University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

EXPERIMENT 2
Standard Test Methods for
Maximum Index Density and Unit
Weight of Subbase
Modified proctor test

Fourth Class
Group _B_
Lab Of Soil Mechanics

Kadhim falah nadhim

2020/2/13

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

Introduction
Compacting or reducing is the process of increasing the density of soil by
filling the soil particles together, which leads to a decrease in air volume.
Soil water acts as an increased impression of lubrication when the load is
imposed on the soil. If the saturation is near, the load is likely to exceed
the soil strength and durability, resulting in excessively sliding and rotating
wheels as well as soil mixing and staining. It is estimated that, in the light
of traditional tillage practices and other harvesting operations for the
harvest, approximately 90% of the grazing field will be tracked on an
annual basis.

While standard soil compacting tests can be performed in the field to obtain
preliminary results, a Procter pressure test is generally performed in the
laboratory. Laboratory testing in addition to field tests is a best practice, as
laboratory testing is a standard for regulators such as the American
Highway Association and Transportation Staff (AASHTO) and the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). In addition,
laboratories provide access to a wider range of types of testing, such as
static and vibration testing, to obtain the most accurate results possible.

And the soil must contain an amount of water when compacting to facilitate
the process with less effort as it facilitates the slipping of the granules and
helps in reducing voids, but how is the water added and determining the
most appropriate amount added to the soil to get the best percentage of
blood (compacting).

The best amount of water added to the soil to get good blood is called the
optimum moisture content or optimum water content, which is denoted by
(OMC) and expresses the weight of the water to the weight of the solid
grains. This choice has two methods, both of which are found (OMC), but
the difference is in the effort of controversy, the distance from which the
load drops, the number of layers of the sample, and the number of stroke
strikes.

There are two ways to perform this experiment:

• Standard proctor compaction test

• Modified proctor compaction test

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

Modified proctor compaction test

Purpose
Finding the relationship between the dry density and the moisture content
by using an appropriate limit for the purpose of determining the optimum
moisture content and finding the relative limit that represents the
relationship between the field density and the laboratory dry density

Standard Reference
Modified proctor test according to the standard ASTM D4253

Equipment

1. Mold Assembly Drop 6 in , height 4.5in

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

2. Hammer , modified proctor compaction It weighs 10 ib and has a

falling distance of 18 in

3. Sieves 3/4 in. (19 mm) and No. 4 (4.75 mm), conforming to the
requirements of Specification.

4. Balance

5. Drying Oven, thermostatically controlled, preferably of

the forced-draft type, capable of maintaining a uniform temperature
of 110 6 5°C throughout the drying chamber.

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

6. Large mixing PAN

7. Glass cylinder

8. A number of tins to find moisture content.

9. Straight Edge.

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

Test Method
• The lower part of the mold is fixed with the base by screws, then its
weight is taken empty and the weight is recorded W1 then the top
part of the mold is placed and fixed with the bottom part of the mold
• Setting the sample of aggregate stones in a large container and
adding to it water about 3% of the model weight (240 cc) and mixing
it well until the moisture in the model is completely homogeneous.
• Putting the form in the mold in the form of 3 layers of thickness.
When laying the layer, the process of its modification is performed
using the hammer. The number of strikes is 25 strokes per layer
distributed homogeneously on the parts of the form in the mold The
process is repeated on each layer.
• The top part of the mold opens and raises, then the extra part of the
model is removed using a knife and the cutting and adjustment are
done from the center of the mold towards its edge then the mold is
weighed in this case which represents the weight of the form is
limited with the template and this weight is recorded W2
• A special metal canister is taken to inspect the empty mannequin
content, then parts of the form are taken after emptying it from the
mold from multiple places and placed in the empty canister and
weighing. This weight represents the wet weight after subtracting
the empty canister weight then the can is placed in the oven and left
for 24 hours then the weight which is taken and Weight of the box
with the model and by subtracting the weight of the box empty, the
weight of the dry pattern is obtained
• The same previous steps are repeated on two models using other
ratios (3%, 9%) water of the model weight
• It should be ensured that the weight of the model on the third
attempt is less to ensure that the maximum dry density point falls
within the drawn curve points and in the event that this does not
happen the water additives should be repeated
• Upon repeated examination, the same sample-bound aggregate
sample should not be used because solid parts may break down and
the moisture content distribution is also heterogeneous.

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

Results & Calculations

Sample No. 1 2 3
Tin No. 1 35 S17
Water percentage 3% 6% 9%
Wt. (empty tin) 21.50 gm 22.10 gm 22.00 gm
Wt. (tin + wet soil) 93.60 gm 79.20 gm 93.90 gm
Wt. (tin + dry soil) 90.20 gm 75.00 gm 86.80 gm
Water content 4.95 % 7.94 % 10.96 %
Wt. (empty mold) 3307.0 gm 3307.0 gm 3307.0 gm
Wt. (mold + soil) 5394.0 gm 5490.0 gm 5474.0 gm
Wt. (soil) 2087.0 gm 2183.0 gm 2172.0 gm
Volume of mold 929.374 cm3 929.374 cm3 929.374 cm3
Wet density, ρwet 2.246 g/cm3 2.349 g/cm3 2.337 g/cm3
Dry density, ρdry 2.140 g/cm3 2.176 g/cm3 2.106 g/cm3

Standard Procter Test

2.18
2.176
2.17

2.16

2.15

2.14 2.14

2.13

2.12

2.11
2.106
2.1
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Optimum Moisture Content = 7.7 %

Maximum Dry Density = 2.176 g/cm3

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University of Kabala Fourth Class

College of Engineering Civil Engineering Department

Discussion
The Proctor Standard Test is used to determine the compression of
different types of soil and soil properties with a change in moisture content.
During compaction, the soil particles are transported, and the air volume is
reduced. It may also involve modification of moisture content, and in
granulated soils, moisture content may be compressed during compaction
or compacting.
As the density of saturated soil increases due to a decrease in the volume
of voids resulting from the expulsion of water under the application of
static load.
We notice in the curve that at the beginning, whenever we add water and
blood into the soil, this pushes the air out to take the place of the soil, so
the density increases, until a certain moment in which the best percentage
of water is met and the highest density can be provided to the soil, and then
if we add water to the soil, the water replaces the soil grains The soil is less
dense.
We also benefit from this experiment in determining the dark energy that
is required to provide the soil with blood on site, as follows:
If a Proctor experiment was performed in the laboratory with soil filling on
an L number of layers and multiplying each layer with an S number of
strokes of H height in meters with a hammer weighing W in Newtons in a
volume vessel v, then the dark energy can be calculated as follows:

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