DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

CEGB231 SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 7
Compaction Test
Section

: 01

Group Members
1. Nur Fareha binti Abdul Ghafar
2. Azyan Afiqah binti Mohd Salleh
3. Hana Alisa binti Zulkifli
4. Putri Nur Iman binti Khairuddin
5. Amira Shaliha binti Mohd Basir

CE096508
CE096503
CE095254
CE096510
CE096500

Date of Laboratory Session : 23/11/2015

Due date of Report Submission : 30/11/2015

Lab Instructor: Dr Nur Irfah binti Mohd Pauzi

Lab Report Assessment

No.

Marks
Allocated Marks

Title

1
2

Cover Page
Abstract

8
10

3
4

Objectives
Data Collection

4
10

5
6

Calculations
Results and Discussion

10
30

7
8

Conclusion
Appendices

20
4

References

4
100

TOTAL

Marks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE

PAGE

Cover Page

Table of Contents

Abstract

Objective and Problem Statement

Theory

3-4

Apparatus and Materials

Procedures

Data Collection, Results and Calculation

5-6

Discussion

7-8

Conclusion

References

Appendices

ABSTRACT
The compaction test is a laboratory method of experimentally determining the
optimal moisture content at which a given soil type will become most dense and achieve its
maximum dry density. Compaction is a process by which the soil particles are artificially
rearranged and packed together into closer state. Several different methods are used
to compact soil in the field, and some examples include tamping, kneading, vibration, and
static load compaction. This laboratory will employ the tamping or impact compaction
method using the type of equipment and methodology developed by R. R. Proctor in 1933.
The soil is compacted by a standard hammer falling a distance of one foot into a soil
filled mold. The mold is filled with three equal layers of soil, and each layer is subjected
to 25 drops of the hammer. This process is then repeated for various moisture contents and
the dry densities are determined for each. The graphical relationship of the dry density to
moisture content is then plotted to establish the compaction curve. The maximum dry density
is finally obtained from the peak point of the compaction curve and its corresponding
moisture content, also known as the optimal moisture content.
OBJECTIVE
The experiment is conducted to determine the optimum water content, maximum dry
density and air void content of compacted soil.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Vibration due to traffic movement, heavy machinery and certain construction, such as
pile-driving, can cause compaction settlement. The most susceptible soils are loosely-packed
sands or gravel sands and fill material, particularly that which has been placed without
adequate rolling or tamping. To analyze the compaction behavior of soil, it is vital to carry
out laboratory compaction test on soil.

THEORY
The compaction test consists of compacting soil samples at 100 ml water content in a
standard mould with standard compaction energy. The standard Proctor test uses a 4-inchdiameter mould with the compaction of three separate layers of soil using 25 blows by a
hammer falling. In the compaction test, the soil sample is took then separated into 6 samples.
The water content of each sample is adjusted by adding water 100 ml at each time .The soil is
then placed and compacted in the Proctor compaction mould in three different layers where
each layer receives 25 blows of the standard hammer. Before placing each with new layer, the
surface of the previous layers is scratched in order to ensure a uniform distribution of the
compaction effects. At the end of the test, after removing and drying of the sample, the dry
density and the water content of the sample is determined for each Proctor compaction test.
Based on the whole set of results, a curve is plotted to show relationship between dry density
4

