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IS : 2720 ( Part 8) - 1983

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART 8 DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT- DRY
DENSITY RELATION USING HEAVY COMPACTION

( Second Revision)

Soil Engineering and lZock Mechanics Sectional Committee, BDe 23

Chairman Rejlresmtillg
Dlt jAG])JSl/ NARAI.'< Association of Indian Universities, Xew D"lhi

Member>
Sw:r P. D. AG."RWAL Public Works J)"partmcnt, Government of Uttar
Pradesh, Lucknow
SJlRI B. L . DRIW ,I'" ( Alternate )
pl(()~' AI.AM S IN OH Un ive rsit y of Jodhp u r , Jodhp ur
S/lI<! B. ANJLIH Enginening Research Laboratoril's, Government
of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
Sllll! E. M. BBN.T.UIIN Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SHIn !'\. C. DUGG.\ L ( lIt"flal~)
CHIEF ENGINP.ER ( IPRJ ) Irrigation Department, Government of PlInjab,
Chandigarh
Dml':CTOI' (DHI) (Alternate)
Sllln A. G. DAS'l'lDA" In personal capacity (5 Hungerford COllrt, 12,' 1,
Hungerford Street, Calcutta)
DR G. S. DHILLON lndian Geotechnical Society, New Delhi
DIHEC'COJ: C"ntral Soil & Nlaterials Research Station, Nt'w
Delhi
D~:PUTY DIRECTOIt (Alternate)
DIRECTOR, IRI Irrigation Department, Government of Uttar
Pradesh, Roorkee
SllIU A. H. DJVA:-LJI Asia Foundationi and Construction (P) Ltd,
Bombay
SHRl A. N. JANGLY ( Alternate)
DR GOPAL RANJAN University of Roorkee, Roorkee; and Institute of
Engineers ( India), Calcutta
SlIm S. GUPTA Cemindia Company Limited, Bombay
SlIRI N. V. DF.-Sous.~ ( Alternate)
( Continued on page 2 )

C Copyright 1934
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected IInder the Indian C~pyright Acl (XIV of 1957) and
r~production in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
_publisher shaH be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act. I
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IS : 2720 ( Part 8 ) - 1983

( Continued from page I )

A!:mb:rs Representing
SilRI M. IYENGAR Engineers India Limited, New Delhi
SHRt ASHoR K. JAIN G. S. Jain and Associat<'s, Roorkee
SHRI VIJAY K. JAIN ( Altemate)
JOINT DIREC1'OR RESBARCH (GE)-I, Ministry of Railways
RDSO
JOINT DIREOTOR RESEARCH
(GE)-II RDSO (Alternate)
LT-COL V. K KANITKAR Engineer-in-Chief's Branch, Army Headquarters
SlIUl 0 . 1>. MALHOTRA Public Works Department, Chandigarh Adminis-
tration, Chandigarh .
SHRI D : R . NARAHARI Central Building Research Institute (CSIR),
Roorkee
Slim V. S. AGARWAL (Allullate)
SSBI T. K. NATRAJAN Central Road Research Institute (CSIR), New
Delhi
SURI RANJl1' SINGH Ministry of Defence ( R&D)
SHRI P. D. DESHPANDE (Alternat.)
DR G. B. RAO Indian Institute of Tcchnology, New Delhi
DR K. K. GUPTA (Alternate)
RESEARCH OFFICER (B & RRL) Public Works Department, Government of Punjab,
Chandigarh
SECRETARY Central Board of Irrigation and Power, New Delhi
D\!lpu.TY SECRETARY ( Alternate)
SlIRI N . SlVAGUaU Roads Wing ( Ministry of Shipping and Transport)
SHIH P. R. KALRA ( Alternate)
Slim K. S. SRINIVASAN National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
5Hm SUNIL BERRY ( Altlrnille )
DR N. SOM Jadavpur University, Calcutta
SSRI N. SUBRA¥ANYAM Karnataka Engin'eering Research Station,
Krishnarajasagar
SUP)l:RINTENDING ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of Tamil
(P & D'C) Nadu, Madras
EXECU~IVE ENGINEER (SMRD)
( AI/emilIe)
SlIRI H. C. VERMA All India Instrument Manufacturers and Dealers
Association, Bombay
SHRI H. K. GUllA (Alternat,)
SHRI G. RAMAN, Director G~neral, lSI ( Ex-officio Memier)
Director ( Civ Engg )
Secretary
SSRI K. M. MATHUR
Senior D~puty Director (Civ Engg), lSI

