TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

938 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering

CE 401A
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING (SOIL MECHANICS)

EXPERIMENT # 7
COMPACTION TEST

PREPARED BY: AÑONUEVO, SHEKINAH

CALIJAN, ERICK JAMES
DOMINCIL, ALMIRA
FRANCISCO, REIGIE GHAIL
PASCUAL, JEREN VINCE

DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

SUBMITTED TO: ASEAN ENG’R GERARDO D.B. ABESTILLA

 LABORATORY REPORT NO. 7
COMPACTION TEST

Honor Code: “I accept responsibility for my role in ensuring the integrity of the work
submitted by thegroup in which I participated”.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experiment is to familiarize the student with the
laboratory compaction test and to obtain the moisture unit weight
relationship for a given compactive effort on a particular soil.

PRINCIPLE OF THE EXPERIMENT:

Compaction of soil mass involves the application of energy and addition

of water as lubricant. It results in reduction of pore spaces and increase
of density by rearrangement of particle grains. Thus, the mass becomes
more stable and impermeable, which are desirable characteristics of
foundations.

The compaction of soil fills in various engineering operations is of most

significance. A properly compacted fill will not settle very much even
after the loads are imposed. Therefore, the detrimental effects of
settlement on the structures built on a stable fill are both safe and
economical. Compaction also makes the fill impervious, thus, it reduces
the detrimental effects of infiltrating surface water.
 moisture content and corresponding dry density of the compacted soil
for each determination should be calculated. Plot the dry density as
the ordinate and the corresponding moisture content as abscissa.
Connect the plotted point with a smooth line. Generally, the curve is
parabolic in form.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:

1 UNIT Oven with temperature control, capable of maintaining 110 ± 5°C

Balance, sensitive to 0.1 g to conform to the requirements of

AASHTO M 231 Straight edge knife, at least 10 in. in length

Sample extruder (jack) or mechanical pulverize

1 SET Mixing Tools-mixing pan, spoon, trowel, spatula, etc.

Sieve Sizes required

Compaction Molds - solid wall, metal cylinders manufactured with

dimensions, with detachable collar assembly and base plate

1. A 4 in a mold having a capacity of 1/30 (0.333) ± 0.0003 cu. ft.

(0.000943 = 0.000008 cu. m.) with an internal diameter of 4.00 ±
0.016 in. (101.6±0.406 mm. and a height of 4.584 +0.005 in. (116.43
± 0.1270 mm)

2. A ban mold having a capacity of 1/13.33 (0.0750) 0.00075 cu. ft.

(0.002124 ± 0.000021 cu. m.) with an internal diameter of 6.00 ±
0.026 in. (152.4 ±
0.6604 mm. and a height of 4.584 ± 0.005 in.

Rammer

1. Manually Operated-metal rammer having a flat circular face of

2.00 ± 0.005 in (50.8 ± 0.127 mm) diameter, weighing 5.50 ± 0.02
lbs. (2.495 +0.009 kg): equipped with a suitable guide controlling the
height of drop to a free fall of 12.00 ± 0.06 in

2. Mechanically Operated-metal rammer equipped with a device to

control the height of drop to a free fall of 12.00 0.06 in.; having a flat
circular face of 2.00 0.005 in (50.8 0.127 mm) diameter, weighing
5.50 ± 0.02 lbs. (2.495 0.009 kg.
PROCEDURE:

1. Weigh the empty cylindrical metal mold, with the base but without the collar,
WM

2. Thoroughly mix the selected sample with sufficient water to dampen it to

approximately 4 percentage points below optimum moisture content.

3. Form a specimen by compacting the prepared soil in the 4 in or 6 in. mold with
collar attached in three approximately equal layers to give a total compacted depth
of about 5 in. (127 mm). Compact each layer by 25 (in case of 4" mold) or 56 (in
case of 6" mold) uniformly distributed blows from the rammer dropping free from
a height of 12 in. (in case of 4" mold) or 18 in. (in case of 6" mold) above the
elevation of the soil. During compaction, the mold shall rest firmly on a dense,
uniform, rigid and stable foundation.

3.1. Following compaction, remove the extension collar, and carefully trim the
compacted soil even with the top of the mold by means of the straightedge. Holes
developed on the surface by the removal of coarse material shall be patched
with smaller-size material. Weigh the mold and moist soil, W MC.

3.2. After weighing the mold and the moist soil, WMC, divide the mass of the
compacted specimen minus the weight of the mold, to the volume of the mold
approximately 0.000943 m³ 25 (in case of 4" mold) or 0.002125 m³ 25 (in case of
6" mold); this would be the wet density of the compacted soil, DM

4. Remove the material from the mold and slice vertically through the center.
Take a representative sample of the material from one of the cut faces, weigh
immediately, W1

5. Dry the wet soil and weigh, W2, in an oven for at least 12 hours, or to constant
mass, to determine the water content

6. Thoroughly break up the remainder of the material and add to the remaining
portion of the sample being tested. Add water gradually in sufficient amounts to
increase the moisture content of the sample by one or two percentage points.

7. Repeat the above procedures for each increment of water added. Continue this
series of determinations until there is either a decrease or no change in the wet
mass, W₁, per cubic meter of compacted soil.
Optimum Moisture Content, % (based from the graph) 1 = _________________

Maximum Dry Density, maxdry(lab) = ________________________

COMPUTATION:
 COMPACTION TEST
Data Sheet

Sampled at: ____________________________________________________________________

Description of Soil: _____________________________________________________________
Tested by: AÑONUEVO, SHEKINAH Date of Testing: ______________________
CALIJAN, ERICK JAMES
DOMINCIL, ALMIRA
FRANCISCO, REIGIE GHAIL
PASCUAL, JEREN VINCE

SAMPLE NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Moisture Can No.

Wt. of wet soil + can, g. W1

WL of dry soil + can. g. W2

Wt. of water, g

Wt of can, g

Wt. of dry soil, g

Water Content, w%

DENSITY
DETERMINATION
Wt. of mold. g. WM

Wt. of mold+ compacted soil,

WMc
Wt. of compacted soil in the
mold, g
Water Content w%

Wet Density, kN/m^3

Dry Density, kN/m^3

DISCUSSION:
CONCLUSION