SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS

January 18, 1996

QUALITY CONTROL/QUALITY ASSURANCE

OF EARTHWORK COMPACTION

DESCRIPTION: The Contractor is advised that the Quality Control Testing of Earthwork Compaction shall be
performed by the Contractor as outlined in this provision and related documents. Department personnel shall
perform Quality Assurance Testing as outlined herein, and Record Testing as per normal procedures. Except
as revised in this provision, Quality Control and Quality Assurance shall be performed in accordance with the
procedures outlined in the Standard Specifications and Construction Manual. Related test procedures are
listed below:

SC-T-22
SC-T-29
SC-T-33

Determining Moisture Content of Soils By Carbide Gas Method

Field Determination of Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content of
Soils by One-Point Proctor Method.
Field Determination of Density and Moisture Content of Soils and Aggregate Bases
by the use of the Troxler 3401 Series Nuclear Gauge

The actual dry density of the embankment or subgrade material shall be determined as outlined in SC-T-33,
while the maximum dry density and optimum moisture of the material shall be determined by the one-point
proctor method, as outlined in SC-T-29.

Compaction Testing of Embankment: Testing of the embankment shall be performed in accordance with
the following table

Test Performed by:

Contractor
(Quality Control)

Test Procedure
Performed:
Compaction Test
(SC-T-33)
One-Point Proctor
(SC-T-29)

Department
(Quality Assurance)

Compaction Test
(SC-T-33)
One-Point Proctor
(SC-T-29)

Department
(Record)

Compaction Test
(SC-T-33)

Required Frequency of
Test:
1 per lift per 500 length
of embankment

Location of Test:

Random within 500

section as determined
from SC-T-100
Min. of 2 per day or when Material sampled shall
soil conditions change
be obtained within area
of days work and
representative of material
placed
1 per lift per 2500 length Random within 2500
of embankment
section as determined
from SC-T-100
1 per day or when soil
Material sampled shall
conditions change
be obtained within area
of days work and
representative of material
placed
Frequency and Location as outlined in Construction
Manual

Note: The Department reserves the right to alter or increase its testing frequency as deemed necessary by the
Engineer to insure adequate assurance of the Contractors Quality Control program.

Compaction Testing of Subgrade: Testing of the Subgrade shall be performed in accordance with
the following table:
S. C. File No.

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SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS

Test Performed by:

Contractor
(Quality Control)

Test Procedure
Performed:
Compaction Test
(SC-T-33)
One-Point Proctor
(SC-T-29)

Department
(Quality Assurance)

Compaction Test
(SC-T-33)
One-Point Proctor
(SC-T-29)

Department
(Record)

Compaction Test
(SC-T-33)

Required Frequency of
Test:
1 per lift per 500 length
of embankment

Location of Test:

Random within 500

section as determined
from SC-T-100
Min. of 2 per day or when Material sampled shall
soil conditions change
be obtained within area
of days work and
representative of material
placed
1 per lift per 2500 length Random within 2500
of embankment
section as determined
from SC-T-100
1 per day or when soil
Material sampled shall
conditions change
be obtained within area
of days work and
representative of material
placed
Frequency and Location as outlined in Construction
Manual

Note: The Department reserves the right to alter or increase its testing frequency as deemed necessary by the
Engineer to insure adequate assurance of the Contractors Quality Control program.

Equipment: The Nuclear Density Gauge used shall be provided and operated by the Contractor and
shall be of the Troxler 3400 series or equivalent. All equipment and personnel necessary to perform
these tests shall be certified by the Departments Research and Materials Laboratory.
Documentation: Lab Form 229 shall be completed by the Contractor and submitted to the Resident
Engineer on a daily basis. Subsequent placement of embankment material shall not proceed until the
above reports are received.
Deficient areas as determined by the Contractors or Departments testing, shall be retested following
corrective actions to improve compaction. Retested areas shall be indicated by an asterisk next to
the Station No. certification and the description as a Retest in the remarks section of the form.
Areas which do not attain required compaction may be required to be removed and replaced at the
discretion of the Engineer at no additional cost to the Department.
No separate measurement or payment is included in the contract for this inspection work. All costs
for this inspection work are to be included in other items of work.