SoH Testing Procedures Subcommittee, BDC 23 : 3

Convent,.
DR ALAM SINGH University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
Mnnbm
SHRI AllAR SINGH C~ntral Buildinr R~seal'ch Institute (CSIR ),
Roorkee
SHRI M.R. SOM..,... (.J.lttrtlat,)
( ContjQUf4 .11 ~cg. 9 )

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[S : 2720 ( Part 8) - 1983

Indian Standard
METHODS O-F TEST FOR SOILS
PART 8 DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT -- DRY
DENSITY RELATION USING HEAVY COMPACTION

( Second Revision)
O. FOR E W 0 R D
0.1 This Indian Standard ( Second Revision) was adopted by the Indian
Standards Institution on 28 November 1983, after the draft finalized by
the Soil Engineering and Rocks Mechanics Sectional Committee had
been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
0.2 Purpose of a laboratory compaction test is to determine the proper
alllountof mixing water to be used, when compacting the soil in the fielJ
and the resulting degree of denseness which can be expected from
compaction at optimum moisture content. To accomplish this,a
laboratory test "vhich ,viII give a degree of compaction comparable to
that obtained by the field method used is necessary. This procedure is
satisfactory for cohesive soils but does not lend itself well to the study of
the compaction characteristics of clean sands or gravels which displace
easily when struck with rammer. Some nearly cohesionless soils
compact satisfactorily in the standard test although in many cases the
water density curve is not well defined. Frequently, too in these case~
indicated, maximum density is not as great as can be achieved readily in
the field under available compaction methods. With a knowledge of
the water density relation as determined by this test, better control of the
field compaction of soil fill is possible because the optimum moisture
content and the density which should be obtained a re known b v using this
test procedure and these can be checked by field control tesIS. This
part which was first published in 1965 and revised in 1974 covers the
method of test based on heavy compaction. The method of test based on
light compaction is covered in IS :2720 ( Part 7 )- 1IJ 80*. This revision
is prepared so as to cover such cases when soil could be susceptible
to crushing during compaction.
0.3 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this
standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated,

*1',,1ethods of test for soils: Part 7 Determination of ....... at er content -- - dry densih
relation using light compaction ( second revision). . .
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IS: 2720 (Part 8) - 1983

expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in

accordance with IS: 2-1960*. The number of significant places retained
in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value
in this standard.

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard ( Part 8) lays down the method for the determination
of the relation between the water content and the dry density of soils
using heavy compaction.

2. TERMINOLOGY
2.1 For the purpose of this standard, the definitions given in IS : 2809-
197~t shall apply.

3. APPARATUS
3.1 Cylindrical Metal Mould - It shall be either of 100 mm diameter
and 1000 cm 3 volume or 150 mm diameter, and 2250 cms volume
and shall conform to IS: lO074-1982!.
3.2 Sample Extruder ( Optior.al) - It consists of a jack, lever frame
or other device adopted for the purpose of extruding compacted
specimens from the mould.
3.3 Balances - One of 10 kg capacity sensitive to I g, and other of 200 g
capacity and sensitive to 0'01 g.
3.4 Oven - Thermostatically controlled, with interior of non-corroding
material to maintain temperature between 105°C and 110°C.
3.5 Container - Any suitable non-corrodible airtight container to
determine the water content for tests conducted in the laboratory.
3.6 Steel Straightedge - A steel straightedge about 30 cm in length
and having one bevelled edge.
3.7 Sieve.....,. 4'7S-mm, 19-mm and· 37'5 mm IS sieves conforming to
IS: 460 ( Part I )-1978§.

·Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised).

tGlossary of terms and symbols relating to soil engineering (first revision ).
:;:Specification for compaction mould assembly for light and heavy compaction of
soils.
§Specification for test sieves: Part I Wire cloth test sieve. ( slCond revision).

4
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IS : 2720 ( Part 8) - 1983

3.8 Mixing Tools - Miscellaneous tools, such as tray or pan, spoon,

trowel and spatula, or a· suitable mechanical device fQr thoroughly
mixing the sample of soil with additions of water.
3.9 Metal ·Rammer - Heavy compaction rammer conforming to
IS: 9189-1979*.

4. SOIL SPECIMEN
4.1 A representative portion of air-dried soil material and large enough
to provide about 6 kg of material passing a 19-mm IS sieve (for soils
not susceptible to crushing during compaction), or about 15 kg of
material passing a 19 mm IS sieve (for soils susceptible to crushing
during compaction), shall be taken (see Note). This portion shaH be
sieved on a 19 m m IS sieve and the coarse fraction rej-ected after its
proportion of the total sample has been recorded.
-NOTE - The soil should be considered susceptible to crushing during
compaction if the sample contain~ granUlar material of a soft nature, such as soft
lime stone, sandstone, etc, which is redllced in size by the action of the 4'9-kg
rammer. The procedure given in 5.2 for soils SLIsceptible to crushing during
compaction can be applied to. all soils if it i5 convenient to do so.