and moisture content of soil. From this curve, the optimum water content to reach the
maximum dry density can be obtained. The test consists of compacting the soil or aggregate
to be tested into standard mold using a standard compaction active energy at several different
levels of moisture content. The maximum dry density and optimum moisture content is
determined from the results of the test. Soil in place is tested for in-place dry bulk density.
APPARATUS
1. Standard Proctor mold with an inside diameter of 105 mm and a height of 115.5 mm.
2. Standard Proctor hammer of 2.5 kg weight and 50 mm diameter.
3. All necessary apparatus to determine moisture content.
MATERIALS
1. Soil sample.
PROCEDURES
1. Standard Proctor Method is used.
2. A representative soil sample is obtain and weight approximately to 2 kg. Water is
added to the sample to bring its water content to about 7 to 10 %.
3. The mold is cleaned and fix to the base plate. The mass of the mold is obtain together
with its base plate.
4. The collar is attached to the mold.
5. About 2.5 kg of soil is taken and compacted in the mold in there equal layers. Each
layer was given 25 blows from the hammer by dropping at a height of 301 mm. the
blows done was uniformly distributed on the surface of each layer.
6. When each layer was compacted it must be scored with a spatula before proceeding
with another layer of soil. The amount of soil used was sufficient enough to fill the
mold by leaving about 5 mm that will be struck off when the collar was removed.
7. The collar was removed and excess soil was cut off with the help of a straight edge.
Clean the mold from the outside and its mass was weighed. The sample in the mold
was ejected out, and the middle of the sample is cut as kept as a representative soil
sample for water content determination.
8. Step 5 to 7 was repeated for another 5 times by using the same soil sample and a
higher water content is added compared to the soil sample previously.

Determination No.
Mass of mould (kg)
Mass of mould + compacted soil
(kg)
Mass of compacted soil (kg)
Volume of mould (m3)
Bulk density, (10-4 Mg m-3)
Dry density, d (10-4 Mg m-3)

1
5.89
6.89

2
5.89
6.89

3
5.89
6.95

4
5.89
7.02

1.00
10-3
1.00
0.933
4

1.00
10-3
1.00
0.847
2

1.06
10-3
1.06
0.8352

1.13
10-3
1.13
0.839
8

5
5.89
7.03

6
5.89
6.86

1.14
0.97
-3
10
10-3
1.14
0.97
0.4713 0.6409

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Table 7.1 Soil Density
Determination No.
Mass of container (g)
Mass of container + wet soil (g)
Mass of wet soil (g)
Mass of container + dry soil (g)
Mass of dry soil (g)
Water content
Water content, w (%)

1
8.2
17.2
9.0
16.6
8.4
0.0714
7.14

2
8.0
15.2
7.2
14.1
6.1
0.1803
18.03

3
8.7
25.2
16.5
21.7
13.0
0.2692
26.92

4
8.4
26.7
18.3
22.0
13.6
0.3456
34.56

5
7.8
43.6
35.8
22.6
14.8
0.1419
14.19

Table 7.2 Soil Water Content

Sample of Calculations
Determination No. 1:
Mass of compacted soil = (Mass of mould + compacted soil) (Mass of mould)
Mass of compacted soil = 6.89 5.89 =1.00
Volume of Mould r 2 h= ( 0.0525 )2 ( 1.155 )=1 103 m3

Bulk density,

total mass
1 kg
=
=1.0 Mg/m3
total volume ( 103 ) m3

Water content %

Massof water
9.08.4
100=
100=7.14
Mass of dry soil
8.4
3

Dry density,

d =

1.0 Mg /m
=
=0.9334 Mg /m3
1+ w 1+0.0714

6
8.1
30.5
22.4
22.9
14.8
0.5135
51.35

Soil air void content, Av:

From graph,
dmax = 0.9334
wopt = 7.14% or 0.0714
G s=

(At Determination No. 1)

Ms 1
= =1.0
w 1

dmax =

G S W
(1 A v )
1+ wopt GS

Where:
dmax =Maximum dry density
w opt =Optimal water content
Gs=Specific gravity
w =Density of water

( 1) ( 1)
(1 A v )
1+ ( 0.0714 ) (1 )
A v =0.111

0.9334=

Dry Density, d (Mg/m3)

Graph of Dry Density, d VS. Moisture Content of Soil

1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Moisture Content, w (%)