SC-T-22 - DETERMINING MOISTURE CONTENT OF SOILS BY CARBIDE GAS METHOD

This method of test cover a procedure for determining the amount of moisture in a soil or fine
aggregate. A carefully weighed soil sample and a powder reagent are introduced into a container
with the pressure of the gas evolved from the chemical reaction being measured on a gauge specially
calibrated to read the moisture content.
Sample
1.)

Weigh out 26 grams of soil or fine aggregate. Place soil sample in the cap of the
tester - cap must be clean before using.

Procedure
S. C. File No.

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2.(a)

Note:

SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS
Place three scoops of calcium carbide reagent into the body of the tester. Then
place two 1- 1/4 steel balls in body of shaker.

(b)

With the body of instrument in a horizontal position, place cap in place. Bring stirrup
in place and screw down to seal the instrument pressure tight. Raise to a vertical
position so as to empty soil on top of the reagent.

(c)

With the instrument in a horizontal position, manually rotate the device so that the
steel balls are put into orbit around the inside circumference. During this shaking
action, the steel balls break down the lumpy soil. Continue shaking for approximately
1 to 3 minutes until the gauge needle stops moving. With the device in the horizontal
position, at eye level, read the dial and refer to the conversion chart for moisture
content.

(d)

When sample is dumped, examine the cap to see if all soil was removed and
examine sample for lumps. If any soil remained in the cap or remained lumpy,
obtain another sample and re-run the test.

(e)

After each test, the instrument should be thoroughly cleaned, using the brush to
clean the bomb and the cloth to clean the cap. The cap should not be beat on a hard
surface. Do not use brush or air. Scales should be balanced frequently.

For materials with higher moisture content than gauge limit, use only half the standard
weight. Hook the 13 gram weight provided with the balances through the link holding the
balance pan cradle. Weigh as usual. Perform test in normal manner. Double gauge
reading.

SC-T-29 - FIELD DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY AND OPTIMUM MOISTURE

CONTENT OF SOILS BY ONE-POINT PROCTOR METHOD

In this method the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of soils is obtained by
using the results of one point on a standard proctor curve to enter a Family of Curves from which the
maximum dry density and optimum moisture content can be determined. In most instances it will be
possible and advantageous to use the one-point proctor method, but since this method is not
applicable to all soils found in South Carolina, there will be times when it will be necessary to conduct
the more detailed test according to SC-T-25. The decision to run either the one-point proctor test or
the more detailed test will be left to the Resident Construction Engineer. In general, if the one-point
proctor test is conducted with the material at or near optimum moisture content and the point does
not fall in the main portion of the Family of Curves, this is a good indication that Test Method SC-T-25
should be used.

Procedure

S. C. File No.

1.(a)

Determine the weight of standard proctor mold (without collar and base plate) to the
nearest gram.

(b)

Place the standard proctor mold (with base plate and collar attached) on a block of
concrete of sufficient size to afford a uniform, rigid foundation.

(c)

Obtain approximately 2500 gms. of material representative of that tested for in-place
density and moisture content. Break up this material and sieve through a No. 4
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sieve. Discard the material retained on the No. 4 sieve.* In the judgment of the
operator, the moisture content of the material to be tested should be on the dry side
of optimum and within 2% of the optimum moisture content. If the moisture content is
not within this range, the material should be dried if it is too wet, or water added if it is
too dry.
(d)

Mix 2500 gm. sample so that moisture content is as uniform as possible.

(e)

Place approximately 1/3 of sample in proctor mold.

(f)

Compact layer with 25 uniformly distributed blows from the 5.5 lb. rammer dropping
free from a height of 12 inches.

(g)

Repeat steps (e) and (f) for second and third layers of specimen.

(h)

Following compaction of the third layer, remove the extension collar and carefully trim
the compacted soil even with the top of the mold by means of a straight edge.

(I)

Remove base plate from mold and weigh mold and specimen to nearest gram.

(j)

Remove material from the mold and slice vertically through the center. Take a
representative sample of the material from one of the cut faces and determine the
moisture content by use of the speedy-moisture tester.

(k)

Determine the weight of the specimen by subtracting weight of mold, as determined

in (a), from weight of mold plus specimen, as determined in (I).

* Note: If more than 5% by of total sample, as judged by eye, is retained as aggregate on the
No. 4 sieve, note this in comments on field work sheet and on Lab Form 932.
(l)

Determine wet density of soil specimen by multiplying the mold constant, which is
stamped on the base plate, by the weight of the soil specimen, as determined in (k).

