TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

938 Aurora Boulevard Cubao, Quezon City

CE 510 – FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT 1

Water Content Determination by Compaction

SUBMITTED BY:

Atienza, Vanessa

Beros, Rica Joy

Dawang, Joanne

Listana, Christian

Razote, Rochelle

SUBMITTED TO:

Engr. Estores

DATE:

November 27, 2018

 Experiment 1
Water Content Determination by Compaction

1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce the concept of compaction and the relationship of moisture content
to the dry unit weight of the soil.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
 Connect the significance of compaction test in other properties of soil.
 Determine the relative density of soils by compaction test.
 Describe the use of water in relation to the dry density of the soil.

3. Discussion:

Soil Compaction is generally the cheapest method of improving the engineering properties of the soil. In
compaction, the soil solids are forced to a tighter state in order to achieve a higher unit weight and reduce
the air voids.

The process of compaction is better understood by comprehension of the behavior of a soil mass under
compaction. In a dry condition, the frictional resistance of the soil would resist granular rearrangement;
therefore, the compacting force is not quite effective. Introduction of a lubricant such as a predetermined
amount of water is mixed, would then be absorbed by soil particles, forming minutely thin and coherent
water films around the particles. In this condition, the soil particles will readily move closer together under
the compacting pressure due to the lubricating effect of water and reduced frictional resistance. When a
certain amount of water, called the optimum, has been added, the compacting force completely
overcomes the frictional resistance and maximum density of the soil mass is attained.

4. Resources:

1. Compaction mold and hammer

2. Water
3. ¾” sieve
4. Rubbed tipped pestle
5. Scoop
6. Spatula
7. Large mixing pan
8. Balance
9. Drying oven

5. Procedure:

1. Weigh the empty mold.

2. Obtain a soil sample to be tested. Pass the sample through a sieve of ¾” hole sizes.

3. Form a 2 to 3 inch layer using the soil sample.

4. Press soil until it is smooth and compact it with a specific number of evenly distributed blows (25

blows) of the hammer, using a one foot drop. Rotate the hammer to ensure a uniform distribution

of blows.

5. Repeat the same procedure for the second and third layers seeing to it that a uniform distribution

of blows.

6. After compaction of the third layer the soil should be slightly above the top rim of the mold.

7. Remove the collar and trim off the soil from the top of the mold. Tart trimming along the center

and work towards end of the mold.

8. After the soil has been made even with the top of the mold and all base soil cleaned from the

outside, weigh the cylinder sample.

9. Remove the soil from cylinder and obtain a representative sample for a water content

determination. The water content sample should be made up with specimens from the middle part

of the compacted soil.

10. Break up by hand then removed from the cylinder and remix with the original sample and raise its

water content by adding water to the sample. Mix the soil thoroughly.

11. Compute dry density of each sample and plot the compaction curve. Determine the Optimum

Moisture Content of the sample.

Course: CE 510 Experiment 1: Compaction
Group No.: Section:CE52FB1
Members: Date Performed: November 13, 2018
Atienza, Vanessa Instructor: Engr. Estores
Beros, Rica Joy
Dawang, Joanne
Listana, Christian
Razote, Rochelle

6. Data and Results:

Determination of Optimum Moisture Content

Description Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
Weight of mold
Weight of mold +
compacted soil
Weight of compacted
soil
Volume of Mold
Wet Density (wet)
Wt of tin cup
Wt. of tin cup + Wet Soil
Wt. of tin cup and dry
soil
Wt. of dry soil
Water Content ()
Dry Density (dry)
Optimum
Moisture
Content
(OMC)
7. Conclusion:

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

Performance Beginner Acceptable Proficient

Score
indicator 1 2 3

Identify the Designs an experiment Designs an

Fails to design an
procedures involved satisfying the minimum experiment exceeding
experiment following
in designing the requirements of the the requirements of
procedures
experiment procedures the procedures

Develops a protocol
Develops a protocol to
Develop a protocol Fails to develop a to conduct an
conduct an experiment
to conduct an protocol to conduct an experiment exceeding
satisfying the minimum
experiment experiment the minimum
requirements
requirements

Total Score

Mean score=(Total Score/2)

Percentage Score= (Total Score/6) x 100%