Name: Class: Group:

TEST NO.9 Modify Compaction Test

Compaction is the process of increasing the density of a soil by packing

the particles closer together with a reduction in the volume of air only.
Compaction increases the dry density and decreases the void ratio. To
determine moisture content and dry density relationship using heavy
compaction

Purpose of compaction:

1- Increase shear strength of soil

2- Reduce void ratio thus reduce permeability
3- Controlling the swell-shrinkage movement
4- Reduce settlement under working load

5- Prevent the buildup of large water pressure

APPARATUS

• Metal mould (volume = 1000 cm3)

• Balance (capacity = 10 kg, least count = 1g)
• Oven (105 to 1100C)
• Metal rammer (weight = 4.5 kg)

• Droup Distance
• Compaction Mould and hammer

Test Procedure :
1- a sufficient quantity of air-dried soil in large mixing pan (say 4.5 kg)
2- Determine the weight of the compaction mold with its base (without the
collar).
3- Start with initial water such (3% of Soil weight)
4- Add the water to the soil and mix it thoroughly into the soil until the soil
gets uniform color (see figure B and C).
5- Assemble the compaction mold to the base, place soil in the mold and
compact the soil in the number of equal layers specified by the type of
compaction method (see photo D and E).
The number of drops per layer is dependent upon the type of compaction. The
drops should be applied at a uniform rate not exceeding around 1.5
seconds per drops, and the rammer should provide uniform coverage of the
specimen surface.
6- The soil should completely fill the cylinder and the last compacted layer
must extend slightly above the collar joint. If the soil below the collar joint at
the completion of the drops, the test point must be repeated.
7- Carefully remove the collar and trim off the compacted soil so that it is
completely even with the top of the mold.(see photo F).
8- Weigh the compacted soil while it's in the mold and to the base, and record
the mass (see Photo G). Determine the wet mass of the soil by subtracting the
weight of the mold and base.
9- Remove the soil from the mold using a mechanical extruder (see Photo H)
and take the soil moisture content samples from the top and bottom of the
specimen (see Photo i). Determine the water content.
10- Place the soil specimen in the large tray and break up the soil until it
appears visually as if it will pass through the #4 sieve, add 3% more water on
the soil and remix as in step 4. Repeat step 5 through 9 until a peak value is
reached followed by two slightly lesser compacted soil masses.
The following Figures give the steps used in the test:
 Building & Construction department

Soil Mechanic Laboratory

Weekly test Report

Test NO.

Test Name: Name and signature of group supervisor

Date of Experiment:

Date of report submission: Name and signature of the corrector

Name: Class: Group:

Data:

Test 1 2 3 4 5 6
W1 gm

W2 gm

W2 - W1 gm

L cm
D cm
V cm3
γ wet gm/cm3

Moisture can
No.

Wa (g)

Wb (g)

Wc (g)

w (%)

Dry unit weight

γd gm/cm3
W1= Determine weight of the mold

W2 = Determine weight of the mold + compacted moist soil

D= (diameter of the mould)

L = (hight of the mould)

Wa (weight of empty can)

Wb (weight of soil with moiesture)

Wc (weight of dry soil)

Water content =

𝜋
V= 𝐷2 × ℎ
4

Wwet = W2 – W1

𝑊𝑤𝑒𝑡
𝛾𝑤𝑒𝑡 = 𝑉
𝑤𝑒𝑡𝛾
𝛾𝐷𝑟𝑦 = 1+𝑊.𝑐
GRAPH

The dry densities, γd , obtained in a series of

determinations is plotted against the
corresponding moisture content ‘M’. A
smooth curve is then drawn through the
resulting points and the position of the
maximum on this curve is determined, which
is called maximum dry density (M.D.D).
And the corresponding moisture content is called optimum moisture content
(O.M.C.).
The different between standard proctor compaction and modify proctor
compaction

Type of test No.of No. of blows Volume of Weight of Height of drops

layer per layer mold hammer (kg)
Cm
(cm3)
Standard 3 25 1000 2.5 30
Proctor
Modified 5 25 1000 4.5 45
Proctor

DISCUSSION

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