CVE20005

Compaction
Report
Road Engineering

Report No : 1
Group No : 4
Name : Harinder Rehal
Student Id: 5827019

CVE20005

Due Date : 23/10/2015

Introduction
The proctor compaction test is a laboratory method of experimentally
determining the optimal moisture content at which given soil with weight
of 2.5 k will become most dense and achieve its maximum dry density .
the dry density of a soil for given compactive effort depends on amount
of water the soil contains during soil compaction .

Aim
To determine the relation between the Moisture Content and Dry
Density of a soil when compacted using the Australian Standard
(AS1289.5.1.1) test method.

Procedure
1. Five samples of soil have been supplied, each of 2.5 kg. These
were obtained by passing sieved soil through a sample splitter.
2. Thoroughly mix each portion with a suitable amount of water, to
give moisture contents as directed.
3. The wetted portions should be cured for an adequate time to allow
water to become more uniformly distributed throughout the soil
before compaction. Heavy clays may take up to a week, sands an
hour or so. This time has to be overlooked to complete your
practical work, but you should realize that this can lead to
significant errors.
4. Record the mass of the Mould and base plate only to the nearest
1.0g.
5. Assemble the Mould, collar and base plate and place on a rigid
foundation.
6. Take a portion of the wetted soil, mix thoroughly, and compact
it into the Mould in three layers, not varying the compacted
layers by more than 6mm. Use 25 uniformly distributed
blows/layer using the standard hammer. Slightly overfill the
Mould, leaving not more than 6mm to be struck off after
removing the collar.
7. Carefully remove the collar.
8. Level the compacted soil to the top of the Mould with a straight
edge and patch any holes with fine material.

CVE20005
9. Record the mass of the Mould, base plate and soil to the nearest
1.0g.
10.
Remove the soil specimen from the Mould and obtain a
representative sample from the full height of the specimen.
Determine the moisture content (w) of the sample in accordance
with AS 1289.2.1.1 (Oven drying method)
11.

Repeat the above for the remaining samples.

12.

Plot p dry vs moisture content on the graph provided.

Table 1 (Bulk & Dry Determinations )

Test No:

Mass of Mould +
Wet Soil (g)

7320.3

7282.3

7600.7

7380.7

7336.3

Mass of Mould (g)

5078.2

5006.7

5271.5

5075.5

5054.3

Mass of wet Soil

(g)

2242.1

2275.6

2329.2

2304.8

2282

Wet Density (t/m3)

2.25

2.28

2.34

2.31

2.29

Dry Density (t/m3)

2.13

2.15

2.24

2.15

2.25

Table 2 (Moisture content

Determinations )
Test No:
Tin No:
Mass of tin + Wet Soil
(g)
Mass of tin + Dry Soil
(g)
Mass of tin (g)
Mass of Moisture (g)
Mass of Dry soil (g)
MOISTURE CONTENT
(%)

1
Mb1

2
M16

3
M28

4
M12

5
M29

2516.2

2549.5

2617.7

2544.8

2519.9

2399.8

2413.1

2521.4

2383.3

2486.6

277.5
150
2500

281.6
175
2500

358.78
200
2500

266.8
225
2500

339.7
250
2500

5.5

6.38

4.42

7.63

1.55

Table 3
Void Ratio
voild Ratio

Test No :
Test No :
Test No : Test No : Test No :
1
2
3
4
5
5.4564734 5.4222260
5.820979 5.3334255
6.142252
0
06
89
704
43
712

CVE20005
0.05
0.1

5.1836497
36
4.9108260
66

5.1511147
85
4.8800034
8

5.529930 5.0667542
719
66
5.238881 4.8000829
734
88

5.835140
076
5.528027
441

Calculation

Total volume = 0.000997m3

Gs = 2.8

Mass of wet soilMass of dry soil

X 100
Massof dry soil

Moisture content =

2516.22399.8
X 100
2399.8277.5

Wet density =

Dry density =

= 5.5%

Mass of Wet soil

total volume

Wet density
1+ Moisture content

2516.2
0.000997

= = 2.25 t/m3

2.24
1+0.054

= 2.13 t/m3

For the 3 different air voids content:

Gs 1
Dry density =

A
X Wet Density
100
wGs
(1+
)
100

0
X 2.24
100
5.5 X 2.8
(1+
)
100

2.8 1
=

= 5.45

Discussion
Compaction is essential to increase the shear strength , decrease the
compressibility , decrease its permeability and minimize long term
settlement in the soil . . By finding the optimum moisture content and
maximum dry density it allows to find gauge the soils strength. When soils
close to 0% moisture content it can only be compacted by so much but as
water is added, the dry unit weight increases because the water lubricates
the particles making compaction easier. Group 5 had less compaction %
therefore dry density was higher than any other group . As more water is
added and the water content becomes larger than the optimum values,
the void spaces become filled with water so further compaction is not
possible. From graph of moisture content Vs dry density we can analysed

CVE20005
that our graph is not in proper curve shape reason is our moisture content
is not in increasing order . Higher percentage of water content leads to
lowest moisture content , dry density and wet density . If a road
embankment specification required a relative density of 95% of
maximum Pdry which would be 2.13 of 2.25 of maximum dry density and
moisture content will be 7.63 % .

Conclusion
As a conclusion we managed to determine optimum moisture content of
7.63 % with the calculated maximum dry density of 2.25 Mg/m^3 .

CVE20005