INTRODUCTION:

Compaction is the process of increasing the density of a soil (unit weight) by packing the
particles closer together with a reduction in the volume of air; there is no significant change in
volume of water in the soil. This is accomplished by applying static or dynamic loads to the soil.
Soil particles adsorb a film of water when water is added to the dry soil. On further addition
of water, these films get thicker and permit soil particles to slide over each other easily. This
process is called ‘lubrication’. Since the thickness of a water film on a coarse particle is negligible
in comparison to the particle diameter, lubrication effects are limited to the fine-grained soils only.
Because of lubrication, the addition of a small amount of water to dry soil aids the compaction
process. Up to certain point additional water replaces air from the soil voids, but after a relatively
high degree of saturation is reached, the water occupies space, which could be filled with soil
particles, and the amount of air entrapped remains constant. There is, therefore, an optimum
amount of mixing water for a given soil and compaction process, which will give a maximum
weight of soil per unit volume. This corresponds to the maximum dry density of the soil.

The degree of compaction of soil is measured in terms of dry density, i.e., the mass
of solids only per unit volume of soil. If the bulk density of the soil is  and the water content w,
then the dry density (d ) is given by:


d 
1 w
The dry density of a given soil after compaction depends on the water content and the
energy supplied by the compaction equipment (referred to as the compactive effort or energy).
Compactive effort applies both for laboratory and field compactions. Under laboratory conditions,
compactive effort is defines as the application of a given amount of energy per unit volume of
compacted soil. Under field conditions, compactive effort is defined as compaction by allowing a
piece of equipment passing a given number of times on a given thickness of lift or layer.
Compactive effort can be varied in the laboratory tests by changing the weight of compacting
hammer, height of fall, no. of blows per layer and no. of layers. If a vibratory method is used the
compactive effort can be changed by changing the frequency, amplitude and time of vibration. In
the field, compactive efforts can be increased by increasing the number of passes of a roller.
 The compaction energy given to a soil is proportional to the pressure, speed of rolling, and
the number of times it is rolled. A unique aspect of soil is encountered when one wants to maximize
the density but minimize the compaction energy. For a given compaction energy, there is an
optimum water content that will obtain a maximum dry density. Too little or too much water
content will cause a smaller dry density. The water acts as a lubricant and allows the soil particles
to squeeze together more easily.

THEORY:

Compaction of soil is the process by which the solid particles are packed more closely together,
usually by mechanical means, thereby increasing the dry density of the soil. The dry density which
can be achieved depends on the degree of compaction applied and on the amount of water present
in the soil. For a given degree of compaction of a given cohesive soil there is an optimum moisture
content at which the dry density obtained reaches a maximum value.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the test is to determine the relation between the moisture content and the dry
density of soil.