EXPERIMENT NO.

: 2

DATE: 18/08/2015

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Standard Proctor Compaction Test

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this experiment is to draw the compaction curve (dry density vs. moisture
content) and find the values of Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and Optimum Moisture
Content (OMC), and to plot the void ratio vs. dry density curve.

THEORY:
Compaction is the process of densification of soil mass by reducing air voids. The purpose of
laboratory compaction test is so determine the proper amount of water at which the weight of
the soil grains in a unit volume of the compacted is maximum, the amount of water is thus
called the Optimum Moisture Content (OMC). In the laboratory different values of moisture
contents and the resulting dry densities, obtained after compaction are plotted both to
arithmetic scale, the former as abscissa and the latter as ordinate. The points thus obtained are
joined together as a curve. The maximum dry density and the corresponding OMC are read
from the curve.
In the Standard Proctor Test, a standard volume mould is filled up with soil in three layers.
Each layer is compacted by 25 blows of a standard hammer of weight 2.495 kg, falling
through 304.8mm (12). Knowing the wet weight of the compacted soil and its water
content, the dry unit weight of the soil can be calculated:

Bulk unit weight, t =

Weight of the compacted soil

Volume of themould

(1.1)

Dry unit weight, d = t / (1+w)

where, w = water content

(1.2)

EQUIPMENTS USED :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Standard Proctor mould

Rammer for Standard Proctor compaction (2.495 kg, with free drop of 304.8 mm)
Mould accessories including detachable base plate, removable collar
I.S. sieves
Balance of sensitivity 0.01gm
Trimming knife
Large mixing tray
Graduated cylinder

METHODOLOGY:

The procedure of the test is as follows:

i
ii
iii

iv
v
vi
vii

viii
ix
x

Take about 20 kg of soil and sieve it through 20 mm and 4.75 mm.

A 100 mm diameter Proctor mould is to be used if the soil fraction that passes
4.75 mm sieve is greater than 80% by weight.
Take about 2.5 kg of the soil sample and add water to get the moisture content
round 7% (for sandy soil) or 10% (for clayey soil). Leave the mix to mature for
few minutes.
Clean and grease gently the inside surface of the mould, and the base plate.
Take the weight of empty mould with the base plate.
Fix the collar and place the mould on a solid base.
Place first batch of soil inside the mould and apply 25 blows of standard rammer,
so that the compacted layer thickness is about one-fifth height of the mould.
Scratch the top of the compacted soil before the second layer is placed. Place the
second batch of wet soil and follow the same procedure. The soil is compacted in
five layers, each given 25 blows of the standard rammer weighing 2.6 kg and
having a drop of 310 mm.
Remove the collar, and trim of the excess soil with trimming knife. Clean the
mould, and weight the mould with the compacted soil and the base plate.
Take a representative sample from the mould and determine its water content.
Repeat the above procedure for different water content values.

PRECAUTIONS:
1

Adequate period is allowed to mature the soil after it is mixed with water.

2
3
4

The rammer blows should be uniformly distributed over the surface with spatula
before next layer is placed.
To avoid stratification each compacted layer should be scratched with spatula before
next layer is placed.
At the end of compaction test, the soil should not penetrate more than 5mm into the
collar.

Figure 1: Standard Proctor mould and rammer for Standard Proctor compaction (2.495 kg, with free
drop of 304.8 mm)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Weight of mould = 2142 gm

Height of mould, h = 12.6cm
Diameter of mould, d = 10 cm
Volume of mould = /4 x d2 x h = /4 x 102 x 12.6 = 989.6 cc
Hygroscopic moisture =
Specific gravity, G = 2.7

100 r
100r

100 x 7.4
1007.4

= 8%

Table 1: Values obtained from Standard Proctor Compaction Test

SERIAL
NO.

