Example # 01

A Proctor compaction test was

conducted on a soil sample, and the
following observations were made:
Water content % 8 11.5 14.5 17.5 19.5 21.5
IfMass
th ofe wet
vosoil
lu 1.70
m e 1.90
o f th2.00
e m 1.98
o ld 1.95
u se d1.92w as
9(kg)
5 0 c . c ., a n d th e sp e cific g ra vity of
th e so ilw a s 2 . 6 5 , d ra w th e d ry
d e n sity ve rsu s m o istu re co n te n t
cu rve , ( i) A lso p lo t th e 1 0 0 % a n d
8 0 % sa tu ra tio n lin e s, ( ii) Fin d th e
m a xim u m d ry d e n sity a n d th e
S o lu tio n :
Ta b le is exte n d to co m p u te to  d
( dry density ) for each value of w , by
using the relation.

ρ
ρd =
1+ w
M  1  Mass of wet soil in kg × 1000  1 
ρd =  = × 
V 1+ w Volume of mold = 950 cc 1 + w
M  1 
  gm / cc
0.95  1 + w 
These experimental values of ρ d for
each value of w are computed in
column (4). A graph is then plotted
between the values of column (1)
and column (4), so as to obtain the
requisite
w.c. as compaction
w as fraction Mass of wet curve. Pd at 100% Pd at 80%
saturation, given by saturation, given by
% w M Eq. A, as: Eq. B, as:
in kg
g m / cc
w from col. (2)
gm/cc

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

8 0.08 1.70 1.66 2.19 2.10
11.5 0.115 1.90 1.79 2.03 1.092
14.5 0.145 2.00 1.84 1.91 1.79
17.5 0.175 1.98 1.77 1.81 1.68
19.5 1.195 1.95 1.72 1.75 1.61
21.5 0.215 1.92 1.66 1.69 1.55
 Gγw 2.56 × 1 gm / cc
γd = =
G 1 + 2.65.w
1+ w
Sr
γd 2.65
ρd = ρw = gm / cc
γw 1 + 2.65.w
G
= ρw
G 2.3
Compaction curve
1+ w
Sr 2.2

G . ρw
2.1
100% sat. line or Zero
Dry density (Pd) in

ρd = 2.0' void line

1 + wG 1.9 Pd (max)=1.84
1.8
80% Sat line
1.7

1.6

Where Sr = 1.5 W at O.M.C = 14.5%

gm/cc

1.4

1 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 22.5

Water content (w), %

Now, for the given values of w, ρ d values are
computed by using the above equation, a
graph is then plotted between column (1) and
column (5), so as to obtain 100% saturation
line,
w.c. as or Zero -Air Mass
w as fraction Void line,
of wet d at 100% d at 80%
% w M saturation, saturation,
in kg given by Eq. given by Eq.
g m / cc A, as: B, as:
w from col. (2)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

gm/cc
8 0.08 1.70 1.66 2.19 2.10
11.5 0.115 1.90 1.79 2.03 1.092
14.5 0.145 2.00 1.84 1.91 1.79
17.5 0.175 1.98 1.77 1.81 1.68
19.5 1.195 1.95 1.72 1.75 1.61
21.5 0.215 1.92 1.66 1.69 1.55
 2.65 × 1 gm / cm 3
2.65
ρd = = gm / c 3

2.65 1 + 3.31w
1+ w×
0.80
Using the equation, various values of ρ d are worked
out in column (06) of table above for different values
of w. A graph is then plotted between values of
column (1) and column (5), so as to obtain 80%
saturation line.

(iii) Maximum dry density form compaction curve

= 1.84 gm/cc. Ans
This maximum dry density corresponds
to w = 14.5%, and hence, O.M.C is
14.5% Ans.
(iii) at O.M.C w = 14.5% = 0.145, G =
2.65
G .ρ
ρ = w
,dwe=have
1.84 gm/cc
d
G
1+ w
Sr
2.65 × 1 gm / cc
1.84 gm / cc =
0.145 × 2.65
1+
Sr
0.145 × 2.65 2.65 0.38
or 1 + = or = 1.44 − 1 = 0.44
Sr 1.84 Sr
0.38
or Sr = = 0.864
0.44
Hence , the deg ree of saturation at O .M .C = 86.4%
Example # 02
The following results were
obtained from a standard compaction
test on a sample of soil.
Water Content (%) 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.20 0.22
Mass of wet soil (kg) 1.68 1.85 1.91 1.87 1.87 1.85
The volume of the mold used was 950 ml.
Make necessary calculations and plot the
compaction curve and obtain the maximum
dry density and the optimum water
content. Also calculate the void ratio,
the degree of saturation and the
theoretical maximum dry density (G =
2.70).
Solution
Calculations are:
Water content (w) 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.20 0.22
Mass of wet soil (m) (kg) 1.68 1.85 1.91 1.87 1.87 1.85
Bulk density 1.77 1.95 2.01 1.97 1.97 1.95
= M/V = M
Dry density 1.58 1.71 1.73 1.67 1.64 1.60
0.950

