FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE NAME
COURSE CODE
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT :COMPACTION

DATE OF EXPERIMENT :24/6/2020
NAME :AINUR NASUHA BINTI MOHAMMAD RODZI
UiTM NO :2019892466
CLASS GROUP :EC220 2A1B
LECTURER :EN.NORAZLAN BIN KHALID
LEVEL OF OPENESS : 2

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY 1 2 3 4 5
RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5
ORGANIZATION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECG428
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 2
CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN
DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 66%

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES
COMPACTION
(With referenced to clause 7 of BS1377: Part 7: 1990)

PREAMBLE
Introduction

Compaction is the process of increasing the bulk density of a soil or aggregate by

driving out air. For any soil, at a given compactive effort, the density obtained
depends on the moisture content. An “Optimum Moisture Content” exists at
which it will achieve a maximum density. Compaction is the method of
mechanically increasing the density of soil. The densification of soil is achieved by
reducing air void space. During compaction, air content reduces, but not water
content It is not possible to compact saturated soil. It should be noted that higher
the density of soil mass, stronger, stiffer, more durable will be the soil mass.
Hence, Compaction
1) Increases density
2) Increases strength characteristics
3) Increases load-bearing capacity
4) Decreases undesirable settlement
5) Increases stability of slopes and embankments
6) Decreases permeability
7) Reduces water seepage
8) Reduces Swelling & Shrinkage
9) Reduces frost damage
10) Reduces erosion damage
11) Develops high negative pore pressures (suctions) increasing effective stress

Objectives

1. To determine the optimal water content at which the soil sample can
reach its maximum dry density.

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able to:

1. Acquire the understanding of engineering properties of soils in
determination of the unconfined compressive strength
2. Acquire the necessary skill to prepare sample and conduct force
measuring device and the axial deformation gauges in performing standard
laboratory
3. Calculate and analyze data to report and present result in a proper
engineering format.

Compaction test of soil is carried out using Proctor's test to

understand compaction characteristics of different soils with change in moisture
content. Compaction of soil is the optimal moisture content at which a given soil
PROBLEM STATEMENT
type becomes most dense and achieve its maximum dry density by removal of air
voids.

WAYS & MEANS Apparatus

Cylindrical metal mold, which is fitted with a detachable base plate and removable
extension collar, metal hammer with 50mm diameter face, weighting 24.4KN,
sliding freely in a tube that controls the height of drop to 300mm, sample extruder
(jack) for removing compacted material from the mold, metal tray, balance
sensitive to 0.1g and 0.01g, drying oven with temperature ranges from  105◦C to
110◦C, desiccator, trowel or scope, straight edge, no. 4 sieve (4.75mm), and water
sprayer.

Procedure
1.The compaction mold was set to the base plate without the removable collar
and weighed.
2.Then the removable collar was attached.
3.Around 3kg representative specimen of the air dried soil Around 3kg
representative specimen of the air dried soil sample was obtained and all the
lumps sample was obtained and all the lumps were broken.
4.The soil passed through no.4 sieve was collected to a tray.
5.Water was added to the soil and mixed thoroughly to get a homogeneous soil
sample. The test was started with a water content lower than the optimum.
6.The mold assembly was placed on the ground and soil was added to the mold so
that it was about half full
7.The soil was compacted by applying 25 blows of the rammer dropping from the
controlled height of 300mm and ensured a uniform distribution of blows.
8.A second approximately equal layer of soil was placed in the mold and
compacted it with 25 blows as before.
9.Procedure was repeated with a third layer, which should bring the compacted
soil level in the extension collar to about 6mm above the level of the mold body.
10.Extension collar was removed carefully. The excess soil was cut and leveled off
to the top of the mold. The small cavities resulting from the removal of stones
were filled with fine materials.
11.Excess soil on the base plate was removed carefully using a brush and weighed

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

(soil + mold + base plate)

12.The base was removed and the mold was set on the sample extruder, the
sample was removed from the mold.
13.Same amount of soil was collected from top, middle and bottom to determine
the water content.
14.Those soil samples were put into the dry oven for water content
determination.
15.The material in the tray was broken up and water was added to the soil with
the sprayer. Then the soil was mixed thoroughly.
16.The compaction process was kept repeating with increasing of the water
content until five runs had been made and soil become very wet and sticky.

Table 1 shows the recorded mass and dimensions of the cylindrical mold that was
used for the computation for its volume as shown in Equation 1:

1
V mold = π d 2 h Equation 1
4

Table 1: Recorded masses and dimension of the mold used

Measurements on the Mold
Mass 3.5145 kg
Diameter 0.1016 m
Height 0.1164 m
Volume 0.000943692 m^3

RESULTS Table 2 presents the data on the masses of the mold after the addition and
compaction of the soil. Note that the mass of the empty mold is 3.5145 kg.

