CE3A03 Geotechnical Engineering I Lab Instructions

CE 3A03 – Geotechnical Engineering I: Lab Instructions

1. OBJECTIVE

The maximum dry density (using standard or modified proctor compaction method) and optimum
water content of a clay material will be determined.

2. EQUIPMENT

Each group should be provided with:

• A standard compaction mould, a compaction hammer (either "standard" or "modified"), a

The following equipment is available for the whole class:

• Balances accurate to 0.01 g, drying ovens, and a balance of 10 kg capacity accurate to 1 g.

Please do not interfere with any other equipment.

3. INTRODUCTION

The "Proctor" compaction test measures the degree of compaction achieved in a particular soil,
using a standard compaction method, at different values of soil water content. The precise test
details are described in the appropriate standards, but in principle the loose soil is compacted in
layers in a mould of known volume (actually equal to 947 cc in these older imperial moulds), and
then weighed in order to give the bulk density. A moisture content sample is taken, and this
enables the dry density of the soil to be calculated.

The soil is normally compacted with either a “standard” hammer of 2.5 kg falling through 300
mm (the soil being compacted in 3 layers), or a “modified” hammer of 4.5 kg falling through 450
mm (the soil being compacted in 5 layers − although for the purpose of this test, 3 layers will be
sufficient). The densities produced by these tests bracket the range of densities normally produced
by field compaction equipment.

The air-dry soil provided for the test has already been sieved to remove particles larger than 5 mm.
Before starting the test, make a brief note of the physical properties of the soil, and classify it
tentatively.

4. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

One member of each group should start by weighing the metal drying cans to an accuracy of 0.01g.
Make sure that they are dry, and free of any loose dirt. They should be numbered clearly, and may
be stored together in the dish provided.

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CE3A03 Geotechnical Engineering I Lab Instructions

Weigh the compaction mould with the base plate (but without the extension) on the high capacity
balance to an accuracy of 1 g. Put about 3 kg of the dry soil provided (equivalent to about 2 heaped
volumes of the mould) into the plastic mixing bowl.

Add about 100 cc of tap water (it is best to do this gradually) and mix it into the soil thoroughly.
Place the soil into the compaction mould one layer at a time (allowing for the subsequent reduction
in volume − you may press it in manually), and compact each layer with 25 evenly spaced blows
of of the hammer. Each group should have either a "standard" or a "modified" hammer, and should
make sure that it is allowed to fall freely throughout its full travel. For the purpose of this
laboratory, all samples should be compacted in three layers, which should be thick enough that,
after all compaction has taken place, the soil surface should be slightly above the rim of the mould.

Remove the mould extension, and trim the soil flush with the rim of the mould using the aluminum
straight edge provided, scraping from the centre outwards. Brush any loose soil off the mould and
its base, and weigh it on the high capacity balance to within 1 g.

Transfer the soil from the cylinder back to the mixing bowl (the base of the mould should be
carefully removed, and you may need to use the steel stake to chip away the soil if it is very firm).
Break up the soil, if necessary, and take a moisture content sample (preferably from the middle of
the sample), place it in a drying can, and weigh it. You should leave it overnight in the drying
oven, together with subsequent samples, before weighing again to determine the dry mass, and
thereby the water content.

Mix another 100 cc of tap water into the soil and repeat the compaction and weighing procedures.
A total of five of these experiments should be done, by which time the mass of soil should start to
decrease noticeably. The soil will be relatively dry and dusty initially, but will become very wet
and sticky towards the end.

DO NOT THROW AWAY THE SOIL, but leave it in the plastic container provided. Before you
leave, make sure that all your equipment has been cleaned and that your bench is tidy.

5. REPORT

Present the results on the preprinted sheet. Work out the value of dry density ρd for each value of
water content, and plot it on a graph with w on the horizontal axis. It should show a distinct
maximum. Plot also the values obtained by another group that used the other type of hammer, and
see how it compares with your graph.

ρwGs
Plot the 100% saturation line ρd = (Given Gs = 2.7)
1 + wGs

Answer the following questions concisely and clearly, with respect to the test that you performed:
(a) What was the maximum value of dry density obtained?
(b) What was the optimum water content?
(c) To what value of bulk density did this correspond?

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CE3A03 Geotechnical Engineering I Lab Instructions

(d) What was the degree of saturation at the optimum water content? (Use the formula
ρwGs
ρd = and given Gs = 2.7.)
1 + wGs / Sr
(e) What was the void ratio of the soil at the optimum water content? (Hint: use the formulae for
phase relationships.)
(f) What water content limits would you recommend for field compaction on this soil (using a
technique similar in compactive energy to the test that you carried out) if the specification
requires the relative compaction in the field to be at least 95%? Herein the relative compaction
is defined as the ratio of ρd / ρd − max .

6. ADDITIONAL READINGS

• ASTM Designation D 698 – 00a: Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction
Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft3(600 kN-m/m3))

• ASTM Designation D 1557 – 00: Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction
Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3))

• Text: 5.2 and 5.4 (Das), or 1.6 (Craig)

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CE3A03 Geotechnical Engineering I Lab Instructions

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY COMPACTION TESTS

Name: Other Group Members:

Student No.:

Date:

Soil Description and Unified Classification:

Standard or Modified Proctor Test:

SOIL DENSITY

Can no.
Mass of mould + soil
Mass of mould
Mass of soil
Bulk soil density ρ (kg/m3)
Dry soil density ρd (kg/m3)

*
Note: (1) Volume of mould V = 947 cm3, and (2) the dry density of soil can be calculated
using ρd = ρ /(1 + w)

WATER CONTENT

Can no.
Mass of can + wet soil
Mass of can + dry soil
Mass of water
Mass of dry soil
Water content (%)