4.1.1 Aggregations of particles shall be broken down so that if the

sample was sieved on a 4 '75-m IS sieve, only separated individual
particles would be retained.

5. PROCEDURE
5.1 Soil Not Susceptible to Crushing During Compaction (flU
Note under 4.1 ) - The procedure is as follows:
5.1.1 A 5-kg sample of air dried soil passing the 19-mm IS test sieve
shall be taken (see Note I). The sample shall be mixed thoroughly
with a suitable amount of water depending on the soil type (see Notes
2 and 3).
5.1.2 The mould, of 1 000 ems capacity with baseplate attached, shall
be weighed to the nearest I g ( ml)' The mould shall be placed on a
solid base, such as a concrete floor or plinth and the moist soil shall
be compacted into the mould, with the extension attached, in five
layers of approximately equal mass, each layer being given 25 blows
from the 4'9-kg rammer droped from a height of 450 mm above the
soil. The blows shall be distributed uniformly over the surface of each
layer, The operator shall ensure that the tube of the rammer is kept
clear of soil so that the rammer always falls freely. The amount of soil

·Specification for compaction rammer for soil testing.

5
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(S : 2720 ( Part -8 ) - 1983

used shall be sufficient to fill the mould, leaving not more than about
6 mm to be struck off when the extension is removed (see Note 4- ) .•
The extension shall be removed and the compacted soil shall be levelled
off carefully to the top of the mould by means of the straightedge. The
mould and soil shall then be weighed nearest to I g ( m~ ).
5.1.3 The compacted soil specimen shall be removed from the mould
and placed on the mixing tray. The water content of a representative
sample of the specimen shall be determined as in IS: 2720 ( Part 2 )-
1973*.
5.1.4 The remainder of the soil specimen shall be broken up, rubbed
through the 19-mm IS test sieve, and then mixed with the remainder
, of the original sample. Suitable increments of water ( see Note 5) shall be
added successively and mixed into the sample, and the above procedure
from operations 5.1.2 to 5.1.4 shall be repeated for each increment of
water added. The total number of determinations made shall be at
least five, and the moisture contents should be such that the optimum
moisture content, at which the maximum dry density occurs, is within
that range.

5.2 Soil Susceptible to Crushing During Compaction (see Note

under 4.1 ) - The procedure is as follows:
5.2.1 Five or more 2' 5 kg samples of air-dried soil passing the 19-mm
IS sieve, shall be taken (see Note I ). The samples shall each be mixed
thoroughly with different amounts of waTer to give a suitable range of
moisture contents (see Notes 2 and 3). The range of moisture content,
at which the maximum dry density occurs, is within that range (s-ee
Note 5 ).
5.2.2 Each sample shall be treated as in 5.1.2.
5.2.3 Each specimen shall be treated as in 5.1.3.
5.2.4 The remainder of each soil specimen shall be discarded.

5.3 COJDpaction hi Large Size Mould - For compacting soil

containing coarse material up to 37'5 mm size, the 2 250 cm 3 mould
should be used. A sample weighing about 30 kg and passing the 37'5 mm
IS sieve is used for the test. Soil is compacted in five layers, each layer
being given 55 blows of the 4'9-kg rammer. The test of the procedure
is the same as in 5.1 or 5.2.
NO'leE I - The removal of small amounts of stone ( up to 5 percent) retained on
a 19-mm IS sieve will effect the density obtainable only by amounts comparable

*1Iethods of test for soil: Part 2 Determination of water content (stCond revision).