WEIGHT
OF SOIL
+
MOULD
(g)

WEIGHT
OF SOIL
(g)

BULK
DENSITY
(g/cc)

WATER
ADDED
(%)

HYGROSCOPI
C MOISTURE
(%)

TOTAL
WATER
ADDED
(%)

DRY
DENSITY
(g/cc)

1
2
3
4
5
6

3820.5
3913
3957.5
4071.5
4095
4071

1678.5
1771
1815.5
1929.5
1953
1929

1.696
1.789
1.834
1.949
1.973
1.949

6
9
12
15
18
21

8
8
8
8
8
8

14
17
20
23
26
29

1.488
1.529
1.528
1.585
1.566
1.511

Table 2: Dry density, d (g/cc) values for 100%, 90% and 80% saturation at different values of water
content, w (%)

WATER CONTENT
(%)
14
17
20
23
26
29

DRY DENSITY FOR

100% SATURATION
(g/cc)
1.959
1.862
1.753
1.666
1.586
1.514

DRY DENSITY FOR

90% SATURATION
(g/cc)
1.901
1.788
1.6875
1.598
1.516
1.444

DRY DENSITY FOR

80% SATURATION
(g/cc)
1.834
1.716
1.612
1.520
1.438
1.364

Table 3: Values of void ratio, e computed from the dry density, d values obtained from the Standard
Proctor Test

DRY DENSITY (g/cc)

1.488

VOID RATIO
0.814

1.529
1.528
1.585
1.566
1.511

0.766
0.769
0.703
0.724
0.787

From the values obtained from the Standard Proctor Test, we draw the compaction curve,
100% saturation line, 90% saturation line and 80% saturation line by plotting water content,
w (%) on the horizontal axis and dry density, d (g/cc) on the vertical axis of the graph. The
graph is shown below.

Compaction Curve
Horizontal axis: 1 small square = 1%
Vertical axis: 1 small square = 0.1g/cc
100% saturation line

90% saturation line

80% saturation line

2.5
2
1.5

Dry dernsity (g/cc)

1
Compaction curve

Polynomial (Compaction curve)

0.5
0
12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

Water content (%)

Figure 2: Compaction curve showing 100%, 90% and 80% saturation lines obtained from the Standard
Proctor Test

From the above graph, we have,

Maximum Dry Density (MDD) = 1.585 g/cc

30

Optimum Water Content (OMC) = 23%

The void ratio vs. dry density graph is shown below.

Void ratio vs. Dry density

Horizontal axis: 5 small squares = 0.02 g/cc
Vertical axis: 5 small squares = 0.02 unit
0.84

0.82

0.8

0.78

0.76

Void ratio

0.74

0.72

0.7

0.68

0.66

0.64
1.48

1.5

1.52

1.54

Dry density (g/cc)

Figure 3: Void ratio vs. dry density graph

1.56

1.58

1.6

CONCLUSION:
The plot between dry density and moisture content is a curve of inverted U shape. This curve
is known as the compaction curve from which we obtain the values of Maximum Dry Density
(MDD) and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) as
MDD = 1.585 g/cc
OMC = 23%
At low water contents, the soil is stiff and the soil grains offer more resistance to compaction.
As the water content increases, the particles develop larger and larger water films around
them, which tend to lubricate the particles and make them easier to be worked around, to
move closer into a denser configuration, resulting in a higher dry unit weight and lower air
voids. The dry unit weight continues to increase till the optimum moisture content is reached,
a stage when the lubrication effect is the maximum. With further increase in moisture content,
however, the water starts to replace the soil particles and since w << s, the dry unit weight
starts decreasing.
Soils are said to be compacted dry of optimum or wet of optimum. For a given compactive
effort, the soil tends to have a flocculated structure on the dry of optimum, whereas on the
wet of optimum, the structure tends to be more dispersed.
Compaction generally leads to an increase in shear strength and helps to improve the stability
and the bearing capacity of a soil. It also reduces the compressibility and permeability of the
soil. Detrimental settlements can be prevented and undesirable volume changes through
swelling and shrinkage can be controlled.
Laboratory compaction tests are usually utilized to specify the compacted dry unit weight to
be attained in the field. Since the control in the field cannot be as strict as in the laboratory,
the specifications usually require attainment of 90 to 95 per cent of dry unit weight attained in
the laboratory.
REFERENCES:
1. Proctor R.R. (1933), Fundamental Principles od Soil Compaction, Engineering
News Record, Vol. III, Nos. 9, 10, 12 and 13.
2. Turnbull W.J. (1950), Compaction and Strength Tests on Soil, presented at annual
meeting, ASCE, January (1969)