PROCTOR STANDARD SOIL COMPACTION TEST

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The Proctor compaction test is a laboratory geotechnical testing method used to

determine the soil compaction properties, specifically, to determine the optimal water
content at which soil can reach its maximum dry density. The original test is often
referred to as Standard Proctor Test, which was later modified and referred to as
Modified Proctor Test. The difference between the two tests lies mainly in the
compaction energy.
The improvement and enhancement of soil by compaction is mandatory in building,
highway and airport runways projects. The bearing strength of the soil and thereby shear
resistance lies heavily on its compaction. It decreases the permeability and prevents
settlement of the soil. It reduces the void ratio and thus the damage from frost could be
perverted or heaving whatever. For granular and coarser soils, vibratory rollers mostly
steel drum rollers are used while pneumatic tired rollers are used for aggregates of
asphaltic concrete.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment are to obtain the maximum value of dry density and
the optimum moisture content.

1.3 THEORY

Compaction is a type of mechanical stabilization where the soil mass is densified with
the application of mechanical energy also known as compactive effort. The mechanical
energy may be produced by the dynamic load, static load, vibration, or by tamping.

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Compaction of soil the process by which the solid particles are packed more closely
together by mechanical means, thus increasing the dry density, Markwick, 1994. It is
achieved through the reduction of the 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 the 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 the required to achieve this condition, the excess water begin to push particles
apart, so the dry density reduced.

The moisture content at which the greatest value of dry density achieved for the given
compaction effort is the optimum moisture content, (OMC), and the corresponding dry
density is the maximum dry density

Figure 1: Relationship between dry density (ρ d) against moisture content w for several
types of soil.

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1.4 APPARATUS

1. Cylindrical metal mould, internal dimensions 105mm diameter and 115.5mm

high (Fitted with a detachable and removable extension collar).
2. Metal rammer with 50mm diameter face weighing 2.5kg, sliding freely in a tube
which controls the height of drop to 300mm.
3. Measuring cylinder; 200ml or 500ml (plastic)
4. 20mm BS sieve and receiver
5. Large metal tray
6. Electronic balance
7. Jacking apparatus for extracting compacted material from mould.
8. Small tools: palette knife, steel-straight edge, 300mm long, steel rule, scoop or
garden trowel
9. Drying oven, 105-110°C and other equipment for moisture content
determination.

Figure 2: Mould base plate and the metal rammer

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1.5 PROCEDURES

1. The moul was verifiedby base plate; extension, collar and rammer to be used are
those that conform to BS 1377. Weight the mould to the nearest 1g (m 1). Measure
its internal diameter (D) mm and length (L) mm in several places and calculate the
mean dimensions.

2. The internal volume of the mould was calculated by (V)mm3 using

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π×D ×L
V=
4000
Applied with an oily cloth on the internal surface of mould to ease the removal of
soil later on.
3. The empty was measured by metal tray and ± 5kg of air dried soil sample that the
has passing through sieve no.4 (4.75mm) as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2: Sieving dried soil using sieve no.4 (4.75mm)

4. Placed the mould assembly on a solid base, such as concrete floor. Added loose
soil so that after each sequence of compaction the mould will be one-third filled.

Figure 4: Mix the soil with 10% of water.

5. The soil was compacted by applying 27 blows of the rammer dropping from the
controlled height of the 300mm. Make sure that the rammer is properly in place
before releasing, Figure 3, Note: do not attempt to grab the lifting knob before the
rammer has come to rest. The sequence as shown in Figure 4 has to be followed.
Repeated for the second and third layer that the final shall not more than 6mm
above the mould, as shown in Figure 5.

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 Figure 5: Hand position when releasing rammer

6. Trimmed of by removing the extension collar, cut away the excess soil and level
off to the top of the mould. Any cavities resulting from removal of stones at the
surface should be filled with fine material.

Figure 6: Removing the collar.

7. The baseplate was removed carefully, trim the soil at the lower end of the mould.
Weigh soil and mould to the nearest g.

Figure 7: Weighing soil and mould

8. The mould was fitted on to the extruder and jack out the soil. Break up the
sample on the tray as shown in figure 8.

Figure 8: Removing the sample from mould cylinder

9. Three representative was taken up samples in moisture content containers for
measurement of moisture content. This must be done immediately before the soil
dry out. The average of three measurements is w%. (Preferably one from each
layer).

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10. The material was broke upon the tray and mix with the remainder of the prepared
sample. Added an increment of water, approximately as follows:
(i) Sandy and gravelly soils: 1 – 2% (50 – 100 ml of water to 5 kg of soil)
(ii) Cohesive soils: 2 – 4 % (100 – 200 ml of water to 5 kg of soil)

1.7 REFERENCES

1. Das, Braja M., 2014. “Principles of geotechnical engineering”: Cengage

Learning. (TA710 .D37 2014)
2. Morris, A., 2012. “Geotechnical engineering of soil”: Auris Reference.
(TA705 .G49 2012)
3. Braja, M.D., 2010. “Principle of Geotechnical Engineering”: McGrawHill.
(TA710.D37 2010)
4. Cheng Liu & Jack B. Evett, 2008. “Soils and Foundations”: Prentice Hall.
(TA710.L58 2008)

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