(m)

Using the moisture content determined in (j) and the wet density determined in (l),
plot the one point on the Family of Curves.

(n)

If the point falls on one of the curves, the maximum dry density and optimum
moisture content may be read directly form the table shown in the top right-hand
corner of the graph. If the point does not fall on one of the curves, it is necessary to
interpolate between the curves and again use the table to determine the maximum
dry density and optimum moisture content.

Sample Calculation
A. Weight of Mold and Soil

= 4006 grams

B. Weight of Mold

= 2074 grams

C. Weight of Soil = (A.) - (B.)

D. Wet Density of Soil = (Mold k) x (C.)
E. Per Cent Moisture (Speedy Moisture Tester)
F. Maximum Dry Density (taken from Family of Curves)
G. Optimum Moisture Content (taken form Family of Curves)

S. C. File No.

= 4006 - 2074 = 1932 grams

= 0.06638 x 1932 = 128.2 pcf.
= 11.7 %
= 116.6 pcf.
= 12.4 %

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SC-T-33 - FIELD DETERMINATION OF DENSITY AND MOISTURE CONTENT OF SOILS AND

AGGREGATE BASES BY THE USE OF THE TROXLER 3401 SERIES NUCLEAR GAUGE
S. C. File No.

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This method describes procedures for determining the density and moisture content of soils and
aggregate bases through the use of nuclear equipment. The total or wet density of the material is determined
by placing a gamma source into the material under test. The intensity of radiation detected is dependent
upon the density of the material under test. The radiation intensity reading is related to measured wet density
by suitable calibration curves or tables. The total water content is determined by placing a neuron source into
the material under test. The quantity of fast neurons is dependent upon the hydrogen content of the water in
the material. The quantity of fast neurons is related to a measured moisture content by suitable calibration
curves or tables.
Density Measurements Made in Direct Transmission Mode
1.

Turn PWR/Time switch to the slow position for 10 minutes to allow critical circuits to
stabilize.

2.

Take moisture and density standard counts (at least 10 feet from any large object and at
least 30 feet from another gauge).
A.

Place Standard on dry, solid flat surface containing not more than 15 pcf moisture.

B.

Place the gauge on Standard, being sure scaler end of gauge is toward the raised
end of the Standard and seated properly on the recessed surface.

C.

Remove the padlock that locks source rod in Safe position.

D.

Place PWR/Time switch in slow position.

E.

Press Start button.

F.

Wait 4 minutes after which the ERR symbol will disappear.

G.

Turn the display switch to Moisture and record moisture standard count.

H.

Turn the display switch to density and record density standard count.

I.

Return Standard to case.

3.

If surface is not relatively smooth use, scraper plate to smooth surface (all loose stone should
be removed and small voids filled with native fines or sand).

4.

Take moisture and density measurement counts.

S. C. File No.

A.

Using drill rod and guide plate, drive a hole at least 2 deeper than desired test
depth.

B.

Remove drill rod by rotating and pulling straight up. Do not loosen drill rod by tapping
from side to side with hammer.

C.

Place source rod in hole to the desired depth of measurement.

D.

Pull gauge so that source rod is in firm contact with side of hole towards scaler.

E.

Turn PWR/Time switch to Norm.

F.

Press Start button.

G.

Wait one minute, after which the ERR symbol will disappear.

H.

Turn the display switch to Moisture and record moisture measurement count.
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5.

6.

I.

Turn display switch to Density and record density measurement count.

J.

Pull source rod to top notch or Safe position and return gauge to safe area.

Calculate Wet Density. PCF.

A.

Divide density measurement count by density standard count to obtain count ratio.

B.

Turn to proper tables provided with nuclear gauge and record wet density, PCF.

Determine moisture content and calculate dry density, PCF.

A.

Soils
(1)

Determine per cent moisture using speedy moisture tester (SC-T-22).

(2)

Calculate dry density using the following equation:

Dry Density (PCF) =

B.

__Wet Density (PCF) x 100___

100 + Moisture Content (%)

Aggregate Bases
(1)

Divide moisture measurement count by standard moisture standard count to

obtain count ratio.

(2)

Turn to proper tables provided with nuclear gauge and record moisture
content, PCF.

(3)

Calculate dry density using the following equation:

Dry Density (PCF) = Wet Density (PCF) minus moisture content (PCF)

S. C. File No.

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S. C. File No.

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