6
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IS: 2720 ( Part 8) - 1-983
with the experimental error involved in measuring the maximum dry density; The
exclusion of a large proporation of stone coarser than 19-mm may have a major
effect on the density obtained compared with that obtainable with soil as a whole,
and on the optimum moisture content. There is at present no generally accepted
method of test of calculation for dealing with this difficulty in comparing
laboratory compaction test results with densities obtained in the field. For soils
containing larger proportions of gravel, the use of a bigger mould ( 2250 cm S ) will
avoid major errors.
NOTE 2- The amount of water to be mixed with air-dried soil at the
commencement of the test will vary with the type of soil under test. In -general,
with sandy and gravelly soils a moisture content of 3 to 5 percent would be -suitable,
while with cohesive soils a moisture content about 12 to 16 percent below the plastic
limit of the soil should usually be suitable.
NOTE 3 - It is important that the water is mixed thoroughly and adequately
with the soil, since inadequate mixing gives rise to variable test results. This is
particularly important with cohesive soils when adding a substantial quantity of
water to the air-dried soil. With clays of high plasticity, or where hand mixing is
employed, it may be difficult to distribute the water uniformly through the air-dried
soil by mixing alone, and it may be necessary to store the mixed sample in a sealed
container for a minimum period of about 16 hours b,fore continuing with the test.
NOTE 4-- It is nect'ssary to control the total volume of soil compacted, since it
has been found that if the amount of soil struck off after removing the extension is
too great, the test resulls will be inaccurate.
NOTE 5 - The water added for each stage of the test should be such that a
range of moisture contents is obtained which includes the optimum moisture. In
general, increments of 1 to 2 percent are suitable for sandy and gravelly soils and
of 2 to 4 percent for cohesive soils. To increaae the accuracy of the telt it is often
advisable to reduce the increments of water in the rl'gion of the optimum moisture
content.

6. CALCULATIONS
6.1 Bulk Density - Bulk density, r m , in g/cm3 of each compacted
specimen shall be calculated from the equation:
,.,.. _ ml- m1
.lm - Vm

where
m1 = mass in g of mould and base;
mz = mass in g of mould, base and soil; and
Vm = volume in cm 3 of mould.

6.2 Dry Density - The dry density, r d , in g/cm 3 , shall be calculated

from the equation:
100 Tm
100 + w
where
w = moisture content of soil in percent.

7
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IS : 2720 ( Part 8) - 1983

6.3 The dry densities, Y d obtained in a series of determinations shall be

plotted against the corresponding moisture contents w. A smooth curve
shall be drawn through the resulting points and the position of the
maximum on this curve shall be determined.

7. REPORTING OF RESULTS
7.1 The experimental points and the smooth curve drawn through them
showing the relationship between moisture content and dry density shall
be reported.
7.2 The dry density in g!cm 3 corresponding to the maximum point on
the moisture content/dry density curve shall be reported as the maximum
dry density to the nearest 0-01.
7.3 The percentage moisture content corresponding to the maximum
dry density on the moisture content/dry density curve shall be reported
as the optimum moisture content and quoted to the nearst 0'2 for values
below 5 percent to the nearest 0'5 for values from 5 to 10 percent, and to
the nearest whole number for value exceeding 10 percent (see Note
under 7.5).
7.4 The amount of stone retained on the 19-mm IS sieve shall be reported
to the nearest 1 percent.
7.5 The method of obtaining the result shall be stated, ( 4'9-kg rammer
method). The plOcedure used shall also be stated that is single sample
or separate sample and the size of the mould used_
NOTE - For _some highly permeabl~ soils such as clean gravels, uniformily
graded and coarse cleen sands the results of the laboratory compaction test ( 4-9-
rammer method) may provide only a poor gllici., for specifications on field
compaction. The laboratory test often indicates higher vah" s of optimum moisture
content than would be desirable for field compaction and the maximum dry density
is often much lower than the state of compaction, that can readily be obtained in the
field.

8
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IS • 2720 ( Part 8 ) • 1983

( OIntillued frDm /Jill' 2 )

M,mb"s IUpru,ntin,
J\aSlITANT REUARoK o J'J'lCII:R lnigation Department, Government of Punjab,
(IPRI) Chandigarh
ASSIST ANT -Rli:SEARCK 01'1'10_ Irrigation Department, Government of Uttar
(SRD) (Alt,rnate) Pradesh. Lucknow
DnUTY -I;>IBECTOR RESEARCH MiDiatry of Railway I
( GE-III ), RDSO
JOINT DIIlBCTOR ~J:8J:ARCH
(GE-! ), RDSO (AlI,r1l4l. )
DIREOTOR Central Soil and Materials Research Station, New
Delhi
DEl'UTY DIRECTOR ( Alternate)
SKRI H. K. GUHA Geologist Syndicate Private Limited, Calcutta
SHRI N. N. BHATTACHARAYA
( Al"r1l4l e )
DR GOPAL RANJAN Univeraity of Roorkee, Roorkee
DR S. C. HANDA ( Alternate)
-DR SHASRI K. GULHATI Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
SKRI P. JAGANA!rHA RAo Central Road Research Institute (CSIR), New
Delhi
LT-CoL V. K. KANITKAR Engineer-in-Chief'. Branch, Army Headquarters
SIIRI M. D. NAIR Associated Ins~ru(nents Manufacturers (I ) Private
Limited_ New Delhi
PROP T. S. N ...GAILU (Alternlltt)

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