Table 2: Mass of the Soil Sample inside the mold in each trial
Trial Mass of Mold + Soil, kg Mass of Soil, kg
1 5.0945 1.58
2 5.1315 1.62
3 5.2215 1.71
4 5.2740 1.76
5 5.3270 1.81
6 5.3140 1.80
7 5.2930 1.78

The moisture content of the soil sample in each of the trials is determined using
Equation 2:

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

M w+ M d Equation 2
w= x 100
Mw

w is the moisture content of the compacted soil sample in %,

Mw is its wet mass in kg,
Md is its mass after drying in kg.

Table 3 presents the data used in order to determine the moisture content of each
trial using Equation 2.

Table 3: Moisture content of the compacted soil in each trial

Trial Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass of Moisture
Container, Container Soil Container Soil Content,
kg + Soil Sample + Soil Sample %
Sample (wet), kg Sample (dry), kg
(wet), kg (dry), kg
1 0.0150 0.1205 0.1055 0.1110 0.096 9.0047
2 0.0115 0.0550 0.0435 0.0505 0.039 10.3448
3 0.0120 0.1495 0.1375 0.1325 0.1205 12.3636
4 0.0120 0.1595 0.1475 0.1395 0.1275 13.5593
5 0.0065 0.1135 0.1070 0.0970 0.0905 15.4206
6 0.0060 0.0615 0.0555 0.0515 0.0455 18.018
7 0.0060 0.0715 0.0655 0.0582 0.0522 20.3053

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, Equation 3 is used:

M❑
ρm = Equation 3
v

ρm is the moist density of the compacted specimen in kg/m 3,

Mcs is the mass of the moist compacted soil in kg,
V is the volume of the mold which is equal to 0.000943692 m 3.

Moist density of all the trials is then presented in Table 4.

Table 4: Moist Density of the Compacted Soils

Trial Mass of Soil (kg) Moist Density (kg/m3)
1 1.5800 1674.275
2 1.6170 1713.483
3 1.7070 1808.853
4 1.7595 1864.485
5 1.8125 1920.648
6 1.7995 1906.872
7 1.7785 1884.619

The dry density of the compacted soil sample can be computed using Equation 4:

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

❑d
❑b= Equation 4
(1+ w)

ρd is the dry density of the compacted soils in in kg/m 3,

ρm is the moist density of the compacted soil in kg/m 3 shown in Table 4,
w is the moisture content of the soil in percent as shown in Table 3.

Dry density of all the trials is presented in Table 5:

Table 5: Dry Density of the Compacted Soils

Trial Moist Density Moisture Dry Density

3
(kg/m ) Content (%) (kg/m3)
1 1674.275 9.0047 167.349
2 1713.483 10.3448 151.037
3 1808.853 12.3636 135.357
4 1864.485 13.5593 128.061
5 1920.648 15.4206 116.966
6 1906.872 18.0180 100.267
7 1884.619 20.3053 88.458
Finally, the dry unit weight of the compacted soil sample can now be acquired
using Equation 5:
Equation 5
m
γ d =9.81 2
x ❑d kN /m3
s

ƴd is the dry unit weight of the compacted specimen in kN/m 3,

d the dry density in kg/m3,

Table 6 contains all the computed values for the computed dry unit weight of all
the trials.

Table 6: Dry Unit Weight of the Compacted Soil

Trial Dry Density Dry unit

(kg/m3) weight
(kN/m3)
1 167.349 1641.6937
2 151.037 1481.6730
3 135.357 1327.8522
4 128.061 1256.2784
5 116.966 1147.4365
6 100.267 983.6193
7 88.458 867.7730

The compaction curve is then generated by plotting the dry unit weight versus the
moisture content graph as shown in Table 7.

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SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Table 7: Points used in the Compaction Curve

Trial Moisture Dry unit weight

Content (%) (kN/m3)
1 9.0047 1641.6937
2 10.3448 1481.6730
3 12.3636 1327.8552
4 13.5593 1256.2784
5 15.4206 1147.4365
6 18.0180 983.6193
7 20.3053 867.7730

Plot graph Maximum Dry Unit Weight Vs Optimum Moisture Content.

DATA ANALYSIS

Optimum Moisture Content: 9.00%

Maximum Dry Unit Weight: 1641.69

CONCLUSION In the conclusion,Proctor’s test to determine  compaction characteristics of

different soils with change in moisture content. Compaction of soil is the optimal
moisture content at which a given soil type becomes most dense and achieve its

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

maximum dry density by removal of air voids.

From the graph ,we concluded that the maximum dry unit weight of 1641.69
kN/m3 can be achieved using 9.00% moisture content.

The main purposes of compacting soils is to reduce subsequent settlement under

working loads.Compaction also increases the shear strength of the soil, reduces
voids ration making it more difficult for water to flow through soil and prevent the
buildup of large water pressures that causes soil to liquefy during
earthquakes.Thus it is really important especially in construction sites to be able
DISCUSSION AND to control the moisture content of the soil at its optimal value in order to ensure
RECOMENDATION that the dry unit weight is at its greatest

By analzing graph ,we could determine that the best to achieve 9% moisture
content in order to attain the highest compaction of soil possible.

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