the amount of compactive energy that was used.
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Soil types affect compaction of the soil because of its particle sizes and
characteristics. The table below presents the typical values of maximum dry
unit weight and optimum moisture content for some common types of soils.
Although the table above presents only typical values which must not be
used in design because soils exhibits great variability, we can still compare
the computed values of maximum dry unit weight of 18.665 kN/m3, and
optimum moisture content of 12% to SC or Sandy Clay.
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CONCLUSION
For our conclusion, we strongly conclude that to determine the density
of the soil, sand replacement method must be used in determining the
compaction degree of a soil. The degree of compaction is measured by dry
unit weight and depends on the water content and compaction effort. The
factors will affect the compaction and density are nature and type of soil
such as sand, clay, grading or plasticity; water content at the time of
compaction, site conditions include with weather, type of site, layer
thickness; and compaction effort.
And for the Standard Proctor Test, it has been concluded that the maximum
dry unit weight of 18.665 kN/m3 can be achieved using 12% moisture
content. The values attained can be of great use in construction using the
test sample if maximum compaction is wanted in order to support the
maximum load possible. There was no way in order to compute the error of
the experiment and thus it is recommended to perform the experiment
more than once in order to provide more precise and accurate data.
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Tel. No. (078) 304 – 9432
DOCUMENTATION
For FDT
Removing of soil
Pouring sand from
using chisel the Sand in
the hole
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Weighing
soil
sample
Weighing
cylinder
For SPT
Sieving for sample using

Sieve no. 10
Compacting the
soil in the mould
using a rammer
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Tel. No. (078) 304 – 9432
REFERENCES
http://www.prbdb.gov.in/files/Quality%20Control%20Training/Tests%20on
%20Soils/Field%20Density%20Test%20by%20Sand%20Replacement
%20Method.pdf
http://home.iitk.ac.in/~madhav/expt3.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/177196267/DETERMINATION-OF-FIELD-DENSITY-
OF-SOILS-BY-SAND-REPLACEMENT-CORE-CUTTER-METHOD
American Society for Testing and Materials. ASTM D698: 12 Standard Test
Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard
Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3)). E-book.
Das, Braja M. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. Published on 2002.
Ebook.
Intelligentcompaction.com. Fundamentals of Compaction . retrieved
www.intelligentcompaction.com/downloads/IC_RelatedDocs/SoilCmpct_Fund
am entals%20of%20Soil%20Compaction.pdf on April 27, 2016.
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Republic of the Philippines

Cagayan State University

FIELD DENSITY TEST

METHODOLOGY (for FDT)

Measurement of Soil Density

Methodology (for SPT)

Sand Bulk Density

OBSERVATION AND COMPUTATION

DATA RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

ρ = Density of the excavated soil

There are several errors in the experiment that we must correct. In

Measurement of the mold

Trial Mmold + Moist Moist ω Dry Dry Unit

Where ρm is the moist density of the compacted specimen in kg/m3, M S is

In which ρd is the dry density of the compacted soils in in

The main purpose of compacting soils is to reduce subsequent settlement

Sieving for sample using

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