DISCUSSION
Compaction test is the process to identifying a density of a soil. Densification is
accomplished by pressing the soil particles together into a close state of contact with air being
expelled from the soil mass in the process. This compaction is the most common and cost
effective means of stabilizing soils. Soil compaction is the components in the construction of
roads,embankments and foundations. The achievement of proper soil compaction is depends
on the durability and stability of a structure.
To carry out a laboratory compaction test, a soil at a selected water content is placed
in three equal layers into a mold of given dimensions. The soil was mixed with a water
content of 100ml. To mixed the soil,we must use the spatula or scoop. Do not use hand to mix
with because the moisture from our hand (wet hand) will mixed together with the soil. The
mold should be apply with grease to make sure the soil was easily removed from the mold
after compacting. Normal soils consist with a large portion of air pockets.
While compaction, air is taken out hence the density of soil is increased. To use the hammer
test, two person must conduct it from getting an error for the number of blows. The hammer
should be on top of the soils before it compact. Each layer was compacted by 25 blows from
the hammer dropping from a height of 310 mm. Each layer of the soils should be 1/3 of the
mold. The last part of the soils was filled up into the mold, but make sure the soils are below
the coller. To fill the mold with the soils, we should do it in the big tray to prevent soil loss.
The function of the coller is also to prevent the soil loss.
At the second time for the test, soil loss is occur when we want to filled up the soil
into the mold. The result at the second weighting is same because of many soil loss occurs
and it have air void in it. The soils stick when its at 400ml,500ml, and 600ml of the water
content. With adding excessive water amount, we can see a gradual decrement of dry density.
Question :1. Based on the air void content (Av ) of the compacted soil, evaluate the compact ability
of the soil laboratory.
The ability of a soil to be recover from this type of compaction depends on climate and
mineralogy. Soil with high shrink swell capacity such as vertisols, recover quickly from
compaction where moisture conditions are variable. The ability of the first fill layers to be
properly compacted will depend on the condition of the natural material being covered. If
unsuitable material is left place and backfilled.

2. Suggest a suitable way to improve the compact ability of the soil in laboratory.
A suitable way to improve the compact ability of the soils are, the person in charge for the
compacting test by using hammer test should be done by two person to make sure it does
not have any error on it. Then, to ensure the soil compaction is achieve, it will indicate the
required soil density or degree of compaction that must be achieve. Compaction is
accomplished by use of heavy equipment.
9

3. How can the compaction parameters that you measured in laboratory can be related
to geotechnical application at site.
In geotechnical, soil compaction is a process which a stress is applied to a soil causes
densification as air is displaced from the pores between the soil grains. Densification due
to water occurs when stress is applied. The determination of the compaction parameters
such as optimum water content and maximum dry unit weight. This method can be apply
on site to know the water content and dry unit weight.
CONCLUSION
Mechanical compaction is one of the most common and cost effective means of
stabilizing soils. An extremely important task of geotechnical engineers is the performance
and analysis of field control tests to assure that compacted fills are meeting the
prescribed design specifications. Design specifications usually state the required density (as a
percentage of the maximum density measured in a standard laboratory test), and the water
content. In general, most engineering properties, such as the strength, stiffness, resistance to
shrinkage and imperviousness of the soil, will improve by increasing the soil density. With
addition of water dry density increases as water acts as a lubricant, with compaction soil
particle come closer. So volume decrease, it achieves maximum value when air volume
becomes minimum. After addition dry density decreases as water occupy soil particles. By
compaction be can improve shear strength, compressibility, permeability of the soil.
REFERENCE
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proctor_compaction_test
2. V.N.S. Murthy, Soil mechanics and foundation engineering.
3. Braja M.Das, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering fifth edition
4. Basic Soil Mechanics, 4th Edition, Pearson Education , Whitlow, R. 2001. Pearson
Education, Essex England.
5. Craig, R.F 2001. Soil Mechanics, 7th Edition, E.& FN Spon Press, New York, U.S.A
6. Open Ended Lab Manual for Soil Mechanics Laboratory, Experiment 7; Compaction
Test
APPENDICES
10

Water is added to the soil and thoroughly mixed with a scoop before being added into the
mold

.
Standard Proctor mold with an inside diameter of 105 mm and a height of 115.5 m

11