Soil Tests: Proctor compaction test: Introduction: Apparatus: Procedures: Calculations:

1. Proctor Compaction Test
Presented By:
Faizan Tanoli

2. ProctorCompactionTest
Introduction:
Proctor Test is used to determine the compaction of different types
of soil and the properties of soil with a change in moisture content.
Compaction is the process of densification of soil by reducing air
voids. The degree of compaction of a given soil is measured in
terms of its dry density. The dry density is maximum at the
optimum water content. A curve is drawn between the water
content and the dry density to obtain the maximum dry density and
the optimum water content.

3. ProctorCompactionTest
Dry density of soil:
Where:
M = total mass of the soil,
V= volume of soil,
w= water content.

4. ProctorCompactionTest
Standard Proctor Test
Apparatus:
1. Cylindrical Metal Mold, having internal
diameter 4” (10.16 cm) or 6” (15.24 cm), the
internal effective height of 4.6” (11.7 cm);
and the mold should have detachable base
plate & collar of 2 inches (5.08 cm).
2. Rammer, weighing 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) & having
fall of 12 ins (30.5 cm), with a flat circular
face of 2” diameter.
3. Sensitive Balance, sensitivity ranging from
0.1 gram to 1 gram.
4. Thermostatically controlled oven (105°C +-
110°C)

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5. Moisture containers.
6. Sieve No.4.
7. Tray & scoop.
8. Graduated cylinder.
9. Mixing tools. (spoon,
trowel, spatula).

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Standard Proctor Test Procedure:
1. Take sufficient quantity of representative soil, air dry &
pulverize it with a rubber mallet.
2. Sieve the soil through No: 4 sieve & reject the coarser material.
3. Take about, 3 kg of soil, add water to bring its water content to
about 5% below the estimated optimum moisture content (for
coarse-grained soil 4% initial water content & for fine-grained
soil 10% initial water content is preferable).
4. Then Mix it thoroughly.
5. Clean the mold, measure its diameter & height & weigh it
without the collar.

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Standard Proctor Test Procedure:
6. Fit the collar & compact the moist soil in three
equal layers by the rammer with evenly
distributed blows to each layer.
7. Use 25 blows for 4 inches diameter & 56 blows
for 6 inches diameter mold to the total height of
mold with collar.
8. Remove the collar trim the compacted soil even
with the top of the mold with a straight steel
edge.
9. Clean outside of the mold & base plate & weigh
it.
10.Remove the soil from the mold, split it & take
about 100 grams sample for water content
determination.

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11. Break the soil lamps, mix it with remaining soil in the tray.
12. Add more water to increase the water content by 2 to 3% & repeat
the compaction procedure for each increment of water until the mass
of the compacted soil decreases.
13. Calculate Water content for each trail & corresponding dry density.
14. Plot the compaction curve between water-content as abscissa & dry
density as ordinate.
15. Note the water content against the peak of the curve as optimum
moisture content & the corresponding dry density as maximum dry
density.
Standard Proctor Test Procedure:

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Result of Soil Compaction Test:

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