Void= 
d ratio/(1 + w) 0.71 0.58 0.56 0.62 0.65 0.69
Degree of saturation 0.46 0.65 0.77 0.78 0.83 0.86
Theoretical maximum dry 2.04 1.96 1.89 1.82 1.75 1.69
density G ρw
e= −1
ρd

wG
Sr =
e

G ρw
( ρ ) theo max =
1 + Gw
d
 The compaction
curve
2.00'

1.90'

1.80'

1.70'

1.60'

1.50'

1.40'

1.30'

1.20'

1.10'

0 0.10' 0.20' 0.30'

From the Plot. (Pd) max = 1 . 74 gm / ml, O.W.C. = Water content

15 . 2 %
Example # 03 Laboratory compaction
Following are the result of a
test results for a field
clayey
unitsilt aredetermination
weight given
test performed on the same soil
Moisture Dry unit by means of the sand-cone method:
Content
6 weight
14.80 ØCalibrated dry density of
(%)
8 17.45 3)
(kN/m Ottawa sand
9 18.52 = 1570 kg/m3
ØCalibrated mass of Ottawa sand
11 18.9 to fill
12 18.5 the cone = 0.545 kg
14 16.9 ØMass of jar + cone sand (before
use) =
7.59 kg
ØMass of jar + cone sand (after
use) =
4.78 kg
ØMass of moist soil from hole =
3.007
kg
Determine
a. Dry unit weight of compaction in the
field
b. Relative compaction in the field
Solution
a. In the field,
Mass of sand used to fill the hole and cone
= 7.59 kg – 4.78 kg =2.81 kg
Mass of sand used to fill the hole
= 2.81 kg – 0.545 kg = 2.265 kg

Continu
e
 = 20.45 kN/m3

γwet 20.45
γd = = = 18.56 kN / m 3

1 + w( % ) 10.2
1+
100 100
 20

(kN/m3)
18
19kN / m 3
d

16

14 0 4 8 12 16 20

W (%)
Plot of laboratory compaction
test result
The results of the laboratory compaction test
are plotted.
From the plot, we see the d(max) = 19 kN/m3.
γd ( field ) 18.56
R= = × 100 = 97.7%
γd ( max ) 19.0
 Tutorial #
01
Problem # 01
For the data given below (Gs 2.64 Mg/m3
a)Plot the compaction curves.
b)Establish the maximum dry density
and optimum water content for each
test.
c)Compute the degree of saturation at
the optimum point for data in
column A
d)Plot the 100% saturation (zero air
voids) curve. Also plot the 70, 80,
90% saturation curves. Plot the
line of optimums.
A B C
(modified)
 (Mg/m3) W% (standard)
d W% (low
 energy)W%
d d
(Mg/m 3 3
1.873 9.3 1.691 ) 9.3 (Mg/m
1.627 ) 10.9
1.910 12.8 1.715 11.8 1.639 12.3
1.803 15.5 1.755 14.3 1.740 16.3
1.699 18.7 1.747 17.6 1.707 20.1
1.671 21.1 1.685 20.8 1.647 22.4
Problem # 02 The results of
standard proctor test are given in the
table. Determine the  d(max) and O.M.C.
Also determine the moisture content
required to achieve 95% of  d(max)
Volume of proctor Weight of wet soil in Moisture content
mold the mold (%)
(cm3) (kg)
943.3 1.65 10
= 1.75 12
= 1.83 14
= 1.81 16
= 1.76 18
= 1.70 20
Problem # 03 Laboratory compaction
test results on a clayey silt are
listed in the table.

W% Dry unit weight (kN/m3)

6 14.80
8 17.45
9 18.52
11 18.9
12 18.5
14 16.9
weight determination test on the same soil
with the sand cone method:
ØDry density of Ottawa sand = 1570
kg/m3
ØMass of Ottawa sand to fill the cone =
0.545 kg
ØMass of Jar+Cone+Sand(before use) = 7.59
kg
ØMass of Jar+Cone+Sand(after use) = 4.78 kg
ØMass of moist soil from hole = 3.007
kg
ØMoisture content of moist soil =
10 .2%
Determine :
a.Dry unit weight of compaction in the
field.
b.Relative compaction in the field.